Tuvalu

Applying for an Australia Awards Scholarship

Tuvalu: Information about Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards Scholarships in Tuvalu

Australia’s international development assistance in Tuvalu aims to assist Tuvalu achieve priority outcomes in line with the Australia – Tuvalu Partnership for development which is also aligned to national priorities in Tuvalu’s National Development Plan.

Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders for development. Through study and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.

Applicants will be assessed for their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and, most importantly, their potential to impact on development challenges in Tuvalu.

Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people with disability and/ or eligible Tuvalu citizens.

Priority fields of study

The priority areas of study for Tuvalu are aligned to its National Strategic Plan and the Tuvalu Government’s Roadmap.

Level of study

Australia Awards Scholarships
These Scholarships provide citizens of Tuvalu with the opportunity to obtain an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification at an Australian tertiary institution.

Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships

These scholarships provide opportunities to people from Tuvalu and other developing nations in the Pacific to study at a tertiary institution in the Pacific for the benefit of development in their home countries. This type of scholarship is available for study at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Eligibility criteria are available from www.fiji.embassy.gov.au

Australia Awards Benefits

Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian education institution, including any preparatory training.

Scholarship recipients will generally receive the following:

·  return air travel

·  a one off establishment allowance on arrival

·  full tuition fees

·  contribution to living expenses

·  introductory academic program

·  Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the Scholarship

·  supplementary academic support and

·  fieldwork allowance–for research students and masters by course work which has a compulsory fieldwork component.

Eligibility criteria

Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at:

http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx

In addition to these basic eligibility requirements, candidates from Tuvalu must also meet the following country specific conditions:

•  must be citizens of Tuvalu and not hold a New Zealand passport or have permanent residence in New Zealand

•  must not hold another scholarship simultaneously with an Australia Award, nor should they have held an Australian Government scholarship in the preceding 12 months at the time of application

•  must be applying to commence a new course of study and not be seeking support for a course they have already commenced in Australia

•  must not transfer from a Tuvalu Government scholarship or any other scholarship during the tenure of that scholarship

•  must be able to take up the award in the calendar year for which the award is offered

•  must not be under any bonding or cost sharing arrangements at the time of commencement of an award.

Special conditions

Applicants must also meet the following country specific conditions:

Technical/Vocational Training

•  Applicants must have a Form six minimum aggregate mark of 250 out of 400 or its equivalent (for English and three best subjects)

•  mature age applicants should have at least five years relevant work experience, achieved a pass grade at least either Form 6 or Form 7 level or equivalent or through some form of continuing education or work related training

•  applicants should not hold either an undergraduate degree or a tertiary diploma

•  applicants who have obtained a certificate level qualification may apply

•  no age limit, although a scholar’s potential outputs on return from study will be assessed during selection time.

Undergraduate

•  Applicants must have a Form 6 minimum aggregate mark of 300 out of 400 or its equivalent (for English and three best subjects)

•  mature age applicants should have at least five years relevant work experience, achieved pass grades at least either the Form 6 or Form 7 or equivalent results and/or have successfully undertaken some form of relevant tertiary studies either through tertiary institutions or work related training

•  applicants should not hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree

•  no age limit, although a scholar’s potential outputs on return from study will be assessed during selection time.

Postgraduate

•  Applicants should have achieved above average results in their undergraduate degree(s) and have at least five years relevant work experience

•  mature age applicants should have at least 10 years relevant work experience, achieved a pass grade at either the Form 6 or Form 7 or equivalent level, and/or have successfully undertaken relevant tertiary studies or some form of continuing education

•  no age limit, although a scholar’s potential outputs on return from study will be assessed during selection time.

Application dates (for study commencing in Australia or the Pacific region in 2017)

Opening date: 1 February 2016

Closing date: 30 April 2016

Applications or supporting documents received after the closing date will not be considered.

The application process

Online applications

Apply online at: http://oasis.dfat.gov.au/

We strongly advise applicants to apply online and to do so well before the closing date. The online application facility (OASIS) experiences peak usage in the days leading up to the closing date and applicants may experience delays.

Application Forms

Electronic copies of Australia Awards Scholarship and Australia Award Pacific Scholarship Application forms are also available at the Australian High Commission website: www.fiji.embassy.gov.au

Hardcopy Application forms can be obtained from the Personnel and Training Department, Government of Tuvalu, via email: or or phone: +688 20110, ext. 3002.

Tuvalu Specific Process

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will engage the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Education Quality Assessment Program to assess and rank all application forms. Final selection for priority and reserve candidates is made at the Joint Scholarship Selection Committee (JSSC) comprising of representatives from the Government of Tuvalu, Australia and New Zealand.

Supporting documents

Applicants must submit with their application all of the relevant supporting documents listed in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

Applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for Tuvalu:

Document type / Certified
Proof of citizenship i.e. birth certificate /passport if available and photographic identification i.e. student card/drivers licence if passport is not available. / Yes
High School and/ or Tertiary degree certificates (Bachelors and Masters level) / Yes
Academic transcripts (where they are not in English please provide an English translation) / Yes
IELTS, TOEFL or PTE Academic results (if applicable and exam results still valid) / Yes
Referee Reports especially for civil servants / Yes
Curriculum Vitae / Yes

The selection process

•  Following eligibility checking, applications will be shortlisted. The selection process will also include an interview. Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:

•  Academic competence

•  Potential outcome, including contribution to development outcomes in your home country.

•  Professional and personal leadership attributes

•  Alignment of proposed study program to Tuvalu’s priorities for the 2017 intake

Preparatory training

•  All successful applicants will be required to attend a pre-departure briefing

•  You may be required to complete the following preparatory training and or testing:

•  IELTS-International English Language Testing System to assess English language competence.

Outcomes

All applicants will receive notification as to whether they have been successful by 19 August 2016

Further information
Further information about the Australia Awards can be found at:
http://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/Pages/australia-awards-scholarships.aspx
Information about visas and Australia Awards Scholarship entitlements and conditions can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at:
http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/pages/australia-awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx
More general information about the Australia Awards and studying in Australia can be found at:
http://www.australiaawards.gov.au/
www.dfat.gov.au
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
Contact Details
Organisation: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Address: Australian High Commission, PO Box 214, Suva, Fiji
Telephone: +679 338 2211
Fax: +679 338 2684
Mobile:
Email:
or Lily-
Website: www.fiji.embassy.gov.au

Tuvalu: Information about Australia Awards Scholarships