Australia Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students (2027 Guide)

A fully funded scholarship pays your tuition and gives you money to live on. In Australia, that mostly means Australia Awards and research scholarships like the RTP.

A partial scholarship only reduces your tuition fees. Most university scholarships for international students work this way. They still matter: a 50% scholarship on a degree costing A$40,000 a year saves you A$20,000 a year, which is about LKR 4.7 million.

1. Australia Awards Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students

Australia Awards is funded by the Australian Government through its foreign affairs department (DFAT). In Sri Lanka, the scheme only funds master’s degrees, either by coursework or research.

What it covers:

• Full tuition fees
• Return airfare
• A one-off establishment allowance
• A fortnightly living allowance (called the Contribution to Living Expenses)
• An introductory academic program
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Your first visa costs

Who can apply: You must be a Sri Lankan citizen with at least three years of work experience after your degree, in a field related to the course you want to study. You also need a qualification equal to an Australian bachelor’s degree and must meet the English requirements. Most guides list IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, but confirm this in the current intake document.

Priority study areas: The 2027 intake focused on six areas:

• climate change and disaster risk reduction
• economic development
• education
• governance
• gender equality, disability and social inclusion
• inclusive growth and stability

Applicants from conflict-affected and disadvantaged districts, and people working in the disability sector, were given particular priority.

Key dates: Applications for 2027 study opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026. The Sri Lanka Australia Awards website says applications will reopen in early 2027, which will be the round for study starting in 2028.

Things to know before you apply:

• You must return home. Awardees must come back to Sri Lanka for at least two years after finishing. If you don’t, you may have to repay the full cost of the scholarship.
• Family is not funded. The scholarship gives no money for dependants, so you would pay their costs yourself.
• The family visa rules are different for you. Under the new rules from October 2026, most student visa applicants can’t include family. Students sponsored by DFAT are on the exemption list, so Australia Awards scholars can still include their partner and children.
• It is free to apply. Australia Awards is a common target for scammers, so never pay anyone who promises to “secure” one for you.

• 2. Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships for PhD Students

  If you want to do a PhD or a master’s by research, the Research Training Program is the scholarship to aim for. RTP funding can include:

  • a tuition fee offset
  • a stipend for living costs
  • allowances for research costs

  Example: University of Sydney. Sydney lists a 2027 RTP stipend of about A$44,293 a year, roughly LKR 10.4 million. International students who win the stipend automatically get the matching tuition scholarship. That covers 100% of tuition for up to 14 research periods.

  RTP places are competitive and are awarded by each university, not through one central application. ANU strongly encourages applicants to contact a possible supervisor before applying. That step matters a lot: a supervisor who wants to work with you can make your application much stronger.

  3. University Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students (Best Option for 2027)

  These are the scholarships most Sri Lankan students actually receive. Check each university’s website before applying, because amounts and dates change every year.

  University of Sydney: Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships

  • Value: up to A$60,000, about LKR 14 million. Five amounts are offered depending on how you rank: A$60,000, A$40,000, A$20,000, A$10,000 or A$5,000.
  • How to apply: there is no separate application. If you hold an unconditional offer before the round deadline, you are considered automatically.
  • Deadlines: Semester 1, 2027 students had a deadline of 16 November 2026. For Semester 2, 2027, the rounds close on 15 February, 22 March and 3 May 2027.

  Deakin University: Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship

  • Value: 100% or 50% of your tuition for the normal length of your course.
  • How to apply: fill in Deakin’s scholarship form and email it at least one month before your course starts.
  • If you’re not selected: you are automatically considered for the Deakin International Scholarship, which takes 25% off tuition.

  Griffith University: Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship

  • Value: 50% of tuition fees.
  • Eligibility: a GPA of at least 6.0 on a 7-point scale, or the equivalent.
  • Deadline: 28 November 2026 for Trimester 1, 2027 (starting 1 March 2027). You need your Letter of Offer first, so apply for admission soon.
  • Backup option: Griffith’s International Academic Merit Scholarship gives 20% off tuition. There is no separate form; you are assessed when you apply to study, for courses starting up to 2027.

  Macquarie University: Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship

  • Value: up to A$10,000 off your tuition, paid once.
  • How to apply: applications are open all year, but places are very limited. Get a full offer first, then complete a short scholarship form.

  University of Tasmania: Tasmanian International Scholarship

  • Value: 25% off tuition for the whole course, as long as your grades stay satisfactory.
  • How to apply: you are assessed automatically when you submit your international student application.
  • If you’re not eligible: you may be offered a 10% tuition discount instead.

  Studying in a smaller city like Hobart can also mean lower living costs. That makes UTAS a sensible choice for families on a tight budget.

  Other universities, including Monash, UNSW, RMIT, Curtin and Adelaide University, run similar merit scholarships. We can help you compare them for your course.