Australia Awards Scholarship for Pakistan: Next Round Opens in Early 2027
Australia Awards Scholarships for Pakistan reopen in early 2027, date not set. Who qualifies, the five priority fields, benefits and documents to prepare.
Australia Awards Scholarships for Pakistan are closed right now. The official Australia Awards Pakistan site says applications will reopen in early 2027, and no exact date has been announced. The last round ran from 1 February to 30 April 2026, for master's study starting in 2027.
The award is fully funded by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It pays full tuition, return airfare, a living allowance and health cover for a master's degree in Australia. In 2025 it offered 20 new scholarships to Pakistanis, up from 16 in 2024, according to its own Year in Review.
We read the Australia Awards Pakistan and South Asia and Mongolia pages, DFAT's opening dates table and DFAT's Pakistan intake document for study starting in 2027 on 29 September 2026. The rules below come from that document. The 2028 intake document is not out yet, so treat them as the latest guide, not the final word.
Next Australia Awards round for Pakistan opens in early 2027
Applications are closed until early 2027, and neither DFAT nor Australia Awards Pakistan has named a date. The last two dates to know are 1 February 2026, when the previous round opened, and 30 April 2026, when it closed.
| Round | Opened | Closed | Study starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last round | 1 February 2026, 09:00 AEDT (03:00 in Pakistan) | 30 April 2026, 14:00 AEST (09:00 in Pakistan) | 2027 |
| Next round | "Early 2027", date not announced | Not announced | 2028 |
The Pakistan times in the table are our conversion. AEDT is 6 hours ahead of Pakistan and AEST is 5 hours ahead. The closing time is what catches people: 14:00 in Canberra is 09:00 in Islamabad, so the portal shuts on the morning of the last day.
Applicants in the last round were told the result in "late 2026", per the intake document. Those are the people now preparing to start in Australia in 2027.
Who can apply from Pakistan
You must be a Pakistani citizen living in Pakistan, aged 45 or under when you apply, with 16 years of education and five years of relevant work experience in Pakistan. You must also agree to return to Pakistan for at least two years after your degree.
The full list of Pakistan's conditions in the 2027 intake document is:
- Pakistani citizen, living in Pakistan and applying from Pakistan.
- Not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and not applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently.
- 16 years of education and five years of relevant work experience in Pakistan.
- Not more than 45 years old on the day you submit.
- A Development Impact and Linkages Plan (DILP) that sets out how you will help Pakistan's development.
- Return to Pakistan for at least two years after the study.
You also cannot use the award for a qualification you already hold. DFAT says scholars who do not leave Australia for two years after finishing must repay the full cost of the scholarship.
Women, people with disability and people from marginalised groups are encouraged to apply. Applicants with disability can apply with an IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 5.0, and sit another English test arranged by Australia Awards Pakistan if selected.
Priority fields of study for Pakistan
Australia Awards picks Pakistani scholars in five priority areas: climate change, empowerment of women and girls, agriculture and water security, infrastructure, and inclusive economic development. Only master's level study is offered for Pakistan.
The intake document says Australia and Pakistan review these fields together and can shift the emphasis, so check them again when the 2028 intake document comes out. A strong application ties your five years of work to one of these areas. A general MBA pitch with no link to them is hard to justify.
Recent Short Courses for Pakistanis followed the same themes. The 2025 Year in Review lists courses on water security, climate change adaptation and climate finance.
What the scholarship pays for
The award covers full tuition fees, a return economy airfare, a one-off establishment allowance on arrival, a contribution to living expenses paid every two weeks, overseas student health cover and a compulsory introductory academic program. Extra academic support and fieldwork costs are also available where needed.
DFAT sets the living allowance rate, and it did not publish a rupee or dollar figure on the pages we read. The health cover is for the scholar only, not family members. Families should also read the September 2026 Australian student visa changes before making plans.
How to apply and what documents you need
Apply online through OASIS, DFAT's scholarship portal, when the round opens. Use your full name exactly as on your passport, upload colour PDF scans grouped by type, and add the Pakistan-specific documents, including a valid English test and a no objection certificate if you work in government.
- Register on OASIS and answer the eligibility questions to get a registration number.
- Write your Development Impact and Linkages Plan on the template Australia Awards Pakistan publishes near the opening date.
- Prepare certified copies of your bachelor's and master's degrees and transcripts, both sides.
- Add a CV on the Australia Awards Pakistan template, academic and employment referee reports, and your IELTS, TOEFL or PTE result.
- Submit before the closing time. A submitted application cannot be changed.
The English result must still be valid on 1 January of the study year. For the 2027 intake that date was 1 January 2027. Compare the IELTS fee in Pakistan, the PTE fee and the TOEFL fee before you book, and time the test so it does not expire first.
DFAT also says AI may be used only for spelling, grammar and organising ideas. It must not write, improve or paraphrase any part of the application, and misuse can disqualify you. Shortlisted candidates face an interview on academic ability, development impact and leadership.
If you miss this cycle, the Commonwealth Scholarship through HEC is another fully funded master's route with a different calendar.
Common questions
When will Australia Awards 2027 applications open in Pakistan?
Australia Awards Pakistan says early 2027, with no exact date yet. The last round opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026.
What is the age limit for the Australia Awards Scholarship in Pakistan?
45 years. You must not be older than 45 when you submit the application.
How much work experience do I need?
Five years of relevant work experience in Pakistan, plus 16 years of education.
Can I apply for a PhD through Australia Awards from Pakistan?
No. For the 2027 intake, awards for Pakistan were offered for master's level study only.
Which English tests does Australia Awards accept from Pakistan?
IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, and the result must be valid as at 1 January of the year your study starts.
Where is the Australia Awards Pakistan office?
Palladium Pakistan, 3rd Floor, Jung Building, Fazal-e-Haq Road, Blue Area, Islamabad. Phone +92-51-280 1516-9, email info@australiaawardspakistan.org.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 29 September 2026. "Applications are now closed" and "will reopen in early 2027" are read on the Australia Awards Pakistan home page and the South Asia and Mongolia scholarships page. The 1 February 2026 and 30 April 2026 dates, priority fields, eligibility conditions, benefits, documents, selection process, the IELTS 6.0 rule for applicants with disability and the office address are read in DFAT's Pakistan information for Australia Awards intake commencing 2027, and the dates also in DFAT's opening and closing dates table. The two year rule and repayment, the fortnightly living allowance and the AI rule are from DFAT's Australia Awards Scholarships and how to apply pages. The 20 and 16 scholarship figures are from the Australia Awards Pakistan 2025 Year in Review. The Pakistan times are our conversion. We did not read the full Scholarships Policy Handbook, which sets the general English score for other applicants.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
