International Centre

There is a range of bursaries, scholarships, student loans and studentships that you may be eligible to apply for to help meet the costs of your studies abroad.

These are awarded on the basis of merit and you need to be studying through a UWA Student Exchange program or an in-country language program organised by your faculty which you are receiving credit for.

1. Scholarships
2. Government and university assistance
3. What about work? 

1. Scholarships 

UWA Study Abroad Bursaries

These provide assistance to undergraduate students at second year level or higher, and postgraduate students, to undertake study overseas for credit towards their UWA degree.

The bursaries provide stipends of $3000, $2500 and $2000 depending on the regional location of study.

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CLS and Swan Study Abroad Bursaries

These are a special category of the UWA Study Abroad Bursary program for UWA undergraduate students at second year level or higher who have been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship or a UWA Swans Scholarship and who will be participating in an overseas study program for credit towards their UWA degree.

Ten bursaries provide stipends of $2080, tax free, (2008) for students undertaking one or two semesters of study overseas on credit bearing study programs. Selection of the bursaries is based on academic merit.

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Frank Gamblen Scholarships

These provide assistance to undergraduate students at second year level or higher to undertake study overseas for credit towards their UWA degree.

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Robert and Maude Gledden Undergraduate Studentships

These provide assistance to undergraduate students at second year level or higher within the faculties of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (particularly courses relating to surveying, engineering or mining and cognate subjects) to undertake study overseas for credit towards their UWA degree.

The value of the scholarship in 2007 was $3,000.

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The University of Western Australia French Embassy Scholarship

This scholarship provides assistance to UWA students enrolled in an honours, graduate diploma or master's course to undertake study overseas at a French university or grande ecole for one or two semesters of study under formal student exchange arrangements. To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be an Australian citizen.

The scholarships provide a stipend of $4000. In addition, the French Embassy provides full access to health cover in France for each scholarship recipient.

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Australia University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) Program

Through the Australia University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) Program, the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) provides funding to support UWA undergraduate students' participation in student exchange programs. To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident and taking part in one of the University's formal exchange programs for one semester or two semesters.

Each year a specific number of student mobility subsidies will be provided at a fixed rate. [In 2008 the amount is $5000]. The number of subsidies and the list of countries universities varies from year to year.

In the past, subsidies have been provided to UWA students studying in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United States of America. Please check with the Study Abroad Office for more information on the nominated universities.

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The Australian Cheung Kong Student Exchange Program

Funded jointly by the Cheung Kong Group of companies (based in Hong Kong) through Powercor Australia Ltd, and the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST),this program provides student mobility subsidies to support UWA undergraduate students' participation in student exchange programs at partner universities in eligible Asian countries and administrative regions.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident and taking part in one of the University's formal exchange programmes for one semester or two semesters.

Each year a specific number of student mobility subsidies will be provided at a fixed rate [in 2008 the amount is $5000]. The number of subsidies and the list of eligible countries varies from year to year.

In the past, subsidies have been provided to UWA students studying in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Please check with the Study Abroad Office for more information on the nominated universities.

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2. Government and University Assistance

• Austudy
• Abstudy
• Youth Allowance

If you are currently in receipt of these allowances you may continue to receive payments. An application for Austudy and Youth Allowance should be accompanied by certification from the University, which can be obtained from the International Centre upon request.

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UWA Student Exchange Loan

The UWA Student Exchange loan is interest free during a student’s course of study.  Please refer to the Financial Aid Office at Student Services for more information.

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OS Help

The OS Help loan programme provides financial assistance to eligible Commonwealth supported students. Students must have completed one year of study at UWA before a loan is approved and still have at least half a year of study to complete upon return from their exchange studies. Eligible students may borrow up to $5,299 per study period (in 2008, indexed annually) for one or two overseas study periods. Eligible students include Australian Citizens or holders of a Permanent Humanitarian Visa, who must not have received an OS-HELP loan on more than one occasion and must have their overseas study count as credit for the course that they are enrolled in at UWA.  A loan fee of 20% is applied tp each OS-HELP loan on the day that you are paid the loan.  There is no real interest charged however the debt is indexed annually to the CPI.  Your OS-HELP debt is added to your accumulated HELP debt.  Refer to the Financial Aid Office at Student Services for more information.

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3. What About Work?

There are limited working opportunities for casual work during your period abroad and you should not rely on this to support yourself during your exchange period. We'll provide you with more information about this at a pre-departure seminar that we hold for you before you leave.

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