Laos

Applying for an Australia Awards Scholarship

Australia Awards scholarships in Laos - Sustainable Environment: environmental

management, disaster management, forest and wildlife
Australia’s international development assistance in Laos conservation and forestry resource management
helps promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance
political stability. Level of study
Australia Awards scholarships are prestigious international Australia Awards scholarships provide citizens of Laos with
awards offered by the Australian Government to the next the opportunity to obtain a qualification at an Australian
generation of global leaders for development. Through study tertiary institution.
and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to
Awards will be offered for commencement in 2022 within
drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links
the following allocations:
with Australia.
 Vocational Education and Training (VET)1: diploma
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal and advanced diploma,
qualities, academic competence and, most importantly, their
potential to impact on development challenges in Laos.  Masters Degree, and

Applications are strongly encouraged from women,  Doctorate Degree (PhD).

people with disability and other marginalised groups.
While applicants may nominate their preferred level of
Applicants living with a disability and people living in study, the final decision on which level of study to be
the provinces are entitled to additional support and are offered will be determined by the selection panel.
strongly encouraged to contact the Laos Australia
Institute (LAI) Scholarships Team (see contact details Australia Awards benefits
on the last page below). Australia Awards scholarships are offered for the minimum
period necessary for the individual to complete the
Fields of Study Supported by the AAS academic program specified by the Australian education
In recognition of the genuine development challenges institution, including any preparatory training.
across all sectors in Laos, applications are encouraged Scholarship recipients will receive the following:
from all fields of study, except for general business
course and education management. • return air travel
• a one-off establishment allowance on arrival
Applicants should select courses that align with their
experience and qualifications, or provide a strong • full tuition fees
justification for courses that represent a shift in career • contribution to living expenses
focus or direction.
• introductory academic program
Priority fields of study for Laos
• overseas student health cover for the duration of the
The governments of Australia and Laos regularly review the scholarship
list of priority fields of study together and adjust the
• supplementary academic support
emphasis of the program.
• fieldwork allowance for research students and masters
For Intake 2022, field of studies for Laos reflect the Laos
by coursework which has a compulsory fieldwork
COVID-19 Development Response Plan the priority fields of
component.
study of the Lao Government.
- Health Security: public health, emergency operation Eligibility criteria
management, communicable disease outbreak
Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility
management, epidemiology, linkages between human
requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships
and animal health and gender-based health care;
Policy Handbook, available at: dfat.gov.au/about-
- Stability: basic education, stability in food and water us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-
supply, water resource management, human rights, policy-handbook.aspx
gender equality, disability and social inclusion; and
- Economic Recovery: public financial management and
economic governance, international trade and 1
infrastructure management Vocational Education and Training (VET) was known as Technical and
Further Education (TAFE)
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2022
Previous Australian government scholarship recipients who Application dates
are planning to apply for an Australia Award this year are
For study commencing in Australia, and for English and
required to have resided outside of Australia for twice the
Academic Preparation commencing in Laos, in 2022:
length of the total time they were in Australia, as of 30 April
2021. For example, if you completed a Masters degree in Opening date: 1 February 2021
Australia from January 2015 to December 2016, you are Closing date: 30 April 2021 (11:59pm Canberra Time)
eligible to apply for another Australia Award after December
2020. Applications and/or supporting documents received after the
closing date will not be considered.
Commencement of study
The application process
Successful applicants with an overall IELTS score of 6.5
with no band less than 6.0 and who are offered a For information on how to apply online and the supporting
scholarship, must take up the scholarship in the year for documents required select the following link: Australia
which they are awarded. This however also depends on Awards Laos.
travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
Country-specific conditions Online applications

In addition to the eligibility requirements, applicants from All applications must be lodged online through OASIS:
Laos must also meet the following conditions: When applying online, all supporting documents must be
• be a citizen of Laos (only); uploaded to meet the specific eligibility requirements for
Laos.
• on the application closing date, be aged between 18
and 50 years old; We strongly advise applicants to apply online well before the
closing date. The online application facility (OASIS)
• have been residing in the Lao PDR for a minimum of
two years as of 30 April 2021 (exceptions may be experiences peak usage in the days leading up to the
considered for Government Officials who have had closing date, and applicants may experience delays.
diplomatic postings overseas); and For those who have no access to the internet and/or people
• provide all of the required supporting documents living with a disability who need help to apply, kindly contact
listed under “Supporting documents”. our Scholarships Team at LAI (see contact details on the last
page).
VET applicants:
Supporting documents
 must have completed upper secondary school; or
Applicants must submit all of the relevant supporting
 if currently studying at tertiary level, must not have documents listed in the table below.
completed more than 2 years of diploma or
undergraduate level study; or Please note that documents do NOT have to be certified
at the time of application.
 who already have a diploma or a bachelor degree, Applicants should note that a failure to provide all of the
must have a minimum of two years’ work experience required documents may lead to the application being
and be seeking qualifications to fill a skills shortfall deemed ineligible.
or to change career direction.
If you are unable to obtain any required documents,
Masters Degree applicants: you should contact the Scholarships Team to
discuss this as early as possible in the preparation of
 must hold a Bachelor Degree; and your application.
 must have a minimum of two years’ work
experience; Document Document
type
 who already have a Masters Degree (including from
overseas) are eligible to apply, but may be given ALL APPLICANTS
lower priority.
Family book (Lao) OR Passport Proof of
PhD level applicants: citizenship
 must hold a Masters Degree;
Curriculum Vitae (Applicants must use the CV or
 must have a minimum of three years’ work CV template referred to on Australia resume
experience relevant to a postgraduate qualification. Awards Laos Website) - Maximum of 4
pages (except Research applicants, please
 must have an IELTS Certificate of overall 6.5 with no see below)
individual band less than 6.0 obtained after 1 July
2021. Public Sector/Government Official applicants

