Australia Awards

The Australia Awards bring together scholarships offered through AusAID and other Australian government departments. They are an Australian government initiative designed to promote knowledge, education links and enduring ties between Australia, its neighbours and the global community. Over time, the Australia Awards aim to build a new generation of global leaders with strong links to Australia.

The focus of AusAID’s Australia Awards is to develop human resource capacity and leadership skills. The aim is for individuals to contribute to development in their home countries and build people-to-people links at individual, institutional and country levels. 

In Sri Lanka, AusAID’s Australia Awards are offered to eligible applicants from all sectors (public, private and corporate sectors including national NGOs and autonomous agencies). Scholarships are offered at Master’s level only.  

Expected outcomes of Australia Awards

The Australia Awards in Sri Lanka aim to achieve the following outcomes:

• Awardees obtain a high level  of professional and technical skills relevant to their area of expertise 
• Awardees return to their home countries and successfully reintegrate into the workforce 
• Awardees exercise good leadership, apply new skills and nurture partnerships with institutions in the region and in Australia 
• Awardees apply their skills to contribute to improving capacity in their organisations and institutions 
• A fully operating alumni network in Sri Lanka.

Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term scholarships to study at postgraduate level in Australia. They are managed by AusAID and are part of the Australia Awards. They were previously known as Australian Development Scholarships (ADS).

Australia Awards Scholarships provide opportunities for qualified people from Sri Lanka to study full-time at Master’s level in Australia, either by coursework or research. They equip scholars with skills and knowledge to drive change and influence development outcomes in Sri Lanka. 

Australia Awards Leadership Program

Some outstanding awardees of Australia Awards Scholarships will be offered places in the Australia Awards Leadership Program. This Program is a supplement to the Australia Award Scholarships; there is no separate application for it. It will bring awardees together in Australia for leadership training, development discussions and opportunities to build valuable networks.

Priority study areas

The fields of study identified each year for Australia Awards Scholarships reflect the development needs of Sri Lanka and priorities agreed between AusAID and the Sri Lankan Government. They align with Australia’s bilateral aid program and regional objectives.

Australia’s development assistance program in Sri Lanka primarily focuses on health, education and sustainable economic development—with governance a cross-cutting theme for all aid activities in Sri Lanka. 

For further information read about AusAID’s development programs in Sri Lanka at http://www.ausaid.gov.au/countries/southasia/srilanka/Pages/home.aspx 

Notes:

• You should choose two course preferences. You are encouraged to choose two different institutions rather than two different courses at the same University. If your application for the first choice is unsuccessful, AusAID will forward your application to your second choice.
• Applicants are encouraged to consider study programs and universities preferences carefully before applying. AusAID will not consider requests for changes after applications are submitted.
• The CRICOS code of your course can be found on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) at http://cricos.deewr.gov.au A list of suggested courses under each sector is will be available for download soon HERE.
• Courses selected should be focused on poverty alleviation and socio economic development of Sri Lanka. 

Eligibility criteria

General eligibility criteria  

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/Publications/Pages/scholar-handbook.aspx

Applicants must also meet the following specific requirements for Sri Lanka:

• They must be employed in the public or private sector. 

Public sector employees must have at least 3 years’ work experience with 2 years in a field relevant to the proposed course of study and be confirmed in their positions. 

Private sector employees must have at least 3 years’ work experience in a field relevant to the proposed course of study.

• They must not have previously received any Sri Lankan or overseas government-funded award (including AusAID scholarships) for long-term academic studies in a foreign country. Long-term academic studies are defined as one year or longer in duration.  
• They must not be currently studying at a university abroad
• They must have completed a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree
• They must have an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (Academic module) with no band less than 6.0 or TOEFL paper based test score of at least 580, or a TOEFL computer based test score of at least 237 or a TOEFL internet based score of at least 92. 

English proficiency scores must be valid until 1 January 2014 and must be submitted with a scholarship application.

Pre-course English training in-country or in-Australia is not available for Sri Lankan applicants.

Special conditions:

Applicants from the public sector must obtain necessary approvals from their Ministries if selected for an interview. 

Awardees are required to return to Sri Lanka for at least two years after completing their scholarship, to contribute to economic and social development of the country. Failure to do so will incur a debt to the Commonwealth of Australia for the total value of the scholarship

Scholarships awarded for 2014 must be taken in that year. They cannot be transferred to a future year. 

Awardees are required to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring they will comply with the conditions of the scholarship

Required documents

The following documents must be submitted with applications. Failure to do so may make an application ineligible. All documents must be notarized. If the document is not in English, the translated copy must be certified. See Section 2.7.7 of the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for requirements of certification.

Research applicants shortlisted for a selection interview must submit a well developed research proposal by the date of the interview.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a valid police clearance certificate at the point of visa application. Grama Niladhari (Grama Seva) certificates will not be accepted.

Public sector applicants must submit the “ERD form 2” once they are selected.

Notes:

* Applicants should request transcripts from their universities. If universities refuse to provide transcripts direct to applicants, contact the SASP Sri Lanka office for a letter of request. Transcripts must be received by the deadline for applications.

** Experience shows that it takes time for supervisors to complete referee reports. Approach supervisors as soon as possible to obtain up-to-date referee reports. If a referee report is not in English, a translation is required. References should come from employers, senior colleagues or academics familiar with the applicant’s academic, professional skills and achievements. Referee reports from family members or spouses are not acceptable.

