Make a difference with an Australia Awards scholarship

Transcription

1 Make a difference with an Australia Awards scholarship / 01

2 Australia Awards - Bangladesh make a difference in Bangladesh? Australia Awards scholarships are your opportunity to gain a world class education and become an emerging leader for development with strong links to Australia. Australia Awards An Australia Awards scholarship provides you with the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification from an Australian university, plus 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. Bangladesh and Australia Australians and the Australian Government view Bangladesh as a friend and neighbour and want to support its development and sustain regional growth. Australia has been a development partner since the 1970s, as part of international efforts to promote regional growth and development. By working with partner governments in South and West Asia to develop effective poverty reduction strategies, Australia contributes to growthand stability throughout the world. This is essential for achieving the UN s Millennium Development Goals and beyond. Australia Awards benefits and outcomes Recipients develop and demonstrate high-level professional and technical skills relevant to their area of expertise. Recipients return to their home countries and successfully reintegrate into the workforce. Recipients exercise good leadership, apply new skills and nurture partnerships with institutions in the region and in Australia. Recipients apply their skills to contribute to improving capacity in their organisations and institutions. Alumni networks operate in each country to assist in fostering professional development and links between alumni. Why study in Australia? Universities in Australia have a world-class reputation, with eight of these in the top 100 universities in the world. Studying at Australian universities provides opportunities for recipients to enhance their understanding of international organisations and network with them. Australia has a reputation as a friendly country that embraces multiculturalism. While recipients are studying in Australia they can network with other Australia Awards recipients, with over 5000 recipients in Australia at any one time. Recipients of Australia Awards join an elite alumni program with members from around the globe. On return to Bangladesh, recipients will join the Australia Awards Alumni Association, a networking platform of Bangladesh alumni who have studied in Australia. / 02

3 Australia Awards -Bangladesh Types of Awards Australia Awards scholarships These are long-term scholarships providing citizens of Bangladesh with opportunities to obtain postgraduate qualifications at Australian tertiary institutions. The scholarships enable recipients to develop higher professional and technical knowledge and build links with individuals and institutions within the region and Australia. What can I study? Fields of study The fields of study for Australia Awards are aligned to the development needs of Bangladesh and may change each intake year. It is important to refer to the Bangladesh Country Profile and the Australia Awards website to check the latest Bangladesh priority development themes. Level of study Australia Awards are available for study at Master s level for generally no more than two years. Applicants wishing to undertake Master s by Research must identify an appropriate supervisor. Applicants must provide a statement from a potential research supervisor at an Australian university giving in-principle support to their research proposal. This statement must be included in the application. Who can apply? Opportunities for all Australia Awards are offered on the basis of merit, transparency and equal access. We strongly encourage eligible women, candidates from ethnic minority groups and those with disabilities to apply. Only applicants from designated target groups who have at least two years full-time work experience may be eligible. Please check the Australia Awards - Bangladesh website for eligible target groups at At least 50% of Australia Awards are offered to women. Eligibility criteria There are criteria that must be met for an applicant to be eligible and considered for an Australia Award. Australia Awards scholarship applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook. In addition to these basic eligibility requirements, applicants from Bangladesh must also meet the following country-specific conditions: An IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 (or TOEFL paper-based test score of at least 580, or computer-based score of at least 237 or an internet-based score of at least 92) (or equivalent PTE score). Scores must be valid at 1 January 2016 and must be submitted with applications. Women will be considered with an overall IELTS band of at least 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 (or equivalent TOEFL or PTE score). However, they must meet the standard English language requirement of their course, if offered an Australia Awards scholarship. Applicants with a disability and from ethnic minority groups will be considered with an overall IELTS band score of at least 6.0 with no band less than 5.0 (or equivalent TOEFL or PTE score). However, they must meet the standard English language requirement of their course, if offered an Australia Awards scholarship. All applicants must have at least two years full-time work experience in a field relevant to their proposed course of study at the time of application submission. GoB applicants must have completed at least two years of service tenure and obtained service confirmation at the time of application. All applicants must have completed a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree. Please note that bachelor degrees obtained from private universities in Bangladesh are generally not considered equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree. English language support funded by the Australian Government may be available to selected eligible women, members of ethnic minority groups and people with a disability who do not have an overall IELTS test score of 6.5 and individual band scores of at least 6.0 (or TOEFL or PTE equivalents) at the time of recommendation for award. Australia Awards inclusions The Australia Awards are for the minimum period necessary to complete an academic program, including any preparatory training. The benefits provided to all Australia Awards recipients are: Full tuition fees Economy class air travel to and from Australia by the most direct route An establishment allowance to contribute to costs such as accommodation, books and other items A fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a set rate A compulsory 4 6 week Introductory Academic Program prior to commencing formal studies, covering life and study in Australia Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the Award to cover basic medical costs (note: this is for the recipient only and excludes pre-existing medical conditions) Pre-course English fees for training in Bangladesh or Australia, if applicable and if required Supplementary Academic Support (tutorial assistance), if required, to improve an Awardee s performance to assist with academic success. / 03

4 Australia Awards -Bangladesh The Australia Awards bring together a range of Australian university scholarships offered by the Australian Government. They are designed to promote knowledge, education links and enduring ties between Australia, its neighbours and the global community. / 04

