This online application information kit has been prepared to help eligible applicants submit a strong and competitive application for an Australia Awards Scholarship. It provides an overview of the scholarship program, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and the supporting documents required for the application round for studies commencing this year.
Applicants are encouraged to read this guide carefully before starting their application. You should also consult the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook and the Solomon Islands Country Profile for the most up-to-date information on eligibility, priority fields of study, and scholarship conditions.
If you require additional information or clarification during the application process, you may contact the Australia Awards Solomon Islands office via email at australiaawards-solomonislands@sirf.com.sb. The program team aims to respond to enquiries as promptly as possible, generally within two working days.
When completing your application, ensure that all information provided is accurate, complete, and truthful. Incomplete or misleading applications may be disqualified during the assessment process. Applicants are strongly advised to begin preparing their application well before the closing date, as gathering certified documents, referee reports, and other supporting materials may take time. The application period is intentionally open for several months to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare a quality submission.
Applications are submitted through the Australia Awards Online Information System (OASIS), which allows applicants to create an account, save their progress, and return to complete the application before submission. Once the application deadline has passed, the system will no longer accept new applications or allow modifications to submitted forms. Applicants can access the online application portal at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au, where additional guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs) are also available. Be careful not to fall for scholarship scam, there’s a guide on How to Spot and Avoid Scholarship Scams.
Eligibility Criteria for Solomon Islands Australia Awards Scholarship
To be considered for an Australia Awards Scholarship, applicants must satisfy all eligibility requirements specified by the Australian Government as well as the country-specific requirements for the Solomon Islands. Meeting only some of the eligibility criteria is not sufficient, and applications that do not fully comply with the requirements will not proceed to the assessment stage.
General Eligibility Criteria
Australia Awards Scholarships are offered to eligible applicants from participating countries, including the Solomon Islands. To qualify, applicants must meet the following general requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old on 1 February of the year the scholarship commences.
- Be a citizen of the Solomon Islands and ordinarily reside in the country when applying.
- Apply for the scholarship from their country of citizenship unless an approved exemption has been granted.
- Not hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency, nor be applying for permanent residency in Australia.
- Not be married to, engaged to, or in a de facto relationship with a person who is an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident during the application, selection, or mobilisation process.
- Not be serving as active military personnel.
- Not have previously received a long-term Australia Award unless they have lived outside Australia for a period equal to at least twice the duration of their previous scholarship.
- Have no criminal convictions or ongoing investigations relating to criminal offences, including matters involving child protection or the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH).
- Meet any additional requirements established by the Australia Awards Program or the Government of the Solomon Islands.
- Be able to satisfy the admission requirements of their chosen Australian university.
- Meet all requirements for obtaining an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500).
- Not apply for a qualification at a lower academic level than one already attained (for example, applicants who already hold a PhD are not eligible to apply for a Master’s scholarship).
- Declare any relationship or connection with employees of the Australia Awards Program, the Australian Government, or managing contractors to ensure a transparent and impartial selection process. Such declarations do not automatically disqualify an applicant.
Applicants should carefully review the official Australia Awards eligibility requirements before submitting their application.
Additional Eligibility Criteria for Solomon Island applicants
In addition to the general eligibility requirements, applicants from the Solomon Islands must satisfy the country-specific conditions established for the current scholarship intake.
Applicants must:
- Have successfully completed the academic qualifications required for admission into their proposed program of study.
- Meet the minimum academic standards specified for their chosen undergraduate or postgraduate program.
- Not already hold a qualification that is equivalent to or higher than the qualification for which they are seeking scholarship support.
- Not be serving an existing scholarship bond with the Solomon Islands Government or any other sponsoring organisation that would prevent them from undertaking overseas study.
- Demonstrate a commitment to returning to the Solomon Islands after completing their studies to contribute to national development.
- Apply in one of the approved priority fields of study identified in the current Solomon Islands Country Profile.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the latest country profile to ensure they meet all additional requirements before submitting their application.
English language requirements
Applicants must demonstrate that they have the English language proficiency required by both the Australia Awards Program and their selected Australian university. Meeting the minimum English language requirements is essential for admission and successful participation in academic studies.
Applicants who are shortlisted may be required to undertake an approved English language test if they do not already possess valid test results. Where applicable, the Australia Awards Program may arrange English language testing for shortlisted candidates.
Accepted English language tests include:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
Typical minimum entry requirements include:
- IELTS Academic: Overall score of 6.5, with no individual band below 6.0.
- TOEFL iBT: Overall score of at least 84, with minimum section scores determined by the admitting institution.
- PTE Academic: Overall score of 58, with no communicative skill score below 50.
Applicants should note that some Australian universities or academic programs may require higher English language scores. Test results must remain valid at the time of admission, in accordance with Australia Awards and university requirements.
Levels of Study and priority fields
Australia Awards Scholarships for Solomon Islands applicants are available for undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs at participating Australian universities.
Scholarships are not available for:
- Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
- Diploma programs
- Graduate Diploma programs
Applicants must select a course that falls within one of the priority development sectors identified by the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of the Solomon Islands. These priority areas are designed to strengthen national capacity and support sustainable development.
