Australia Awards Scholarships - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please see Accommodation and Housing options.

Please go to myUNSW to update your contact details. Please also remember to inform your bank, health insurance provider and contact the Department of Home Affairs to update your details. 

Please visit the NSW Department of Fair Trading, opens in a new window.

We would also recommend that you book a consultation with a Student Support Advisor (SSA) for personalised advice and information.

Your stipend is paid fortnightly by the University into your nominated Australian bank account in arrears. The first payment should be paid on the first payday after your arrival.

Following the first payment, stipend will be paid in accordance with UNSW fortnightly pay periods.

No. Stipend is currently income tax exempt. Please refer to the Australian Tax Office website for information on Australian tax laws.

Yes. If you change your bank account, please update your details immediately on myUNSW so that stipend payments are made to the correct bank account. Do not close your old bank account immediately to allow for any possible outstanding payments to be made.

Please send an email to AustraliaAwards@unsw.edu.au once your Bank Account details have been updated on myUNSW.

No. Stipend is paid in arrears. Advance payment is not possible.

If you notice that your OSHC is about to expire while you’re still in Australia on your student visa, you need to urgently notify your Student Contact Officer (SCO). Together we’ll investigate the matter and extend your policy, if required.

No. Your OSHC policy only covers you while you’re in Australia. However, UNSW provides all students with a Corporate Travel Insurance which covers you whilst travelling more than 100 kilometres on approved UNSW business. For details, please contact your SCO.

Yes. Attendance at the IAP is compulsory for all awardees. Failure to attend the IAP may result in the termination of your scholarship. UNSW must keep an attendance record provided to DFAT Canberra on request. If you cannot arrive in time for the start of the IAP prior to the commencement of your study period, we will recommend that you defer to the next term.

UNSW Faculties, Schools and Departments offer a variety of free academic support services, as well as Mentoring Programs. 

SAS can be granted where the institution, awardee or Program Area identifies that assistance is required in line with the institution's academic requirements. Please visit the Australia Awards Moodle page, where you have access to our Procedures for step-by-step guidance and the respective application forms to use Supplementary Academic Support for the below purposes.

For enquiries, please contact us at AustraliaAwards@unsw.edu.au.

• Tutoring, Academic Support and Thesis Editing
• Academic Training, Workshop and Conference Attendance

ANY change to your scholarship, including a program transfer, you need to discuss first with a Student Support Advisor (SSA). 

Any request for a transfer must be compatible with the original scholarship application, Partner Government requirements (where applicable) and country program priorities. If the name or CRICOS code of the program changes (which in most cases does), the change needs to be approved by DFAT at their discretion. 

The course transfer cannot result in an extension of time to the scholarship. Equally, a change to the field of study is not permitted (e.g. from a law to an arts degree). 

You can book a consultation with a Student Support Advisor (SSA) for personalised advice and information.

Any enrolment that is more or less than 48 Units of Credit (UOC) per year needs to be approved by a Student Support Advisor (SSA). You can book a consultation with a Student Support Advisor (SSA) for personalised advice and information.

Once results are released and we see that you have failed a subject, we will get in contact with you to start the process of developing an appropriate strategy for the continuation of your scholarship.

You’ll be required to create an action plan and relevant details will be emailed to you.

An important element of your Australia Awards Scholarship is for you to participate in the full academic experience. By doing courses online or via distance, you are not getting this experience.

Face-to-face learning encourages communicating and interacting with other students, building linkages with academics, participating in class, using English in the classroom, and more.

DFAT stipulates the requirement that less than 25% of the courses you enrol in are offered online.

Extensions are decided on a case-by-case basis and need approval from DFAT. 

A request for an extension will generally not be considered for a study program that is only one academic year in length. Apart from Honours year extensions, only one extension of up to six months will be approved for the duration of the scholarship. 

If you would like to discuss the option of an extension, you can book a consultation with a Student Support Advisor (SSA) for personalised advice and information.

No. The participation in an exchange program whilst on an Australia Awards Scholarship is not permitted.

PRSS Conference travel funds

The Postgraduate Research Student Support (PRSS) Scheme is a centrally funded initiative to provide eligible postgraduate researchers with the opportunity to apply for funding to assist in presenting their research at international conferences outside of Australia.

Research Student Progress Report

Your Students Contact Officer (SCO) will send you, with a copy to your supervisor, a Request for Research Student Progress Report twice a year. Under the terms of your scholarship, we are required to enter details of your academic progress into DFAT’s database. 

It is your responsibility to meet with your supervisor to complete this form and to return it to the SCO by the due date.

Australia Awards Scholarship recipients are eligible to receive travel concession at the commencement of their first term at UNSW. This travel concession will not be granted while attending any preparatory programs, e.g. Pre-Course English (PCE) or Introductory Academic Program (IAP). Under a long-standing policy, fully-funded Australian Government scholarship recipients are entitled to a transport concession if they meet relevant criteria.

Eligibility criteria for transport concessions in New South Wales are determined by the New South Wales Minister for Transport on behalf of the Government of New South Wales. The full version of the Guidelines are available here.

Read more details on your eligibility for Concession Opal travel in Sydney.

Please email us at AustraliaAwards@unsw.edu.au indicating the purpose of your travel. 

The SCO will respond to your email with further details. Payment for all travel arrangements will be made through our team, therefore, please do not pay for any travel yourself unless previously approved by us.

Under the AAS Policy Handbook 2023 (PDF), section 10.8 Reunion Airfare, unaccompanied AAS Students holding a scholarship for a minimum of two academic years are eligible for Reunion Airfare. Please refer to the Scholarship entitlements section for more details.

Students who have a fieldwork entitlement can travel back home during their scholarship to conduct fieldwork. This entitlement only covers the cost of the return airfare.

Please note: PhD students are entitled to three trips that can be either reunion or fieldwork. Masters students are entitled to one trip that can be either reunion or fieldwork.

• Student type

  Masters by Coursework 

  (compulsory research component only) 

  Fieldwork trips available  
  (during scholarship period) 

  One 

  (only if the Awardee has not used the reunion airfare) 

• Student type

  Masters by Reserch 

  Fieldwork trips available  
  (during scholarship period) 

  One 

  (only if the Awardee has not used the reunion airfare) 

• Student type

  PhD student 

  Fieldwork trips available  
  (during scholarship period) 

  Up to three 

  (if fieldwork is conducted in the Awardee’s home country, the awardee is not eligible for reunion airfares in the year fieldwork is undertaken) 

You are to travel by the most direct route and are entitled to the 'best fare of the day' which is the cheapest economy class fare available during the period of travel. Any special discount fares need to be utilised. Therefore, it is not always possible to consider your preferred airline.

Your scholarship can be suspended for a maximum total of twelve (12) months if deemed necessary for health or family reasons and will need to be approved by the DFAT Program Area (or Partner Government if applicable). 

You must return to your home country (with your family if you are accompanied) at your own cost and no contribution to living expenses (stipend) will be paid for the period of your suspension. 

You must, at your own expense, ensure that your visa and passport are valid prior to your return to Australia.

Yes. As an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during a term and unlimited hours during term breaks. 

DFAT advises that any employment undertaken during the term may compromise your academic progress. The successful completion of your scholarship must be your main focus.