Earning an Australian degree requires careful planning around procedures and the total cost of studying in Australia. Fortunately, securing a scholarship to study in Australia can significantly ease your financial burden.

While there are various options, including government-funded and private grants, this guide focuses specifically on university-specific scholarships for Indian students to study in Australia. Top institutions offer competitive funding, with some covering full tuition and airfare.

Understanding the total cost of studying in Australia for Indian students helps you plan effectively. Whether you are aiming for a full grant or considering a student loan to bridge the gap while studying in Australia, explore these university scholarships to find the right fit for your academic profile.

Top Scholarships For Indian Students

Scholarships Built Specifically For Indian Students

Before you look anywhere else, start here. These are the awards where your Indian passport works in your favour.

University of Sydney: Sydney Scholars India Scholarship Program

This scholarship is strictly available to Indian citizens residing in India. This prestigious program awards 28 scholarships annually. You can receive either a full 100% tuition fee waiver for up to four years (2 awarded) or a first-year fee contribution of AUD 20,000 (10 awarded) or AUD 10,000 (16 awarded). To qualify, you must hold an unconditional offer for an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree. The selection is based on academic merit, a personal statement, and overall application strength.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s Meritorious 100% Scholarship (India)

This scholarship is designed specifically as a dedicated initiative for high-achieving Indian applicants. This competitive award provides a 100% tuition fee waiver covering the entire duration of study. You can get selected through a rigorous review process evaluating academic excellence, requiring a minimum of 85% in Class 12 or 80% in a Bachelor's degree, alongside proven leadership skills and community involvement. 

Deakin India Bursary & Merit Scholarships

Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships and bursaries specifically tailored to support eligible Indian students. Financial support varies depending on individual academic performance and eligibility criteria. Applicants scoring between 70% and 80%+ in their previous studies are automatically evaluated during the admission process without needing a separate submission.

University of South Australia (UniSA): India Merit Award

This region-specific merit award provides eligible Indian citizens with a 15% tuition fee discount for the entire duration of their degree program. The scholarship is granted automatically upon application to students who successfully meet UniSA's standard academic and English language entry requirements.

UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship (South Asia Track)

Aimed at high-performing South Asian applicants and heavily utilised by Indian students, this scholarship offers a 15% reduction in tuition fees across the full course duration. Eligible candidates do not need to apply separately, as UTS Admissions automatically assesses all applicants during the standard admission process.

If you need to learn the step-by-step application process to study in Australia, download our Australia 2026 Study Guide.

Merit-Based Scholarships Open To Indian Students

Most top Australian universities offer merit-based tuition reductions. While many treat your admission application as an automatic scholarship application, flagship awards often require a separate submission.

• University of Sydney

The Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships Scheme offers top-tier funding of AUD 60,000 for 2026 intakes, alongside tier options of AUD 40,000, 20,000, 10,000, and 5,000. All applicants holding an unconditional offer are automatically considered without needing a separate application.

• Australian National University (ANU)

The ANU International Achievement Award (alongside the Chancellor's International Scholarship) provides an automatic 20% tuition fee reduction for up to four years. This applies across both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs for eligible Indian applicants.

• UNSW Sydney

UNSW offers two key pathways: the International Scientia Coursework Scholarship, which provides full tuition coverage or AUD 20,000 per year for high achievers with strong extracurriculars (requires a separate application), and the UNSW International Student Award, which grants an automatic 20% annual tuition reduction to eligible commencing students.

• Monash University

The Monash International Merit Scholarship awards AUD 15,000 per year (up to AUD 75,000 total) to 20 high-achieving international students annually. Selection is automatic upon receiving a course offer, though recipients must maintain a 70% (distinction) average to retain the award.

• University of Queensland (UQ)

The UQ Excellence Scholarship provides an automatic 20% tuition fee reduction for the standard duration of the degree. India is explicitly listed as an eligible nationality for this award.

