Scholarships for Kenyan Students in Australia 2027: Full Awards, Fee Discounts and PhD Funding

Full scholarships for Kenyan students in Australia exist, but there are only two main kinds: Australia Awards for a master’s, and research scholarships for a PhD or research master’s. Almost everything else is a partial fee discount of 10% to 50%, and only a few universities offer 100%.

That’s still worth having. A 30% discount on a three-year degree can save more than AUD 30,000. This guide lists the awards open to Kenyans in 2027, who can get them and when to apply, using official scholarship pages only. It’s part of our Study in Australia from Kenya 2027 guide.

Scholarships for Kenyan students in Australia at a glance

Every award below is open to international students, Kenyans included, according to its official page as at October 2026. They’re sorted from the most generous down.

Scholarship	Level	Value	How you get it
Australia Awards Africa	Master’s	Full tuition, airfare, living allowance, health cover	Apply in the yearly round, from 1 February 2027 for the next intake
Research Training Program, University of Sydney example	PhD and research master’s	100% tuition plus AUD 44,293 a year (2027 rate)	Competitive application with your research admission
Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship	Coursework degrees	100% or 50% of tuition	Separate application, 85% average or higher
Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship	Bachelor’s and coursework master’s	50% off tuition	Separate application, high distinction average
Charles Sturt International Student Success Merit Scholarship	Bachelor’s and some postgraduate	30% off from your second session	Automatic if you meet the score
Adelaide Emerging Leaders Award	Bachelor’s and coursework master’s	25% off tuition	Automatic, distinction average
Griffith International Academic Merit Scholarship	Bachelor’s and coursework master’s	20% off tuition	Automatic, GPA 4.5 out of 7 or equivalent
UWA Global Excellence Scholarship	Bachelor’s and postgraduate	10% or 20% off tuition	Automatic, from ATAR 85 or WAM 65
Charles Sturt International Student Success Scholarship	Eligible on-campus courses	15% off from your second session	Automatic for eligible new students
Adelaide Merit Scholarship	Bachelor’s and coursework master’s	15% off tuition	Automatic, credit average
Monash International Merit Scholarship	Bachelor’s	AUD 15,000 a year, up to AUD 75,000	Automatic with an unconditional offer, 20 a year

The pattern is clear. Full funding is for master’s and research students. For a bachelor’s, expect a discount, and the largest ones need either a separate application or very high grades.

How can I get a full scholarship to study in Australia?

Apply for one of three things: Australia Awards for a master’s, a research scholarship for a PhD or research master’s, or one of the few 100% tuition awards that universities give by separate application. Each one picks only a small number of people, so apply for partial awards at the same time.

Route	Who decides	What you need
Australia Awards Africa (master’s)	Australia Awards Africa, for the Australian government	A degree, 5 years of work experience, age 25 or older, a job in Kenya and IELTS 6.5
Research scholarship (PhD or research master’s)	Each university’s research scholarship round	Strong degree results, research experience and a supervisor’s support
100% tuition award (bachelor’s or coursework master’s)	The university’s scholarships office	Very high grades and a separate application, such as an 85% average for Deakin

Start a year early. The Australia Awards round for 2028 opens from 1 February 2027, and Sydney’s research rounds close months before the course starts. The sections below explain each route.

Are there fully funded scholarships for undergraduate Bachelor’s degrees?

Not in the way most students mean. None of the pages we checked offers a bachelor’s award that pays both tuition and living costs. The closest are 100% tuition awards: Deakin’s Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship from an 85% average, UNSW’s International Scientia Coursework Scholarship, and the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship for roughly the top 3% of school leavers.

Even with one of those, you still pay for rent, food, health cover and flights, and you still have to show AUD 29,710 for living costs to get the visa. Australia Awards, the fully funded government scholarship open to Kenyans, is for a master’s only.

Can I study in Australia for free?

No, not completely. A funded PhD comes closest: Sydney’s research award pays 100% tuition, health cover and AUD 44,293 a year in 2027. Australia Awards also pays a lot, but its profile describes the living allowance as a contribution to living costs, so don’t plan on it covering everything.

For a bachelor’s or a partly funded master’s, you pay the AUD 2,500 student visa fee yourself, plus whatever your scholarship doesn’t name. Be wary of anyone who promises free study in Australia for a fee.

Australia Awards Africa: the fully funded master’s

Australia Awards is the Australian government’s main scholarship for Africa, and Kenya is eligible. The 2027 country profile lists return airfare, full tuition, a contribution to living costs, an establishment allowance, health cover and academic support. It’s for a master’s degree only.

