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PhDFully Funded Closed 9037 days ago

Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI)

Last verified 20 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Tuition + living stipend for international PhD and Master's by Research candidates at the University of Adelaide, with bonus post-study work rights as a designated regional city.

Provider
University of Adelaide
Host country
Australia
Deadline
Annual international round closes August 31
Region
Oceania

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) is open to African students applying to study in Australia at the PhD level, with fully funded funding. Below is a quick summary of who can apply, what's covered, and the key dates — full details are further down the page.

Who can apply
PhD · applicants for Australia
Funding
Fully Funded
Study level
PhD
Deadline
Annual international round closes August 31

Key eligibility criteria

  • International applicants (including African students) admitted to an Adelaide HDR program with First Class Honours, a research Master's, or equivalent.

What the fully funded award covers

  • Full tuition
  • Monthly stipend

About the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) (2026)

## Why Adelaide for African researchers University of Adelaide is **Group of Eight** and one of Australia's oldest research universities. Adelaide is also a **designated regional city** — graduates get an extra year on the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa. ## What's covered - Full tuition fees for up to 3 years (PhD) / 2 years (MRes) - Living stipend ~AUD $35,000/year (tax-free) - OSHC for the scholar ## Recruiter tips for African applicants - ASI is **highly competitive** — at least one publication or strong research Master's significantly improves chances. - Particularly strong fit areas for African candidates: Wine Science, Agricultural Science, Mining Engineering, Public Health. - WAEC/KCSE/NSC: research Master's OR First Class Honours required. - **Regional advantage**: 3-year Subclass 485 visa (vs 2 years in Sydney/Melbourne) plus extra PR migration points. - Closes **August 31** annually — supervisor contact should begin by **April**. ## Eligibility snapshot International applicants (including African students) admitted to an Adelaide HDR program with First Class Honours, a research Master's, or equivalent. ## Required documents - Certified academic transcripts (WAEC / KCSE / NSC + degree certificates where applicable) - Passport bio-data page (valid 6+ months beyond intended visa start) - English proficiency proof (IELTS 6.0–7.0 overall, or TOEFL iBT / PTE Academic / Duolingo where the provider accepts it) - CV/résumé with full education and work history - Personal statement or motivation letter (typically 500–1000 words) - Two academic or professional references on letterhead - Conditional or full Letter of Offer from the host university (where the scholarship is post-offer) - Financial declaration showing ability to cover any costs not funded by the scholarship ## Application steps 1. **Confirm fit** — re-read the official eligibility criteria on the provider's site and check the current intake window. 2. **Apply for admission** — most Australian scholarships require a conditional or full Letter of Offer before scholarship assessment. 3. **Prepare evidence** — gather certified transcripts, English test scores, references, and identity documents as PDFs. 4. **Submit the scholarship application** — through the university's scholarship portal or the dedicated provider link, before the published deadline. 5. **Track outcomes** — most awards are announced 4–10 weeks after the deadline. If awarded, accept formally and request your CoE. 6. **Apply for the Subclass 500 student visa** — book biometrics, complete the medical exam, and lodge the visa with your CoE, OSHC, and proof of funds.

What the Fully Funded Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) covers

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

  • Full tuition
  • Monthly stipend

Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) eligibility for Australia applicants

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

  • International applicants (including African students) admitted to an Adelaide HDR program with First Class Honours, a research Master's, or equivalent.

Documents required for the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) application

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

  • Valid international passport (bio page scan)
  • Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
  • Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
  • Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
  • Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
  • Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
  • Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
  • Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
  • Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
  • Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
  • Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply for the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) 2026

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

  1. 1
    Confirm eligibility on the official site

    Open https://international.adelaide.edu.au/scholarships/adelaide-scholarships-international-asi and verify the sponsor's stated criteria match your profile — currently: "International applicants (including African students) admitted to an Adelaide HDR program with First Class Honours, a research Master's, or equivalent.". Sponsor rules change between intakes, so always confirm against the live call.

  2. 2
    Secure a study place or admission offer

    Identify a supervisor whose research aligns with yours, exchange emails, and either obtain a conditional offer or confirmation that they will host your project. Many University of Adelaide awards require this before the funding application opens.

  3. 3
    Sit required tests and gather documents

    Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.

  4. 4
    Draft your essays and statements

    Write a focused 1,000–2,000-word research proposal and a separate personal statement. Tailor every paragraph to the sponsor's stated priorities — generic recycled essays are the most common reason strong applicants are rejected.

  5. 5
    Complete the online application

    Create an account on https://international.adelaide.edu.au/scholarships/adelaide-scholarships-international-asi, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Aim to have the full draft complete by 2 Jul 2001. Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.

  6. 6
    Submit by Annual international round closes August 31 (aim 7 days early)

    Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours before the 31 Aug 2001 deadline. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

  7. 7
    Prepare for shortlist interviews

    If shortlisted, University of Adelaide will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) deadline & application timeline

Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (Annual international round closes August 31). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.

  1. 12 months out
    5 Sept 2000

    Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.

  2. 6 months out
    4 Mar 2001

    Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.

  3. 3 months out
    2 Jun 2001

    Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.

  4. 1 month out
    1 Aug 2001

    Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.

  5. Application deadline
    31 Aug 2001

    Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Ready to apply?

Cross-check the latest eligibility rules and deadline on the sponsor's official portal before you start your application.

Visit official site

Editorial verification note

Editorially reviewed on May 2026. Tuition amount, eligibility, and deadline confirmed against the official provider URL. Re-check the official page before applying — exact closing dates and award amounts can change between cycles.
Last checked 5/20/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI)?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the PhD level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by University of Adelaide, and be able to relocate to Australia for the duration of the programme.

Is the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) fully funded?+

Funding model: Fully Funded. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is Annual international round closes August 31. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.

What Australian visa do I need for the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI)?+

Scholarship holders enter Australia on a Student visa (Subclass 500). You apply after receiving a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your university, and must show your scholarship award letter, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), evidence of the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, and a valid passport. Apply at least 6–12 weeks before your course start date.

What English-language score do Australian universities require?+

Australian universities typically require IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for undergraduate and coursework Masters, and 6.5–7.0 for research degrees. For the Subclass 500 visa, you generally need IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent PTE Academic 42, TOEFL iBT 46) unless your prior degree was taught entirely in English. Some universities accept PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge English alongside IELTS.

Can I stay and work in Australia after my scholarship ends?+

Yes — the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) lets you stay 2–4 years after completing an Australian degree, depending on the qualification (2 years for a Bachelor or coursework Masters, 3 years for a research Masters, 4 years for a PhD). Regional graduates can apply for an additional 1–2 years. You must apply within 6 months of completing your course and meet English and health requirements.

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