Western Australia presents a significant opportunity for international students seeking a world-class education. The state is home to globally recognized universities and a thriving economy, offering a unique combination of high-quality learning and a desirable lifestyle. The Western Australian government and its educational institutions actively encourage international students to study in the region. They provide a range of scholarships to reduce financial barriers.
These programs are designed to attract talented individuals from around the world. The scholarships recognize academic excellence and support students across various fields of study. Financial awards help cover a substantial portion of tuition fees and, in some cases, contribute to living expenses. This support allows students to focus more on their academic and professional development during their time in Australia.
This guide details six key scholarships available for international citizens for the 2026-2027 academic year. It provides factual information on the benefits, eligibility criteria, and application processes for each award. The guide serves as a resource for prospective students to identify and pursue these valuable funding opportunities. It offers a clear pathway to understanding how to fund your education in Western Australia.
1. Western Australian Premier’s University Scholarship
The Government of Western Australia funds this prestigious award to attract high-achieving scholars to the state’s universities. This scholarship is a one-time grant applied directly to tuition fees, providing significant financial relief for the initial year of study. Recipients are chosen based on their outstanding academic merit and are nominated for the award by their chosen university.
- Award Value: The scholarship provides a one-time payment of AUD $50,000.
- Nominating Bodies: Recipients are nominated by one of Western Australia’s five universities.
- Application Process: There is no direct application; universities nominate eligible candidates.
- Eligible Citizens: Students must be from one of approximately 15 specified countries in regions like Northeast Asia, South Asia, and Europe.
- Level of Study: The award is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs.
- Requirement: Applicants must have received an offer of admission from a WA university to be considered.
Start application process for Australian University Scholarships for International Students 2026.
2. Destination Australia Scholarship (Commonwealth Government)
This Australian Government program supports international students who choose to study at a regional campus. The scholarship provides an annual payment to assist with both tuition and living expenses, encouraging students to experience life outside of major city centers. The award is intended to support the growth of regional educational institutions and their communities.
- Annual Value: The scholarship offers AUD $15,000 per year of study.
- Location Requirement: Students must study and live in a designated regional area of Australia.
- Provider: This is a federally funded program administered by individual universities with regional campuses.
- Application Method: Students apply directly through a participating university, such as ECU’s Bunbury campus scholarships.
- Course Levels: The program funds a range of qualifications, from a Certificate IV to a PhD level.
- Commitment: You must remain enrolled full-time at the regional campus to retain the scholarship.
3. University of Western Australia (UWA) – Global Excellence Scholarship
The University of Western Australia automatically awards this scholarship to high-achieving undergraduate and postgraduate students. It functions as a significant tuition fee reduction distributed over the duration of the degree program. The award amount is tiered based on the applicant’s equivalent ATAR score, rewarding higher academic performance with greater financial support.
- Total Value: The scholarship provides up to AUD $48,000 over a four-year degree.
- Award Basis: It is an automatic award based on achieving a specific ATAR equivalent (e.g., 85.00 – 98.00+).
- Separate Application: No separate application is necessary; it is awarded automatically upon admission.
- Eligible Regions: Students from specific countries in regions like China, Europe, and North America are eligible.
- Payment Structure: The scholarship is applied as a fee reduction in each semester of the course.
- Exclusions: The scholarship excludes certain high-demand courses, such as Medicine, Podiatric Medicine, and Pharmacy.
Start Process to Australia Awards Scholarships Eligibility Criteria – How to Apply
4. Curtin University – Merit Scholarship
This scholarship from Curtin University recognizes academic excellence by providing a financial award for the first year of study. The award reduces the student’s initial tuition fee burden, making the transition to studying in Australia more affordable. It is offered to international students who have demonstrated strong academic capabilities in their previous studies.
- Fee Reduction: The award reduces first-year tuition fees by 25%.
- Maximum Value: The total value of the reduction is capped at AUD $10,000.
- Automatic Consideration: Eligible applicants are automatically considered for the scholarship upon admission.
- Campus Location: The scholarship is for students studying at one of Curtin’s Western Australian campuses.
- Program Type: It is available for bachelor’s and master’s by coursework programs.
- Requirement: Students must accept their offer of admission from the university by the specified deadline to receive the award.
- Appy with official Curtin University website
5. Murdoch University – International Welcome Scholarship
Murdoch University offers this scholarship to a broad range of international students to make its programs more accessible. The award provides a consistent tuition fee reduction for the entire duration of a student’s degree. This ongoing support helps students manage their finances throughout their academic journey at Murdoch’s Western Australian campuses.
- Tuition Discount: The scholarship reduces tuition fees by up to 20% for the duration of the degree.
- Geographic Scope: It is open to international students from all countries except New Zealand.
- Program Inclusions: The award applies to most undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
- Assessment: The university assesses eligibility for the scholarship based on the course application.
- Campus Requirement: You must commence your studies at one of Murdoch’s WA campuses (Perth or Mandurah).
- Exclusions: It does not apply to a small number of specified courses, and you cannot hold it with other Murdoch scholarships.
6. Edith Cowan University (ECU) – International Merit Scholarship
Edith Cowan University provides this merit-based scholarship to international students from specific countries. The award offers a substantial reduction in tuition fees for the entire length of the course for students with strong past academic records.19 It is automatically awarded to eligible students who receive an offer of admission to the university.
- Ongoing Discount: The scholarship offers a 20% reduction in tuition fees for the full duration of your course.
- Automatic Award: There is no separate application required for this scholarship.
- Citizenship Requirement: Applicants must be citizens of one of the 65+ eligible countries listed by the university.
- Study Level: The award is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
- Academic Maintenance: You must maintain good academic standing (pass all units) to keep the scholarship.
- Exclusions: The scholarship is not available for PhD, Master by Research, or specific high-cost programs.