Government of Laos approval letter, dated, Employer or

signed and stamped by a representative of Nominating
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2022
Document Document Document Document
type type

your personnel department or head of your Authority List of publications relevant to the research List of
department. Statement proposal publications
(Applicants must use the template referred A detailed Research Proposal (as
to on Australia Awards Laos Website). Other
submitted to the supervisor in Australia) document
VET applicants A letter from a supervisor in Australia Other
stating his/her in-principle support for the document
All official upper secondary diploma and/or Degree research proposal that has been provided.
tertiary education degree(s). certificate
Copy of the original and an English Curriculum Vitae (applicants must use the CV or
translation. CV template referred to on Australia resume
Awards Laos Website) - maximum of six
All official upper secondary diploma and/or Academic pages.
tertiary education transcript(s). transcript
Copy of the original and an English IELTS Requirements
translation. To proceed to the interview, applicants must hold a valid
Academic International English Language Testing
For school leavers or year one/two Academic
System (IELTS) result with an overall score of at least
university/college students only, please transcript
5.5 (no sub-band less than 5.0).
also submit:
- all official year 10-12 upper secondary LAI will sponsor one IELTS test for candidates passing
school academic transcript(s). the application assessment round who have yet to meet
- all official year 1-2 university/college the minimum IELTS requirements above.
academic transcript(s) where relevant. Applicants holding an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no
Copy of the original and an English individual band less than 6.0 will bypass the IELTS test
translation. sponsored by LAI.
Masters applicants Preference for interview consideration will be given to
applicants with higher English language skills.
All official tertiary education degree(s). Degree
Copy of the original and an English certificate The selection process
translation.
The selection process includes:
All official tertiary education transcript(s). Academic
Copy of the original and an English transcript • application eligibility checking,
translation. • an independent assessment of eligible applications
against the selection criteria,
PhD applicants • a shortlisting,
All official tertiary education degree(s). Degree • IELTS testing,
Copy of the original and an English certificate • interviews for shortlisted applicants with the requisite
translation. IELTS scores, and
• a moderation process taking into account gender,
All official tertiary education transcript(s). Academic disability, government, non-government and private
Copy of the original and an English transcript sectors, levels and areas of study.
translation.
Selection Criteria
IELTS Certificate of overall 6.5 with no Proof of Applicants will be assessed and interviewed against the
individual band less than 6.0 English following criteria:
This certificate must be obtained after 1 language • academic competence
July 2020 proficiency
• potential outcome, specifically the contribution to
Research applicants only (Masters and PhD) development outcomes in Laos
• professional and personal leadership attributes
Two referee reports, at least one must be Referee including relevant work experience.
from an academic supervisor. The second report
referee report can be a current or former
supervisor in a relevant field.
Applicants must use the report template Note: Gender balance and other agreed targets may be
available on the Australia Awards Laos applied to the selection process.
website.

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2022

Successful applicants offered an Australia Award the outcomes as soon as possible after the selection
process concludes in late August 2021.
Successful applicants with an overall IELTS score of 6.0
with no band less than 5.5, and within half point of the
score required for course placement may receive a Further information
provisional offer of an Australia Award for Intake 2022.
Information about the Australia Awards — Laos can be
Please note that the offer remains provisional until found at: www.australiaawardslaos.org
that awardees meet the following requirements or the
scholarship offer will be withdrawn: More general information about the Australia Awards,
• the provisional awardee attains the minimum English Australia’s aid program, and studying in Australia can be
language requirement for placement, and no less found at the following links:
than an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less • Australia Awards
than 6.
• studyinaustralia.gov.au
• the provisional awardee is placed at an Australian
Information about visas and Australia Awards scholarship
university; and
entitlements and conditions can be found in the
• the provisional awardee is issued with the relevant Scholarships Policy Handbook: dfat.gov.au/about-
visa by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. us/publications/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships-
policy-handbook.aspx
Provisional awardees will be required to attend:
• course counselling
Contact details
Australia Awards — Laos
• a pre-departure briefing
Address: Laos Australia Institute
• their university’s Introductory Academic Program Foreign Languages Resource
• other required preparatory study on arrival in Australia. Centre Building
Depending on English language levels and academic Corner of Rue Setthathirath and
background, provisional awardees may also be required Mahosot Road
to attend a: Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

• shorter English course in Australia (these applicants Phone: (856) 21 265 721, (856) 21 265 722
will also be required to attend a five-week academic
readiness course in Vientiane); or Email: [email protected]
• a five-week academic readiness course in Vientiane.
Website: Laos Australia Institute
Provisional awardees are not permitted to undertake
employment during any pre-departure training. Short
absences only from the course may be considered on a
case by case basis.

Successful applicants offered English and Academic

Preparatory training
Successful applicants with an overall IELTS score of 5.5
with no band less than 5.0, and within one point of the
score required for course placement, or other successful
applicants at the discretion of LAI, may receive an offer
for an English and Academic Preparation (EAP) program
in Vientiane of up to 12 months (or more for people with a
disability).
EAP participants are not permitted to undertake
employment during any preparatory training. Short
absences only from the course may be considered on a
case by case basis.
EAP participants who succeed in obtaining the overall
IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0, and with
the score required for course placement will have their
application considered for a provisional offer of an
Australia Award for Intake 2023.

Outcomes
All applicants will receive notification at each stage in the
selection process if their application is not proceeding
further. Applicants who are interviewed will be notified of
Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2022