With an eye on global competitiveness, many countries are fighting over the best and brightest postgraduates from around the world by offering generous benefits for worthy international students that include full-tuition scholarship, monthly living-cost allowances and comprehensive insurance coverage.
Citizens of Hong Kong and Macau eyeing postgraduate study, research or professional development in Australia can apply for scholarships under the government’s Endeavour Awards scheme.
A merit-based scholarship, it offers internationally competitive benefits and includes the Endeavour Postgraduate Awards and Research Fellowships.
The postgraduate awards are available to students at a masters or PhD level, by research or coursework of up to two years for masters and four years for PhD. The maximum value is A$118,500 (about HK$900,000) and A$228,500 respectively.
Other benefits include support from a case manager during the award period, opportunities for collaboration with a global network of professionals and academics, and membership of the Australian Awards Alumni Network.
Successful students may also receive the Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Incoming Postgraduate Award, if judged to be in the top 20 students from a group of 10 eligible Asian countries. Benefits include an additional A$35,000 and the opportunity to participate in an internship.
Meanwhile, the research fellowships – valued at up to A$23,500 – are awarded to postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students who are pursuing a Hong Kong or Macau masters degree or PhD, to undertake short-term research activities in Australia, for a period of four to six months.
After completing her PhD, specialising in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shirley Ngai received an Endeavour fellowship for postdoctoral research projects at the University of Sydney.
“The award supported me with a travelling allowance of A$4,000, an establishment expenses allowance of A$4,500, a monthly stipend of A$2,500 for living expenses and health insurance while living and studying in Australia,” explains Ngai.
“More importantly, it offered me an opportunity to work with Australian experts and scientists in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy and respiratory medicine, which has nurtured my career development in research and academia.”
Applications for the 2013 round of Endeavour Awards close on June 30, 2012.
Other scholarships available for postgraduate studies in Australia are offered by a range of organisations, such as governments, universities, charitable foundations and private companies. These can be found on www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/scholarships or www.jason.edu.au – the website of the Joint Academic Scholarships On-line Network.
