Australian National University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most ANU scholarships are designed for students who commence a degree and are actively enrolled, and many awards assume on-campus study and/or a full-time study load.

ANU offers scholarships across a wide range of subjects, including STEM fields (like computing, data, and environmental science), engineering-related areas, business and economics, public policy, humanities, and many other disciplines. In the stories on Global Scholarships, recipients studied economics and policy-heavy programs such as Ankit Patro (Master of Applied Economics), Ilham Ramzy (Master of Economics), Syed Saad Ali Gillani (Master of Public Policy), Yeshey Jamtsho (Master of Environmental and Resource Economics), and Rhema Wijaya (Master of Environmental Management and Development).

ANU has scholarships for both domestic and international students, and many awards are open to students from “anywhere in the world,” while others are grouped by citizenship or region. The recipient stories show a mix of nationalities studying at ANU, including India (Ankit Patro wrote, “I am from India”), Indonesia (Rhema Wijaya and Ilham Ramzy), Bhutan (Yeshey Jamtsho), and Pakistan (Syed Saad Ali Gillani). Some scholarships are also funded externally (for example, Australia Awards) and target citizens of specific partner/developing countries.

You usually need to demonstrate that you meet ANU’s English language requirements, but that does not always mean you must sit IELTS/TOEFL. Some applicants can meet the requirement through prior study in English or other approved pathways. In the recipient stories, IELTS was a key part of the process for several scholarship routes: Syed Saad Ali Gillani reported, “I took the IELTS exam and scored an overall band of 7.5,” and shared that “I prepared for the test through self-study using online practice materials and mock tests.” Ilham also highlighted that scholarship selection rank can be influenced by “English test scores.”

Minimum grades depend on the specific degree: each program has its own entry requirements, and highly competitive programs can have stricter academic thresholds. For example, ANU medicine (MChD international pathway) is assessed with minimum GPA and admission test requirements before interview consideration. For scholarships, the “minimum grade” question often matters even more after you start: some scholarship conditions require you to maintain a certain GPA to keep the award. In the stories, Rhema Wijaya shared a concrete academic data point from her prior degree (GPA: 3.67/4.00), and Ilham Ramzy connected scholarship competitiveness directly to “undergraduate GPA and English test scores.”

Many ANU scholarships do not advertise a universal age limit and instead focus on whether you meet academic and admissions eligibility (offer of admission, program eligibility, student status, etc.). In practice, the recipient stories show that ANU-funded or ANU-linked scholarships were accessible to people at different career stages: Yeshey Jamtsho applied after “over a decade of professional experience,” and Rhema Wijaya mentioned she spent “around 10 years working in communications for environmental and development projects” before starting her master’s. Always double-check the conditions for the exact scholarship you want, especially for externally funded programs.

For merit-based ANU scholarships, a strong academic record (high grades/strong selection rank) and meeting program entry requirements are typically the foundation. Ankit Patro said his award was offered “in recognition of my strong academic record and selection rank,” and Ilham Ramzy explained that scholarship outcomes can hinge on “undergraduate GPA and English test scores.” The stories also suggest that professional experience and a clear academic narrative can help, especially for competitive external awards: Syed Saad Ali Gillani emphasized impact and fit, noting that feedback helped him refine “both my personal statement and the development impact plan.”

At a minimum, you should expect to need: (1) eligibility for admission into an ANU program, (2) proof you meet English requirements, and (3) a competitive academic profile for merit scholarships (plus additional criteria for specific awards).

Common documents for ANU applications typically include proof you meet English language requirements, academic records/transcripts (often with a grading scale), and any program-specific evidence (for example, relevant work experience for some programs). Depending on how you qualify, you may also need a CV and referee/contact details.

Yes, ANU may charge an application fee depending on how you apply. For many international applicants applying through ANU’s online portal, there is an application fee per submission. (If you apply through a separate admissions centre pathway, fees and rules can differ.)