Current priority fields include:
Health (Postgraduate)
Priority disciplines include:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- Pharmacy
- Epidemiology
- Mental Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Intensive Care Nursing
- Midwifery
- Paediatric Nursing and Medicine
- Health Policy and Administration
- Remote and Rural Health
Education (Postgraduate)
Areas include:
- Educational Leadership
- School Administration
- Teacher Education
- Curriculum Development
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
- Education Policy
Development Studies
Including:
- Gender Equality
- Social Inclusion
- Community Development
- Sustainable Development
- Public Policy
Environment
Priority areas include:
- Climate Change
- Climate Finance
- Environmental Economics
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Water Resource Management
- Natural Resource Management
- Waste Management
- Conservation
Economic Growth
Including:
- Economics
- Business Administration
- Accounting and Finance
- Supply Chain Management
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Information Technology
- Entrepreneurship
Counselling and Social Work
Priority disciplines include:
- Social Work
- Child Protection
- Counselling Psychology
- Community Welfare
Infrastructure
Including:
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Maritime Engineering
- Water and Sanitation Engineering
- Construction Management
- Quantity Surveying
- Urban Planning
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Veterinary Science
Priority programs include:
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Fisheries Management
- Forestry
- Veterinary Science
- Food Security
- Aquaculture
Governance
Including:
- Public Administration
- Statistics
- Public Financial Management
- Procurement
- Contract Management
- Governance and Leadership
- Policy Analysis
- Anti-Corruption and Integrity Studies
Applicants should ensure that their proposed course aligns with the current Solomon Islands Country Profile and Australia’s development priorities before submitting an application. Choosing a priority field that supports the long-term development goals of the Solomon Islands will strengthen the competitiveness of an application.
Do not forget that Australia Awards Scholarships are available for undergraduate and postgraduate study in Australia. (Awards are not available for Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Diploma or Graduate Diploma studies).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Australia Awards Scholarship?
The Australia Awards Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship program funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It provides eligible students from participating countries, including the Solomon Islands, with the opportunity to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies at participating Australian universities.
2. Who can apply for the Australia Awards Scholarship?
The scholarship is open to eligible citizens of the Solomon Islands who meet both the general Australia Awards eligibility requirements and the country-specific eligibility criteria. Applicants must also satisfy the admission requirements of their chosen Australian university.
3. What level of study is supported?
Australia Awards Scholarships for Solomon Islands applicants are available for:
- Undergraduate degree programmes
- Master’s degree programmes
- Selected PhD programmes (where approved)
The scholarship does not support:
- Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
- Diploma programmes
- Graduate Diploma programmes
- Certificate courses
4. Is the scholarship fully funded?
Yes. Australia Awards Scholarships are fully funded and generally include:
- Full tuition fees
- Return economy airfare
- Establishment allowance
- Living expenses (Contribution to Living Expenses)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Introductory Academic Program
- Academic support where required
- Research support for eligible postgraduate research students
5. Can I choose any Australian university?
Applicants may apply to study at participating Australian universities offering programmes within the approved priority fields of study. You should carefully research institutions and select courses that best match your academic background and career goals.
6. What courses are considered priority fields?
Priority fields vary slightly from year to year but commonly include:
- Health
- Education
- Engineering
- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Forestry
- Climate Change
- Environmental Management
- Governance
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Business
- Information Technology
- Social Work
- Infrastructure
Applicants should always consult the latest Solomon Islands Country Profile for the complete list.
7. Is work experience required?
For many postgraduate programmes, particularly Master’s degrees, relevant professional work experience is highly desirable and may be required depending on the field of study. Undergraduate applicants are generally assessed based on their academic qualifications and leadership potential.
8. What English language test is accepted?
Australia Awards accepts the following English language tests:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
Applicants must achieve the minimum score required by both Australia Awards and their chosen university.
9. Can Australia Awards arrange my English language test?
Yes. Depending on the application process for the current intake, shortlisted applicants may be invited to undertake an English language test arranged by the Australia Awards Program. Applicants should refer to the current intake guidelines for confirmation.
10. What documents are required during application?
Applicants are generally required to submit:
- Valid passport or birth certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Graduation certificates
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Referee reports
- Employment documents (where applicable)
- English language test results (if available)
- Any additional documents requested by Australia Awards
All required documents must be certified before submission.
11. Can I apply if I already have a university degree?
Yes, provided the qualification you are applying for is at a higher academic level and you meet all eligibility requirements. Applicants should not apply for a qualification lower than one they already hold.
12. Do I need admission from an Australian university before applying?
No. Applicants are not required to secure admission before submitting their Australia Awards Scholarship application. However, they should carefully research suitable universities and courses before applying.
13. Can I apply if I am currently studying?
Yes. Applicants who are completing their current qualification may apply, provided they submit their final academic results before the scholarship selection process is completed and meet all eligibility requirements.
14. Can married applicants apply?
Yes. Married applicants are eligible to apply if they meet all scholarship requirements. However, applicants should note that Australia Awards does not automatically provide additional funding for spouses or dependants accompanying them to Australia.
15. Can my spouse and children travel with me?
Yes. Subject to Australian visa regulations, family members may accompany scholarship recipients. However, recipients are generally responsible for the financial costs associated with bringing dependants unless otherwise stated by the scholarship conditions.
16. Is there an age limit?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by 1 February of the year the scholarship begins. There is generally no upper age limit, provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
17. How are scholarship recipients selected?
Applications are assessed based on several factors, including:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership potential
- Professional experience
- Commitment to the development of the Solomon Islands
- Quality of the supporting statement
- Alignment of the proposed study programme with national development priorities
Shortlisted candidates may also be invited to attend an interview.
18. When do applications usually open?
Applications for the 2026 is closed. However, the 2027 intake (for studies commencing in 2028) are expected to open on 1 February 2027.
19. When is the application deadline?
Applications for the 2026 intake are expected to close on 30 April 2026. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted, so applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well before the deadline. The 2028 scholarship application will open on February 2027.
20. Where can I submit my application?
All applications must be submitted online through the Australia Awards Online Information System (OASIS) at: https://oasis.dfat.gov.au
Applicants should also refer to the official Australia Awards website for the latest scholarship announcements, eligibility requirements, and country-specific guidance before applying. You can read up some Strategies to Find & Apply for Scholarship Funding in College of Education, University Degree & Post Graduates.