The Australian Government has announced the Australia Awards Scholarships 2026, a fully funded Master’s programme designed to support professionals from developing countries, including Nigeria.
The scholarship aims to equip individuals with world-class education, enabling them to return home and drive positive change in their respective fields and provides fully funded Master’s degrees for outstanding individuals who have demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to national development.
The programme is open to citizens from 24 African countries, including Nigeria, who must be a citizen of one of the eligible African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda; be at least 25 years old by February 1, 2026 and have at least five years of relevant work experience.
In addition, applicants must be currently employed in a field related to their intended course of study, hold a Bachelor’s degree, but not already possess a Master’s degree and meet the English language proficiency requirement (minimum IELTS 6.5 or equivalent TOEFL/PTE score).
The programme covers all expenses, ensuring that scholars can focus entirely on their studies., aside other benefits including return flight tickets – Covering travel to and from Australia, a generous living allowance – To support accommodation and daily expenses, health insurance – Providing full medical coverage throughout the duration of the programme and academic support & fieldwork allowance – For students conducting research or requiring travel.
The application window, which opened on February 1, 2025 will be open until April 30, 2025. Interested candidates must complete the following steps:
✔ Step 1: Apply online via the official website: Australia Awards Africa.
✔ Step 2: Submit the required documents, including: valid passport (proof of citizenship), bachelor’s degree certificate and transcript, updated CV, employer and academic referee reports, english language test results (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE).
✔ Step 3: Submit the application before April 30, 2025.
The Australian Government introduced this scholarship to develop professionals who will contribute to Africa’s socio-economic progress. It focuses on fields that are critical to Africa’s development, including: Agriculture & Food Security; Climate Change & Renewable Energy; Foreign Policy & International Security; Gender, Disability & Social Inclusion; Mining & Energy
The Australia Awards Scholarships 2026 present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Nigerian professionals to gain a world-class education, develop leadership skills, and contribute to national development. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2025, and all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply early.
