Rural & Regional Scholarships for International Students

Did you know the International Education industry delivers $32 billion annually to the Australian economy? 

Australia is one of the favourite destinations for students who desire a top-quality education to meet global standards. The land down under has been synonymous with International education for decades.

Many International students from China, Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and other countries are keen to study at the best Australian universities.

The number of International students studying in Australia has increased by 12% compared to the last year, 2018. Out of all students, 31% are Chinese students studying in Australia.

1. Scholarships Provided by The Federal Government

Tertiary courses in Australia are costly. The Federal Government has recently recognised this and finally started to provide scholarships to honour students' commitment to their studies. 

While some scholarships cover living expenses or tuition fee waivers, others are fully-funded and cover both living expenses and tuition fees. Some scholarships include book allowances, insurance, travel costs, and everything a student needs to study abroad. 

The Federal Government has opened the door of top Universities in Australia for talented and skilled migrants to equip their rural areas with quality resources.

With more than 47,000 job openings in different regions of Australia, this initiative by the government enables International students to work, study and live in Australia. 

The scholarship covers return air travel, establishment allowances, total tuition fees, the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), a contribution to living expenses (CLE), Pre-course English (PCE), an Introductory Academic Program (IAP) and more. 

In short, the scholarship gives students an excellent growth opportunity to shape their careers while enjoying a unique lifestyle. 

2. Who is Eligible?

Students from the participating countries in Africa, The Middle East and Asia can apply for regional scholarships in Australia. 

3. Latest Initiative by The Government

Recently, the Australian government has initiated New Regional Visas and New Tertiary Scholarships for International Students:

New Regional Visas

• The Australian government has introduced two new regional visas with 23,000 places allocated to potential skilled migrant workers.

• The new regional Visa holders must live and work in regional Australia for about three years (formerly, it was two years) before applying for permanent residency (PR). 

• The migrants living and working in Australia on this visa will be given access to priority visa processing and are eligible for a wide range of jobs and occupations. 

New Tertiary Scholarships

• Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently unveiled a new government population policy. This policy reveals that 1000 scholarships worth each $15,000 annually will be given to International students.

• He also said that this move is an endeavour to capitalise on Australia's solid international student market.

• The number of scholarships provided by The Australian Universities and Federal Government is to attract domestic as well as international students and workers in different regional areas of the country. 

• The main aim behind these initiatives is to uplift the country's position in the educational market. However, only students who choose to study at regional universities across the country can receive these scholarships.

4. One Year is Granted To Temporary Graduate Visa Holders 

Suppose you are an international student who decides to study at a regional university in Australia under the new scholarship program. In that case, you will have access to an additional year on your Temporary Graduate Visa. 

This means as an undergraduate, the total length of the Temporary Graduate Visa 485 will be three years and five years for PhD students. 

This visa will not affect current visa holders. Moreover, visa applications lodged before November 2019 will be processed as usual. According to the Department of Home Affairs, there will be no impact on current visa holders and permanent residents.

Note: The Government of Australia defines all areas of Australia as 'Regional,' except Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, Perth, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Melbourne metropolitan area. 

The country's primary focus is to provide a high education standard to attract students worldwide. However, students must leave Australia after completing their studies, or they will incur debt for the total cost of their scholarship.

Useful Links to Explore:

• English Language Requirements for Australia
• Cultural differences you may experience in Australia
• How to find Part-Time work as a Student in Australia
• Seven Tips for Students on a Budget in Australia
• How to get a Scholarship to Study in Australia
• Driving in Australia as an International Student
• How to change your Course or Institute in Australia
• The Benefits of a Professional Year Program (PYP)
• A Complete Guide to Study in Australia
• Types of Education in Australia
• What to Study in Australia?