Samoa

Applying for an Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships information for study commencing in 2019

Australia Awards

Australia’s international development assistance in Samoa helps promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance political stability. Australia Awards are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders for development. It aims to provide opportunities for Samoan citizens to access higher education through studying at tertiary institutions in the Pacific region and Australia. The initiative is an important source for human resource development and enables people to obtain skills and knowledge that contribute to Samoa’s economic and social development.

Australia Awards are aligned with Australia’s development assistance in Samoa, targeting human resource gaps in identified priority sectors. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in partnership with the Government of Samoa will assess applicants on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and, most importantly, their potential to impact on development challenges in Samoa.

DFAT offers awards on the basis of merit, transparency, value for money and evidence-based decision making, and equal access. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and other marginalised groups.

Priority fields of study

The priority areas of study for Samoa are:

•  education—focusing mainly on building a highly skilled workforce by supporting teachers at all levels including Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

•  health—reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and strengthening Samoa’s focus on primary health care

•  effective governance—develop a more efficient public sector, including financial management, procurement and policies

•  agriculture, fisheries and water

•  infrastructure and trade facilitation

•  building resilience—humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction and social protection

•  cross-cutting areas such as gender equality, disability and climate change.

The governments of Australia and Samoa regularly review these areas of study together and adjust the emphasis of the program.

Level of study

Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships provide citizens of Samoa with the opportunity to obtain an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.

Applicants are asked to note that they must be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing the scholarship.

Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships

These scholarships provide opportunities to people from Samoa and other developing nations in the Pacific to study at the University of the South Pacific and Fiji National University for the benefit of development in their home countries.

These scholarships are available for study at both postgraduate (Masters only) and undergraduate levels.

Eligibility criteria are available from the Apia Australian High Commission office (www.samoa.embassy.gov.au) and the Government of Samoa’s Scholarships Unit (www.mfat.gov.ws).

Australia Awards benefits

Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian and Fijian education institution, including any preparatory training.

Scholarship recipients will receive the following:

•  return air travel

•  a one-off establishment allowance on arrival

•  full tuition fees

•  contribution to living expenses

•  Introductory Academic Program

•  Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the scholarship

•  supplementary academic support

•  fieldwork allowance for research students and masters by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork component.

Eligibility criteria

Australia Awards Scholarships applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook: dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx

Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships Handbook: http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-pacific-scholarships-policy-handbook-december-2015.aspx

Country-specific conditions

In addition to the eligibility requirements, candidates from Samoa must also meet the following conditions:

•  not be a dual citizen of Australia, New Zealand or any developed country

•  must have had five or more years of work experience—for applicants who are mature age or applying for postgraduate study.

Application dates

For study commencing in Australia in 2019, online applications dates are:

Opening date: 1 February 2018

Closing date: 30 April 2018

Contact the Australian High Commission and the Samoa MFAT for closing dates for the hard copy applications.

Applications and/or supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered.

The application process

Online and hardcopy applications

Apply online at: http://oasis.dfat.gov.au for the Australia Awards Scholarship for study commencing in Australia in 2019.

Hardcopy application forms will be available from Government of Samoa—Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scholarships Division (Level 3, Government Building) and the Australian High Commission Office in Apia.

IMPORTANT: Applications for scholarships to study at tertiary institutions in the region or Australia can all be made using the application form.

Supporting documents

Applicants must submit all of the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook and Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships Policy Handbook. Applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for Samoa:

Required document / Certified
Proof of citizenship i.e. birth certificate/passport if available and photographic identification i.e. student card/drivers licence if passport is not available / Yes
Tertiary degree certificates (Bachelors and Masters level) / Yes
Academic transcripts (where they are not in English please provide an English translation) / Yes
IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE results / Yes
Academic referee reports (with seat: two reports for Master by Research applicants; one for Masters by Coursework applicants) / No – original only
Employment referee report with seal (same template as above) / No – original only
Curriculum Vitae / No – original only
Development Impact Plan / No

The selection process

•  Following eligibility checking and independent assessment, applications will be shortlisted. The selection process will also include an interview.

•  Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:

-  academic competence

-  potential outcome, specifically the contribution to development outcomes in Samoa

-  professional and personal leadership attributes including relevant work experience.

-  quality of the proposal

-  employer/academic reference.

•  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Preparatory training

Successful applicants will be required to:

•  attend a pre-departure briefing organised jointly by the Australian High Commission office in Apia and the Government of Samoa

•  complete the International English Language Testing System to assess English language competence

•  attend the university’s Introductory Academic Program

•  other required preparatory study on arrival in Australia.

Outcomes

Successful applicants will receive notification to attend an interview around late July. If you do not receive this notification then your application has not been successful.

Further information
Further information about the Australia Awards can be found at: http://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/Pages/australia-awards.aspx
Information about visas and Australia Awards scholarship entitlements and conditions can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook: dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx
More general information about the Australia Awards, Australia’s aid program, and studying in Australia can be found at the following links:
dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/pages/australia-awards-scholarships
studyinaustralia.gov.au
Contact details
Address:
Australia High Commission,
Mulivai, Apia, Samoa
Telephone: +685 23411
Email:
Website: http://samoa.embassy.gov.au

Australia Awards Scholarships information for study commencing in 2019