Australia is one of the world’s most popular study destinations, but tuition for international students is expensive. That is why a 100% scholarship in Australia is so valuable. These awards are competitive, but thousands of students win them every year. This guide explains what a 100% scholarship in Australia actually means, which awards to target for 2027, who is eligible, and how to build a strong application. Winning a 100% scholarship in Australia is step one. Step two is figuring out where you’ll live, so this guide also covers student accommodation in Australia.
What Does a “100% Scholarship in Australia” Actually Mean?
The phrase is used loosely, so be clear about what you are applying for.
- 100% tuition fee scholarship (fee remission): The university waives all your tuition fees. You still pay for living costs, flights and health cover.
- Fully funded scholarship: Tuition plus extras such as airfare, health insurance and a living allowance. This is the gold standard.
- Partial scholarship: Many university awards are partial. International students often receive a 15% to 25% fee remission.
Always read the fine print to see exactly what your 100% scholarship in Australia covers.
Option 1: Australia Awards Scholarships (Government-Funded)
This is the best-known fully funded 100% scholarship in Australia for students from partner countries. It is run by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
What it covers: Full tuition fees, a single return flight, a contribution to living expenses, Overseas Student Health Cover and supplementary academic materials.
Who can apply: Students from countries in Africa and the Indo-Pacific region, studying full-time at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Other sources add that some Asian, Middle Eastern and Pacific countries take part too. Requirements differ by country, so check your country’s profile on the official Australia Awards website.
Important timing for 2027: The 2027 intake, for study starting in Semester 1 2027, opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026 at 14:00 AEST. If you missed it, the next intake (for study starting in 2028) typically opens in February 2027, so use 2027 to prepare your documents, English test and personal statement for this 100% scholarship in Australia. In the meantime, the university scholarships below are your best route for a 2027 start.
Beware of scams: The official program does not use agents to process applications. Applications must go through the official OASIS portal (oasis.dfat.gov.au). Never pay anyone to “guarantee” a scholarship.
Option 2: University Awards for a 100% Scholarship in Australia
Many Australian universities offer full-tuition awards for outstanding international students. Examples from current listings:
- University of Melbourne, International Undergraduate Scholarship: Awards range from a $10,000 first-year remission to 50% or 100% fee remission for the three-year degree.
- University of Sydney, Vice-Chancellor International Scholarship: A full tuition fee waiver or a $20,000 per year reduction, for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Macquarie University International Scholarship (MUIS): Full international tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- ANU: The ANU International Undergraduate Scholarship lists 100% tuition coverage plus Overseas Student Health Cover for top awardees, with 50% and 25% tiers below it.
Only a handful of students receive the 100% tier at each university, and the rest get partial awards. Apply for everything you are eligible for, not just the top prize. Every university sets its own rules for a 100% scholarship in Australia, and deadlines for 2027 entry vary by semester, so check each scholarship page for the exact dates.
Option 3: PhD and Research Routes to a 100% Scholarship in Australia
Research degrees are often the easiest route to full funding.
- ANU HDR Fee Remission Merit Scholarship: Covers full tuition for the standard duration of a PhD or Master of Philosophy. No separate application is needed, because eligible candidates are considered automatically.
- RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship: Full tuition coverage for PhD students, with a living stipend of about $35,886 per year and a $1,540 relocation allowance. Stipend amounts change, so confirm them on the university site.
If you are open to research, a strong research proposal and a supportive supervisor can improve your chances of a 100% scholarship in Australia a lot.
Option 4: Humanitarian and Equity Scholarships
Some full scholarships are designed to widen access, and they can also lead to a 100% scholarship in Australia for students who qualify.
- ANU Humanitarian Scholarship: For international students with refugee backgrounds, such as Temporary Protection Visa holders or asylum seekers on specific bridging visas. It provides a 100% tuition fee scholarship for a first undergraduate degree plus a stipend.
Many universities also have equity awards for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and for students facing financial hardship. Check each university’s scholarship page.
What About Students Already Living in Australia?
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a 100% scholarship in Australia works differently:
- Commonwealth Supported Places and HECS-HELP lower or defer the cost of university fees, so no upfront payment is needed.
- Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships typically cover tuition and often include a stipend for domestic research students.
- StudyAssist has a national database of current scholarships in Australia for international students and domestic students both.
Government fee arrangements change regularly, so verify the current rules on official sites.
How to Build a Winning Application for a 100% Scholarship in Australia
- Start early. Most strong applicants begin 9-12 months ahead.
- Get your grades and English right. Most awards require top academic results and a good IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score.
- Write a focused personal statement. Explain your goals and how you will contribute back to your community or country. Australia Awards in particular values development impact.
- Show leadership and service. Volunteering, work experience, community projects and research all help.
- Choose referees carefully. Pick people who know your work well and can give specific examples.
- Follow every instruction. Missing documents are among the most common reasons for rejection.
- Apply widely. Combine government, university and external awards to raise your odds.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Popular Courses for International Students in Australia
Don’t Forget Accommodation: Where Will You Live?
Even a 100% scholarship in Australia doesn’t cover your rent. Unless your award includes a living allowance, as the Australia Awards do, accommodation will likely be your biggest expense. It’s worth planning early, ideally as soon as you get your offer letter.
Your Main Accommodation Options
- University halls (on-campus): Convenient and social, but demand often exceeds supply, especially at major universities in Sydney and Melbourne. Apply as soon as you accept your offer.
- Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA): Modern apartment-style buildings run by operators such as Scape, Iglu and UniLodge. Rent often includes utilities and Wi-Fi.
