Study Abroad
Your 2027 guide to scholarships in Australia for Nepali students: Australia Awards, RTP research funding, Destination Australia and Perth/Sydney university merit awards, with eligibility, timing and student visa tips.
Is there real scholarship money for Nepali students in Australia? Yes, but most of it is partial and merit-based, a smaller amount is fully funded and highly competitive, and almost all of it has rules that affect your course choice, your intake and even your student visa file. This guide explains the main scholarships in Australia for Nepali students for the 2027 intakes, who they suit, when to apply, and how a scholarship fits with Genuine Student and financial-capacity requirements.
Values and dates below were checked on official pages in October 2026. Rules change every year, so confirm on the provider's page before relying on a figure.
Government-funded, fully funded awards. These cover tuition and usually provide a living allowance and other support. For Nepali citizens the main one is Australia Awards. They are competitive and come with obligations.
Research scholarships. For Master's by Research and PhD students, the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) and equivalent university awards can cover tuition and pay a stipend.
Regional study scholarships. Destination Australia is a government program delivered by eligible providers to encourage study at regional campuses.
University merit scholarships. The most common type. A percentage or fixed amount comes off your tuition, often assessed automatically when you apply for admission. They do not pay living costs.
Our article on fully funded scholarships: myth or reality explains why most students should plan around partial awards.
Australia Awards Scholarships are funded by the Australian Government (DFAT) and are open to citizens of selected countries, including Nepal. For study starting in 2027, the Nepal round opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026. The official Australia Awards Nepal website says applications will reopen in early 2027, which would be for study starting in 2028.
Who it suits. Working professionals rather than fresh +2 graduates. For the 2027 intake, applicants needed to be living in Nepal, hold a qualifying bachelor's degree (for example a four-year bachelor's, or a three-year bachelor's plus a master's) and have at least three years of relevant full-time work experience after their bachelor's.
What you can study. Master's by Coursework or Master's by Research, in a field linked to Nepal's development priorities. For 2027 the nine priority sectors were climate change, disaster risk reduction, economic development, education, gender equality, disability and social inclusion, governance, mental health and rehabilitation therapies, natural resource management, and sustainable infrastructure development.
English. For 2027, the general requirement was IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or the TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic equivalent, with a lower score considered for some equity groups and public servants.
Obligations. Australia Awards scholars are expected to return home after study and contribute to Nepal's development. If your main goal is post-study work or migration in Australia, this is probably not the right scholarship for you.
How to prepare now. Sharpen a development-focused study plan, gather employer references and sit your English test before the round opens. Your application name must match your passport exactly.
If you are aiming for a Master's by Research or PhD, the RTP is the most important source of funding. Each university administers its own RTP and equivalent awards, so you apply to the university, not to the government.
What it can cover. At the universities we checked, international RTP packages include a tuition fee offset and a living stipend. Published 2027 stipend rates range from roughly AUD 39,000 to 44,000 a year depending on the university, and some packages include Overseas Student Health Cover and relocation support.
Timing is critical. Many main rounds for 2027 have already closed: UWA's international round closed on 15 September 2026, ANU's international round 1 deadline was 31 August, and Macquarie's Session 1 2027 international round closed on 31 July 2026. The University of Sydney lists a later round closing on 18 December 2026 for research periods 3 and 4 of 2027. If you missed 2027, start planning for 2028 rounds now.
What makes you competitive. Strong grades, research experience and a supervisor who supports your proposal. Contact supervisors before you apply.
Destination Australia is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by participating universities and TAFEs at regional campuses. Providers we checked list the award at up to AUD 15,000 per year, usually paid in instalments, and subject to government funding being available each year.
Who it suits. Students who are genuinely happy to live and study in a regional town. It is a cash contribution, not a tuition waiver, and some providers allow it alongside their own merit scholarship.
A common mistake. Do not confuse "regional" for migration purposes with Destination Australia eligibility. Perth, for example, is treated as regional for some visa settings, but Destination Australia depends on the campus location and residency rules set for the program. Check each campus directly.
Three Perth examples for 2027:
UWA Global Excellence Scholarship. An annual tuition discount of 10% or 20% for the normal duration of an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate course. For 2027, UWA lists 10% for an equivalent ATAR of 85 (or a WAM of 65 for postgraduates) and 20% for an ATAR of 90 (or a WAM of 75). You are assessed automatically when you apply with final transcripts.
