Applicant Information

Australia Awards PNG offers scholarships for three levels of study: bachelor, master’s (by coursework or research), and PhD.

Bachelor's Degree

Scholarships are offered for study at Australian institutions in degree areas not available in Papua New Guinea.  

Programs not eligible for scholarships include: 
Arts, Pilot Training, Business/Commerce, Computer Science/IT/Cybersecurity, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Policy.  

For more details, refer to the factsheet (download here) on applying for an bachelor’s degree. 

People with disability may apply for any bachelor’s degree program open for international students in Australia. For details, see the factsheet (download here) on applying with disability. 

Master’s by Coursework 

Applicants may apply to study a master’s by coursework in any field open to international students in Australia. 

• Second master’s degree: 
  Applicants who obtained their first master’s degree from a PNG institution may apply for a second Master’s, provided it is in a different field or area of specialization. 
• Restriction on overseas graduates: 
  Applicants who earned their first master’s degree from an overseas institution are not eligible to apply for a second Master’s. This policy ensures equal opportunity for all PNG citizens to study abroad. 

For more details, refer to the factsheet (download here) on applying for a master’s by coursework. 

Research Degrees 

A limited number of scholarships are available each year for PhD, Master’s by Research, and Master of Philosophy programs. 

Academic and research staff from PNG higher education and research institutions receive greater consideration. 

Applicants are required to submit a detailed research proposal and confirmation from the proposed supervisor who has agreed to supervise the research in an Australian institution.  

Applicants must contact the Australia Awards Scholarships Team before submitting their application. For details, see the factsheet (download here) on research degree scholarships. 

Public Sector Priority Skills Scholarships 

Applicants from PNG government agencies listed below for study in priority skill areas, please contact your human resource department for details on types of awards available for this scholarship.  

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to receive an Australia Awards Scholarship: 

• be a minimum of 18 years of age on 1 February of the year of commencing the scholarship
• be a citizen of PNG and resident and employed in PNG and committed to returning after studies
• not be a citizen of Australia, hold permanent residency in Australia or be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently
• not be married, engaged or a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any time during the application, selection or mobilisation phases of the scholarship
• not be currently serving military personnel
• be applying for a progressive or higher-level tertiary qualification (i.e. a master’s degree if the applicant holds a bachelor’s degree; another master’s in a different subject area or field of specialisation if the applicant has a master’s from a PNG institution)
• have at least two years’ work experience (People with disability are exempt from this requirement.)
• must meet minimum English language proficiency requirements. For example, IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher (with no band less than 6.0) or an equivalent TOEFL or PTE score
• be able to take up the scholarship in the year in which it is awarded. Should an awardee not be able to commence study by November of their award year, the scholarship will be withdrawn
• be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the institution at which the award is to be undertaken
• able to meet the Australian visa requirements (subclass 500) and not applying for a visa to live in Australia
• not have previously received a long-term Australia Award in the previous four years
• not hold convictions of criminal activities (including in their home country) including those relating to Child Protection and PSEAH
• meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/australia-awards-scholars… 

Additional eligibility requirements for applicants from PNG Government Agencies 

In addition to the country-specific conditions noted above, public servant applicants covered by General Order No. 6 on overseas training for public service staff must also meet the Government of Papua New Guinea requirements, including: 

• employment in a public sector agency for two years after permanent appointment
• applicant is listed in their agency’s Learning and Development Plan
• nomination from applicant’s employment agency and endorsement from the Department of Personnel Management. 

For details on General Order No. 6, public servant applicants may contact their agency human resource officers or the Department of Personnel Management. More information for public service applicants can be found here.

The scholarship is open to all sectors, including both public and private organisations. Eligible organisations include state-owned enterprises, non-governmental organisations, religious institutions, international development organisations, and PNG government agencies. 

 Public Sector Priority Skills Scholarships 

Applicants from eligible PNG government agencies for study in priority skill areas, please contact your human resource department for details on the application process. More details can be found here. 

Scholarships are available for all study areas open to international students in Australia that align with the development agenda of the Government of Papua New Guinea, consistent with PNG Vision 2050 and the Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV). 

However, the bachelor’s degree scholarships are only offered for studies at Australian institutions in degree areas not available in Papua New Guinea. Programs not eligible for scholarships include: Arts, Pilot Training, Business/Commerce, Computer Science/IT/Cybersecurity, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Policy.  

People with disability may apply for a bachelor’s degree for any study areas offered for international students in Australia, or for master’s and research degrees as applicable. 

Applicants should choose courses that reflect both PNG’s development priorities and their own experience and qualifications. Where a course represents a significant shift in career focus or direction, applicants must provide a strong justification. 

Applications focusing on gender, climate change and disability-related studies are welcomed. 

Applicants must identify two preferred courses at two different institutions in their application. 

