Most scholarship guides focus heavily on the February intake, but if you’re planning to join Australia’s November intake (Semester 3), you might assume funding options are limited. The truth is more encouraging – while fewer scholarships are exclusively tied to November, many merit-based, university-specific, and government-backed awards remain open year-round, and lower competition can actually work in your favor. Here’s a complete guide to scholarships available for November intake.
Why Scholarship Planning Matters for November Intake
Since the November intake attracts far fewer applicants than February or July, your scholarship application faces less competition for the same pool of funding. However, some major national scholarships – like Australia Awards – are aligned specifically with the February cycle, so it’s important to know which awards genuinely apply to a November start before you build your funding strategy.
Types of Scholarships Available
Before diving into specific awards, it helps to understand the categories international students can access:
- Government-funded scholarships – national programs backed by the Australian Government
- University merit scholarships – automatically assessed or separately applied for, based on academic performance
- Regional and destination-based scholarships – for students choosing regional campuses
- Faculty and industry-specific awards – offered by professional bodies in fields like engineering, cybersecurity, and healthcare
- Alumni and loyalty scholarships – tuition reductions for students who previously studied at an Australian institution
Top Scholarships to Explore for the November Intake
1. University Merit-Based Scholarships
Most Australian universities run merit scholarships open to all international applicants, regardless of intake. Options include the Griffith Remarkable Scholarship (50% tuition reduction), the Macquarie Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship (AUD 10,000–20,000/year), and the CQUniversity International Merit Scholarship (up to 25% tuition reduction). Many are automatically assessed once you submit your admission application – no separate scholarship form required.
2. Destination Australia Program
This government-funded scholarship supports students studying at regional campuses of Australian universities and TAFE institutes, covering up to AUD 15,000 per year toward tuition and living costs. Since regional universities are more likely to offer flexible intakes, including November, this is a strong option worth checking directly with participating institutions.
3. Faculty and Industry-Supported Awards
Professional bodies in fields like engineering, cybersecurity, agriculture, allied health, and business often provide financial support to international students, independent of intake timing. These awards are especially relevant if you’re pursuing a PR-pathway course in the November intake, since industry bodies actively want to fund students entering high-demand sectors.
4. University-Specific November-Friendly Scholarships
Some universities that actively promote a November intake – such as those offering courses through La Trobe University, Deakin, Monash, and the University of Adelaide – extend their general international scholarships to all intakes, not just February. Always check the specific scholarship’s “eligible intake” field on the university’s scholarship page, since this detail is often buried in fine print.
5. Research-Based Scholarships (Master’s by Research and PhD)
For postgraduate research students, some universities accept mid-year and later research enrolments, meaning research scholarships – which can include full tuition plus a stipend of roughly AUD 28,000 to 32,500 per year along with health cover – may still be accessible outside the main February round. The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) is one such option worth investigating.
6. Alumni and Loyalty Discounts
If you’ve previously studied an Australian qualification, either onshore or through a partner institution, programs like the ECU Australian Qualification International Scholarship offer a 20% tuition fee reduction, and these are typically available across multiple intakes including November.
How to Improve Your Scholarship Chances
- Apply early – even though competition is lower for November, scholarships still fill on a rolling basis, so submit your application as soon as the window opens
- Check the “eligible intake” field carefully – not every scholarship listed on a university page applies to Semester 3
- Choose PR-friendly, high-demand courses – scholarships often favor fields aligned with Australia’s labor market needs, such as IT, engineering, nursing, and social work
- Strengthen your Genuine Student (GS) statement – clearly explain your academic goals, financial planning, and genuine intent to study, since this is now a core part of Australia’s visa and scholarship assessment process
- Highlight leadership and community involvement – volunteering, leadership roles, and extracurricular achievements meaningfully strengthen scholarship applications
- Contact university international offices directly – since November intake scholarship details are often not clearly listed online, a direct email can confirm real-time availability
Final Thoughts
While the February intake still holds the largest share of scholarships in Australia, the November intake is far from a funding dead-end. Between university merit awards, regional programs like Destination Australia, faculty-specific grants, and research scholarships, international students have genuine opportunities to reduce their financial burden – often with less competition than their February-intake peers. Start your research early, verify eligibility directly with your target university, and build a strong, genuine application to make the most of Australia’s quieter but still rewarding November intake.
