Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of local, national and global leaders. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.
At the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024, the Minister for Foreign Affairs announced a further five-year commitment to support the resilience and prosperity of the Mekong subregion through the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP). MAP aims to support a resilient and inclusive Mekong subregion that pursues joint solutions to shared and transboundary challenges.
From 2026, MAP will fund additional Australia Awards Scholarships for Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar at postgraduate (Master’s) level to undertake coursework or research in MAP thematic areas. The MAP thematic and priority areas of study include Water Security, Climate Action, Transnational Crime, Economic Resilience and Subregional Integration, and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI). Click here for a full list of priority areas.
The MAP-funded scholarships offer exclusive access to an on-award enrichment program: the Mekong-Leaders Network. This dynamic program will include activities, events and development opportunities that foster enduring connections between MAP scholars across the Mekong subregion to cultivate a collaborative cohort and set the foundations for a strong future alumni network.
MAP-funded scholarships provide an opportunity for citizens of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar to obtain a Master’s by research or Master’s by coursework qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.
The MAP-funded scholarship benefits remain the same as the Australia Awards program with additional exclusive access to on-award enrichment, through the Mekong-Leaders Network.
The application process and online portal for MAP-funded scholarships will be the same as for the Australia Awards Scholarships. Applicants can apply for a MAP-funded scholarship if the choice of study or research falls within one of the key thematic areas outlined above. Applicants can also choose to apply for both an Australian Awards Scholarship and a MAP-funded scholarship in their respective countries.
Applicants interested to become a MAP scholar should highlight their eligibility for a MAP-funded scholarship in their written application.
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence, relevance of study to the key thematic areas and their potential to contribute to joint solutions to current and emerging challenges in the Mekong subregion.
Applications are strongly encouraged from women and people living with disability.
Citizens from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar should follow the same application procedure for the Australia Awards Scholarships for your country. For further information, please visit Australia Awards Scholarships./.