Who can apply from Kenya

The 2027 profile set these rules for Kenyan applicants:

• At least 25 years old on 1 February of the start year
• At least 5 years of work experience after your first degree, in a field related to your planned study
• Employed when you apply
• A Kenyan citizen living and applying in Kenya, unless you work for an African regional organization or on a Kenyan diplomatic mission
• Holding a degree equal to an Australian bachelor’s, but no master’s yet
• No earlier long-term Australia Award

You also need English evidence valid on 1 January of the start year: IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 84 with 21 in each part, or PTE Academic 58 with no skill below 50. Applicants whose first language is English and who studied in English are exempt.

Priority fields

The 2027 round focused on agriculture and food security, climate change, foreign policy and international security, gender, disability and social inclusion, and mining and energy. Check the new profile when it’s published, because priorities can change.

Dates

Australia Awards Africa took applications for 2027 from 1 February to 30 April 2026, and didn’t accept late ones. Australia Awards Africa says the next round opens from 1 February 2027, for study starting in 2028. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed on academic ability, likely contribution to development in Africa, and leadership.

You have to go home for two years

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says award holders must leave Australia for at least two years after finishing. So this scholarship doesn’t lead to a post-study work visa or permanent residence straight after your degree. It suits Kenyans who want a career back in Kenya.

On the plus side, as Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sponsored students, award holders are among the few who can still bring family under the rules in force from 2 October 2026.

PhD and research master’s funding

For a Kenyan with a strong research record, a funded PhD can cost less than a bachelor’s degree. The Australian government’s Research Training Program gives universities money to fund research students, and international students compete for it alongside Australians. Each university runs its own rounds and adds its own awards.

University	Award	What it pays	International closing dates
University of Sydney	RTP Stipend and University of Sydney International Stipend	100% tuition for up to 14 research periods, health cover, and AUD 44,293 a year (2027 rate)	11 September 2026 for early 2027 starts; 18 December 2026 for later 2027 starts; 10 September 2027 for early 2028
Monash University	Monash Graduate Scholarship	AUD 41,100 a year (2027 rate) for living costs; tuition scholarships can be packaged separately	International rounds close 28 February and 31 August
CQUniversity	RTP Stipend Scholarship	Up to AUD 36,000 a year for living costs	Check with the university
Charles Darwin University	CDU Global Merit Scholarship	30% off tuition, research degrees included	2027 intake, automatic

At Sydney, the tuition award comes automatically with the stipend, so winning one means winning both. Monash is different: its stipend doesn’t include tuition, so ask about a tuition scholarship too.

How to compete from Kenya

Research scholarships are ranked on your degree results, research experience and publications. Here’s what helps a Kenyan applicant most:

1. Find a supervisor first. Email academics whose work fits yours, with a one-page research proposal and your CV. Many universities expect a supervisor’s support before they assess you.
2. Show research, not only grades. A final-year project, a research master’s thesis, a conference paper or a published article all count. Keep your project report and marks.
3. Meet the early international deadline. International rounds often close months before domestic ones. Monash brought its first 2027 international round forward to 28 February.
4. Apply to several universities. Places are few and outcomes vary, so spread your applications across three to five universities.

PhD students are also one of the few groups who can still bring a partner and children under the family rules in force from 2 October 2026.

University scholarships, state by state

We checked the international scholarship pages of more than 30 Australian universities. Below is what each offers a Kenyan starting a bachelor’s or coursework master’s in 2027. Three things decide whether one is worth chasing:

• Automatic or apply. Most discounts are automatic: you’re assessed when you apply for the course. The biggest awards usually need a separate application, a personal statement and a deadline.
• The academic bar. Universities write it as an ATAR, a percentage or a GPA. Ask how they convert your KCSE or Kenyan degree, using our KCSE requirements guide.
• Country rules. Some awards are for named countries or regions. We flag the ones that leave Kenya out.

New South Wales

University of Sydney. The Sydney International Student Award takes 20% off tuition for the whole degree, and Kenya is on its eligible Africa list. It isn’t automatic: you’ll be asked for a personal statement of three short answers during admission. Sydney also runs the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme, with awards of AUD 5,000 to AUD 60,000. It’s automatic for anyone holding an unconditional offer by each round’s closing date. For Semester 1 2027, the last round closes 16 November 2026.

