The Australian government has announced applications for fully funded postgraduate study opportunities through the Australian Awards Scholarship in 2027 to eligible candidates from Kenya and other eligible African countries.
According to application documents released by Australia Awards Africa, the scholarships are available for study commencing in 2027. They are aimed at building long-term proficiencies and leadership capacity in developing countries through education and research.
Eligible applicants must be citizens of approved African countries, including Kenya, and must be at least 25 years old by February 1, 2027. Applicants are also required to have a minimum of five years of relevant postgraduate work experience and must be employed at the time of application.
Apart from Kenya, other countries that are eligible for application include Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Australian High Commission, Kenya Chargé d’affaires – Mr. Christopher Ellinger.
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World Vision International
The scholarships are open to candidates seeking to pursue a Master’s degree at an Australian tertiary institution. Applicants must already hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree and must not currently hold or be undertaking a Master’s degree or have previously received a long-term Australia Award.
Under the programme, successful applicants will receive full tuition fees, return air travel, a one-off establishment allowance on arrival, a contribution towards living expenses, overseas student health cover for the duration of the scholarship, and supplementary academic support. Research students and coursework master’s students with compulsory fieldwork components will also receive a fieldwork allowance.
Applicants will be assessed through a competitive selection process that includes eligibility screening and interviews.
Selection criteria include academic competence, leadership attributes, relevant professional experience, and the applicant’s potential to contribute to inclusive development outcomes in their home country after completing their studies.
Under the programme, priority fields of study will include agriculture and food security, climate change, foreign policy and international security, gender, disability and social inclusion, as well as mining and energy. The Australian government noted that these priority areas are reviewed regularly and aligned with development needs.
Applicants are required to submit supporting documents, including proof of citizenship, academic certificates and transcripts, a curriculum vitae, academic and employer referee reports, and evidence of English language proficiency, unless exempted under the policy guidelines.
Successful candidates will be notified later in 2026. They will be required to undertake compulsory preparatory training, including course counselling, pre-departure briefings, and an introductory academic programme upon arrival in Australia.
The Australia Awards programme is a prestigious international scholarship initiative, funded by the Government of Australia, to support the next generation of leaders from developing countries.
It is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and it aims to build abilities, knowledge and strong ties between Australia and its partner nations.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online through the OASIS system via the Australia Awards Africa website. The application window opened on February 1, 2026, and closes on April 30, 2026, at 4:59 pm East African Time.
The latter, however, warned that late applications or supporting documents submitted after the timeline will not be considered.
An image of Moi University students celebrating after graduating on August 2019 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Moi University
