Make a difference with an Australia Awards scholarship / 01

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1 Make a difference with an Australia Awards scholarship / 01

2 / 02 Australia Awards - Bhutan

3 Do you want to be a leader in your field and make a difference in Bhutan? Australia Awards scholarships are your opportunity to gain a world class education and become an emerging leader for development with strong links to Australia. / 03 Australia Awards An Australia Awards scholarship provides you with the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification from an Australian university. And we will give you all the necessary support and funding to complete your study. Your career will benefit from new knowledge, leadership skills and the links you create both in Australia and through our global alumni network. On your return home you can make a vital contribution to the economic and social development of your country. The application process is open and competitive, providing equal opportunity to all eligible people, regardless of gender, ethnicity and disability. Bhutan and Australia Australians and the Australian Government view Bhutan as a friend and neighbour and want to support its development and sustain regional growth. Australia has been a development partner since the 1950s, as part of international efforts to promote regional growth and development. By working with partner governments to develop effective poverty reduction strategies, Australia contributes to growth and stability throughout the world. This is essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Australia Awards outcomes Awardees develop and demonstrate high level professional and technical skills relevant to their area of expertise Awardees return to their home countries and successfully reintegrate into the workforce Awardees exercise good leadership, apply new skills and nurture partnerships with institutions in the region and in Australia Awardees apply their skills to contribute to improving capacity in their organisations and institutions Alumni networks operate in each country to assist in continuing professional development, networking and links between alumni. Why study in Australia? Universities in Australia have a world-class reputation, with eight in the top 100 universities in the world Studying at Australian universities provides opportunities for awardees to enhance their understanding of international organisations and network with them Australia has a reputation as a friendly country that embraces multiculturalism While awardees are studying in Australia they can network with other awardees in Australia, with over 5000 awardees in Australia at any one time Awardees join an elite alumni network with members from around the globe On return to Bhutan, awardees will join the Bhutan Australia Alumni Association, a networking platform of Bhutanese alumni who have studied in Australia.

4 Types of Awards Australia Awards scholarships Australia Awards scholarships are long term development awards administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They aim to contribute to the long term development needs of Australia s partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements. They provide opportunities for people from developing countries to undertake full time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions. In Bhutan s case, the Australia Awards scholarships are offered for study at Master s level at Australian universities, either by coursework or research. The study and research opportunities provided by Australia Awards scholarships develop skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to the development outcomes of Bhutan. What can I study? Fields of study The priority fields of study for Australia Awards scholarships are aligned to the development needs of Bhutan and may change each intake year. It is important to refer to the Bhutan Country Profile ( Pages/bhutan-information-for-intake.aspx) and the Australia Awards Office Bhutan website ( to check the priority fields of study for Intake Level of study Australia Awards scholarships are available for study at Master s level. Applicants may apply for study programs by coursework, by research or by a combination of coursework and research. The maximum duration allowed for a Master s degree is two years. Who can apply? Opportunities for all Australia Awards scholarships are offered on the basis of merit, transparency and equal access. We strongly encourage eligible women, people with disabilities and people working in remote parts of Bhutan to apply. Eligibility criteria Applicants must meet all general eligibility criteria detailed in the Australia Awards scholarships Policy Handbook, available at -awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx Besides meeting the general eligibility criteria, applicants must also meet country specific eligibility criteria, available at Scholarship benefits The Australia Awards scholarships are for the minimum period necessary to complete an academic program, including any preparatory training. They attract the following benefits: Full tuition fees Return air travel Establishment allowance Contribution to living expenses An Introductory Academic Program Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Visa expenses Subject to requirements and eligibility, Australia Awards scholarships also may cover: Supplementary Academic Support Fieldwork (for research purposes only) Reunion airfare (for unaccompanied awardees) te: The Australian Government does not provide any financial or other support for the dependents of awardees. Awardees are responsible, including financially responsible, for their family members who accompany them to Australia. Before you apply Consider personal goals and development needs Applicants are expected to have clear ideas about how they will contribute to development in Bhutan on their return. Before beginning their applications, applicants should consider the links between their academic and professional goals and their country s development needs. Read the Bhutan Country Profile The Bhutan Country Profile is essential reading as it outlines the target groups for Australia Awards scholarships, priority fields of study, levels of study, key dates and the eligibility criteria. Research university courses The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) has information on all Australian universities with courses available to international students. The CRICOS website and individual university websites can clarify: If a course is available to international students Any other course specific entry requirements of the institution Details of the course content English language requirements for selected courses How closely a course addresses a development need of Bhutan. Applicants should carefully check that they meet ALL entry requirements before nominating a course. In particular, applicants proposing to study development economics or related fields should check they have the requisite mathematics/ statistics background. / 04

