Announcements

Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships funded by the Australian Government. They promote development in Africa through a large-scale program of training opportunities for African professionals.

About Australia Awards

Australia Awards Scholarships are postgraduate scholarships that lead to an academic qualification from an Australian university. The objective of the Awards is to provide high-quality education and training to talented Africans who will be in a position, on their return home, to make an important contribution to national or regional development.

For studies commencing in 2016, Australia Awards Scholarships are available to eligible applicants from 11 African countries.

Masters-level Awards

Australia Awards Scholarships are currently being offered at Masters degree level for 2016. Focus sectors reflect areas that have been identified as priorities by partner governments and in which Australia is recognised as having world-class expertise and experience.

Current priority sectors include:

• -  Agriculture and Food Security

• -  Extractives

• -  Public Policy

• Priority sectors vary by country. Check your country page on the Australia Awards website.

Eligibility

To be considered for an Award, applicants need to hold an undergraduate degree and be employed in a field relevant to their country’s national development priorities. The applicant’s employer must endorse the application.

In most eligible countries, Awards are available to applicants from the public sector, civil society organisations and the private sector.

Strong applicants whose English language proficiency is not of a level that meets entry requirements for study in Australia may be entitled to English language training before leaving for Australia to take up an Award.

HIV-positive condition is not a barrier to eligibility.

Masters-level Awards Currently not available

Schedule

Interviews will be held in May and June 2015 in venues across Africa. Successful applicants can expect to commence their studies in Australia in January 2016, unless they require English language training in advance of taking up the Award.

All Awardees must be issued with a visa by the Australian Government before they take up their Scholarship.

To check whether your country is eligible for Masters-level Awards, please refer to the map on the right or visit our website: www.australiaawardsafrica.org

Gender Equality

Australia Awards targets equal participation by women and men. Applications from women are strongly encouraged. Mechanisms are in place to support women applicants and Awardees if necessary, to ensure parity as far as possible.

Disability Inclusion

Australia Awards aims to ensure that people with a disability are given fair and equal opportunity to compete for and obtain a scholarship. Applications from Africans with disability are strongly encouraged. Mechanisms are in place to support applicants and Awardees requiring specific assistance.

Costs covered

Australia Awards cover the full cost of tuition fees (up to two years), training materials, accommodation, living expenses, health insurance for basic medical and hospital care in Australia, and travel.

For more information on eligibility criteria and application forms, please visit the Australia Awards website:www.australiaawardsafrica.org

• Scolarships Applications  open 1 September - 16 January 2015

Promoting development in Africa through education and training

Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships funded by the Australian Government. They promote development in Africa through a large-scale program of training opportunities for African professionals.

Australia Awards – Africa Fellowships

Australia Awards – Africa Fellowships provide short-term training opportunities for African professionals in specialised fields.

The objective of the Australia Awards – Africa Fellowships is to develop the capacity and leadership skills of Africans so they can contribute more effectively to development in their home countries.

Course durations range between one and three months. Training is delivered in Australia as well as in various locations in Africa.

Key sectors of focus, agreed between Australia and African partner governments are:

-  Agriculture and Food Security

-  Extractives

-  Public Policy

Details of individual courses are published on the Australia Awards website: www.australiaawardsafrica.org

Eligibility

To be eligible for an Australia Awards – Africa Fellowship, applicants must meet all eligibility criteria, including the following:

-  Citizen of an eligible African country

-  Minimum academic requirement (normally Bachelor's degree or equivalent)

-  Mid- to senior-level professional currently employed in a relevant field

-  Meets relevant post-graduation work experience requirements

-  Demonstrates a clear vision for how the knowledge gained through the Fellowship will be used to improve policy, practice, research or reform in their home country

-  Satisfactory English proficiency to enable full participation in a training course delivered in English

-  Satisfies all requirements of the Australian Government for a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) student visa. HIV-positive condition is not a barrier to eligibility.

Detailed eligibility criteria are published on the Australia Awards website: www.australiaawardsafrica.org

Gender Equality

Australia Awards targets equal participation by women and men. Applications from women are strongly encouraged. Mechanisms are
in place to support women applicants and Awardees if necessary, to ensure parity as far as possible.

Disability Inclusion

Australia Awards aims to ensure that people with a disability are given fair and equal opportunity to compete for and obtain a scholarship. Applications from Africans

with disability are strongly encouraged. Mechanisms are in place to support applicants and Awardees requiring specific assistance.

Costs covered

Australia Awards cover the full cost of tuition fees, training materials, accommodation, living expenses, health insurance for basic medical and hospital care in Australia and in Africa, and travel within Africa and to and from Australia.

For more information on eligibility criteria and application forms, please visit the Australia Awards website: www.australiaawardsafrica.org