Australia has long been a friendly destination for Nepali students looking to pursue college and university degrees. While the excellent degrees that its renowned institutions offer are a major attraction, Nepali students are equally drawn by an Australian university degree because of the multitude of scholarships and stipends on offer.

Students who have acquired good grades in high school or university are eligible for such scholarships offered by Australian universities. Merit-based scholarships are granted to students with a solid academic background, and a strong professional track record where relevant.

According to Mahesh Timilsina of Kangaroo Education, students who have acquired 70 percent or above in high school or at the university level and have an IELTS score of above 6.5 are encouraged to apply for scholarships. “Around 10 to 15 percent of students applying to Australia are treated with partial university-based scholarships,” said Timilsina, adding that students ought to apply for scholarships regardless of how competitive they are.

Education consultants advise students to apply on time and meet the scholarship deadline set by universities. Ramesh Wagle, of Golden Gate Education Consultancy, says that scholarships vary according to each university. “Some universities, like the University of Tasmania, offer students up to 70 percent scholarship, which means that it’s possible to receive any amount within that range,” said Wagle.

The admissions procedure also relies on good recommendation letters, along with impressive professional experience, when it comes to certain majors like the Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or Economics. “For students who wish to major in areas such as business, finance and accounting, relevant work experience is also a plus point when it comes to scholarships,” said Timilsina.

Universities in Australia offer scholarships to students during the July as well as February intakes. Most offer flat scholarships ranging from 10 to 70 percent. Popular among these are the Australian Catholic University and the University of Wollongong.

However, unlike in the US, universities in Australia hardly offer full tuition wavers. They tend to focus more on providing merit-based rather than need-based scholarships. Most students who aren’t granted scholarships upon admission can apply for them after completing their first semester. “Nepali students who go to Australia are able to get scholarships after proving their academic performance,” said Wagle.

Meanwhile, students seeking full scholarship can also look into opportunities offered by the Australian government, such as the AusAid cholarship. Candidates are expected to apply via the Australian embassy and undergo a rigorous selection procedure. Such scholarships requires a minimum of three years of professional experience as well as a great career record.

source: The Kathmansu Post,3 April 2013