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Australia Awards
Your entitlements
As an Australia Awards student you’re entitled to a range of scholarship benefits.
Overseas Student Health Cover
As part of your scholarship, the University covers your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). This will be arranged by the International Sponsorships team. Your cover will commence when you arrive in Sydney and you’ll be given your OSHC card during your Arrival Information Session.
Your cover is provided by Bupa Success Overseas Student Health Cover, and maintained by both an Bupa representative and Australia Awards Finance Officer. If you have any cover-specific questions, you can speak with a Bupa representative in person. Make sure you let them know that you are an Australia Awards sponsored student.
Establishment allowance
You will be given a once-off establishment allowance of A$5000 to help with rental bond, textbooks, study materials and other costs associated with settling in. During your Arrival Information Session, the International Sponsorships team will help you open your Australian bank account and access your establishment allowance.
When you arrive in Sydney, you need to make sure you have enough money (in Australian dollars) to cover any costs before you receive your establishment allowance.
Tuition fees
Your scholarship covers your University tuition fees and the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). It will cover the minimum fees needed to obtain your degree. This means if you complete more credit points than is needed to graduate from your program, the fees for the extra units will not be covered by your scholarship.
The International Sponsorships team pay your fees for you. If you receive a financial statement with outstanding fees, contact the team on australiaawards@sydney.edu.au so payment can be made.
Contribution to living expenses (stipend)
You will receive a stipend of A$34,503 per annum to assist with your living expenses.
Payments
Your stipend is paid in fortnightly instalments of A$1323.42 according to the University’s pay dates. Payments are made into your Australian bank account and are not subject to income taxation.
You will get help opening your Australian bank account, with the Commonwealth Bank (CommBank), during your Arrival Information Session. If you want to change your bank account, you need to provide your updated bank details to the Australia Awards Finance Officer at australiaawards@sydney.edu.au to make sure you receive your stipend payments.
Public Transport Concession Card
You are entitled to a tertiary student concession OPAL card, allowing you to travel on Sydney’s public transport at a discounted rate.
During your Arrival Information Session, the International Sponsorships team will give you information and help you order your OPAL card.
Travel
There are three categories of scholarship-funded travel:
- return home travel
- reunion travel
- fieldwork travel.
Scholarship-funded travel needs to be approved by the International Sponsorships team. Speak to the team first to discuss your travel entitlements.
Once approved you’ll be given a travel booking form to complete. All travel needs to be booked through STA Travel – we will provide you with contact details for our dedicated STA agent to arrange your flights.
Return home travel
Your scholarship covers your flight to Australia at the start of your program and return flight home at the end of your scholarship.
Your incoming flight will be arranged by the Australia Awards (DFAT) office in your home country.
The International Sponsorships team will email you a few months before your scholarship ends with instructions on booking your flight home.
Reunion travel
If your family resides in your home country (you are unaccompanied) and your scholarship is for at least two years, you may be entitled to reunion travel. This allows you to travel to your home country to visit your family during University semester breaks.
Check your scholarship contract or contact the International Sponsorships team to confirm if you are entitled to reunion travel.
If you want to return home, you need to contact the International Sponsorships team well ahead of your planned trip to discuss using your reunion travel entitlement.
Fieldwork travel
If you are a research student, you may receive fieldwork travel in your home country or Australia to collect data relating to your thesis.
Check your scholarship contract or contact the International Sponsorships team to confirm if you are entitled to fieldwork travel.
If you want to travel to complete fieldwork, you need to contact the International Sponsorships team well ahead of your planned trip to discuss using your fieldwork travel entitlement.
To apply, email the completed Fieldwork Application form (pdf, 149KB) and supporting documents to australiaawards@sydney.edu.au.
Additional government funding
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra administers additional Independent Leadership Opportunities (ILO) funding of A$2000 to some students.
Contact the International Sponsorships team at australiaawards@sydney.edu.au to confirm if you are receiving ILO funding. If eligible, they will give you an application form to complete.
All decisions about your ILO are made by the department.
Last updated: 26 August 2024