*** Referee reports in different formats cannot be accepted and may make applications ineligible. Contact the Sri Lankan SASP team to clarify details about reference requirements

Entitlements

Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary to complete an academic program, including any preparatory training. They attract the following benefits: 

• Full tuition fees 
• Economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route
• Medical expenses and visa processing fees related to the AusAID Student Visa 576
• An establishment allowance to contribute to costs such as accommodation, books, etc. 
• A fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by AusAID 
• A compulsory 4-6 week Introductory Academic Program covering life and study in Australia prior to commencing formal studies
• Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the award to cover an awardee’s basic medical costs. (This is for an awardee only and excludes pre-existing medical conditions)

• Subject to requirements and eligibility, awardees may also receive:
• Supplementary Academic Support (Tutorial Assistance), if required, to improve a student’s performance to assist with academic success
• A reunion airfare for unaccompanied AusAID Scholars (see the Scholarships Policy for details)
• A once only return economy class airfare via the most direct route may be approved for eligible research AusAID Scholars for fieldwork in Australia or their home country or a third country in exceptional circumstances 
• Costs associated with participating in the Australia Awards Leadership Program for awardees offered a place in the program.

View the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook at

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/Documents/scholar-handbook.pdf for more details.

Important actions to start now

1. Applicants must first check if they are eligible to apply for an Australia Award. Eligibility criteria are detailed above and can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.
2. Applicants should download the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook and read its contents carefully.  This is available at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/Documents/scholar-handbook.pdf
3. Applicants must carefully research universities and courses, especially the areas detailed in the section, CRICOS and researching courses, below. It is the responsibility of applicants to understand all aspects of study programs at their preferred university before submitting their applications. Applicants must include two preferred universities in their application. 

Applicants must ensure they:

• apply for two study program listed against their sector/ theme (as shown in the table above)
• satisfy all enrolment requirements specified by a university, including English language proficiency requirements 
• identify a supervisor if they wish to undertake a Master by Research. Applicants must provide a statement from a supervisor giving in-principle support to a research proposal. The statements must be included with their applications. 

Note: Applicants are not required to obtain admissions or get offer letters from the universities.

CRICOS and researching courses

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) has information on all Australian universities with courses available to international students.

It is important for applicants to investigate options in the courses of study they hope to pursue. The CRICOS website and websites of individual universities are the best places to do this. They can clarify:

• if a course is available to international students
• details of course content to compare course components
• English language requirements for selected courses
• other specific course requirements
• how closely course content links with a Development Theme.

Read the information on CRICOS carefully because not all courses are available to international students. Each course has a unique code: a six digit number and check letter. This number is an important identifier for selected courses. It must be accurate when typed into an application.

CRICOS is found at http://cricos.deewr.gov.au

Suggested courses specific to the priority sector/ theme for Sri Lanka can be downloaded HERE.

How to apply

• The online application form is accessible at https://oasis.ausaid.gov.au. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications online.  Those who have any issues regarding online applications must contact the Sri Lankan SASP office well before the application deadline.  
• The Supporting Statement section of the application form is particularly important. Applicants must provide strong arguments to demonstrate their suitability for a scholarship. 
• Applicants who wish to pursue studies by research (including Master’s by research, or Master’s by coursework with a research component) must complete the Research Proposal Details section. 
• Applicants must complete the English Language Proficiency section in full, including their scores.  Applicants must attach a valid copy of their IELTS or TOEFL certificate.  
• Enter your name in the online application form as it appears in your passport.
• Scanned copies of supporting documents must be uploaded with the online application form. 

Please note the following: 

• Applications are valid only if all sections are completed. 
• Information can be added or edited while an application is in draft form.
• Save information each time changes are made.
• Enter the six digit number and check letter of the desired course in the Proposed Study section, and click the search button to populate the form with all information about the course.
• An application can be revised until it is submitted. To edit an application after it is submitted, it must be ‘Un-submitted’. This can be done only before the applications closing date. 
• Scan and upload all required documents. View instructions on how to scan and upload documents in PDF format at the SASP website’s FAQ section. 
• Print a copy of the application before submitting it. 
• An email acknowledging receipt of your application will be sent after it is submitted.

Scholarship management process

The selection process is open and transparent. The 9 key steps in the processes are: 

1. Intake opens – 1 February 2013
2. Submit online applications with necessary supporting documents
3. Intake closes at 5.00 pm (Sri Lankan time) 30 April 2013
4. Eligibility checks, independent assessments and ranking
5. Short listing, interview, recommendation of applicants and offer of scholarships
6. Sri Lankan  SASP team seeks university placement
7. Immigration/visa and health clearances 
8. Pre-departure briefing and mobilization
9. In-Australia support

The interview takes into account applicants’ experience in the field for which they are applying and capacity for overall development of Sri Lanka. Only short-listed candidates are contacted for interview. Selection criteria can be found in Section 4 of the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

Preparatory training

Information sessions for potential applicants will be scheduled in provinces and districts during the application period. Applicants may register for information sessions through portal at www.southasiascholarships.org/sri-lanka

Useful links

• Further information about AusAID’s Australia Awards can be found at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards
• Information about visas and award entitlements and conditions can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/Documents/scholar-handbook.pdf
• More general information about the Australia Awards, AusAID and studying in Australia can be found at: www.australiaawards.gov.au; www.ausaid.gov.au;  http://studyinaustralia.gov.au/
• The following websites provide valuable background and preparatory information:http://www.immi.gov.au; http://cricos.deewr.gov.au;  http://www.dfat.gov.au; http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis;  http://www.ielts.org;  http://www.ets.org/toefl

Contact Us

Australia Awards in South Asia 
229/2 1/1, Kirula Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka
T (+94) 112369415, M (+94) 773638958, (+94) 773939038
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web address: http://www.southasiascholarships.org/Sri Lanka

Managed by Coffey International Development