A Cambodian National Receives the Fully Funded Australia Awards Scholarship for Her Master's Degree at the University of Melbourne

My name is Duonglina Dam. I came from Takeo province in Cambodia. Recently, I completed a Master of Development Studies under the Australia Awards Scholarship from the University of Melbourne. I chose this major because I am interested in community work. I have been involved in this sector since I was in high school. Then, I was a professional in the development sector for over five years and have been looking for an opportunity to sharpen my skills as a development practitioner. I aim to be a development expert supporting Cambodia's development sector.

Australia Awards Scholarship Details

The Australia Awards Scholarship is the Australian government's initiative to support scholars in continuing their higher education in Australia to utilize their knowledge and skills to influence their home country's development. This program is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The study level for this scholarship is Master's (Coursework or Research) and  PhD.

The scholarship covers:

• return air travel
• a one-off establishment allowance on arrival
• full tuition fees
• contribution to living expenses
• introductory academic program
• overseas student health cover for the duration of the scholarship
• supplementary academic support
• fieldwork allowance for research students and masters by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component.

Educational Background 

Regarding my educational background, I completed two different majors. I earned a Bachelor of Education with GPA (3.10) and another in International Relations with GPA (3.38). I am passionate about community work and have been a volunteer since I was in high school. I became more involved in community work and found my passion in the community sector. Then, I landed a job in the community sector after I completed my Bachelor's degree. I sought to improve my skills to become a better development practitioner, so I sought the opportunity to continue my higher education in development. That is why I have applied for scholarships to gain more practical and theoretical knowledge about development.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Australia Award Scholarship?

There are many things that I need to prepare to be successful for this scholarship. First, I ensured I was eligible and had met all the requirements. More details about the requirements are here: https://www.australiaawardscambodia.org/scholarships/.

I also reviewed my answers and sought for improvement. I also sought feedback from alumni to improve my essay questions. Furthermore, I intensely studied the scholarship's purpose and objective and how I can be a suitable applicant that helps to achieve the outcome and purpose of the scholarship.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Most importantly, I ensured that my proposed course of study is deeply relevant to my passion. It is in the area that I have been doing, and I hope to be an expert in that area. For instance, I have been involved actively in community work. I started volunteering in high school. I have continued my volunteer work at the university, and after graduation, I worked for a development agency for over five years. I have been working in the community sector. My proposed course of study is also closely connected to this area, Development Studies since I want to sharpen my skills further. Upon my return to Cambodia, I want to be an expert in the development sector in Cambodia. Therefore, to ensure your application stands out in this scholarship, you need to outline how your proposed course of study is relevant to your work, your future career plan, and its significance for your home country's development.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would do the same thing when applying for this scholarship. I prepared for this scholarship by understanding its requirements since I was at university when I was not even eligible. Preparing early gave me years of preparation and taught me how to improve my experience and qualifications to meet the requirements.

I also keep reflecting on the rejected application and how to improve it. It took me four years of failed applications to be a successful one. Many of you reading this may feel the same: demotivation and questioning whether you are suitable for the scholarship or should keep applying. I kept pushing, reflecting, improving, sought support until I made it. You will make it if you learn from your failures and do not give up.

What Advice Would You Give to Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Make sure you study the scholarship's requirements, objectives, benefits, and available courses of study. Make sure you meet the requirements. Understand yourself; your proposed course of study should be what you are passionate about, have extensive experience with, and align with your future career goal. Moreover, connect with alumni and seek their support as much as possible, but be proactive, well prepared, and plan ahead of time. Even if you were not selected, think about it as an opportunity that you can learn from, and be proud that you give it a try. If you do not give up but keep reflecting and improving your application, you will be selected one day. Just keep improving and believing in yourself.