Australia Awards Fellowship 2026 in Australia | Fully Funded

Australia Awards Fellowship 2026 offers an incredible opportunity for mid-career professionals from developing nations to enhance their skills through short-term study, research, and professional development programs in Australia. Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this fully funded fellowship is designed to strengthen leadership, build institutional links, and foster sustainable development partnerships between Australia and participating countries.

This prestigious Australia Awards Fellowship 2026 allows participants to engage in specialized training, collaborative research, and academic exchange hosted by leading Australian universities and organizations. Fellows can undertake programs lasting from 2 to 52 weeks, gaining valuable experience while contributing to the growth and progress of their home countries upon return.

Benefits

The Program covers:

• Return Air Tickets
• All Transportation in Australia
• Training costs
• Accommodation and living expenses
• Medical insurance costs when in Australia (for Fellowship holders only)
• Special assistance for people with disability
• Program overhead fee.

Eligibility Criteria 

To be eligible for an Australia Awards Fellowship 2026, you must:

• Age: Be at least 18 years old when the fellowship begins.
• Residency: Not be a permanent resident of Australia or applying for permanent residency, nor be a partner of someone who is.
• Citizenship: Be a citizen of an eligible country.
• Military service: Not currently serving in the military.
• Visa requirements: Meet all the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs for a (DFAT-sponsored) student visa subclass 500.
• Participation: Be able to fully participate in the fellowship.
• Travel: Travel without family members, as DFAT only funds and provides visa support for individual fellows.
• Disability assistance: If you have a disability that requires assistance, you must travel with a carer.

Key Features of the Fellowship

Purpose of the Fellowship: The Australia Awards Fellowship enables eligible Australian organisations, such as government institutions, businesses, and non-government organisations, to connect with promising young professionals and innovative leaders from around the world.

Aim of the Fellowship: It targets senior and mid-career professionals from developing countries, providing opportunities to enhance their professional skills in leadership, management, research, and policy development in Australia. Fellows are expected to then return home and contribute to the development of their countries.

Priority Areas of the Fellowship

Six development priority areas:

• Climate change, adaptation, resilience, and green energy transition (including critical mineral mining)
• Gender equality, disability equity, and social inclusion
• Health
• Digital Economy, cyber resilience, and media engagement
• Maritime and the Blue Economy
• Infrastructure and connectivity.

Duration of the Fellowship

Fellowships must be between a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 52 weeks.

• In-Australia Requirement: At least 2 weeks of the Fellowship activities must take place in Australia.
• Partner Country Activities: Activities in the partner country must commence within 4 months of completing the Fellowship activities in Australia.

Eligible Countries

• Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
• South Asia and the Middle East: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iraq, Jordan, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Sri Lanka
• Pacific: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna
• Africa: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Caribbean: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname
• Europe: Ukraine

How to Apply?

• Familiarise yourself with the program guidelines to ensure your organisation and Fellowship proposal meet all eligibility and priority‑area requirements.
• Prepare your application via the SmartyGrants online form before the deadline (16 January 2026).
• In the application you’ll need to:
  • complete your organisation’s details and make sure you are eligible to apply;
  • provide a clear proposal for the Fellowship activities, including how they link to the development priorities;
  • outline your budget and the co‑contribution your organisation makes;
  • list your overseas counterpart organisation(s) (OCOs) and explain how they will be involved.
• Submit all mandatory sections fully—missing or incomplete sections may mean your application is set aside.
• After submission you’ll receive notification of the outcome. If successful, you’ll be required to nominate Fellows, complete any supplementary information and sign agreements.
• Once the agreement is finalised, prepare your Fellow(s) for departure: visa, insurance, travel and other arrangements.
• Implement the Fellowship activities, monitor progress, and complete all reporting and acquittal requirements after finishing the program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Australia Awards Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded program for mid-career professionals, offering 2–52 weeks of training, research, and development in Australia. Eligible applicants must have organizational support and an approved OCO to apply by 16 January 2026.