- Shared apartments or houses: Usually the cheapest option, but you’ll typically need to inspect in person and may be asked for rental history you don’t have yet.
- Homestay: Living with a local family, usually with meals included. A good soft landing for your first semester.
How Much Does It Cost?
Prices vary a lot by city and room type. Use these current estimates as a starting point for your 2027 budget, and expect them to shift:
- Melbourne: Purpose-built student accommodation in Melbourne typically runs about $300 to $450 per week, with shared apartments around $250 to $350.
- Sydney: Student accommodation Sydney generally costs more, around $350 to $500 per week.
- Near Macquarie University, listings on University Living range from AU$221 to AU$1,790 per week depending on property type and amenities.
Budget carefully. The Australian student visa currently requires you to show access to at least A$29,710 per year in living costs, and rent will take a large share of that.
Finding Verified Housing in Australia from Abroad
Booking from overseas is one of the biggest worries for international students. Scams and fake listings are a real risk, so avoid paying deposits to anyone you haven’t verified.
University Living are designed for this situation. The platform lists verified housing near universities, flexible booking options and relocation support. It also says it has been operating for over ten years with five million or more bookings globally (a figure the company reports about itself). You can compare options by university and budget before you fly.
Check a few things before booking:
- Confirm the listing and lease terms in writing before paying anything.
- Understand what’s included in the rent (utilities, internet, furnishings).
- Check the cancellation and refund policy, in case your visa is delayed.
- Compare prices with your university’s own housing office.
A Smart Order of Operations for 2027
- Receive your scholarship and university offer.
- Apply for university halls straight away if they’re available.
- Shortlist PBSA or private options on a booking platform as a backup.
- Book short-term housing for your first few weeks if you want to inspect long-term places in person.
Common Mistakes When Applying for a 100% Scholarship in Australia
- Paying agents or “scholarship fee” websites. Official applications are free.
- Missing the deadline. Late applications are rarely accepted.
- Assuming a university offer equals a scholarship. They are often separate processes.
- Ignoring country-specific requirements.
- Leaving accommodation until the last minute. Good options near campus fill up quickly, especially before semester starts.
Also Read: Australia Student Visa Rules 2026: Family, Fees, English & GS Requirements Explained
Final Thoughts
A 100% scholarship in Australia will not come easily, but it is achievable with early planning, strong grades and a clear story. For a 2027 start, target university full-tuition awards and research funding, and if your country is eligible, prepare now for the Australia Awards intake that typically opens in February 2027. Start your search for a 100% scholarship in Australia early, then sort out your accommodation through your university housing office or a verified platform such as University Living, so you arrive ready to focus on your studies. Check the official websites for the latest deadlines, because amounts and eligibility change from year to year.
Quick note: Scholarship details, deadlines, amounts and rental prices change often, so confirm everything on the official DFAT, university and student accommodation page before applying or booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can coursework students realistically get a 100% scholarship in Australia?
It is possible but rare. Most genuinely fully funded awards are designed for research students (PhD or Master by Research) through the Research Training Program (RTP) or similar government schemes. For coursework students, a handful of elite merit awards, like the University of Sydney International Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship, do cover 100% tuition, but they are extremely competitive. If you are set on coursework study, your realistic strategy is usually stacking a high percentage tuition waiver with other funding sources rather than expecting one award to cover everything.
What academic profile do I need to be competitive for a fully funded scholarship?
For research scholarships, you typically need a strong academic record (often the equivalent of 80% or a High Distinction average), a well developed research proposal, and ideally prior research experience or publications. For elite coursework awards, you generally need to be in the top tier of your cohort, think 85% or a GPA around 8.5/10 for the most competitive full tuition awards. English proficiency also matters. While IELTS 6.5 is often the minimum, competitive applicants for full funding usually present IELTS 7.0 or higher to demonstrate readiness for academic work.
Do I need to secure admission before applying for a scholarship?
It depends on the scholarship. Many university merit awards require you to have an offer of admission or at least an application reference number before you can apply for the scholarship. Some research scholarships, however, are assessed automatically as part of your admission application. You do not submit a separate scholarship form. For Australia Awards, the process runs in parallel. You apply for the scholarship first, and if successful, you then secure admission to an eligible program. Always check the specific scholarship’s application rules before assuming one step comes before the other.
What is the most common mistake applicants make on full scholarship applications?
Starting too late and submitting a generic statement of purpose. Scholarship committees can tell when you have reused an admission SOP without tailoring it to the specific award’s objectives. Another frequent error is writing essays that are overly complicated and fail to answer the question directly. One Australia Awards recipient advised keeping the essay focused and leaving the detailed achievements for your CV. Missing documents, ignoring scholarship specific English requirements, and applying to only one award are other avoidable mistakes that sink otherwise strong candidates.
When should I start preparing for a 2027 scholarship application?
For government scholarships like Australia Awards, you generally need to start 12 to 18 months before your intended intake because the application cycle opens roughly a year in advance. The 2027 round, for example, opened in February 2026 and closed in April 2026. For university research scholarships, key deadlines often fall between August and December 2026 for 2027 commencement. A safe rule is to begin researching scholarships and preparing documents at least 12 months before you hope to start studying.
What does a “100% scholarship” actually cover in Australia?
Coverage varies significantly. Some “full” scholarships cover tuition only, leaving you responsible for living costs, which can exceed AUD 29,000 per year in major cities. Government funded awards like Australia Awards and RTP typically include both tuition and a living stipend, and sometimes health cover and airfare. Always read the offer letter carefully. If it says “full tuition scholarship,” it usually means you still need to fund your own accommodation, food, and insurance.
