Deakin University scholarships for international students come in two groups. Coursework students (bachelor’s and master’s by coursework) can get a tuition reduction of 20%, 25%, 50% or 100%, and most of these are assessed automatically when you apply. Research students can get the RTP or DUPR scholarship, which covers tuition and pays a tax-free stipend of AUD 37,450 a year. None of the coursework awards pays a living allowance, so only the research scholarships are fully funded; the 100% Vice-Chancellor’s award covers all tuition but no living costs.
As of 24 October 2026, the international research scholarship round for February 2027 closed on 23 August 2026, with outcomes due on 6 November 2026. Using this year’s dates, the next international round runs from 6 July to 23 August 2027. Coursework scholarships are assessed on a rolling basis before each trimester, and Deakin is taking applications for Trimester 1 (March) and Trimester 2 (July) 2027 now.
Deakin University scholarships for international students compared
| Scholarship | Value | Minimum average | Who can get it | How you apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship | 100% or 50% tuition for the whole degree | 85% | New international coursework students | Separate application |
| Deakin International Scholarship for Excellence | 25% tuition | 75% (undergraduate), 80% (postgraduate) | Citizens of listed Asian countries and Mauritius | Automatic |
| Deakin International 20% Merit Scholarship | 20% tuition | 65% (60% for some Indian postgraduates) | New international students | Automatic |
| Deakin Southeast Asia Priority Bursary | Up to AUD 2,000, once | None stated | Applicants who accept their offer early | Accept your offer early |
| Deakin alumni discount | 10% per unit | None | Deakin graduates taking a postgraduate degree | Through admission |
| RTP and DUPR research scholarships | Tuition offset, AUD 37,450 a year stipend, health cover, relocation | 80% in the research component of previous study | Domestic and international research students | Scholarship round with your research application |
Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship (50% or 100%)
This is Deakin’s top coursework award and the only one with a separate application. It covers 50% or 100% of tuition for the length of your degree. It does not pay living costs, though winners get priority access to on-campus housing at their own cost, and they must join the Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program.
- Eligibility: a new international student entering a Deakin coursework degree, with at least an 85% average in previous studies and the course’s English requirement met. The Doctor of Medicine (H911) is excluded.
- Documents: the International Scholarship Program application form, a 300-word personal statement, two references about your community involvement or leadership, and your course application with transcripts.
- Deadline: email the package to Deakin International Admissions at least one month before your course starts. For Trimester 1 2027 (March), that means by early February 2027.
- Selection: grades, your statement and references. You may be interviewed, and only successful applicants are contacted.
Competition means an 85% average is the floor, not a target. I would treat your personal statement as the deciding document: Deakin asks what motivates your study, what you have done outside class and how you would represent the university. If you are not chosen, Deakin automatically considers you for its other international scholarships.
Automatic Deakin scholarships: 25% and 20%
Deakin International Scholarship for Excellence (25%)
This award takes 25% off your total tuition for the normal length of your degree. It is limited by citizenship to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Citizens of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Mauritius, Myanmar and Nepal must also live in their home country.
| Level | Minimum average |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 75% |
| Postgraduate coursework | 80% (75% for citizens of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Myanmar and Bhutan) |
Deakin International 20% Merit Scholarship
This is the easiest Deakin award to get. With a 65% average in previous studies (60% for Indian citizens living in India applying to postgraduate study), Deakin applies a 20% reduction to your fees after the census date. It covers the normal length of your degree, not repeated or extra units. It does not apply to some limited-place health courses, including the Doctor of Medicine and several psychology, nutrition and nursing programmes, and the scholarship page has a country eligibility list you should check.
For both automatic awards you do nothing beyond applying for your course through the international application. Your offer letter shows the reduction.
Deakin PhD and research master’s scholarships (RTP and DUPR)
The Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship is Australian Government funded; the Deakin University Postgraduate Research (DUPR) scholarship is Deakin’s own. Both are open to international applicants and offer the same package.
| Benefit | PhD | Research master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Stipend (AUD 37,450 a year, tax exempt) | 3 years | 2 years |
| Tuition fee offset | 4 years | 2 years |
| Relocation allowance | AUD 500 to 1,500, depending on family | Same |
| Overseas Student Health Cover | Single policy for your visa period | Same |
The stipend is paid only to full-time, on-campus students. Some sites still quote AUD 27,596 or AUD 28,092; those are 2019 and 2022 rates.
