At Remitly, we’re here to help you reach your life goals in a financially sustainable and responsible way. These days, higher education is a major investment, and the price tag of competitive universities can often give university hopefuls sticker shock!
In this guide, you’ll learn about different ways to fund your higher education in Australia, especially as an immigrant or refugee.
Scholarships for immigrants and refugees in Australia
If you’re getting settled in Australia, you might start to consider higher education for yourself or your children. Unfortunately, higher education in Australia can be incredibly expensive. As a result, higher education sometimes becomes a financial goal that stretches your budget in addition to an educational goal.
In general, tuition fees for international students at Australian universities can range from $20,000 to $50,000 AUD depending on the university, degree level, and degree type. You can expect to pay more than the general range for specialised programs, like medicine or veterinary science.
Luckily, there are ways to supplement your personal budget with scholarships, grants, and awards.
Importance of scholarships for refugees and immigrants
Funding higher education is a hurdle for just about everyone. However, it can be a higher hurdle for immigrants and refugees who are not as established. If you’re considering applying for an advanced degree in Australia and are an immigrant or refugee, consider the following benefits of scholarships.
- Provide more equitable access to education
Tuition for international or non-local students is often higher than tuition for local students. Scholarships and awards help break down the financial barrier to education for immigrants and refugees, providing the opportunity for more equitable educational access.
- Promote self-sufficiency
By providing access to higher education, scholarships help develop the knowledge and skills immigrants and refugees need to have productive careers and make a good salary. This allows newcomers and their families to be less reliant on social services.
- Foster a sense of belonging
Receiving a scholarship is a great accomplishment! It’s a reflection of others’ commitment and belief in your educational trajectory and future success. This can foster a sense of belonging for immigrants and refugees who may have faced instability in the past.
- Offer support beyond the financial
The organisations that provide scholarships to students often also provide support that can help you navigate the higher education process. You’ll likely gain clarity on application requirements, the visa process, language differences, and travel arrangements and accommodation.
Overview of available opportunities
As you approach higher education, there are three main sources of outside funding that you should consider and be aware of.
The first source is the university itself. Many universities provide scholarships to applicants based on their intended course of study, past academic performance, or identity markers.
The Australian government and nonprofit organisations are the second source of scholarships and awards. You’ll have to seek out these scholarships on your own. Additionally, you should consider looking into scholarships from nonprofits and government bodies in your home country. In some cases, governments and nonprofits help support students who are studying internationally.
Finally, private companies and organisations sometimes offer scholarships. These typically have specific requirements. The more research you do, the more likely you will find scholarships that fit your profile.
University scholarships
Internal university scholarships are typically one of the most fruitful sources of funding for your higher education. This is because the universities are able to provide scholarships and awards that are responsive to their own tuition costs.
University scholarships are offered as either full or partial scholarships. Full scholarships refer to funding that covers your entire tuition cost—and sometimes even room and board! Partial scholarships refer to funding that covers a portion of your tuition.
Typically, university scholarships are either need-based or merit-based. Need-based scholarships respond to financial need. Merit-based scholarships are granted based on your past academic performance.
In some cases, universities will provide scholarships for specific fields of study. Usually, these are related to degrees that are more intense or more in-demand in the career field. Courses of study that are often eligible for scholarships are STEM fields, medicine, education, and engineering.
Major universities offering scholarships
Many major universities in Australia offer scholarships to their admitted students. Here are a few that are known for their scholarship offerings, particularly for international students:
- Australian Catholic University
- University of Adelaide
- Curtin University
- Macquarie University
- Griffith University
- University of Melbourne
- Flinders University
- Charles Darwin University
- University of New South Wales
Most universities have funding information, including information about scholarships and awards, on their webpages. If you’re in contact with universities about potential applications, be sure to inquire about scholarship opportunities available.
Key eligibility requirements
In general, most general scholarships offered by universities do not have an additional application process. When you apply for the university and submit your past academic transcripts and financial information, you’ll automatically be considered for need-based and merit-based scholarships.
Other scholarships might have specific applications. These usually involve a short personal statement and informational forms.
Government and nonprofit scholarships and awards
Governments and nonprofit organisations know that education is a great way to foster independent, dynamic, and self-sufficient communities. As a result, plenty of governments and nonprofits invest in students seeking educational advancement.
