Samoa
Applying for an Australia Awards Scholarship
Australia Awards Scholarships in Samoa
Australia’s international development assistance in Samoa
aims to provide opportunities for Samoan citizens to access
higher education opportunities 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 will develop 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 for their professional and personal qualities,
academic competence and, most importantly, their potential
to impact on development challenges in Samoa.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade offers awards
on the basis of merit, transparency and equal access. We
strongly encourage applications from:

People with disability;

Mature age candidates with no formal tertiary
qualifications;

Other marginalised groups.
Priority fields of study
The priority areas of study for both Australia Awards
Scholarships and Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships in
Samoa are Health, Education, Governance, Economic
Growth and Private Sector Development, Gender and
Disability.
DFAT together with the Government of Samoa are trialling a
targeted scholarship towards the Health and Education
Sectors, focusing on priority workforce needs.
Health scholarships will focus on allied health areas such as
Podiatrists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, Nutritionists,
Dieticians, Biomedical Engineers, Health Information
Technology, Social Worker, Speech and Language
Specialist.
Education scholarships will focus on improving the quality of
teachers in Maths, Sciences and Literacy.
Levels of study
Australia Awards Scholarships
These Scholarships provide citizens of Samoa with the
opportunity to obtain an undergraduate or postgraduate
qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.
Eligibility criteria are available from the Apia Australian High
Commission office and the Government of Samoa’s
Scholarship Unit : www.mfat.gov.ws
Applicants are asked to note in particular 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, Fiji National University
and Vanuatu School of Law in the Pacific for the benefit of
development in their home countries. These Scholarships
are available for study at both postgraduate and
undergraduate levels.
Eligibility criteria are available from the Apia Australian High
Commission office and the Government of Samoa’s
Scholarship Unit (www.mfat.gov.ws).
Australia Awards Benefits
Australia Awards are offered for the minimum period
necessary for the individual to complete the academic
program specified by the Australian or regional education
institution, including any preparatory training.
Scholarship recipients will generally receive the following:

return air travel

a one off establishment allowance on arrival

full tuition fees
Samoa: Information about Australia Awards Scholarships /

contribution to living expenses

introductory academic program

Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the
Scholarship

supplementary academic support and

fieldwork allowance–for research students and masters
by course work which has a compulsory fieldwork
component.
•
It is our policy to give priority to educational institutions in
the region before institutions in Australia are considered.
•
If your course is available at the University of the South
Pacific Alafua campus, or the national University of
Samoa (IHE/IOT), your application will not be considered
under these scholarships. This should not in any way
discourage you to nominate your preferred place of
study. There are two boxes for nomination. Please be
specific when nominating these institutions; whether in
Australia or the region.
•
Applicants are encouraged to seek placements/
admission at a contracted tertiary institution.
•
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their leadership
abilities and potential.
•
Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships applicants must meet
all eligibility requirements found in the Australia Award
Pacific Scholarships Handbook: http://dfat.gov.au/aboutus/publications/Pages/australia-awards-pacificscholarships-policy-handbook-december-2015.aspx
Applicants are responsible for getting their supporting
documents certified. Certification can be done either at
the Attorney General’s Office, 6th Floor, TATTE Building
or the Ministry of Justice, Courts and Administration.
•
All academic transcripts/ academic results submitted
together with your application must include a grading
system.
In addition to these basic eligibility requirements, candidates
from Samoa must also meet the following country specific
conditions:
Supporting documents
Eligibility criteria
Australia Awards Scholarships applicants must meet all
eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards
Scholarships Policy Handbook: http://dfat.gov.au/aboutus/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarshipspolicy-handbook.aspx

Not be a dual citizen of Australia, New Zealand or
any developed country;

Mature age applicants must have had five or more
years of work experience
Application dates (for study commencing in Australia in
2017)
Opening date:
2 March 2016
Closing date:
12 May 2016
Applications or supporting documents received after this
date will not be considered.
The application process
Hardcopy applications
Open Category (publicly advertised)
Application forms will be available from Government of
Samoa – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scholarship
Division (Level 3 – Government building).
IMPORTANT: Applications for scholarships to study at
tertiary institutions in the region, Australia, New Zealand, or
by distance education can all be made using the application
form. Online applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must submit with their application all of the
relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards
Scholarships Policy Handbook and Australia Awards Pacific
Scholarships Policy Handbook.
Two completed (one) original and (one) copy of either
Australia Awards Scholarships or Australia Awards Pacific
Scholarships application form with passport photos must be
attached to each form.
Applicants must also provide the following documents to
meet the specific requirements for Samoa:
Document type
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
NOTE:
•
For Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships awardees, we
reserve the right to change educational institution
according to course preference. In addition you will not
be able to change your first choice of study once your
application has been ranked by the South Pacific Board
of Education Qualifications.
Academic Referee Reports (with seal: two No
reports for Masters by Research
applicants; one for Masters by
Samoa: Information about Australia Awards Scholarships
Coursework applicants)
Further information
Employment Referee report with seal
(same template as above)
No
Curriculum Vitae
No
Development Impact Plan
No
The selection process
•
Following eligibility checking and independent
assessment by the South Pacific Board of Education
Qualifications, applications will be shortlisted. The
selection process will also include an interview.
Applicants will be assessed against the following
criteria:
Further information about the Australia Awards can be
found at:
http://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australiaawards/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships.aspx
Information about visas and Australia Awards
entitlements and conditions can be found in the
Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook::
http://dfat.gov.au/aboutus/publications/Pages/australia-awardsscholarships-policy-handbook.aspx
or the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships Policy
Handbook: http://dfat.gov.au/aboutus/publications/Pages/australia-awards-pacificscholarships-policy-handbook-december-2015.aspx
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Academic competence
More general information about the Australia Awards and
studying in Australia can be found at:
-
Potential outcome, including contribution to
development outcomes in your home country.
www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australiaawards/Pages/australia-awards.aspx
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Professional and personal leadership attributes
-
Relevant work experience
-
Quality of the proposal
-
Employer / Academic reference
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an
interview.
www.dfat.gov.au
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
Contact Details
Organisation: Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade – Aid Program
Preparatory training
•
•
All successful applicants will be required to attend a predeparture briefing organised jointly by the Australian
High Commission Office, Apia and the Government of
Samoa.
Address:
Australian High Commission,
Mulivai, Apia, Samoa
Telephone:
+685 23411
You may be required to complete the following
preparatory training and or testing:
Email:
elisapeta.kerslake@dfat.gov.au
Website:
http://samoa.embassy.gov.au/
•
IELTS-International English Language Testing
System to assess English language competence.
Outcomes
All applicants will receive notification as to whether they
have been successful by 30 November 2016.
Samoa: Information about Australia Awards Scholarships