UNSW Sydney. The International Student Award gives 20% off for eligible countries, and you apply with a 500-word statement. Kenya’s eligibility depends on a separate country list, so check it. The International Scientia Coursework Scholarship pays full tuition or AUD 20,000 a year; applications for Term 1 2027 have now closed, but term 2 deadlines are on 26 February 2027  and Term 3 deadlines are on 1 April 2027.

Western Sydney University. For 2027, the Western Sydney International Scholarship pays AUD 5,000 or AUD 10,000 a year for the whole degree, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence awards take 50% off tuition automatically for outstanding results. Western Sydney’s C+ KCSE entry makes it one of the easier Sydney universities for Kenyans to get into.

University of Wollongong. The University Excellence Scholarship takes 30% off undergraduate tuition at Australian campuses, with unlimited places. It’s automatic for “outstanding results”, and some degrees, such as Social Work and Education, are excluded.

University of Newcastle. The Vice-Chancellor’s International Academic Merit Scholarship gives 30% off automatically from a selection rank of 85 for undergraduates, or a GPA of 4.5 out of 7 for postgraduates. If you miss it, you may get the 20% International Excellence award instead.

Charles Sturt University. Every eligible new on-campus student is meant to receive the 15% International Student Success Scholarship. The Merit version doubles it to 30% if you scored 75% in Year 12 (85% for allied health) or 65% in your undergraduate degree. Both start from your second session.

Southern Cross University. The University keeps fees low through its flat Access27 fee of AUD 27,000 for most courses rather than through big discounts. Its scholarship finder lists further awards for regional campuses.

Torrens University. Torrens lists several discounts of 20% to 50%, including a Motivational Scholarship of up to 25% for new students. It doesn’t publish academic criteria on the listing page.

Victoria

Monash University. The Monash International Merit Scholarship pays AUD 15,000 a year, up to AUD 75,000, for 20 undergraduates a year. It’s automatic once you hold an unconditional offer, and you need to keep a 70% average.

University of Melbourne. The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship offers AUD 10,000, 50% or 100% of fees, but only to roughly the top 3% of school leavers. For master’s students, the Melbourne International Graduate Scholarship is more realistic: 20% off for citizens of countries with GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less, with at least 300 awards. Kenya’s income level puts it in that group, but confirm on Melbourne’s eligible country list.

Deakin University. Deakin’s Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship pays 100% or 50% of tuition from an 85% average, by separate application at least a month before your course starts. Deakin’s 20% Meritorious Scholarship, by contrast, is limited to five South Asian and island countries, so Kenyans can’t get it.

RMIT University. RMIT runs an Academic Merit Scholarship for Africa: 20% off for citizens of any African country, from a 70% average, ATAR 75 or a GPA of 2.5 out of 4. It’s automatic but first come, first served, and you have to accept your offer within 14 days.

La Trobe University. The Excellence Scholarship for South Asia and Africa names Kenya and pays 50% off tuition. You need an 80% average and must apply with a CV and a personal statement or short video. confirm the 2027 round on the university’s page.

Swinburne University. Swinburne assesses you automatically for its 20% International Scholarship or 30% George Swinburne International Excellence Scholarship when you apply for 2027.

Victoria University. VU’s Block Model International Scholarship gives at least 10% off first-year tuition to anyone who meets entry requirements, rising to 20% or 30% for stronger results. You keep or raise it each year by reaching a WAM of 50%, 70% or 80%.

Federation University. For 2027, Federation’s Global Merit Scholarship takes 25% off from a 75% average, and the Global Achiever Scholarship takes 15% off with no stated grade bar. Both are automatic.

Queensland

University of Queensland. The UQ International Excellence Scholarship takes 25% off tuition per semester. It’s automatic and competitive against other offer holders.

Griffith University. Griffith’s International Academic Merit Scholarship is 20% off automatically from a GPA of 4.5 out of 7. Its Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship is 50% off from a GPA of 6.0, by application. For Trimester 1 2027, apply by 28 November 2026.

QUT. The International Merit Scholarship takes 25% off per semester. It’s automatic, and postgraduates need a GPA of 5.5 out of 7 from a non-Australian degree.

James Cook University. JCU’s 25% International Excellence Scholarship lists eligible regions that include Nigeria and Ghana but not Kenya, so check before you count on it.

University of Southern Queensland. UniSQ gives a 10% Student Support Scholarship automatically for 2027, and a 15% Excellence Scholarship for a 90% average plus IELTS 7.0.

CQUniversity. The International Merit Scholarship is worth 15% to 25%, with 25% at regional campuses such as Rockhampton and Cairns. It’s automatic, but enquire from the university. 

