The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship gives 225 international students starting a bachelor’s degree at the University of Melbourne in 2027 a 20% tuition fee sponsorship for the whole course. It is open to citizens of 121 countries whose GDP per capita is US$10,000 or less, a list that includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt and Ukraine. There is no separate application: you are considered automatically when you apply for an eligible course.
The deadline to watch is the one for your course application. For Semester 1 (February/March) 2027, direct international applications to Melbourne close on 30 November 2026. For Semester 2 (July) 2027, they close on 31 May 2027. Selection uses your final school or foundation results, so the award is decided after those results reach the university.
Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | The University of Melbourne |
| Value | 20% tuition fee sponsorship for the standard length of your course (2027 entry) |
| Number of awards | 225 for 2027 (up from 110) |
| Who can apply | Citizens of countries with GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less (World Bank data) |
| Study level | Overseas fee place in a bachelor’s degree |
| Selection | Final secondary school or foundation results |
| Application | Automatic, through your course application |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026 (Semester 1, 2027); 31 May 2027 (Semester 2, 2027) |
What changed for 2027
This scholarship has been reshaped twice in a few years, and many listing sites still describe an old version. The award has changed like this:
| Version | Value | Who it targeted |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 merit version | AUD 10,000 off the first year, or 50% or 100% off a three-year degree | Any international student with results in the top 3% |
| Before 2027 entry | 25% tuition for the course, about 110 awards | Citizens of countries with GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less |
| 2027 entry onwards | 20% tuition for the course, 225 awards | Same country list |
So if a site promises you a 100% Melbourne undergraduate scholarship through this award, it is quoting the 2024 rules. The current award is smaller per student but goes to twice as many people, and it is aimed at countries where paying Australian fees is hardest. Melbourne now describes it as support for talented citizens of countries where study abroad is limited by financial disadvantage.
How much the 20% is worth
Melbourne’s tuition depends on the course. The Bachelor of Science, a three-year degree for international students, had an indicative first-year fee of AUD 52,944 to 62,208 in 2026. On those figures the scholarship is worth roughly AUD 10,600 to 12,400 a year, or about AUD 32,000 to 37,000 over three years. You still pay the remaining 80% plus all living costs.
| Bachelor of Science (2026 indicative first-year fee) | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Full fee | AUD 52,944 | AUD 62,208 |
| Scholarship (20%) | AUD 10,589 | AUD 12,442 |
| You pay | AUD 42,355 | AUD 49,766 |
Fees rise each year, and Melbourne publishes 2027 fee tables for every course, so check your own course page before you build a budget.
Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship eligibility
You must meet all of these:
- Citizenship: you are a citizen of a country on Melbourne’s eligible country list (GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less, based on World Bank data).
- Course: you have applied for, and meet the entry requirements of, an overseas fee place in a Melbourne bachelor’s degree.
- Schooling: you finished secondary school outside Australia, or a foundation program in Australia.
- No earlier university study: you have not started tertiary studies before. Extension subjects taken as part of Year 12 do not count.
- Final results: selection uses your final results, not predicted grades.
Eligible countries by region
Melbourne’s list has 121 countries. These are the main groups; check the official list for the exact spelling of your country.
| Region | Examples of eligible countries |
|---|---|
| Africa | Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Cameroon, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana |
| South and Southeast Asia | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste |
| Middle East and Central Asia | Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, West Bank and Gaza |
| Europe | Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Belarus |
| Latin America and Caribbean | Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti |
| Pacific | Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu |
China, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom and most of Europe are not on the list. Students from those countries should look at the Melbourne International Excellence Scholarship below instead.
Other Melbourne undergraduate scholarships for international students
| Scholarship | Value | Who it is for | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship | 20% tuition, 225 awards | Citizens of the 121 eligible countries | Automatic |
| Melbourne International Excellence Scholarship (Undergraduate) | 20% tuition, at least 140 awards | Any international student starting a bachelor’s in 2027, ranked by course entry score | Automatic; outcome within five working days of your offer |
| Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholarship | 50% tuition for the standard degree length | International students who completed Australian Year 12 or the IB in Australia with an ATAR of 99.90 or more | Automatic through VTAC |
The Excellence Scholarship cannot be held with another scholarship that gives a fee sponsorship or discount, so you should expect one 20% award, not two stacked. It can be deferred to the following year with your offer.
How to apply for the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship
- Check your country: confirm your citizenship is on the eligible country list on Melbourne’s scholarships site.
- Pick up to three courses: a direct application lets you rank up to three bachelor’s degrees. Check each course’s prerequisites and English requirement.
- Choose your route: apply directly to the university if you hold an overseas qualification (WAEC, A-levels, CBSE, a national diploma or an IB taken outside Australia or New Zealand) or a foundation program. Use VTAC only if you are taking an Australian Year 12 or the IB in Australia or New Zealand. Applicants from some countries must use an authorised education agent so their documents can be verified.
