Announcement for the 2011 Intake

Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) - Scholarships
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is pleased to invite applications to study Masters and PhD in Australia under the 2011 Intake of the Australia Awards (Australian Leadership Awards - ALA Scholarships and Australian Development Scholarships - ADS program) from interested candidates committed to contributing to the development of Nepal. At this stage, ADS is announced only as an anticipated Program.

Recipients for both scholarships are required to return to their home country for two years after they have completed their studies. The recipients should also be willing to actively participate in the AusAID alumni program.

ALA Scholarships are academically prestigious awards, offered to high achievers with the potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform, development and governance in their home countries and region. The purpose of ALA scholarships is to develop leadership in the Asia Pacific region.

The ADS Program is a bilateral development cooperation activity between the Government of Australia (GoA) and the Government of Nepal (GoN). The program aims to help Nepal meet its human resource development needs and thereby contribute to its long-term development. The Program equips Nepalis with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive change and influence the development outcomes of Nepal. Some ADS placements are being retained for the GoN’s public servants.

Australia Awards are open for the following fields of study:

ALA Scholarships - Disability, Economic Growth, Education, Environment, Food security, Gender, Governance, Health, Human rights, Infrastructure, Regional stability, Rural development, Water and sanitation.

ADS – Health, Education, Economics, Environment (including Climate Change, Water and Sanitation), Gender & inclusion, including disability, Public Policy / Administration / Financial Management, Agriculture / Forestry (including livelihood and food security), Law (including human rights), Business Administration (For Government – public servants only)

Mandatory Eligibility requirements:

Mandatory eligibility requirements under ALA Scholarships:
1. Must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or above (with no individual band less than 6) – or the equivalent level of TOEFL - being achieved no longer than two years prior to the date of application;
2. Must have an unconditional Letter of Offer for enrolment from an Australian university;


Mandatory eligibility requirements under ADS:
1. Must be a Nepali citizen of less than 45 years of age at the time of application;
2. Your university qualification must be equivalent to an Australian Bachelor or Masters degree;
3. Must have at least three years of work experience relevant to your nominated field of study.
4. Must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or above (with no individual band less than 6) – or the equivalent level of TOEFL - being achieved no longer than two years prior to the date of application.

For both ALA Scholarships and ADS, you will not be eligible if you:
1. Are holding or have been nominated to receive another Australian Government scholarship;
2. Have held a foreign scholarship in the 24 months preceding the application – 24 months to be calculated from the date of arrival back in home country to the closing date of receipt of Scholarships applications (NOTE this restriction does not apply to short-term ‘Fellowship’ recipients);
3. Are either an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or in the process of applying for such a status;
4. Are either married or engaged to be married to, or a de facto of, a person who holds or who is eligible to hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residence status;
5. Are not able to satisfy Australian Government requirements for international student entry.


To Apply:

Applications are now open for commencement at an Australian university from January 2011. Please note that the deadline for receiving applications for both ALA Scholarships and ADS is COB 30 June 2010.

ALA Scholarships: We encourage you to apply online by visiting http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/ala.cfm All enquiries related to the ALA Scholarships should be made to the ala mailbox at [email protected].

ADS and ALA Scholarships hard copy applications should be submitted by Post to: GPO – 8975, EPC – 2359. (The ADS application forms are available at the South Asia Scholarship Program - SASP office).

Note: AusAID actively encourages enquiries from females, people with disability, applicants working outside Kathmandu and indigenous applicants.


From Intake 2011, Australia Awards in the South Asia region are administered locally through the South Asia Scholarship Program (SASP). For any assistance or enquiries (i.e. candidate registration, eligibility criteria, counselling session, application form, priority areas), please contact SASP Kathmandu Office or visit the SASP website http://www.southasiascholarship.org SASP business hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm, Tuesday – Thursday.

South Asia Scholarship Program (SASP)
Tharodhunga, Dhobighat, Patan – Kathmandu / Nepal
Phone: 01- 5520345 / 5553715 Mobile: 98490 37278
Email: [email protected]