Australian Awards Scholarships for Tonga

Australian Awards Scholarships for Tonga

Australia offers one of the top scholarship opportunities for the people, students and citizens of the Republic of Tonga. The main scholarship program provided by Australia is called the Australian Awards Scholarships Program.  This page outlines the details of scholarship awards offered to Tonga by the Australian people and the government. 

About  Australian Awards Scholarships
Australia Awards scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders for development. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia. 
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and their potential to impact on development challenges in Tonga.
Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.

Priority fields of study
Australia’s international development assistance in Tonga helps promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance political stability. Australia Awards scholarships prioritise areas of study that support these goals.
The priority areas of study for Tonga are: 

1.  Governance, economic and private sector development – develop a more efficient public sector, including in procurement and financial management and promote private sector growth
2. Health – reduce the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors such as smoking and obesity and strengthen Tonga’s focus on primary health care and health systems strengthening
3.  Skills Development including Technical and Vocational Education and Training – improving quality of education and building a more highly skilled workforce linked to industry demand
4. Cross cutting issues of Gender, Disability and Climate Change.

The governments of Australia and Tonga regularly review these areas of study together and adjust the emphasis of the program. 

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Level of study

• Australia Awards Scholarships 

These scholarships provide citizens of Tonga with the opportunity to obtain postgraduate qualification at an Australian tertiary institution. 

• Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships 

These scholarships provide opportunities to Tongans to study at a tertiary institution in the Pacific for the benefit of development in Tonga. This type of scholarship is available for study at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Australia Awards benefits
Australia Awards scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian/Pacific education institution, including any preparatory training.
Scholarship recipients will receive the following:

• return air travel
• a one-off establishment allowance on arrival 
• full tuition fees
• contribution to living expenses
• introductory academic program
• overseas student health cover for the duration of the scholarship
• supplementary academic support, 
• fieldwork allowance (only if this is a compulsory component and essential to study program ).

Eligibility criteria
Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at: 
dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx

​English language proficiency
Applicants must have achieved an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or higher (with no individual band score of less than 6.0) or an equivalent TOEFL or PTE score.  Scores must be valid at 1 January annually.

Commencement of study
All scholarships must be taken up in the year for which they are awarded. Should an awardee not be able to commence study in 2021, the scholarship will be withdrawn.
Country-specific conditions
In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Tonga must also meet the following specific conditions:

•  Applicant must not be a dual citizen with either Australia or New Zealand;
•  Applicant has not held a long term scholarship to study outside their home country in the 24 months preceding to time of application.  In-country awards do not apply in this instance;
•  Applicant must not have been terminated five (5) years preceding time of application; and
• Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) applicants must have at least three years’ work experience in the chosen field of study.

Supporting Documents
Supporting documents
Applicants must submit all of the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook. 
Applicants must also provide the following documents at the time of application (as indicated below).  Please note that none of the documents needs to be certified at the time of application but will be required after the short-listing process. 

• Proof of citizenship i.e. birth certificate /passport if available and photographic identification i.e. student card/drivers licence if passport is not available. 
• Tertiary degree certificates (Bachelor and Masters level)
• Academic transcripts (where they are not in English please provide an English translation) 
• IELTS, TOEFL or PTE Academic results 
• Academic Referee Report with stamp:
• • 2x for Masters/PhD by Research
• • 1x for Masters by coursework
• Employment Referee Report with stamp
• (template for both Referee Reports can be obtained from the Australia Awards website: https://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Documents/referee.pdf 
• Academic Reference Letter with stamp and an
• Employment Reference Letter with stamp 
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Development Impact Plan, for Australia Awards Scholarships only.

How to Apply
The application process
Online applications
All applications must apply online at: https://oasis.dfat.gov.au. 
Applications are strongly advised  to apply online and to do so well before the closing date.  The online application facility (OASIS) experiences peak usage in the days leading up to the closing date and applicants may experience delays.
Special Note;
Hardcopy applications from the outer islands in Tonga are still accepted.  Application forms can be obtained from the High Commission Website: http://www.tonga.embassy.gov.au.

Application dates 
Usually, the Scholarship Application Opening dates are 
Opening date: 1 February  annually
Closing date: 30 April  annually. 
Applications and supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered. 

Further information
Information about the Australia Awards—Tonga can be found at www.tonga.embassy.gov.au  
More general information about the Australia Awards, Australia’s aid program, and studying in Australia can be found at the following links: 
•    https://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships.aspx

•    studyinaustralia.gov.au 
Information about visas and Australia Awards scholarship entitlements and conditions can be found in the Scholarships Policy Handbook: dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx
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Contact details
Organisation: Department of Foreign Affairs 
                          and Trade 
Address:  Australian High Commission
                  Salote Road
                  Nuku’alofa
Telephone: +676 20400

Email: Asi.Vanisi@dfat.gov.au or Leon.Braun@dfat.gov.au 

Website:  www.tonga.embassy.gov.au

International Scholarships for Tonga