Bond University. Bond’s International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship halves tuition for students living outside Australia with an ATAR of 95 or IB 38 equivalent. You must apply.

South Australia, Western Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory

Adelaide University. The new Adelaide University offers up to 50% off: 50% for a high distinction average by application, 25% for a distinction average and 15% for a credit average, both automatic.

Flinders University. Flinders gives 20% Kickstart awards to anyone meeting entry requirements, 25% from ATAR 70, 30% from ATAR 80, all automatic. Its Vice-Chancellor Excellence Scholarship halves tuition from ATAR 95 or a GPA of 6.5, by application and video.

University of Western Australia. UWA’s Global Excellence Scholarship is open to all countries: 10% off from ATAR 85, 20% from ATAR 90, or WAM 65 and 75 for postgraduates. It’s automatic.

Curtin University. Curtin lists a 20% Global Merit and 40% John Curtin Global Excellence Scholarship. The Global Merit page we checked covered starts up to March 2026, so confirm the 2027 version.

Murdoch University. Murdoch’s International Welcome Scholarship 2027 names Kenya on its country list. It takes 15% off automatically, but excludes the Bachelor of Nursing.

Edith Cowan University. ECU’s 2027 Africa International Scholarship is limited to Mauritius and South Africa, so Kenyans aren’t eligible.

Australian National University. ANU’s Chancellor’s International Scholarship is 25% or 50% off, automatic and merit-ranked. The page we checked referred to 2026 admissions, so confirm the 2027 round.

University of Canberra. The UC Merit Scholarship takes 10% off automatically from a GPA of 5 out of 7, or 70% for bachelor’s and 65% for master’s applicants.

University of Tasmania. The Tasmanian International Merit Scholarship takes 30% off for 2027 starters whose result is 10 ATAR points above the course minimum. It’s automatic.

Charles Darwin University. CDU’s Global Merit Scholarship takes 30% off select courses automatically. Its Vice-Chancellor’s International High Achievers Scholarship halves tuition from a 95% result, by application; Semester 1 2027 closes 31 January 2027.

Full scholarship table

This table lists every award above in one place, with the same columns for each row. Discounts are a share of tuition for the whole course unless we note otherwise in the row. “UG” means bachelor’s, “PG” means coursework master’s or graduate certificate, and “Research” means PhD or research master’s.

Under “Open to Kenyans”, Yes means the page names Kenya or Africa, Any country means it’s open to all international students, Check means eligibility depends on a list or detail the page doesn’t show, and No means Kenya is left out.

Southern Cross University isn’t in the table because its main saving is a low flat fee, AUD 27,000 for most courses under Access27, rather than a discount.

What expenses am I responsible for if the scholarship is partial?

Everything the scholarship doesn’t name. A partial award usually takes a share off tuition only, so you pay the rest of the tuition, your living costs, health cover, flights and the visa fee yourself. Home Affairs also expects you to show most of that money before it grants the visa.

Take the University of Sydney’s 20% International Student Award on its lowest undergraduate fee of AUD 49,200. Here’s what a single student still pays or shows in the first year:

Cost	First-year amount
Tuition after the 20% award	AUD 39,360
Living costs to show for the visa	AUD 29,710
Travel money to show	AUD 3,000
Total to show for the visa	AUD 72,070
Student visa fee, paid when you apply	AUD 2,500

Three details can make a partial award worth less than it looks:

• Some discounts start late. Charles Sturt’s 15% and 30% awards apply from your second session, so you pay the full fee for the first one.
• You may have to keep a set average. Monash’s merit award needs 70%, for example. Drop below it and you may lose the award.
• The discount is a share of each year’s fee. If the university raises its fee, your share goes up too.

Our proof of funds guide explains which Kenyan savings and loans you can use to show the rest.

Other ways to cut the cost

Destination Australia is closed

Many websites still tell Kenyans to apply for Destination Australia, a regional scholarship worth up to AUD 15,000 a year. The Department of Education says there have been no further funding rounds since 1 July 2024. Students who already hold one keep it, but there’s no new national round for 2027. Be wary of any agent who offers it to you.

Regional campuses pay you back in other ways

Some discounts are bigger at regional campuses. CQUniversity, for example, gives its full 25% merit award at regional campuses such as Rockhampton and Cairns. Studying in a regional area can also add a year or two to your post-study work visa and five points toward permanent residence, as our main guide explains.