For most government and nonprofit scholarships and awards, you’ll have to submit an additional application separate from your university application.
Government-funded opportunities
The Australian government has various opportunities for students seeking higher education. Many of these opportunities have been specially developed to support immigrant and refugee populations.
- Australia Awards Scholarships
These are scholarships awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support people from developing countries in pursuing full-time academic study. The scholarships usually cover tuition fees, travel, and health insurance.
- The QUAD Fellowship Scholarships
These scholarships unite scholars from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States who are interested in STEM fields of study. You can apply if you’re from one of the QUAD countries or one of the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
- Australia Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships
If you’re seeking a research doctorate or research master’s degree, you might be eligible for a scholarship through the Research Training Program. These scholarships usually cover tuition fees and stipend to help cover your living expenses.
Support from nonprofit organisations
Nonprofit organisations typically offer scholarships that support special-interest students. This means that you might have to be studying a specific degree or have particular career goals in order to be eligible for the awards. Here are a few popular scholarships funded by nonprofit organisations:
- Fulbright Australia Scholarships
- John Monash Scholarship
- Australian Sugar Industry Scholarship
- AusIMM STEM Access Scholarship
Private scholarships and awards
The last source of scholarships and awards are private organisations and companies. These scholarships are often partial scholarships related to specific industries, communities, cultures, or identities.
Industries that are typically highlighted for scholarships are STEM fields and community-service-based career paths like medicine and education.
Scholarships are usually available for under-represented cultures and identities. This could include indigenous populations, LGBTQ+ communities, and women, particularly in certain fields like STEM.
Applying for scholarships
If you’re ready to elevate your education in Australia, don’t skip applying for scholarships and awards. These can help offset the cost of higher education or completely eliminate it, keeping your cost of living low. Here’s the process you should follow to maximise your budget for university studies.
Application process overview
- Find scholarships
The first step in applying for a scholarship is finding one! The process of finding out about scholarships should start with the universities to which you’re applying. Search their websites for any scholarships available. From there, use search tools and conduct research to find government, nonprofit, and private scholarships. Community establishments, like local public libraries, might be able to help you in your research.
- Meet the eligibility criteria
Many scholarships have specific criteria that you have to meet in order to be eligible to apply. Review this information carefully. Applying for scholarships is usually a process that requires a lot of time and energy, so you want to make sure that you’re eligible before you prepare your application.
- Prepare a strong application
Take the time needed to prepare a competitive application that highlights your academic merit, demonstrated leadership skills, and relevant experience.
- Seek guidance if necessary
If you need help with your scholarships or recommendation letters, seek the help of your past educators. You can also contact your school counsellors and advisors to help you review your application.
- Submit your application
Send in your application by the deadline. Keep in mind that deadlines are hard and fast in Australia. If you miss the submission date, you likely will not be able to send in an application. Even if you contact the scholarship organisation and they allow you to make a late submission, the tardiness will likely negatively impact your application. If there is a submission fee related to the scholarship application and you are not in a position to pay it, reach out to the organisation to see if it can be waived.
Important deadlines
Scholarship deadlines often mirror the application process timelines of higher education institutions. This means that many application deadlines will be in the fall and spring. It could be helpful for you to create a chart where you organise all of the scholarships to which you intend to apply, their requirements, and their deadlines.
FAQs
Do refugees get free education in Australia?
Yes. Refugees on a permanent visa in Australia are generally eligible for free public education, including university. People seeking asylum or on temporary visas are typically treated as international students and will be expected to pay the related tuition fees.
What are the Refugee Scholarships 2025?
In 2025, a handful of Australian universities offer scholarships for refugees and asylum seekers. These typically cover all tuition fees and accommodation, plus provide a stipend for living expenses.
A few of the universities offering refugee scholarships are the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Federation University, and the Australian Catholic University (ACU). Information about refugee scholarships can be found on university webpages.
What financial assistance do refugees receive in Australia?
If you’re arriving in Australia as a refugee, you might be eligible for financial assistance in the form of JobSeeker Payments, Parenting Payments, disability and carer payments, and Age Pension. For more information about these supports, visit the Australian government webpage.
What is the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker in Australia?
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country and seeks protection in Australia, but whose status has not yet been assessed. A refugee is a former asylum seeker whose status has been assessed and found to be legitimate. Refugees will have a valid visa or residency status as such.