- Prepare documents: transcripts and certificates, your latest or predicted results if you are still in your final year, English test results if required, and passport details.
- Pay the fee and submit: direct international applicants pay a non-refundable AUD 154 per application, unless they qualify for a waiver (for example full government or company sponsorship).
- Send final results: upload your final results as soon as they are released. The scholarship cannot be assessed on predicted grades.
- Watch your offer: successful students are told after receiving their course offer. Unsuccessful students are usually not notified, so if nothing arrives with your offer, assume you were not selected.
Key dates for 2027 entry
| Intake | Route | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2027 (February/March) | Direct to the University of Melbourne | 30 November 2026 |
| Semester 1, 2027 | VTAC (Australian Year 12 or IB in Australia/New Zealand) | Timely applications closed in late September 2026; late applications may cost extra |
| Semester 2, 2027 (July) | Direct only | 31 May 2027 |
Late applications may be accepted if places remain, but popular courses can fill. I would apply at least a month before the deadline so there is time to fix any missing document.
Visa funds
A 20% award still leaves you paying most of your fees. When you apply for an Australian student visa you must show you can cover the rest of your first-year tuition, living costs and travel, so plan your funding before you accept.
How to stand out when there is no essay
Because selection is automatic and based on results, there is no personal statement to polish. Your ranking comes down to how your final grades convert to Melbourne’s scale. A few things are within your control:
- Apply for a course you clearly qualify for: you can only get the award with an offer, and a scholarship ranking is meaningless without one.
- Use your strongest qualification: if you hold A-levels and a national certificate, submit the one with the higher grades.
- Get results in early: the award is assessed on final results once you hold an offer, so sending them as soon as they are out gets you an answer sooner.
- Check document translations: certified English translations avoid a delay that could push you behind other candidates.
Common mistakes
- Believing the 100% version still exists: it ended after 2024. The 2027 award is 20%.
- Waiting for a scholarship form: there is none. Your course application is your scholarship application.
- Applying after starting university at home: if you have begun a degree elsewhere, you are not eligible.
- Using VTAC by mistake: overseas qualifications go through the direct application, not VTAC.
- Paying agents for “scholarship processing”: the award is automatic. An agent can help with your course application, but no one can buy you a place on the list.
Costs the scholarship does not cover
- 80% of tuition: about AUD 42,000 to 50,000 a year for a Bachelor of Science at 2026 prices.
- Living costs: rent, food and transport in Melbourne for the full year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover: required for the length of your visa.
- Visa and travel: the student visa application fee and flights.
- Application fee: AUD 154 per direct application.
How it compares with similar undergraduate awards
| Scholarship | Country | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship | Australia | 20% of tuition for the degree |
| Adelaide University Academic Excellence Scholarship | Australia | 50% of tuition, for top results |
| Deakin University scholarships | Australia | 20% to 100% of tuition |
| Manchester Global Futures Scholarship | United Kingdom | £10,000 to £36,000 off tuition |
If you need more than a partial discount, the Melbourne award works best stacked with outside funding such as a government or employer sponsorship. You may also want to compare UNSW international scholarships before you choose a university.
Who should apply and who should not
Apply if you are a citizen of an eligible country, your grades are near the top of your national system, and your family or sponsor can meet the remaining 80% of fees plus living costs. For you, this is a solid discount that arrives with no extra paperwork.
Think twice if you need full funding. A 20% award will not make a Melbourne degree affordable on its own, and the visa requires proof of funds for the rest. In that case I would put more effort into fully funded options and treat Melbourne as a second choice.
FAQs about the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship
Is the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship fully funded?
No. From 2027 entry it covers 20% of your tuition for the course and pays no living allowance.
Do I need to apply separately for the Melbourne undergraduate scholarship?
No. Eligible students are considered automatically when they apply for a bachelor’s degree at Melbourne.
Which countries are eligible for the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship?
Citizens of 121 countries with GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less, including Nigeria, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil and Ukraine. The full list is on Melbourne’s scholarships website.
What is the deadline for the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship 2027?
Apply for your course by 30 November 2026 for Semester 1, 2027, or by 31 May 2027 for Semester 2. There is no separate scholarship deadline.
Sources and updates
Eligibility and the country list come from the University of Melbourne’s scholarship page, its eligible countries list and its international scholarships overview. The 20% value and 225 award figure for 2027 match the university’s scholarship listing as published by IDP. Application dates, routes and the AUD 154 fee come from Melbourne’s international undergraduate applications and application fee pages, and the Bachelor of Science fee from its course page. The Excellence and Chancellor’s scholarship details come from their official award pages. Checked on 25 October 2026. I will update this post when Melbourne confirms the 2028 award numbers.
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.
