Top 20 Scholarships for Studying AI in Australia
Australia is giving priority to developing AI talents, and these scholarships are your ticket in. This is one of the best places in the world to study artificial intelligence. You can choose two or three that fit your level and goals, mark the deadlines, and start your application today. Universities in Australia rank among the global leaders in computer science, and its AI research institutes work with industry on real problems in health, mining, agriculture and robotics. The good news is that there is plenty of funding available for international students. Here are 20 scholarships that can help you study AI, machine learning or data science in Australia.
Government and Global Scholarships
- Australia Awards Scholarships The Australian Government’s flagship award covers full tuition, return airfares, an establishment allowance and a living stipend. It’s open to citizens of eligible developing countries, so check your country’s profile first. The 2027 round closed on 30 April 2026, and rounds usually open each February.
- Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship Funded by the Australian Government and offered through universities nationwide, the RTP covers tuition and pays a living stipend for PhD and research master’s students. You apply through your chosen university; the link shows the University of Melbourne’s version, which adds a A$3,000 relocation grant for students moving from overseas.
- Google PhD Fellowship (Australia and New Zealand) First- and second-year PhD students in machine learning, NLP, computer vision and related fields can win A$20,000 plus a Google Research mentor. You must be nominated by your university. The 2026 window ran from 5 March to 30 April 2026.
University Scholarships for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees
These reward strong grades in coursework degrees, such as a Bachelor or Master of AI, Computer Science or Data Science. Many are awarded automatically when you receive your admission offer.
- UNSW International Scientia Coursework Scholarship UNSW’s top award for international students pays either full tuition or A$20,000 a year. It considers leadership and extracurricular achievement as well as grades.
- University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme Worth up to A$40,000, with a A$60,000 tier added for 2026 intakes, it’s open to all commencing international undergraduate and coursework master’s students.
- Monash International Leadership Scholarship This covers 100% of tuition for your entire undergraduate degree, plus leadership development as a Monash ambassador. Only a handful are awarded each year.
- ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship The Australian National University cuts tuition by 25% or 50% for your whole degree. There’s no separate application, and recipients are guaranteed first-year accommodation.
- Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship High achievers from countries with a GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less get a 25% fee reduction for the full bachelor’s degree. You’re considered automatically.
- Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship Up to A$10,000 off tuition for bachelor’s and coursework master’s students. Applications are open year-round, but places are limited.
- Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship One of the most generous coursework awards in Australia, covering 50% or 100% of tuition for your full course.
- UWA Global Excellence Scholarship The University of Western Australia gives an annual tuition discount based on your grades. The current round is open until 22 December 2026, and assessment is automatic.
- Griffith Remarkable Scholarship Griffith University halves tuition for exceptional international students in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
- Curtin Global Merit Scholarship Curtin University in Perth takes 20% off tuition for your whole course if you start in 2027 or 2028. All qualifying applicants are assessed automatically.
Research and AI-Focused Scholarships
Planning a PhD or research master’s in machine learning, robotics or computer vision? These pay a living stipend, and most also cover tuition.
- University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship International PhD and research master’s students receive a living stipend of about A$42,754 a year (2026 rate), plus an automatic tuition fee scholarship.
- Monash Graduate Scholarship This pays a stipend of A$37,145 a year (2026 rate) and can be packaged with a Monash tuition scholarship. You’re considered automatically when you apply for your research degree.
- UQ Graduate School Scholarships (includes RTP) The University of Queensland covers tuition and a living stipend for PhD and MPhil students. You’ll need a supervisor’s support and nomination from your school, so reach out early.
- UTS International Research Scholarship The University of Technology Sydney covers tuition for international research students. UTS is home to the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, one of the country’s largest AI research centres.
- Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) PhD Scholarships Adelaide University’s renowned AI institute funds PhDs through programs such as the Responsible AI Research Centre (A$36,600 a year) and the CommBank Centre for Foundational AI. Eligibility differs by project, so check each one.
- AIML Research Scholarship Students in Adelaide University’s Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and related degrees, can win A$5,000 for an advanced AI research project. International students are eligible.
- CSIRO Next Generation AI Graduate Scholarship Run by Australia’s national science agency with Curtin University and WA Police, this pays A$30,000 for master’s students and A$10,000 for honours students researching AI for public safety. Applications are open until June 2027, but many CSIRO places favour domestic students, so confirm your eligibility.
Tips to Boost Your Chances
- Apply for admission early. Most university scholarships are tied to your offer letter, and many are awarded automatically once you have one.
- Find a supervisor first for research degrees. A professor who backs your AI research proposal can make or break a PhD scholarship.
- Stack your awards. Pair a stipend with a tuition scholarship where the rules allow it.
- Get your English test done. Have IELTS, TOEFL or PTE scores ready before deadlines arrive.
- Always check the official page. Values, dates and eligibility change every year.
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