Applicants may only apply for courses listed on The Australian Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). When submitting an application for an Australia Award, applicants should visit the website of their preferred institutions and review available course options to ensure that: 

• the selected course is relevant to their current role, employment sector, and long-term study and development plans
• they meet all entry requirements for the course, including the required level of English language proficiency
• the course content and areas of specialisation address capacity gaps within their employment sector. 
• the institution is recognised for its strong reputation in the relevant field. 

Applicants in Port Moresby can view course and institution information packs at the AAPNG Resource Centre, Level 1, PwC Haus, Harbour City, Port Moresby. 

All applications for Australia Awards must include the supporting documents listed below. Applications missing any required document will be deemed non-compliant and will not progress in the selection process. 

As some documents may take time to obtain, applicants are strongly advised to begin gathering them early to ensure they are ready to submit a complete application by the deadline. 

Fraudulent documents and false statements: The Australian Government takes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud. All application documents will be verified against the applicant’s identity. Referee checks will be conducted at any stage of the assessment process. Fraudulent applicants will be excluded from consideration for the relevant scholarship and any future Australia Awards. 

 List of documents 

Applicants must compile documents into single PDFs by document category, name the files appropriately (e.g. “Certificates”, “Referee Reports”), and ensure that the scanned documents are in colour, legible, in correct page order and orientation.   

Applicants must use the AAPNG Intake 2027 template for selected documents below (click on link provided to download the template). 

Certification for Papua New Guinea applications require a Commissioner of Oath certification (signed, dated and stamped 1 January 2025 or later). 

All applications must be submitted online via the Online Australia Awards Scholarships Information System (OASIS) at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au.

Applicants are required to read and download the User Guide for Applicants, available on the OASIS homepage, before commencing their application. 

1. Type https://oasis.dfat.gov.au into your Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox browser 
2. Click Logon / Register 
3. Click on Register New Account 
4. Register with your email, name (as per ID document/ passport), date of birth and contact number 
5. A temporary password will then be sent to your email address. If you do not see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. 
6. Log in with the temporary password provided and follow the instructions to set a new password 
7. You now have access to the application system 

 Helpful tip 

An asterisk (*) symbol is shown next to mandatory questions, which you must complete. If you leave a mandatory question blank, the system will not let you submit your application. You must complete all mandatory questions. 

 Previous Applicants 

• If you have previously applied or registered on OASIS and have forgotten your password, click the Forgot Password link to create a new one. 
• If you are unable to log in using the email address previously used for registration, you must register again using a new email address. 
• You will not be able to access your previous application. 

• Each applicant must register for a unique OASIS login and password. 
• Applications must not be submitted using another person’s login credentials. 
• It is strongly recommended to use a non-work email address (e.g., Gmail or Hotmail), as work email accounts may have firewalls that block external messages and can occasionally be offline. 
• Ensure you use a reliable email account for all scholarship-related correspondence. 
• For optimal performance, access OASIS using Google Chrome or Firefox browsers. 
• You do not need to complete and submit your application in one session. Applications can be completed over time and saved as you progress. 
• Each page begins with Help Text, which provides guidance on completing that section. 
• Mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk (*). If these fields are left blank, an error message will appear in red. 
• Answer boxes have character limits, which include letters, spaces, and punctuation marks. If you exceed the limit, an error will appear, and your response will not save until it is reduced. 
• A checklist is displayed on the left-hand side of the OASIS webpage. A tick symbol indicates a completed section, while an (x) symbol indicates an incomplete section. 
• All attachments must be 2MB or less in size. 

• Research and prepare: Review development priorities in your sector and identify suitable courses in Australia before starting your application. 
• Write clear and focused statements: Application statements must be concise and demonstrate a strong understanding of the scholarship objectives and Papua New Guinea’s development agenda. 
• Align goals with development needs: Clearly show the connection between your personal and career goals and PNG’s development priorities. 
• Select relevant courses: Course preferences should reflect your academic background, current employment, career plans, and the human resource and development needs of your sector and PNG. 
• Provide detailed referee reports: Referee reports using the prescribed Australia Awards templates should highlight your skills and knowledge and reference your study plans and reintegration strategy. 
• Develop a strong reintegration plan: The plan must explain how the skills and knowledge gained in Australia will contribute to PNG’s development and improve policy and practice in your sector or agency. 
• Submit all required documents: Missing documents will render your application non-compliant and ineligible for further assessment. 
• Seek guidance: Consult the AAPNG Scholarship Team for support in preparing your application. 
• Apply early: Submit your application before the deadline to avoid technical issues. The system may slow down on the final day due to high traffic. 
• For Public Servants: Ensure compliance with all requirements, including submission of a training bid and nomination from your agency head to the Department of Personnel Management. Failure to do so will make your application non-compliant and ineligible for assessment.