Study in Australia or the Pacific

Tonga

Applying for an Australia Awards scholarship

 

Australia Awards scholarships in Tonga

Australia’s international development assistance in Tonga helps promote prosperity through supporting economic recovery and resilience, strengthening governance, enhancing disaster response and preparedness, and supporting human development and social inclusion.

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 those living in the outer islands, women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.

Priority fields of study

The priority areas of study for eligible Tonga are:

• Governance and Economics – including governance, public policy, economics, public financial management, and accounting.
• Health – all clinical qualifications, community and public health, and allied health qualifications particularly physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, and nutrition and dietetics.
• Infrastructure – engineering, surveying, and aviation policy and management.
• Sciences – all scientific fields, including environmental management, agriculture, aquaculture / fisheries, energy, and climate change and disaster preparedness and resilience. 
• Education – teaching qualifications, policy and management.
• Information Technology and Cyber Security.
• Community Development and Inclusion – community and social development, including gender equality studies and disability inclusion.
• Journalism and media.

The governments of Australia and Tonga 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: Australia Awards in Tonga | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)

Level of study

Australia Awards scholarships provide citizens of Tonga with the opportunity to obtain a qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.

Awards will be offered for commencement in 2025 in line with priority fields detailed above.  

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: dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx

Country-specific conditions

In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Tonga must also meet the following conditions:

• Applicant must not have been terminated from a course of study in the five (5) years preceding time of application.
• Recipients under the Newington Program who have completed their secondary school education in Australia in the year prior are eligible to apply for a long-term Australia Awards.
• Applicant must not be a dual citizen with either Australia or New Zealand, hold permanent residency in Australia or New Zealand or be applying for a visa to live in Australia or New Zealand permanently.
• Applicant must not have held a long-term scholarship to study outside their home country in the 24 months preceding to time of application.  In-country awards do not apply in this instance.
• Australia Awards (Masters & PhD) applicants must have at least three years’ work experience in the chosen field of study.

Application dates

For study commencing in Australia in 2026:

Opening date: 1 February 2025  

Apply now: https://bit.ly/39Eu3IR

Closing date: 30 April 2025 (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 at the time of application (as indicated below).  Please note that documents do not need to be certified at the time of application, but this will be required after the short-listing process.

 

Required document	AAS	AAPS
Proof of citizenship i.e. birth certificate / passport if available and photographic identification i.e. student card / drivers licence if passport is not available.	Yes	Yes
Tertiary degree certificates (Bachelor and/or Masters level)	Yes	Yes
Academic transcripts (where they are not in English please provide an English translation)	Yes	Yes
IELTS, TOEFL or PTE academic results (English language test results will be requested separately if required)	If Available	NA
Academic referee report with Institution stamp: 2 x if applying for Masters/PhD by Research 1 x if applying for Masters by coursework A template for both reports can be obtained from the Australia Awards website.  https://www.dfat.gov.au	Yes	No
Employment referee report with employment stamp: A template for both reports can be obtained from the Australia Awards website. https://www.dfat.gov.au	Yes	No
Academic reference letter with stamp and an employment reference letter with stamp (if you have worked or are currently working)	No	Yes
Curriculum vitae (CV)/Resume	Yes	Yes
Development impact plan.  There is no specific format for this. This is a statement about how these studies will assist you to contribute to development in Tonga and any actions you intend to take on completion of your scholarship studies.	Yes	No

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