Papua New Guinea

Applying for an Australia Awards scholarship

Australia Awards scholarships in Papua New Guinea

Australia’s international development assistance in Papua New Guinea helps promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and
enhance political stability.

Australia Awards 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, most importantly, their
potential to impact on development challenges in Papua New Guinea.

Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.

Priority fields of study

The priority areas of study for Papua New Guinea are:
• Agriculture
• Education
• Health
• Governance
• Law & justice
• Transport and infrastructure
The governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea regularly review these areas of study together and adjust the
emphasis of the program. Detailed information on priority areas of study can be found at: www.australiaawardspng.org

Level of study
Australia Awards scholarships provide citizens of Papua New Guinea with the opportunity to obtain a qualification at an
Australian tertiary institution.
Awards will be offered for commencement in 2024 within the following allocations:
• Masters by Coursework (approx. 90% awards) –majority of awards will be offered at the Masters-level qualification to
extend technical expertise across the priority sectors.
• Undergraduate (approx. 5% awards) - a limited number of undergraduate awards will be offered for bachelor’s degree
programs not available in Papua New Guinea and contributes to a priority sector and/or for people living with a disability.
• PhD and Masters by Research (approx. 5% awards) - a limited number of research awards will be offered to
strengthen the capacity of Papua New Guinean teaching and research institutions.

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2024

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 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 for research students and masters by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component.

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
Country-specific conditions
In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Papua New Guinea must also meet the following conditions.
English language proficiency
Applicants must have achieved an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher (with no band less than 6.0) or an
equivalent TOEFL or PTE score. Scores must be valid at 1 January 2024.
Public Category applicants
In addition to the basic eligibility requirements, public servant candidates must also meet the Government of Papua New
Guinea requirements, including:
• employment in a public sector agency for two years; and
• nomination from candidate’s employment agency and endorsement from the Department of Personnel Management.
Public Category applicants should familiarise themselves with General Order, No. 6 available from the Department of
Personnel Management’s website http://www.dpm.gov.pg

Application dates
For study commencing in Australia in 2024:
Opening date: 1 February 2023
Closing date: 1 May 2023 (11:59PM AEST)
Applications and/or supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered.

The application process

Online applications
All applications must be lodged online through Papua New Guinea OASIS website: https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/
Supporting documents
Applicants must submit all of the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy
Handbook.

Certification for Papua New Guinea applications require a Commissioner of Oath certification (signed, dated and stamped 1
January 2022 or later).

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2024

Applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for Papua New Guinea.
Applicants must use the AAPNG Intake 2024 template for selected documents below.

Required OASIS
Certified
document document type
Reintegration plan
Other document No
AAPNG template found here: www.australiaawardspng.org

Academic qualifications – higher education certificates (i.e. bachelor/masters

qualifications), vocational education and training certificates (i.e. certificate Degree certificate Yes
IV, diploma).

Complete academic transcripts in English. High school certificate/s (if

Academic transcript Yes
applying for undergraduate).

Copy of proof of citizenship – any of the following: National Identity Card;

Proof of citizenship Yes
driver’s licence and birth certificate; or valid passport.

If previously undertaken, English language proficiency

i.e. results from IELTS -International English Language Testing System; Proof of English language
Yes
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language; or proficiency

PTE – Pearson Test of English

Academic Referee Report – two reports for Masters by Research and PhD
applicants; one for Bachelor/Masters by Coursework applicants). Academic Referee report No
AAPNG template found here: www.australiaawardspng.org

Professional Referee Report – one for all levels of study.

Professional Referee report No
AAPNG template found here: www.australiaawardspng.org

Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae No
AAPNG template found here: www.australiaawardspng.org

Fraudulent documents and false statements

The Australian Government takes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud. All application documents will be verified and if
found to be fraudulent, applicants will be excluded for consideration for this scholarship and any future Australia Awards.
If application fraud is detected after a scholarship is awarded, the scholarship will be immediately terminated. Fraud
includes a failure to disclose relevant information for consideration in the scholarship selection.

The selection process

• Applications will be shortlisted after eligibility checking.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
• The selection process includes an interview. Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:
o academic competence
o potential outcome, specifically the contribution to development outcomes in Papua New Guinea
o professional and personal leadership attributes including relevant work experience.
• Successful candidates will be notified in late 2023
• Awardee travel will be subject to meeting the requirements imposed by the Australian Government, as determined by the
Department of Education, Skills and Employment, and must meet the requirements imposed by State and Territory
governments.

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2024

Preparatory training
Successful applicants will be required to attend:
• course counselling
• three-week pre-departure training
• university’s Introductory Academic Program
• other required preparatory study on arrival in Australia.

Further information
Information about the Australia Awards—Papua New Guinea can be found at: www.australiaawardspng.org

More general information about the Australia Awards, Australia’s aid program, and studying in Australia can be found at the
following links:

• dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/pages/australia-awards-scholarships
• 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
Contact details
Australia Awards—Papua New Guinea
Address: Ground Floor Stage 2,
Waigani Corporate Centre,
Cnr Waigani Drive & Ponciana Street,
Waigani, Port Moresby,
National Capital District

Telephone: (+675) 321 1766/ (+675) 7373 3800

Fax: (+675) 321 1828
Email: [email protected]

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2024