RTP and DUPR eligibility
- Education: at least four years of tertiary study.
- Grades: 80% or equivalent in the research component of your previous degree.
- Admission: you must meet Deakin’s graduate research entry rules, including English.
- Ranking: applicants are ranked under Deakin’s graduate research scholarship guidelines, and only top-ranked candidates receive an RTP.
Deakin research scholarship dates
| Round | Opens | Closes | Outcome | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 international (closed) | 6 July 2026 | 23 August 2026 | 6 November 2026 | February 2027 |
| 2027 domestic | 6 July 2026 | 25 October 2026 | 23 December 2026 | February 2027 |
| Next international round | 6 July 2027 | 23 August 2027 | 6 November 2027 | February 2028 |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens)
Before you apply, contact a potential supervisor in your field. Deakin also advertises PhD project scholarships attached to specific research groups, and most are open to international students.
For a higher stipend in the same city, compare the University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships, which pay about AUD 39,500 a year plus a full fee offset.
Scholarships on older Deakin lists that you cannot use
Long lists of “Deakin scholarships” copied around the web mix in awards that are closed or not meant for international students.
Endeavour Scholarships have ended
The Australian Government announced in the 2019-20 Budget that there would be no further rounds of the Endeavour Leadership Program. Ignore any guide that lists Endeavour as an option for 2027.
- Domestic-only awards: the New Colombo Plan, AVCAT bursaries, Victorian Government scholarships, Western Chances and Indigenous scholarships are for Australian students, so international applicants cannot use them.
- Old country-specific awards: names such as the Deakin STEM Scholarship or country-specific 100% scholarships appear on older lists. Deakin’s STEM Scholarship link now leads to its general international scholarships page. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by citizenship to see what exists for your country today.
- Australia Awards: these Australian Government scholarships can include tuition, return airfare, health cover, an establishment allowance and living costs, for citizens of participating developing countries. You apply through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, not through Deakin.
For how the RTP works at other universities, with 2026 stipend rates and round dates, see our RTP scholarship guide.
If you are also considering Sydney, the Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship takes up to AUD 10,000 off tuition for international bachelor’s and master’s students.
How to apply for Deakin University scholarships
- Pick your intake: Trimester 1 starts in March, Trimester 2 in July and Trimester 3 in November.
- Apply for your course: through Deakin’s international application, with transcripts and English test results. This alone puts you in line for the 20% and 25% awards.
- Add the Vice-Chancellor’s application if you have 85% or more: form, 300-word statement and two references, emailed at least a month before your start date.
- Research applicants: find a supervisor, then apply for admission and the RTP/DUPR round before the round closes.
- Track the result: scholarship offers usually arrive by email within four weeks of the closing date, and your status shows in the scholarship portal.
For the reference letters, our recommendation letter samples show what referees should include. If you are weighing Deakin against other English-speaking options, see our guide to the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship in Canada, which covers living costs as well as tuition.
FAQs on Deakin University scholarships
Does Deakin University offer fully funded scholarships?
Only for research students. The RTP and DUPR scholarships cover tuition and pay AUD 37,450 a year; coursework awards, including the 100% Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship, cover tuition only.
Do I need to apply separately for Deakin scholarships?
Not for most of them. The 20% and 25% awards are assessed automatically when you apply for your course; only the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship needs its own application.
What average do I need for the Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship?
At least 85% or the equivalent in your previous studies. Strong competition can push the real cut-off higher.
When is the Deakin PhD scholarship deadline for international students?
The round for February 2027 closed on 23 August 2026. Based on that date, the next international round opens on 6 July 2027 and closes on 23 August 2027.
Sources and updates
Values, averages and conditions come from Deakin University’s own scholarship pages: the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship, the International Scholarship for Excellence, the International 20% Merit Scholarship, the international student scholarships page and the RTP and DUPR page. The status of the Endeavour programme comes from the Australian Government’s international education site. Checked on 24 October 2026. I will update the research dates when Deakin publishes the 2028 rounds.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
