Who can apply?
Australian Organisations in partnership with Overseas Counterpart Organisations (OCOs) in eligible developing countries are eligible to apply for an Australia Awards Fellowship.
Australian Organisations must be able to demonstrate links with Overseas Counterpart Organisations (OCOs) in eligible countries and must demonstrate commitment to the partnership and Fellowship program through an in-kind and/or financial co-contribution.
Individuals cannot apply.
Applicants must be Australian Organisations that are legal entities with a current Australian Business Number (ABN). Examples include:
- Australian organisations, institutions, and businesses — for example but not limited to private sector, research centres, higher education providers, vocational education and training providers, peak bodies, Australian chambers of commerce, community groups, non-government organisations, media organisations, professional associations, and industry bodies.
- Australian Government departments — (Federal, State/Territory and local), government agencies, statutory authorities, and Government Business Enterprises.
OCOs cannot be an international arm or branch of the Australian Organisation, nor can they be under the same overarching international organisation or international consortium as the Australian organisation.
The OCO must operate and reside in an eligible country. OCOs cannot be individuals.
New or emerging partnerships with OCOs will be considered.
How to apply
Australia Awards Fellowships Round 22 will open for grant applications in early 2027.
Fellow eligibility
Australia Awards Fellowships target senior officials and mid-career professionals, who, in the short to medium term, will be in a position to advance priority development and foreign affairs issues on their return home.
Australian Organisations must ensure that all nominated Fellows meet the following general eligibility requirements:
- be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing the Fellowship;
- not be an Australian citizen or be applying for Australian citizenship -this includes dual citizenship where one of the citizenships is Australian;
- not have Australian permanent resident status or be applying for Australian permanent residency;
- be a citizen of and residing in an eligible developing country. The Fellow's country of citizenship and residency may differ;
- not be current serving military personnel;
- not be married or engaged to, or be a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency;
- have been working in their country of citizenship or residency and in an area relevant to the Fellowship activities preceding the date of the proposed commencement of their Fellowship;
- be able to satisfy all requirements determined by the Department of Home Affairs for a visa;
- be able to participate in the nominated Fellowship activities at the time and for the full duration proposed by the Australian Host Organisation (AHO), except in exceptional circumstances, where approved by the Australia Awards Global Support Unit (GSU) and DFAT;
- be able to travel without family members as DFAT will only fund and provide visa support letters for individual Fellows, not their family members;
- have an adequate level of English language ability to be able to fully participate in the program, including an ability to complete the Fellow's Completion Survey at the conclusion of their Fellowship.
- Note: AHOs are responsible for ensuring Fellows have an adequate level of English language ability or must implement appropriate measures to enable Fellows to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship activities (e.g., translation services).
- DFAT does not recommend using translation services for Multi-country Fellowships where use of translation services may compromise learning outcomes or where English language capabilities differ substantially amongst Fellows.
Eligible countries for Round 21
Eligible countries may vary between Australia Awards Fellowship rounds. Applicants should refer to the guidelines for the relevant round to confirm country eligibility.
Pacific
Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna
Southeast Asia
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam
South Asia and Middle East
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Jordan and State of Palestine
Africa
Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Caribbean
Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname
Europe
Ukraine
Resources
Frequently asked questions
Australia Awards Fellowships resources by round
Round 21
- Australia Awards Fellowships guidelines round 21 (updated August 2026) [DOCX 704 KB]
- Australia Awards Fellowships guidelines round 21 (updated August 2026) [PDF 2 MB]
Round 20
- Round 20 Australia Awards Fellowships successful Australian host organisations (updated 26 May 2026) [DOCX 570 KB]
- Round 20 Australia Awards Fellowships successful Australian host organisations Updated 26 May 2026 [PDF 443 KB]
- Australia Awards Fellowships guidelines round 20 (updated August 2025) [DOCX 1.5 MB]
- Australia Awards Fellowships guidelines round 20 (updated August 2025) [PDF 1.5 MB]
- Australia Awards Fellowships Round 20 Budget Table [DOCX 182 KB]
- Australia Awards Fellowships Round 20 Budget Table [PDF 347 KB]