Curtin Global Merit Scholarship. Curtin lists 20% off tuition for the duration of the course for eligible international students.
Murdoch International Futures Scholarship 2027. A 20% tuition fee reduction, automatically applied for eligible full-fee international students, with the 2027 listing open from 1 August 2026 until 1 September 2027.
Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor's Academic Excellence Scholarships. WSU lists 50% of tuition fees, for up to three years for undergraduate and up to two years for postgraduate study. It is very competitive: undergraduate applicants need an ATAR of 90 or above and postgraduates a GPA of about 5.95 out of 7 or equivalent. Some programs are excluded, so check your course.
Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship (VCIS). Up to AUD 10,000 off tuition as a one-off award, not every year, for bachelor's and coursework master's students. It is open year round but limited, so apply early.
How Nepali grades are assessed. Universities convert NEB +2, A-level or Nepali bachelor's results into their own equivalent ATAR or WAM. Ask the university or an experienced counsellor to check your profile before you shortlist.
A scholarship does not automatically make your visa strong. Keep these points in mind.
Financial capacity. Home Affairs accepts scholarships and financial support as possible evidence of funds where evidence is required. A scholarship letter should clearly state the amount, the duration and what it covers. A 20% tuition discount only reduces the tuition you need to show; you still need evidence for the rest, plus living costs (AUD 29,710 a year for the main applicant at the time of writing) and travel. Our proof of funds guide explains the evidence in detail.
Genuine Student (GS). A scholarship can support your story of why you chose a course and provider, but it does not replace a clear, honest study plan. See our Genuine Student tips for Nepali applicants.
English scores. Scholarship, admission and visa English requirements can all differ. Our IELTS vs PTE comparison helps you pick the right test.
Staying with your provider. Most merit scholarships are tied to one provider and need satisfactory progress. Under current settings, onshore students generally need to complete 12 months of their main course before changing provider (a rule announced to run until 30 June 2027). Choose your provider carefully, because changing early can cost you both the scholarship and visa flexibility. Our post on Australian student visa conditions covers the ongoing rules.
Nepal-side paperwork. You still need a No Objection Certificate to send tuition money from Nepal. Our NOC Nepal guide explains the process.
12 to 18 months before. Choose coursework or research, shortlist courses and cities, and sit IELTS or PTE.
9 to 12 months before. Apply for admission with complete transcripts so automatic merit scholarships can be assessed. Research students should contact supervisors.
6 to 9 months before. Compare scholarship letters: per year or one-off, and what grades you must keep.
3 to 6 months before. Accept your offer, apply for your NOC and prepare financial evidence that matches your scholarship letter.
Yes, mainly Australia Awards and research scholarships such as the RTP. Both are competitive.
Yes. Many universities offer merit scholarships for undergraduate study based on your converted +2 results. Higher grades usually mean a higher percentage.
It depends. UWA, Murdoch and WSU list automatic assessment for the awards above, while others, such as Macquarie's VCIS, need a separate form after you have an offer.
No. Your visa still depends on Genuine Student, financial capacity, English, health, character and the other Home Affairs criteria.
Usually not. Merit scholarships are tied to the provider that awarded them, and changing providers early can also have visa consequences.
Everest Global Education helps Nepali students find courses and providers where their grades are likely to attract a scholarship, then build an application and visa file that fits together. We check scholarship conditions, plan intakes, prepare GS and financial evidence, and offer IELTS/PTE preparation. Where migration advice is required, it is provided by MARA-registered migration agents - you can verify any agent on the OMARA register. With offices in Nepal and in Perth and Sydney, we support you before departure and after you arrive.
Kathmandu: Putalisadak, Opposite of MIT College
Pokhara: Pushpa Ratna Bhawan Siddharthachowk-4, Pokhara 33700
Beni: New Road Beni bazar Myagdi
Dhangadhi: Boradadi Road, Dhangadhi 10900
Janakpur: Girija Path Muralichowk Janakpur
Perth (Australia): 102 James St, Northbridge WA 6003
Sydney (Australia): Level 1 / 483 Princes Highway, Rockdale, NSW 2216
Bring your transcripts, English score (if you have one) and preferred course or city. We will shortlist providers, explain which scholarships you may be eligible for and map the timeline to your intake.
Submit an enquiry at https://everestglobaledu.com/enquiry and our team will contact you by phone or email.
Everest Global Education
Phone: +61 8 6157 0080
Email: info@everestglobal.com
Website: https://everestglobaledu.com/
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