Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Where can I get information about the Australia Awards, Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) program?
  2. I need financial support towards my primary or secondary studies.  Can I apply for a Scholarship?
  3. I have finished secondary school and want to study towards a Bachelors degree.  Can I apply for an ADS scholarship?
  4. How can I apply for a Scholarship?
  5. I want to pursue my PhD. Can I apply for a Scholarship to study towards it?
  6. My country is not on your list.  Would I be considered for a scholarship?
  7. I already have admission to an Australian University.  May I now apply for a scholarship or get financial assistance from AusAID?
  8. Your website says that my country has only Public category scholarships, but I do not work for the Government.  Am I eligible to apply?
  9. Your website says that my country has only Public category scholarships.  I work for an NGO or private company that does a lot of work for government, including contracts for delivering some public services.  Am I eligible to apply?
  10. Can you give me any information on any other scholarships programmes, or other kinds of financial support for studies?

 

1.  Where can I get information about the Australia Awards, Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) program?

This website is a good place to start as most of the information you may need is on it.  Take a while to browse through, or you can contact GRM International directly by sending an e-mail to leannez@adsafrica.org or fax your enquiry to +27-86-602-3719 or +27-12-362-4361.

On the country specific pages you will also find the contact details of the various nominating authorities of the participating countries.


2.  I need financial support towards my primary or secondary studies.  Can I apply for a Scholarship?

The Australian Government  does not support primary or secondary studies under the Australia Awards program in Africa.


3.  I have finished secondary school and want to study towards a Bachelors degree.  Can I apply for an ADS scholarship?

No.  ADS are aimed at upgrading the qualifications of people who have achieved their Bachelors degree already, and who have at least two years of work experience.  In many countries, you must also work for the government.  See the country-specific pages for information on participating countries, and check the overall eligibility criteria here:

http://www.adsafrica.com.au/scholarshipEligibility.php


4. How can I apply for a Scholarship?

We would advise you to read the following page, which gives general details on the ADS application process:

http://www.adsafrica.com.au/scholarship.php

You should also check the country-specific page for details on whether your country receives scholarships, and if so, what category of scholarship is offered.  Public category scholarships are open only to government-sector employees; Open category scholarships are open to any individual.

The application window is usually open for approximately 4-6 weeks, usually in the first half of the year, although this may vary by country.  The process usually starts with calls for submission of Preliminary Application Forms (PAF) that are placed in newspapers in the relevant countries, and also usually advertised through government channels.  This PAF is the initial application for a scholarship.  Upon receipt, these PAFs are assessed for compliance, and a paper selection process is carried out to select candidates for interview.  These candidates are then invited to a face-to-face interview with an independent selection panel.  Some countries’ candidates may be required to sit English language tests, such as IELTS, to be considered further.  Once the selection panel has ranked the interviewees and made its recommendations, selected Priority and Reserve candidates are informed, and begin the process of applying to Australian Universities and for their visas.  The Managing Contractor, GRM International, assists awardees with their University and visa applications.


5.  I want to pursue my PhD. Can I apply for a Scholarship to study towards it?

Yes, you may be eligible for a PhD scholarship if you work in the field of agricultural research and have an association with one or more of the three Australia-Africa Agricultural Research Partnerships being funded under the Australian Food Security Program in Africa: ACIAR-CIMMYT; CSIRO-BecA; and CSIRO-CORAF.  Please see the following page for further information: http://www.adsafrica.com.au/countryAgriculture.php


6.  My country is not on your list.  Would I be considered for a scholarship?
No, not for the 2011 intake (i.e. for a scholarship that would begin in January 2011).  For the 2011 intake, the Australia Awards program in Africa is focused on 25 partner countries.  If your country does not appear on our list, you are currently not eligible to apply.

However, for the 2012 intake and beyond, the program may expand to include your country.  Please keep checking back with this website for further information.  Information on potential expansion of the Africa ADS Programme is not likely to be available until end October 2010 at the earliest, so please be patient.  This website will let you know when submissions will be accepted for the 2012 intake; advertising in the national press of your country may also be carried out.  Until that point, no applications for the 2012 Intake will be accepted or kept on record.


7.  I already have admission to an Australian University.  May I now apply for a scholarship or get financial assistance from AusAID?

Achieving admission to an Australian University does not give you precedence under the ADS program.  It is also not a criteria that is considered when assessing applications. 

All applicants must go through the ADS selection process – there are no shortcuts.  The ADS process works to a pre-defined schedule and applicants are not considered outside of this timetable.  If you have missed the ADS application window, you will need to wait until the next year or intake round, which will be publicised on this website and possibly through the media and government channels in your country.

Eligible candidates are generally nominated or supported by their government for Public category scholarships, or go through the application process indicated above for those applying under the Open category.  Once a candidate has been awarded a Scholarship, they must apply to Universities using the ADS forms and procedures.  While the University may take account of a candidate’s previous admission or acceptance while considering the ADS application, it does not confer any advantage to a candidate at the start of the ADS application process.

The ADS program does not have any other mechanism for providing financial support to students other than the processes outlined on this website. 


8.  Your website says that my country has only Public category scholarships, but I do not work for the Government.  Am I eligible to apply?

No.  If your country has only Public category scholarships, then only those people recognised by the Government of that country as public-sector employees are eligible to apply.


9.  Your website says that my country has only Public category scholarships.  I work for an NGO or private company that does a lot of work for government, including contracts for delivering some public services.  Am I eligible to apply?

No, unless you are seconded to such an organisation from government and are still recognised by the Government as being a public sector employee.


10.  Can you give me any information on any other scholarships programmes, or other kinds of financial support for studies?

Africa ADS / AusAID does not keep an up-to-date database of current scholarship providers or donors.  We advise you to run an internet search to access such information.  Several countries and organisations provide scholarships and support for studies, but you should find and contact them directly to ensure you get the right information.