5 Complete a language proficiency test English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement. Applications must include a certificate showing a satisfactory IELTS or TOEFL or PTE Academic score. These test scores must be valid at 1 January If a satisfactory level of English proficiency is not achieved at the first attempt, make sure there is enough time to re-sit the examination prior to the closing date of the application period. IELTS testing in Bhutan is managed by the Royal Institute of Management (visit for test dates and procedures) and the Institute for Management Studies (visit for test dates and procedures). TOEFL testing is conducted by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC). Visit or the RCSC website for information on test dates and registration process. Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is not available in Bhutan but valid test results of applicants who have sat the test outside Bhutan will be accepted. Details can be found at How to apply Gathering and notarizing documents A number of documents are required to complete an eligible application and it is important to collect them as early as possible. Many of these must be notarized. Refer to the required documents table for details. Although scanned versions of documents are uploaded with applications, candidates invited for interview will need to produce original documents for verification. Application process Applications are made online at An applicant User Guide to the application system is also available at this website. We strongly advise applicants to apply online and to do so well before the closing date. The online application facility (OASIS) experiences peak usage in the days leading up to the closing date and applicants may experience delays over this period. Hardcopy applications If it is not possible to lodge an application online contact the Australia Awards Office Bhutan for assistance, well in advance of the application closing date. Hard copy applications will only be accepted from applicants who have difficulty in accessing the internet Selection process Eligibility checking After the application closing date, applications are checked for eligibility based on eligibility criteria and documentation requirements. Technical assessment If the application is eligible, it will then be assessed by independent consultants, ranked and forwarded to DFAT for consideration. Short-listing Applicants are then short-listed by the Australian Government and RGOB. Short-listed applicants are those who can demonstrate clear development outcomes that will benefit Bhutan on their return. Only short-listed applicants are invited to interview. Interview recommendation Short-listed applicants are invited to a selection interview, which consists of a panel interview and a writing exercise. After the selection interviews, a list of recommended applicants is submitted to DFAT by the selection panel for its consideration. The number of recommendations depends on the quality of the candidates and the number of Australia Awards scholarships available. Australia Awards scholarship offer Before an applicant is offered an Australia Award scholarship, each applicant must have a confirmed place at a university and meet all visa requirements to study in Australia. / 05

