The Australian Government has officially announced the opening of the Australia Awards Scholarships for the 2027 intake, inviting the next generation of Bangladeshi global leaders to apply.

These prestigious international awards aim to promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance political stability through high-level study and research in Australia.+3

Overview and Benefits

Recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia. Applicants are assessed on professional and personal qualities, academic competence, and their potential to impact development challenges.+1

The scholarship covers the minimum period necessary to complete the academic programme, usually not more than two years. Benefits include:

• Full tuition fees
• Return air travel
• One-off establishment allowance on arrival
• Contribution to living expenses
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the scholarship
• Introductory Academic Programme
• Supplementary academic support
• Fieldwork allowance for research students and masters by coursework with a compulsory fieldwork component

Priority Fields of Study

The priority areas for Bangladesh are regularly reviewed and adjusted by both governments.+1

Priority Area	Fields of Study
Blue Economy	Fisheries, aquaculture, marine/maritime studies, and seaports.
Health	Health care management, public health, nutrition, and geriatric health.
Sustainable Development & Environment	Agriculture, climate change, disaster management, and water resources.
Social Inclusion	Disability inclusion, gender justice, and vocational education.
Inclusive Economic Development	Financial management, international trade, ICT, and entrepreneurship.
Public Policy & Governance	International relations, public policy, and public finance.
Infrastructure & Science	Computer science (AI/ML), robotics, and transport infrastructure.
Security Studies	Countering terrorism, cyber security, and transnational crime.

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must be Bangladeshi citizens residing in and applying from Bangladesh. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability, and marginalised groups.+1

Target Employment Groups:

• Group A: Civil Service Cadre Officials, Bangladesh Bank officials, and Judicial Services cadre officials.
• Group B: Workers from development organisations (NGOs, CSOs, or CBOs).
• Group C: Entrepreneurs or employees of private sector organisations.
• Group D: Individuals from research institutions, universities, media, and cultural organisations.

Academic and Language Standards:

• Qualifications: Must have completed a tertiary level qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree.
• UGC Recognition: At least one degree must be from a university recognised by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh.
• Work Experience: Preference is given to candidates with five years of relevant, full-time work experience.
• Study Gap: Preferably not more than 15 years from the completion of the last formal degree.
• English Proficiency: An IELTS (Academic) score of at least 6.5 (no band less than 6.0) is required.
• Marginalised Groups: People with disability, indigenous people, and marginalised gender groups will be considered with an IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5).

Application Process

Applications must be lodged online through OASIS at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/.

• Opening Date: 1 February 2026.
• Closing Date: 30 April 2026 at 11:59 PM AEST.

Required Documents (Notary Public Attestation Required):

• Passport (Proof of citizenship).
• Degree Certificates and Transcripts for bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• English Proficiency Certificate valid as of 1 January 2027.

Additional Documents (Prescribed Templates):

• Development Impact and Linkages Plan.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Current employment certificate and proof of previous experience.
• Referee reports (Two for coursework; three for research).
• Research proposal and evidence of in-principle support from a supervisor (Research applicants only).

Selection and Preparatory Training

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment, which may include a written test and an interview. Assessment criteria include academic competence, potential development contribution to Bangladesh, and leadership attributes.+1

Successful candidates will be notified by September 2026. Before departure, awardees must attend course counselling, a pre-departure briefing, and the university’s Introductory Academic Programme.+1

Contact Information: Australia Awards Bangladesh Plot 50, Road 23, Block B, Banani, Dhaka-1213. Telephone: +880 9611699934, +880 1730338495. Email: [email protected].+2