Maldives
Applying for an Australia Awards scholarship
Australia Awards scholarships in Maldives
Australia’s international development assistance in Maldives helps promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance
political stability.
Australia Awards scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next
generation of global leaders in developing countries. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and
knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and, most importantly,
their potential to impact on development challenges in eligible countries.
Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.
Priority fields of study
The priority areas of study for eligible Maldivians are:
Priority Sectors Fields of Study
• Business Administration
Effective and accountable state • Economics
• Fisheries & Aquatic Resources
• Information & Communication Technologies
• Law and Justice
• Project Management
• Public Administration & Policy
• Public Financial Management
• Statistics & Data Management
• Tourism & Hospitality
• Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience
Resilient community and state • Cultural Studies
• Disability Studies
• Disaster Management & Risk Reduction
• Education
• Environmental & Resource Management
• Gender Studies
• Health (including Public & Mental Health)
• Psychology, Social Work & Counselling
• Renewable Energy
• Sustainable Infrastructure Development
• Youth Studies
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2025
The governments of Australia and Maldives regularly review these areas of study together and adjust the emphasis of
the program. Detailed information on priority areas of study can be found at: www.australiaawardsmaldives.org.
Level of study
Australia Awards scholarships provide citizens of Maldives with the opportunity to obtain a qualification at an Australian
tertiary institution.
Awards will be offered for commencement in 2025 within the following allocations:
• Master’s level qualification by coursework or research.
Australia Awards benefits
Australia Awards scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the
academic program specified by the Australian education institution, including any preparatory training.
Scholarship recipients will receive the following:
• return air travel
• a one-off establishment allowance on arrival
• full tuition fees
• contribution to living expenses
• introductory academic program
• overseas student health cover for the duration of the scholarship
• supplementary academic support,
• fieldwork allowance for research students and masters by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork
component.
Eligibility criteria
Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships
Policy Handbook, available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-
handbook
Country-specific conditions
In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Maldives must also meet the following conditions:
• must meet the English language requirements as set out in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.
Scores must be valid at 1 January 2025 and should be submitted no later than 30 June 2024.
• not have held a foreign scholarship in the 24 months preceding the application closing date
• not have obtained an academic qualification outside Maldives in the 24 months preceding the application closing
date, calculated from the date of arrival back in the home country
• have a tertiary qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree
• have worked in Maldives for at least 24 months preceding the application closing date and after completing their
Bachelor’s degree.
Special Conditions
• Public sector employees selected for an Australia Awards scholarship may be required to provide a copy of their
official leave approval document to the Australia Awards office prior to departure.
• Awardees are required to return to Maldives for at least two years after completing their scholarship, to contribute
to the 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.
• Awardees are required to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring they will comply with the
conditions of the scholarship.
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2025
Application dates
For study commencing in Australia in 2025:
Opening date: 1 February 2024
Closing date: 30 April 2024 (11:59PM AEST)
Applications and/or supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered.
The application process
Online applications
All applications must be lodged online through OASIS at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/.
Supporting documents
Applicants must submit all the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy
Handbook.
Applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for Maldives:
Required OASIS
Certified
document document type
Tertiary degree certificates Degree Certificate Yes
Academic grades for university qualifications Academic Transcript Yes
Passport/National ID Proof of citizenship Yes
Curriculum Vitae (CV)* Other Document No
Development Impact and Linkages Plan (DILP) document* Other Document No
Certificates of special achievement or merit Other Document No
English language test (IELTS Academic, TOEFL or PTE Academic) results Proof of English language
Yes
certificate valid at 1 January 2025 (to be submitted by 30 June 2024) proficiency
Employment Letter* Other Document No
COURSEWORK MASTER’S APPLICANTS: One academic referee report
and one professional referee report (e.g. a work supervisor with referee’s Referee Report No
seal)*
RESEARCH MASTER’S APPLICANTS: two academic referee reports and
Referee Report No
one professional referee report (e.g. a work supervisor with referee’s seal)*
RESEARCH MASTER’S APPLICANTS: a research proposal. This proposal
must include a proposed methodology, timeline, and a brief literature review Other Document No
(Guideline available*)
RESEARCH MASTER’S APPLICANTS: Identify 2 supervisors from each of
Other Document No
your nominated institutions and include details with your application
Any other document you wish to upload ensuring your eligibility Other Document No
*Template/document available at: www.austrailaawardsmaldives.org
Notes:
• Please refer the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for certification requirements for documents
requiring certification. If a document is not in English, the translated copy must also be certified.
• Referee reports in different formats cannot be accepted and may make applications ineligible. Contact the Australia
Awards Sri Lanka & Maldives office to clarify reference requirements.
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2025
The selection process
• Applications will be shortlisted after eligibility checking.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• The selection process includes an interview. Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:
- academic competence
- potential outcome, specifically the contribution to development outcomes in Maldives.
- professional and personal leadership attributes including relevant work experience.
• Successful candidates will be notified in late 2024.
• Awardee travel is subject to meeting the requirements of the Australian Government, as determined by the
Department of Home Affairs, Department of Education and by the relevant Australian State or Territory governments.
Preparatory training
Successful applicants will be required to attend:
• course counselling
• pre-departure briefing
• university’s Introductory Academic Program,
• other required preparatory study on arrival in Australia.
Further information
More general information about the Australia Awards, Australia’s aid program, and studying in Australia can be found at
the following links:
• dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/pages/australia-awards-scholarships
• https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/
Information about visas and Australia Awards scholarship entitlements and conditions can be found in the
Scholarships Policy Handbook: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-
handbook
Contact details
Australia Awards—Sri Lanka and Maldives
Address: 75 1/1, Kynsey Road, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94 115 772 977 – 80
Email: inquiries@australiaawardsmaldives.org
www.austrailaawardsmaldives.org
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2025