6 Documents required for Australia Awards Applications Document Document type tarized Passport (ordinary) Proof of citizenship Yes Birth certificate Proof of citizenship Yes National citizenship ID card Proof of citizenship Yes Degree certificate and academic transcripts* Academic transcripts Yes Postgraduate certificate/diploma, if applicable Academic certificate Yes Certificates of special achievements or merit (if any) Other document Yes IELTS or TOEFL or PTE Academic results (valid at 1 January 2016) English Language Proficiency Yes Evidence of previous scholarships Other document mination letter from employer** Other document Applicants under the purview of MOLHR should obtain additional nomination letter from the Department of Human Resources (DHR)** Other document Security clearance certificate (copy of online approval) Other document**** Curriculum Vitae (CV) Other document** Recent passport-size photograph Photograph Master s by Coursework Two referee reports one professional, one academic (use same template) Referee report*** Master s by Research Three referee reports one professional, two academic (use same template) Evidence (letter or communication) that the applicant has received in-principle support for their research topic from a potential supervisor Research proposal (include proposed methodology, timeline and a brief literature review) Referee report*** Other document Other document * Applicants should submit both consolidated and year-by-year transcripts **Templates are available at ***Templates are available at ****Short-listed applicants will be required to produce hard copy security clearance certificates at the time of interview te: Experience shows that it takes time for supervisors to complete referee reports. Approach supervisors as soon as possible to obtain up-to-date referee reports. If a referee report is not in English, a translation is required. References should come from employers, senior colleagues or academics familiar with the applicant s academic, professional skills and achievements. Referee reports from family members or spouses are not acceptable. Referee reports in formats other than the prescribed template will not be accepted. / 06

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8 Selection criteria Eligible applicants are measured against the following selection criteria: Alignment of employment and proposed study with Bhutan priority areas Demonstrated academic merit during previous university studies Relevance of academic background to proposed study in Australia Relevance of work background to proposed study in Australia Demonstrated awareness of issues related to the development of Bhutan Stated personal commitment and the applicant s potential to contribute to development in Bhutan. Social inclusion The Australian Government values contributions from all people. It seeks equity and broad participation by all groups in society. This includes women, people with disabilities and people from traditionally marginalised groups. The selection process for the Australia Awards takes account of barriers to participation faced by applicants from underrepresented groups to improve their competitiveness. As far as possible, applicants who have not had opportunities in the past to study outside Bhutan have preference over those who have already had that opportunity. It is expected that women will receive at least 50% of Awards. Family members can join awardees, but certain conditions apply - see the Scholarships Policy Handbook. Accommodation is secure. Children can access free public education in Australia and childcare facilities are available (on payment basis) if required. Disability Support Reasonable disability support (academic and non-academic) is provided to recipients with a disability based on a needs assessment. The objective is to allow their participation on an equal basis with other award recipients. Academic support may comprise reasonable adjustments to support academic endeavours such as access to and training in the use of assistive technology and/or additional academic assistance. Reasonable non-academic support may comprise full-time or part-time carers and equipment such as wheelchairs or specialised computer hardware. Australian institutions are very experienced in providing disability support. Applicants with a disability are encouraged to notify Australia Awards - Bhutan of all disabilities and pre-existing medical conditions as early as possible, preferably when applying for an Australia Award. Early and full notification of a disability will not negatively affect the assessment of an applicant s eligibility or placement and will enable the Australia Awards office to consider appropriate support throughout the selection process. Australia Awards scholarship conditions Applicants who are offered an Australia Awards Scholarship are required to sign a statement declaring that they will comply with the Award conditions, including: Awardees must commence the Award in the year for which it was awarded as it cannot be deferred Awardees must be enrolled on a full-time basis and make satisfactory academic progress All visa conditions and university regulations must be satisfied Awardees must leave Australia and return to Bhutan for a minimum of two years at the completion of their Award The Award does not provide funds to support accompanying dependents/family members Awardees are not permitted to hold any other Australian Government-sponsored scholarship for the duration of the Award Awardees must fully cooperate with the monitoring and evaluation of the Award by the Australia Awards Office Bhutan, including participation in activities such as surveys, alumni profiles and tracer studies both during their stay in Australia and on return to Bhutan. Awardees who do not honour these conditions will be required to leave Australia, and may be required to repay the value of the scholarship. Further Information Australia Awards Pages/australia-awards.aspx Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx Visas and studying in Australia Australian University courses English language testing Contact Details Australia Awards Office Organisation Australia Awards - Bhutan Address Karsang Building (. 4), Room 204, Chorten Lam Thimphu Bhutan Telephone Fax inquiries@australiaawardsbhutan.org Website / 08

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