• Adelaide University

Following its university integration, Adelaide University operates a structured 2026 tier system: the Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship (50% off tuition; requires a separate application and essay), the Adelaide Emerging Leaders Award (25% off tuition; automatic consideration), and the Adelaide Merit Scholarship (15% off tuition; automatic consideration).

• University of Western Australia (UWA)

The Global Excellence Scholarship offers up to AUD 48,000 over four years for undergraduate students and up to AUD 24,000 over two years for postgraduate students. Candidates are assessed automatically based on ATAR/GPA equivalence.

• Deakin University

The Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship covers either 50% or 100% of tuition fees for the entire duration of study. Candidates must submit a separate application, including a personal statement and professional references.

• Griffith University

Griffith provides two main options: the Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship, which covers 50% of tuition fees (requires a separate application and personal statement), and the International Academic Merit Scholarship, which awards an automatic 20% tuition reduction.

• Australian Catholic University (ACU)

ACU features the Executive Dean's International Scholarship, offering up to 20% off annual tuition across faculties, and the International Launch Scholarship, which provides an automatic 25% fee discount for students entering select 2026 programs like Computer Science, Data Science, and Business.

 

Faculty and Subject-Specific Scholarships

If you already know your chosen discipline, check these awards first. Because they are restricted to specific faculties or degrees, the applicant pool is smaller, making them highly targeted funding options.

Faculty-specific rules and availability change per intake. Talk to our study abroad consultants to choose your program.

How much will it cost to study in Australia, even with a scholarship?

Most scholarships reduce study costs rather than eliminate them completely. Baseline costs include:

• Tuition: AUD 20,000 to AUD 45,000 per year.
• Living Costs: AUD 24,000 to AUD 30,000 per year. Always calculate your budget based on net costs after applying your scholarship discount.

If a scholarship covers only part of the bill, a student loan usually fills the gap. Indian banks, NBFCs, and international education lenders all offer loans for Australian degrees, and most will factor an accepted scholarship letter into your loan amount, lowering the collateral or interest burden. Apply for your scholarship and loan in parallel rather than sequentially, since loan processing in India can take several weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Indian students get a full scholarship to study in Australia?

Yes, but full-tuition awards are competitive and limited in number. The University of Sydney's Sydney Scholars India Scholarship offers two 100% tuition awards a year; its Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships Scheme can reach AUD 60,000, and Deakin's Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship can cover up to 100% of tuition. 

Do I need a separate application for these scholarships, or are they automatic? 

Most merit awards, such as those from ANU, UQ, Monash, and Melbourne, are assessed automatically with your course application. Flagship programs like the Sydney Scholars India Scholarship and most Vice-Chancellor awards require a separate application.

What GPA or percentage do I need for a merit scholarship in Australia? 

Grade requirements vary by universities in Australia. Tiered scholarships generally award higher tuition discounts to higher GPA tiers. For example, ANU requires an 85+ Selection Rank (UG) or 5.5 GPA (PG), while Monash requires maintaining a 70% average to keep your award.

Can I get a scholarship without IELTS? 

Scholarship eligibility and English proficiency are separate requirements. You must meet the university's English requirements (via IELTS, PTE, or recognized alternatives) to secure course admission before any scholarship offer becomes valid. 

Can I apply for more than one scholarship at the same university? 

Usually not for the top-tier awards. Most universities cap you at one major scholarship per degree, and some, like Sydney's VCIS, explicitly reduce or terminate your award if you accept another scholarship above a certain value. It is worth checking each scholarship's terms and conditions before assuming they can be combined.

Rounding Up

Every university in Australia has its own deadlines, eligibility documents, and application process, and getting the sequencing right can be the difference between winning a scholarship and missing the round entirely. If you are still weighing up scholarships for Indian students to study in Australia against the full cost of your course, book a one-to-one counselling session with our team, and we will map out exactly which scholarships fit your profile, your budget, and your timeline.