The University of Adelaide Global Academic Excellence Scholarship (International) is a competitive award that recognises commencing international students who have already proven themselves academically. It rewards strong past performance with a substantial cut to tuition costs at one of Australia’s leading research universities.
For African students, the appeal is straightforward: studying in Australia is expensive, and a half-price tuition bill can be the difference between an offer you can act on and one you have to turn down. The award is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework applicants across most disciplines offered at Adelaide.
This is an academic-merit scholarship, so the bar is high. If your previous grades are excellent, this is one worth building your Adelaide application around.
Scholarship benefits
- A 50% reduction of tuition fees for your Adelaide University degree.
- Applies to either an eligible undergraduate (bachelor) or postgraduate coursework (master) program.
Eligibility checklist
- ✔ You are an international student.
- ✔ You are applying to a CRICOS-registered bachelor degree of at least 96 units / 2 years equivalent (after any credit or RPL), OR a CRICOS-registered master degree of at least 72 units / 1.5 years equivalent (after any credit or RPL) at Adelaide University.
- ✔ Undergraduate applicants: a minimum ATAR of 99 (or international equivalent).
- ✔ Undergraduate and postgraduate applicants: a minimum overall GPA of 6.7 on a 7.0 scale, or a comparable score.
- ✔ You are not applying to one of the Excluded Programs listed on the official page.
- ✔ You are not an Australia Awards recipient.
- ✔ You are not an International Sponsored Student already entitled to a tuition fee waiver equal to or greater than the scholarship value (in which case the existing waiver applies).
Application tips for African students
- Confirm how your grades convert: the award uses an ATAR of 99 or a GPA of 6.7/7.0, so work out the international equivalent of your transcript early and check it against Adelaide’s admission standards.
- Have your academic transcripts and certificates officially certified, and translated into English if they are in another language, before you start the form.
- Plan your English test (IELTS or TOEFL) months ahead — booking slots in many African cities fills up, and you want results ready in time for both admission and the scholarship deadline.
- Make sure the degree you choose is CRICOS-registered and meets the minimum unit/duration rules, and verify it is not on the Excluded Programs list.
- If you receive other sponsorship, check whether it overlaps with this waiver, since a larger existing fee waiver would replace this scholarship’s value.
- Prepare your proof of funds and student-visa documentation in parallel, even though tuition will be reduced you still need to show living costs.
- Apply well before the 22 May 2026 deadline rather than at the last minute, so you have time to fix any missing documents.
How to apply
Applications are currently closed, but for Semester 2, 2026 the deadline is 22 May 2026. To apply you complete the application form following the instructions on the official website, where you also access the online application system and full details. Review everything carefully on the official page: University of Adelaide Global Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for this scholarship?
International students applying to an eligible CRICOS-registered bachelor or master coursework degree at the University of Adelaide who meet the academic thresholds.
What does the scholarship cover?
It provides a 50% reduction of your tuition fees. Living costs and other expenses are not mentioned in the source.
What academic results do I need?
Undergraduate applicants need a minimum ATAR of 99 (or international equivalent). Both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants can qualify with a minimum overall GPA of 6.7 on a 7.0 scale, or a comparable score.
When is the deadline?
For Semester 2, 2026, the deadline is 22 May 2026. It runs annually.
Can I hold this with other funding?
Australia Awards recipients are not eligible. International Sponsored Students who already have a tuition fee waiver equal to or greater than this scholarship’s value will have that existing waiver apply instead.
How many scholarships are awarded?
The number of scholarships is not specified — check the official page.