Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of local, national and global leaders. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.
At the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced a further five-year commitment to support the resilience and prosperity of the Mekong subregion through the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP). MAP aims to support a resilient and inclusive Mekong subregion that pursues joint solutions to shared and transboundary challenges.
From 2026, MAP will offer scholarships for Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar at postgraduate (Master's) level to undertake coursework or research in MAP thematic areas. Recipients will have exclusive access to the Mekong-Leaders Network. The priority areas of study include:
Water Security
- Water resources and sustainable management
- Catchment science
- Integrated water management
- Water & Disaster Risk Reduction
- Sediment & Erosion Processes
- Water Contamination & Remediation
- Hydrology/Hydrogeology
- Aquaculture
- Aquatic Ecosystems & Freshwater Ecology
- Fisheries Management
- River Basin Management & Governance
- Sustainable Water Supply Systems
- Watershed Modelling
Climate Action
- Climate/environmental adaptation and resilience
- Renewable energy
- Energy Transition / Energy Systems
- Sustainable development
- Rural development
- Disaster management & Disaster Risk Reduction
- Forest and wildlife conservation
- Natural resource management
- Infrastructure and transport
- Environmental management
- Sustainable agriculture and food stability
- Sustainable tourism
- Construction management (climate resilient)
- Landscape Restoration/ Ecosystem Management
Combatting Transnational Crime
- International/criminal law
- Criminology
- Prosecution and Judicial system
- Anti-corruption & Governance Integrity
- Border Security/ Border Management
- Maritime security/sustainability
- Criminal Law
- Digital and Forensic Science
- Counter Trafficking & Human Secruity
- Cyber Security
- Cyber Policy & Cyber Governance
- Environmental Crime & Illicit Timber/Wildlife Trade
Economic Resilience and Subregional Integration
- Economics
- Economic governance
- Agricultural economics
- International trade
- Agribusiness
- Public financial management
- Food science and technology
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Regional stability
- Critical technology
- Customs & Trade Facilitation
- Data Science for Economic Analysis
- AI and robotics
- Digital transformation
- Digital communication & Multimedia
- Information technology
- Multi-media communication
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Hospitality management
- Quality and standard management
- Construction and infrastructure management
- Public administration and policy
- Industry & Innovation Policy
Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
- Gender studies
- Gender & development
- Disability policy and practices
- Disability service
- Inclusive Education
- Human rights, gender-based health care
- Social work
- Social policy and social protection
- Inclusive service delivery
MAP on-award enrichment: the Mekong-Leaders Network
The MAP-funded scholarships offer exclusive access to an on-award enrichment program: the Mekong-Leaders Network. This dynamic program will include activities, events and development opportunities that foster enduring connections between MAP scholars across the Mekong subregion to cultivate a collaborative cohort and set the foundations for a strong future alumni network.
Level of study
MAP-funded scholarships provide an opportunity for citizens of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar to obtain a Master's by research or Master's by coursework qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.
Award benefits
The MAP-funded scholarship benefits remain the same as the Australia Awards program with additional exclusive access to on-award enrichment, through the Mekong-Leaders Network.
The application process
The application process and online portal for MAP-funded scholarships will be the same as for the Australia Awards Scholarships. Applicants can apply for a MAP-funded scholarship if the choice of study or research falls within one of the key thematic areas outlined above. Applicants can also choose to apply for both an Australian Awards Scholarship and a MAP-funded scholarship in their respective countries.
Applicants interested to become a MAP scholar should highlight their eligibility for a MAP-funded scholarship in their written application.
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence, relevance of study to the key thematic areas and their potential to contribute to joint solutions to current and emerging challenges in the Mekong subregion.
Applications are strongly encouraged from women and people living with disability, people from ethnic minority groups and people living in provincial areas.
Online applications
Citizens from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar should follow the same application procedure for the Australia Awards Scholarships for your country. For further information, please visit Australia Awards Scholarships.
Citizens from Thailand, please visit Thailand Australia Awards intake information.