Australia Awards South and West Asia

For Bhutan, Australia Awards Scholarships will be offered for study at Master’s degree and in specific priority fields listed below.

Master’s programs

• Data Science/Analytics
• Economics
• Education (Curriculum Studies)
• Education Studies
• Food Science/Technology
• Human Resource Management
• Landscape Architecture
• Professional Accounting
• Professional Accounting (with Forensic Accounting module)
• Tourism/Hospitality Management

Priority Fields of Study – Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC)

Priority Fields of Study – Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLR)

As English language test centres are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia Awards has made the following adjustments to the English language requirement. Applications will be accepted without an English language proficiency test result for eligibility purposes. However, in the event the applicant is shortlisted or selected for a Scholarship, the applicant will be required to take an English language test and submit the notarised copy of the test result to Australia Awards – Bhutan office.

To be eligible for an Australia Awards Scholarship, you must meet certain standards in English language proficiency, with the results valid as at 1 January 2022. At minimum, you must have:

• an IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or an equivalent IELTS Indicator test result
• a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) score of at least 84, with a minimum of 21 in all sub-tests or an equivalent TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition test result; or
• a PTE Academic overall score of 58 with no communicative skill score less than 50.

*Please ensure that IELTS Indicator and TOEFL iBT Home Edition test results are accepted at your preferred universities. These test results are only accepted for university placement purposes and not for processing visa. If you are selected for an award, you will need to take a conventional IELTS/TOEFL/PTE test.

English language testing

The cost of English language testing can be high. Proper preparation considering your individual needs is key to successfully submitting your application.

IELTS testing in Bhutan is offered through the Royal Institute of Management and the Institute for Management Studies, both located in Thimphu. Contact these test centres to book a test.

Please visit the following websites for more details:

• IELTS
• IELTS Indicator
• ETS — TOEFL
• TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• Pearson — PTE Academic (an option for those who wish to take the test outside Bhutan)

People with disability wishing to apply are encouraged to get in touch with English language test centres as early as possible so that necessary adjustments can be made to meet individual needs.

Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, applicants from Bhutan must also:

• have completed a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree
• be employed in an organisation on a full-time basis
• have at least three years of relevant work experience, including probation periods
• have relevant academic background for the proposed study program (see priority fields of study – (Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC);  Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR))
• fit the target applicant profile identified for a particular priority field for study commencing in 2022 (see priority fields of study –(RCSC; MoLHR)
• provide an employer nomination letter from the Human Resource Officer of the parent organisation/agency. In addition, applicants under the purview of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources must also submit a nomination letter from the Department of Employment and Human Resources
• meet any other eligibility criteria specified under the BCSR 2018 or the ‘HRD Rules and Regulation for Non-Civil Service Sector 2018’, whichever applies

Generally, Scholarships will not be available for courses of study in Australia where the applicant has already achieved that qualification and the qualification is deemed to be equivalent to the Australian qualification.

Australia Awards will request recognition of prior learning for all Scholarship recipients from Bhutan. If this request is granted, the recipient may be placed in a degree program shorter in duration than that they originally applied for.

Information for Study Commencing in 2022 (Country Profile – Bhutan)

Research Proposal Guidelines

Required Documents

Nomination Letter Template (MoLHR)

Nomination Letter Template (RCSC)

Development Impact Plan Template

CV Template

Referee Report Template

Document Naming Guide

What are Australia Awards?

Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships, Fellowships and Short Courses funded by the Australian Government. Australia Awards equip recipients with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of their own countries.

All recipients of Australia Awards become part of the Australia Global Alumni network, connecting them to Australia and to each other — building an engaged and influential global network of leaders and advocates, and establishing a network of ambassadors for Australia and its first-class education system.

An important area of focus for Australia Awards is the empowerment of women and the inclusion of people with disability and individuals from disadvantaged social groups.

What are Australia Awards Scholarships?

Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term development awards administered by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They aim to contribute to the development needs of Australia’s partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements.

They provide opportunities for people from developing countries, particularly those countries located in the Indo-Pacific region, to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian institutions.

For Bhutan, Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for master’s degree-level study in fields agreed with partner governments and aligned with Australia’s development, economic and public diplomacy priorities.

The study and research opportunities provided by Australia Awards Scholarships develop the skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to development in their own countries.

For more information about Australia Awards, visit https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/australia-awards-bhutan-information-for-intake.pdf 

What benefits are provided?

Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. Benefits include full tuition fees, return airfares, contribution to living expenses and medical insurance. Please check the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for detailed information about Scholarship benefits and entitlements.

Scholarship conditions

Applicants who accept an Australia Awards Scholarship must sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring that they will comply with the conditions of the Australia Awards Scholarship. Scholars are required to leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their Scholarship.

For further information, contact the Australia Awards office in Bhutan:

Karsang Building (No. 4), Room 204, Chorten Lam Thimphu 11001, Bhutan
Phone: 975-2-331845
Fax: 975-2-334793
Mobile: (975) 17127450, (975) 17127451, (975) 17128452

Email: inquiries@australiaawardsbhutan.org

• Australia Awards information – Australian Government website
• OASIS
• OASIS (User Guide)
• Universities and Courses in Australia
• University websites
• Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students 
• International English Language Testing System 
• Test of English as a Foreign Language
• Pearson Test of English Academic
• Department of Home Affairs (Student Visa: sub class 500)