Prime Minister's Australia Asia Endeavour Awards (for Australian applicants)

The Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Awards will provide scholarships for the ‘best and brightest’ university students from Australia and our Asian neighbours.  These scholarships will support a heightened relationship for future leaders which can be expected as their careers progress.

The Government is committing $14.9 million over four years to establish this scholarship program.

What are the aims of the Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Awards?

• To consolidate Australia’s position as the most Asia-literate country outside  Asia;
• To develop internationally-aware, skilled future leaders in Australia;
• To build human capital within Australian businesses and contribute to productivity gains and innovations;
• To establish enduring education and professional linkages between Australia and Asia;
• To develop a network of people across Asia who have a strong affinity to Australia;
• To ensure that young people have the skills and knowledge to be able to compete and collaborate in a globalised market, particularly with our key trading partners in Asia;
• To enhance Australia’s reputation as a quality education destination. 

When will the scholarships commence?

The first round of successful scholarship recipients will commence in the 2010 calendar year.  

How many scholarships will be provided?

Forty scholarships will be awarded annually to Australian university students, twenty at undergraduate level and twenty at postgraduate level.

What are the details of the Awards?

Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Postgraduate Awards (Australian applicants)

• Valued at up to $68,500 each
• 20 Awards annually
• Outgoing Australian postgraduate scholars will be funded to study for up to one year of their Award (PhD or Masters) in Asia.
• Successful candidates will be encouraged to undertake a work placement or internship at the end of their study.
• Award benefits include a travel allowance, establishment allowance, tuition fee allowance, living allowance, provision of travel and health insurance and ongoing pastoral care.

What are the priority countries?

The following countries have been identified as priorities for both incoming and outgoing scholars for the first three years of the program: China (including Hong Kong and Macau SARs), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

All countries in Asia and the Middle East will be eligible to receive and send candidates.  The full list of eligible countries is: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau SARs), India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

What is the application process?

Eligible higher education providers in Australia will be able to nominate up to five candidates for each of the postgraduate and undergraduate Awards. 

Contact Andrew Bain for more information.