Low-fee universities can beat a discount

A 30% discount on a high fee can still cost more than a low fee with no discount. Southern Cross charges AUD 27,000 for most courses, while the University of Sydney’s undergraduate fees start at AUD 49,200. Even with a 20% award, that Sydney fee is AUD 39,360. Always compare the fee after the discount, not the discount itself.

State and territory awards

Some state governments fund awards for international students. Charles Darwin University, for example, points students to Study NT scholarships from the Northern Territory Government. Check the study website of the state you’re heading to.

Stacking rules

Most universities let you hold only one of their own tuition scholarships. Swinburne, for example, applies the most favorable arrangement if you qualify for more than one, and Charles Sturt’s awards can’t be combined with other Charles Sturt tuition scholarships. UNSW’s International Student Award is an exception: you can hold it alongside other UNSW scholarships.

How to apply, step by step

Most discounts need nothing more than a complete course application. The bigger awards reward students who apply early with strong documents.

1. Shortlist five to eight universities from the table, filtering for “Yes” or “Any country” in the Kenya column. You can also search awards by university and level on the government’s Study Australia course search.
2. Get your results converted. Ask each admissions team how your KCSE mean grade or Kenyan degree class compares with their ATAR, percentage or GPA bar.
3. Apply for the course early. Automatic awards are decided with your offer, and some, like RMIT’s Africa award, run first come, first served.
4. Write the statements for the awards you must apply for. Sydney, UNSW, Deakin, La Trobe, Griffith, Flinders, Bond and CDU all ask for a personal statement, CV or video for their larger awards.
5. Check your offer letter. It shows any scholarship and the fee after the discount. Use that figure when you plan your proof of funds.
6. Accept on time. Many awards lapse if you miss the acceptance deadline, and most can’t be deferred.

A timeline for a 2027 or 2028 start

When	What to do
December 2026 to January 2027	Apply for Trimester 1 or Semester 1 courses; CDU’s high achiever award closes 31 January 2027
February to April 2027	Australia Awards round for 2028 opens from 1 February; Sydney’s Semester 2 rounds close 15 February, 22 March and 3 May; Griffith’s Trimester 2 closes 10 April
May to July 2027	Apply for July intakes; CDU’s Semester 2 award closes 4 July 2027
August to September 2027	Research scholarship rounds for 2028, such as Sydney’s on 10 September 2027 and Monash’s on 31 August

Avoid scholarship scams

A real university scholarship never asks you to pay a fee to receive it, and official ones are listed on the university’s own website. If an agent promises a “guaranteed” award, check it on the university’s page before you pay anything. Never let anyone submit forged documents for you. Home Affairs warns that false documents may lead to refusal, visa cancellation and restrictions on future applications.

Quick answers

Which scholarships for Kenyan students in Australia name Kenya or Africa?

Australia Awards Africa, the University of Sydney’s International Student Award, RMIT’s Academic Merit Scholarship for Africa, La Trobe’s Excellence Scholarship for South Asia and Africa, and Murdoch’s International Welcome Scholarship.

Which ones leave Kenya out?

Edith Cowan’s 2027 Africa scholarship covers only Mauritius and South Africa, Deakin’s 20% Meritorious Scholarship covers five South Asian and island countries, and James Cook’s International Excellence Scholarship lists regions that don’t include Kenya.

Do I need to apply separately?

For most discounts, no. You’re assessed when you apply for the course. Larger awards, such as Deakin’s Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship, Griffith’s 50% award and CDU’s high achiever award, need a separate application.

Can I get a scholarship with a C+ in KCSE?

You can get the automatic awards that need only the entry requirements, such as Charles Sturt’s 15%, Flinders’ Kickstart 20%, VU’s 10%, Federation’s 15% and Murdoch’s 15%. Higher awards need stronger results.

Can I get a scholarship for a diploma?

A few cover diplomas, including RMIT’s Africa award and CDU’s Global Merit Scholarship. Most university scholarships cover bachelor’s and master’s degrees only.

Does a scholarship reduce the money I must show for the visa?

Yes. Your offer letter shows the fee after the discount, and that’s the tuition figure you use for proof of funds.

Can I keep my scholarship if I fail a unit?

Often not. Most awards need you to pass every unit or keep a set average, such as 70% for Monash’s merit award or a GPA of 5.5 for Griffith’s 50% award. Our guide on what happens if you fail a module on a student visa explains the wider risks.

This guide is general information and promises no scholarship. Award values, criteria and dates were checked on official university and government pages in October 2026. Universities change their scholarships often, sometimes mid-year, so confirm every detail on the university’s own page before you apply or pay a deposit.