Destination Australia Scholarship Guide

What Destination Australia is

Destination Australia is a scholarship program funded by the Australian Government, administered through the Department of Education, that supports students to study at education providers in regional Australia. Its purpose is to encourage study at regional campuses by helping participating providers offer scholarships to eligible students.

Important — current status: according to the Department of Education, as part of the 2024–25 Budget the Australian Government announced there would be no further funding rounds of the Destination Australia program from 1 July 2024, while existing scholarship recipients continue to be supported for the remainder of their studies (subject to eligibility). This means the program is not currently running new application rounds. Always confirm the latest position on the official Department of Education program page, as program funding can change.

• Funded by the Australian Government, administered through the Department of Education
• No further funding rounds from 1 July 2024 (per the Department of Education); existing recipients still supported
• Supports study at regional Australian education providers

Who it is for and how it is offered

When funding rounds were running, Destination Australia scholarships were offered through participating education providers in regional areas, and both domestic and international students could be eligible depending on the program's rules. Because the scholarships are administered by the providers under the program framework, the practical application route was through the participating regional provider you wished to study at.

Eligibility is defined on secular grounds set by the program and the provider — there is no religious criterion. As noted above, new funding rounds ceased from 1 July 2024, so check the official program information and the specific provider's scholarship page for the current position before assuming an award is open.

• Offered via participating regional education providers (when rounds were running)
• Could be open to domestic and international students per the rules
• Confirm the current status on the official program page and the provider's site

What it supports

The program is designed to support the cost of studying at a regional campus, with the value and conditions of each scholarship defined officially for the relevant round and offered through the participating provider. The intent is to make regional study more accessible.

We deliberately do not state specific amounts here, because the value is set by the program and provider and can change. For the precise value, duration, and conditions, read the official Destination Australia information and the participating provider's scholarship details for your intake.

Why study regionally

Studying at a regional campus can appeal for several practical reasons, and the Destination Australia program was created to support that choice. Regional locations may offer a different campus experience and, often, lower living costs than major city centres — though costs always vary by location, so verify them for the specific area.

If a regional provider and course suit your goals, check what scholarships that provider currently offers — including whether any Destination Australia support remains available — directly on the official program page and the provider's site, since new program rounds ceased from 1 July 2024. Many regional providers also run their own scholarships independent of this program.

• Encourages study at regional campuses
• Regional areas may offer lower living costs (varies by location)
• Confirm course and scholarship details with the official provider

Important: no guarantees, verify officially

Where Destination Australia scholarships have been available, they are limited and offered competitively through participating providers under the official program rules. No website, agent, or service can guarantee you one, and you should never pay a third party claiming to secure a government scholarship — legitimate applications are made free through official channels.

This guide is general information, not immigration or financial advice. Because the program's funding status, participating providers, eligibility, and values are set and updated officially — and new funding rounds ceased from 1 July 2024 — verify the current position and every detail on the official Department of Education program page and the provider's site before relying on it.

• Limited and competitive — offered through participating providers
• No guarantees; never pay a third party to "secure" a scholarship
• Verify the current status + details on education.gov.au and the provider's site