The Australian Government Department of Education finances the Destination Australia scholarship program in line with the National Strategy for International Education 2025. The scholarship aims to promote and sustain higher education in regional Australia, enhance the growth of regional tertiary education institutions, and provide students with an exceptional educational experience.
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Find below a summary of the University of Queensland Destination Australia Scholarship
Destination Australia Scholarships: What’s New (2025 Update)
The Destination Australia Scholarship Program was an Australian Government initiative administered via the Department of Education, designed to support both domestic and international students to study in regional Australia. The program aligned with the National Strategy for International Education 2025, and aimed to boost enrolments in regional campuses, sustain regional higher education providers, and give students a high-quality regional learning experience. =
However, note that from 1 July 2024 onwards, no new funding rounds for the Destination Australia program have been made available. Existing recipients who meet eligibility conditions will continue to receive support for up to four years (or the remainder of their program).
Why It Was Launched & Key Features
The Australian Government sought to encourage more students—especially international—into regional study hubs, boosting regional development and making tertiary education outside major cities more attractive.
At its peak, the program offered over 1,000 scholarships annually, each valued at up to AUD 15,000 per year.
Scholarships were offered for a wide range of study levels—from Certificate IV to PhD—at eligible regional campuses.
University of Queensland (UQ) – Destination Australia (Current Structure for 2025)
Though UQ no longer accepts new applicants under the Destination Australia scheme from 2025 onwards, its recent (2025) terms provide a template of how the program operated:
Scholarship Snapshot (For International Students in 2025)
Value: Up to AUD 15,000 per year (disbursed as AUD 7,500 per semester)
Duration: For the duration of the eligible degree program (maximum 2 years for postgraduate award courses)
Eligibility Highlights:
• Be classified as an international student with a valid student visa for the duration
• Commence full-time enrolment in a UQ Gatton campus program that is fully delivered on-campus (no remote delivery)
• Maintain residency in a regional area, as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (2016 Remoteness Areas) for the duration
• Submit a personal statement and meet academic merit requirements
Terms & Conditions
Scholarships were paid in two instalments per year, typically after census dates each semester.
Recipients had to maintain full-time internal on-campus enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and compliance with scholarship obligations.
Courses requiring short-term external placements outside the region were allowed in limited cases, subject to approval.
If a recipient deferred, withdrew, or failed to meet conditions, the scholarship could be terminated.
Impact of the 2024 Funding Termination
Because new funding ceased after 1 July 2024, no new applications to Destination Australia are being accepted. According to the department of Education existing scholarship holders will continue to receive payments if they remain eligible.
Universities like Charles Darwin University explicitly state that no new applications are being taken, although existing recipients are supported.
Other institutions had also offered the Destination Australia scholarship in 2024—for example, Edith Cowan University made 13 scholarships available for international students in 2024, each paying AUD 7,500 per semester.
What This Means for Future Applicants
Although the Destination Australia program is closed to new entrants, here’s what prospective students should consider:
Check with each university whether there are alternative regional or institutional scholarships replacing the Destination Australia scheme.
Focus on other high-value scholarships, such as Australia Awards, university-specific merit scholarships, or research funding programs. If you are already a recipient under Destination Australia, maintain compliance with all conditions (full-time on-campus enrolment, regional residency, satisfactory progress) to continue funding.
Use the Destination Australia historical model as a guide: competitive merit, regional residency, and full-time internal enrollment were key evaluation criteria.