5 Australia Awards -Bangladesh Before you apply Consider personal goals and development needs Applicants are expected to have clear ideas about how they will contribute to development in Bangladesh upon their return. Before beginning their applications, applicants should consider the relationship between their academic and professional goals and their country s development needs. Read the Bangladesh Country Profile It is important to meet all of the requirements listed in the Bangladesh Country Profile. It is essential reading as it outlines the target groups for the Australia Awards, priority areas for study, levels of Australia Awards available, key dates and the eligibility criteria for a particular Australia Awards intake. 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 assist by clarifying: if a course is available to international students details of the course content to compare course components the English language requirements for selected courses how closely a course fits a Bangladesh development theme. Complete a language proficiency test English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement. Applications must include a certificate showing a satisfactory IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score. These test scores are valid for two years, and must be valid for 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. Information on IELTS/TOEFL/PTE testing in Bangladesh is available at: and How to apply Gathering and certifying 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 certified. Refer to the Bangladesh Country Profile for the full list of required documents. Although scanned versions of documents are uploaded with applications, candidates invited for interview will need to provide original documents. Application process Applications are made online at A user guide to the application system is also available. Hardcopy applications If it is not possible to lodge an application online contact the Australia Awards Office Bangladesh for assistance, well in advance of the application closing date (see page 6). Selection process Validation checks Once applications have closed, the application is checked for eligibility and to ensure all documents have been provided and are currently valid. Technical assessment If the application is eligible, it will then be assessed by independent consultants, ranked and forwarded to the Australia Awards Office for consideration. Short-listing Applicants are then short-listed by Australian Government representatives. Short-listed applicants are those who can demonstrate clear development outcomes that will benefit Bangladesh upon their return. Interview recommendation Short-listed applicants are invited to interview, which includes both a written exercise and an interview. After all short-listed applicants are interviewed, the selection panel recommends to the Australia Awards Office those who meet all the selection criteria and can demonstrate the best ideas to contribute to development in Bangladesh. The number of recommendations depends on the quality of the candidates and the number of Australia Awards available. Australia Awards scholarship offer Before an applicant is offered an Australia Award scholarship, they must have a confirmed place at a university and meet all visa requirements to study in Australia. Selection criteria Eligible applicants are measured against the following selection criteria: Alignment of employment and anticipated study of Bangladesh priority areas. Demonstrated academic merit for past university studies. Relevance of academic background to proposed study. Relevance of work background to proposed study. Demonstrated awareness of issues related to the development of Bangladesh. Stated personal commitment and the applicant s potential to contribute to development in Bangladesh. / 05

6 Australia Awards - Bangladesh Documents required for Australia Awards applications Document Document type Certified Passport Proof of citizenship Yes Tertiary degree certificates (Bachelor onwards)^ Degree certificate Yes Academic grades (Bachelor onwards) Academic transcript # Yes IELTS, TOEFL or PTE certificates (valid at 1 January 2016) Proof of English language proficiency Yes Certificates of special achievement or merit Other document Yes Master s by coursework applicants: one academic referee report Referee report* No Master s by research applicants: two academic referee reports Referee report* No Master s by research applicants: research proposal Other document No Employment referee report Referee report* No Curriculam Vitae (CV) Other document* No ^ As per the new Australian Qualifications Framework, some Bachelor degrees from Bangladesh may not be considered equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree. Therefore applicants should have obtained a Master s degree from Bangladesh to apply. * Please use the templates provided at # Academic transcripts are different from handwritten mark sheets. Australia Awards conditions Applicants who are offered an Australia Award are required to sign a statement declaring that they will comply with the following Award conditions: Commence the Award for the year in which it was awarded as it cannot be deferred. Be enrolled on a full-time basis and make satisfactory academic progress. Satisfy all visa conditions and university regulations. Awardees must leave Australia and return to Bangladesh for a minimum of two years at the completion of their Awards. 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 any monitoring and evaluation activities conducted by the Australia Awards Office, including participation in activities such as surveys, alumni profiles and tracer studies both during their stay in Australia and on return to Bangladesh. 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 Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook Visas and studying in Australia Australian University courses English language testing Contact Details Australia Awards Office House 374, Lane 06 DOHS, Baridhara Dhaka 1206 Bangladesh Telephone: inquiries@australiaawardsbangladesh.org Website: /06

7 Australia Awards - Bangladesh Australia Awards Alumni Association Australia Awards Alumni Associations in South and West Asia aim to reach and engage all Australia Awards alumni in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Each association seeks to strengthen the bonds that alumni established during their time in Australia. Our goal The long-term goal of the Australia Awards Alumni Associations is to foster alumni links across the region and with Australia. This regional connection will be driven by the associations in each country. There are two overarching objectives for the alumni associations in the South and West Asia region: 1) to assist prospective scholars choose their study programs and universities in Australia, and 2) to link returning scholars with a professional network of prominent academics, business and community leaders and government officials who have successfully completed studies in Australia and returned to contribute to development in South and West Asia. What are the benefits in joining an alumni association? You have the opportunity to join a network of Australia Awards alumni, share the experience and skills they developed while in Australia and learn how they applied them on their return to South and West Asia. You have the opportunity to learn from their experiences in reintegrating into the work environment after several years absence and better understand the challenges and opportunities involved with returning from extended study. There are also some specific benefits for you in joining your alumni association. They include: Professional development events You can participate in seminars/training workshops to enhance your professional knowledge and skills. Social networking Social activities can be opportunities to catch up with old friends from your time in Australia and to make new social and professional contacts. How can I contribute to my alumni association? There are benefits you bring to an association as a newly returned scholar. Your experience in Australia can help others who may consider applying for an Australia Award to understand the program and opportunities it brings to them and the development of their country. Opportunities for contribution by individual alumni include: mentoring promotion of Australia Awards in your workplace shaping the future for the South and West Asia region. /07

8 Australia Awards Bangladesh