Scholarships

Applicants who have completed, or are currently completing, Form 7 (Year 13) may be eligible to apply for a Bachelor's degree, provided they have at least one year of relevant work experience, either through formal employment or volunteer service.

Applicants may apply for a Master's degree if they have completed a bachelor's degree and possess at least three years of relevant work experience related to their proposed field of study.

Applicants with a relevant academic research background can apply for a Master's by Research or a PhD. PhD applicants must have completed a master's degree, preferably one that included a significant research component. All applicants must also have at least three years of relevant work experience.

Applicants with a background or experience in the aviation sector can apply for a limited number of scholarships offered through the Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) program in Solomon Islands. Through Australia Awards Solomon Islands, these scholarships support study in:

• Bachelor of Aviation Management at Griffith University, or
• Diploma of Air Maintenance Engineering at Aviation Australia  

Applicants must meet one of the following English language proficiency requirements to be eligible for a scholarship:

1. Academic IELTS: An overall score of 6.5 or higher, with no band score below 6.0; or
2. TOEFL iBT: A minimum score of 84 (for tests taken before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 on the revised scale (for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026), with at least 21 in each subtest; or
3. PTE Academic: An overall score of 58 or higher, with no communicative skill score below 50.

The Australia Awards office supports shortlisted candidates by providing IELTS preparation training and arranging the IELTS test.

Submit all applications through the online application portal:

OASIS (Online Australia Scholarships Information System)

Read more here

Before applying, applicants should review the list of participating Australia Awards institutions to identify eligible universities and study programs:

Australia Awards Participating Institutions

Read more here 

Applicants can also use the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to research Australian universities and accredited courses:

CRICOS

Read more here

Click the links above for more information on eligible institutions, available programs, and application requirements.

Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships are now closed and will reopen in February 2027.

The priority areas of study for eligible Solomon Islands applicants are:  

• Economics
• Governance
• Infrastructure
• Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
• Environment and natural resource management
• Education
• Health  
• Community and social development
• Aviation  

Applicants must nominate two preferred courses at two different institutions in their application.

Applicants should use CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) to identify eligible courses and institutions: Read more

Before submitting an application, applicants should visit the websites of their preferred institutions to confirm that:

• The proposed course aligns with their academic background, professional experience, career goals, and the development priorities of Solomon Islands.
• They meet all course entry requirements, including the required level of English language proficiency.
• The course content and area of specialisation will strengthen capacity within their organisation, institution, and community.
• The institution has a strong reputation and recognised expertise in the relevant field of study.

Applicants in Solomon Islands can access Australia Awards Information Kits and country-specific information by contacting: enquiries@australiaawardssolomonislands.org.sb

Applicants must submit all required supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

To ensure a smooth application process, applicants should:

• Combine documents into a single PDF for each document category.
  Use clear and appropriate file names (for example, “Certificates” or “Referee Reports”).
• Ensure all scanned documents are in colour, clearly legible, and uploaded in the correct page order and orientation.

In addition to the requirements outlined in the Policy Handbook, applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for Solomon Islands.

After applications close on 30 April, the Australia Awards team assesses all submissions against the Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) eligibility criteria and application requirements. Applications that meet these requirements are considered eligible and compliant and are included on the longlist. Shortlisted applicants from the longlist then progress to the next stage of the selection process.

Each eligible application is independently assessed and scored by Shortlisting Advisers against three key criteria: academic readiness, leadership potential, and capacity to contribute to the development of Solomon Islands. In line with DFAT's selection principles, the assessment process is guided by equity, transparency, open competition, and merit. All eligible applicants are scored and ranked to establish an order of merit, and the highest-ranked applicants progress to the interview stage.

All shortlisted bachelor's and master's by coursework candidates must complete a one-hour essay of up to two pages on leadership and development in Solomon Islands. As a key component of the merit-based selection process, the essay enables the assessment panel to evaluate candidates' academic writing skills, including the clarity, structure, coherence, and critical analysis of their arguments. It also provides an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their understanding of leadership and their potential to contribute to the development of Solomon Islands.

Shortlisted candidates who meet the IELTS requirements will be invited to attend an individual interview, with interview panels organised according to the level of study.

Applicants for undergraduate and master's by coursework programs will participate in a 30-minute interview conducted by a three-member panel chaired by DFAT.

Applicants for master's by research and PhD will participate in a one-hour academic interview conducted by a three-member panel, also chaired by DFAT.

The Australia Awards team combines interview scores with shortlisting scores and, for bachelor's and master's applicants, essay assessment results to determine the final candidate rankings. The team then prepares a ranked list of recommended provisional awardees and submits it to DFAT for endorsement. Once endorsed, successful candidates are formally notified. 

Successful applicants will be required to attend a Pre-departure Training before commencing study in Australia.

The Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992 defines disability, in relation to a person, means:

1. total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions; or
2. total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
3. the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
4. the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
5. the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person’s body; or
6. a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
7. a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behavior.

For more details on disability rights in Australia: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/topics/disability-rights-what-were-doing

The Solomon Islands National Disability Inclusive Development Policy 2022–2031 adopts the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and promotes the equal participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

In Solomon Islands, disability is understood as the interaction between a person's impairment and barriers in the environment or society. These barriers may limit a person's ability to participate fully and equally in areas such as education, employment, transport and community life.

The Solomon Islands National Disability Inclusive Education Policy 2016–2020 also recognises that disability can result from the interaction between a person's impairment and environmental and attitudinal barriers.

• Impairments - differences or difficulties in body functions or structures, such as blindness or paralysis.
• Activity limitations - difficulties carrying out activities such as walking, communicating, learning or eating.
• Participation restrictions - difficulties participating in everyday life because of barriers such as discrimination, inaccessible buildings or transport, or limited access to education and employment.

Australia Awards encourages applications from people with disability who meet the eligibility criteria. The program adopts an inclusive definition of disability that aligns with the Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Updated on 1 July 2026. Read more 

All applicants are assessed on merit, and having a disability does not affect an applicant's chances of selection. Applicants are encouraged to disclose their disability in the application form so that appropriate support can be provided throughout the selection process and during their studies. All information provided is treated as strictly confidential and used only to ensure an inclusive and accessible application, selection, and scholarship experience.

Support available may include:

• Reasonable adjustments during the interview and selection process.
• Assistance with mobility, travel, and communication needs.
• Accessible learning and study materials.
• Assistive technology and equipment.
• Carer or support person assistance, where required.

Australia Awards is committed to ensuring that scholars with disabilities can participate fully and equitably in all aspects of the program.

After being selected for a scholarship, scholars with disability meet with a Disability Support Adviser to discuss their support needs, including any reasonable adjustments required during their studies and any preparatory assistance that may be beneficial. The agreed support arrangements are documented in a Disability Support Agreement between the scholar and DFAT, ensuring appropriate support is in place throughout the scholarship.