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Scholarship entitlements and responsibilities

Entitlements

As an Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) awardee, you'll be entitled to:

full tuition fees
return air travel
establishment allowance
contribution to living expenses (stipend)
an Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
initial visa expenses.

Depending on requirements and eligibility, the scholarship may also cover:
pre-course English language training fees

supplementary academic support
fieldwork travel (for research purposes only)
reunion airfare (for unaccompanied awardees).

The Australian Government does not provide any financial support for the dependants of awardees. You will be financially responsible for any dependent family members who accompany you to Australia.

See section 1.1. of the AAS Policy Handbook (pdf) for details of your entitlements.

Costs covered by AAS

Scholarship costs View

This table outlines what your scholarship will pay for and how the payments are handled. This information is drawn from section 10.1. of the AAS Policy Handbook.

Scholarship cost	Method of payment	Description
Academic fees	Paid by DFAT directly to Monash University	Covers the course costs and all compulsory academic fees that apply to international students.
Mobilisation travel	Booked and paid for by DFAT on your behalf	Payment of a single economy class airfare to Australia from your home country via the most direct and economical route for the commencement of the scholarship. See section 10.7.
Visa expenses	Paid by DFAT on your behalf	Payment of visa processing and medical checks necessary for gaining a student visa (subclass 500). See section 10.5.
Introductory Academic Program (IAP)	Paid by DFAT directly to Monash University	The five-week Introductory Academic Program (IAP) is provided by the Monash University for awardees when they arrive in Australia. The IAP is compulsory for all awardees. Failure to attend the program may result in you forfeiting your scholarship. See section 12.1.
Establishment allowance	Paid by DFAT to Monash University to distribute to you	A one-off payment of AUD$5,000 towards expenses (such as rental bonds, textbooks, study materials, additional medical insurance and home contents insurance) paid to you by Monash University when you arrive in Australia. See section 10.2.
Contribution to living expenses (also referred to as a stipend)	Paid by DFAT to Monash University to distribute to you	A fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) paid at a rate determined by DFAT. See section 10.3. Rates From 1 January 2026, the CLE rate is A$99.26 per day (or approximately A$36,230 per annum). In a leap year, the CLE for a scholarship will be: 366 x A$99.26 = A$36,329.16. In a non-leap year, the CLE for a scholarship will be: 365 x A$99.26 = A$36,229.90. See section 10.1, Table 1.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)	Paid by DFAT to Monash University to then arrange payment on your behalf	Single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) will be provided to cover your basic medical costs. You may purchase additional medical insurance at your own expense to cover supplementary services such as dentistry, optometry and physiotherapy. See section 10.4.
Supplementary academic support	Paid by DFAT to Monash University to pay for supplementary academic support on your behalf or distribute to you	This is a support service. These funds may be used by Monash University, where required, to assist you to complete your academic studies. Supplementary academic support funds are accrued at AUD$500 every six months for the period of your scholarship. The accrued funds may be used at any time during your scholarship, but not in advance. See section 12.2.
Student services and amenities	Fee paid by DFAT directly to Monash University	Covers the fee payable to Monash University for providing necessary student services. See section 10.1, Table 1.
Completion travel	Paid by DFAT to Monash University to then book and pay for travel on your behalf	Payment of a single economy class airfare from Australia to your home country, via the most direct and economical route, at the completion of your scholarship. See section 10.9.

Responsibilities

As an AAS awardee, you must fulfil certain obligations to keep receiving your scholarship.

When you accept the scholarship, you'll need to:
- start the scholarship in the academic year that it’s offered in, unless DFAT has agreed to defer the start of your studies
- participate in the pre-departure briefing arranged by the program area, and participate in Monash University’s Introductory Academic Program when you arrive in Australia
- take only the approved course of study that the scholarship is offered for, abide by the institution’s rules, and submit all assessment items required for the course, sit examinations and complete your course of study and scholarship by the scholarship end date
- obey laws that apply in Australia, and act in a manner that won’t bring disrepute to DFAT, and
- leave Australia for a minimum of two years at the end or termination of your scholarship, acknowledging that any time spent in Australia during the two-year exclusion period will extend the end date of the exclusion period.
During the scholarship period, you will:
- engage in a full-time program of study, unless approved otherwise by DFAT
- make satisfactory academic progress as determined by Monash University and maintain good academic conduct
- reside in Australia for the scholarship’s duration (apart from holidays, reunion visits or fieldwork visits which have been approved by DFAT)
- maintain clear communication with DFAT through the Student Contact Officer. The Student Contact Officer is the first point of contact between you and DFAT, and
- work with DFAT and the Student Contact Officer if a welfare or critical incident occurs.
If you publish any material while on scholarship, you agree to:
- acknowledge that you’re an Australia Awards scholar, supported by the Australian Government; and
- use a clear disclaimer that the views and opinions expressed in the published material are yours as the author, and do not represent the views of the Australian Government.
See section 6.2. of the AAS Policy.
You’ll have the following financial obligations during your scholarship:
- You'll be responsible for all costs that occur during your scholarship period that are not covered by the scholarship benefits.
- You'll be responsible for how you budget your scholarship benefits.
- You must agree to repay all scholarship benefits if, in the absence of a DFAT No Objection Letter:
  - you don't leave Australia at the end of the scholarship
  - you obtain any Australian visa other than a short-term temporary visa to return to Australia within two years of completion of the scholarship, or
  - you depart Australia with the intention of completing your scholarship from home without notifying the institution or DFAT of your intent.
If your circumstances change you must immediately inform DFAT by contacting the Student Contact Officer at Monash University.
Changes of circumstance include:
- Personal, financial or family circumstances or incidents that might affect your ability to commence the scholarship on time, or to complete your course within the scholarship period.
- Marrying an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (this will affect your visa).
- Changes to your scholarship or course of study.
See section 6.2. of the AAS Policy
If you pursue an externally-funded program of study in Australia after your Australia Awards Scholarship finishes, you'll need to apply to DFAT for permission to remain in Australia. You'll also need to meet certain conditions.
See section 8.8. of the AAS Policy
For full details about your obligations in relation to visas, finances, medical expenses, other scholarships and studies, changes of circumstances, changes to scholarship or course of study, and termination and suspension of your scholarship, see section 6.2.1. of the AAS Policy
Academic progress is an important requirement for all recipients of the Australia Awards Scholarship, and we offer support resources. If you fail a unit or fail to make satisfactory progress in a research program, or if you anticipate you'll fail, you should contact your Student Contact Officer to discuss the options and resources available to you.
If you fail one or more units you’ll be asked to complete an Academic Action Plan (AAP). Your AAP should outline the reasons for your unsatisfactory progress, and your strategies for regaining progress and completing your studies within the established scholarship period.
Strategies for improving academic performance include:
1. engaging with Monash’s academic and wellbeing services
2. seeking Supplementary Academic Support (e.g. additional tuition – see section 12.2. of the AAS Policy)
3. enrolling in non-standard sessions (e.g. summer or winter semesters)
4. downgrading your course.
See section 12.6. of the AAS Policy
Scholarship termination based on academic progress
If you do not make successful academic progress and remedial strategies are not successful, your scholarship may be terminated.
See sections 13.3.9. and 13.8. of the AAS Policy.
Scholarship extensions based on academic progress
If an extension of your scholarship is required, you should notify the Student Contact Officer (SCO) immediately. Extensions will only be approved if there are legitimate reasons, including unforeseen and exceptional circumstances beyond your control or Monash University’s control.
See section 13.3.3. of the AAS Policy,and our page on suspensions and extensions for AAS students.

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