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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. (Question) Should applicants apply directly to Australian universities to seek admission?
1. No. Applicants are only required to select their preferred institutions for study in the Application Form. AusAID is responsible for seeking admission on their behalf if they are selected for the scholarship.
2. What is the duration of a Masters program?
2. A Masters program under the ADS is defined as being between 1 to 2 years in duration.
3. Can applicants apply for a graduate diploma leading to a Masters program?
3. No. Applicants can only apply for a Masters program under the ADS. However, the institution may decide that in order to meet the full requirements for entry into a Masters program, a student may need to undertake preliminary/additional courses of study.
4. Can an applicant submit more than one application per intake, per scheme?
4. No. AusAID accepts only one application per candidate for each intake. Duplicate applications will not be accepted and may lead to disqualification.
5. Can the priority field of study be amended after the application has been submitted to AusAID?
5. Changes to the candidates nominated priority area of study after receipt of the application are not permitted.
6. Is deferral of the scholarship award allowed?
6. No. However in exceptional circumstances (e.g. pregnancy, delayed visa processing) and if appropriate AusAID may on a case by case basis consider a deferral for maximum period of up to 6 months. Detailed and attested documentation for deferral cases is required.
7. Is two years work experience mandatory?
7. Yes. Two years experience is the minimum requirement to be eligible for the ADS. Internships, articleships and house jobs do not count towards work experience.
8. What is a “current” IELTS score?
8. A test result obtained anytime after November 2007 will be considered current.
9. Can applicants send in IELTS results after the closing date for applications?
9. No. The application form must be submitted along with the IELTS result sheet.
10. Can applicants send TOEFL scores instead of IELTS?
10. No. Australian visa requirements do not accept TOEFL scores for Australian visa purposes.
11. Are applicants who hold a foreign degree exempt from submitting a current IELTS score?
11. No. Applicants with foreign degrees from an English speaking country (e.g. UK, US or Canada) are still required to submit a current IELTS score.
12. Do applicants still need to submit a current IELTS score if their medium of instruction has been English throughout their academic career?
12. Yes. A current IELTS score must be submitted even if the medium of instruction has been English throughout an applicant’s academic career.
13. What is the procedure for claiming reimbursement for IELTS exam?
13. The amount will be reimbursed after the final selection of students has been made. Only the successful candidates are eligible for the reimbursement of IELTS exam. The successful candidates should submit the receipt for the exam to the AusAID office after they have been informed of their selection.
14. Are provisional educational degrees acceptable to fulfill the “16 years education” eligibility criterion?
14. No. AusAID will only accept final transcripts and educational degrees from accredited educational institutions. Any educational degrees obtained after the deadline for receipt of applications (i.e. 26 April 2009) will not be accepted.
15. What are the ADS entitlements?
15. The following entitlements apply to all applicants:
Tuition Fees
Payment of full academic fees and other fees that are compulsory for all international students undertaking the same course.
Introductory Academic Program (IAP)
Provision of a 4-6 week Introductory Academic Program prior to the commencement of studies.
Travel
Payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route.
Establishment Allowance of A$5,000
A contribution towards expenses such as rental bonds, text books, study materials, additional medical insurance, home contents insurance, excess baggage upon return home etc.
Contribution to Living Expenses (also referred to as a Stipend)
A fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) paid at a rate determined by AusAID.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
OSHC will be provided for the Student, covering the Student’s basic medical costs. Students may purchase, at their own expense, additional medical insurance to cover ancillary services such as dentist, orthodontist and optometrist.
If applicable:
Pre-Course English (PCE)
In Australia, PCE may be provided for up to a maximum of six months, if deemed necessary by the Institution.
Supplementary Academic Support (also referred to as Tutorial Assistance)
Provided when essential to improving a Student’s performance to ensure their academic success.
Fieldwork
One only return economy class airfare via the most direct route may be approved for eligible research Students to their country of citizenship or within Australia.
The Student should contact the Student Contact Officer at their Institution to gain more information about schooling and child care for dependants.
16. What are the ADS conditions?
16. ADS holders must:
a. take up the ADS in the academic year for which it is offered; study full time and achieve satisfactory academic progress in the program for which the ADS was offered;
b. only undertake the approved program for which the ADS is offered and abide by the rules of the Institution;
c. not hold another Australian Government scholarship;
d. reside in Australia for the duration of the ADS (apart from reunion and fieldwork visits to the home country);
e. advise AusAID immediately, via the Student Contact Officer at the Institution, should they marry a person who is an Australian citizen, or has permanent residence status in Australia, a New Zealand citizen or has New Zealand citizenship;
f. liaise with the Student Contact Officer at the Institution regarding any changes to the approved program and acknowledge that approval is required from the
Institution, AusAID and Partner Government (if applicable) before any changes are made;
g. agree to AusAID collecting information and to passing that information on to other relevant parties concerning the Student or dependants, if necessary;
h. participate in the Pre-Departure Briefing arranged by the Post, and the Institution’s compulsory Introductory Academic Program (IAP) on arrival in Australia;
i. participate in all activities associated with the course of study, including all lectures and tutorials, submit all work required for the course e.g. assignments, essays and sit for examinations;
j. be aware that the ADS may be terminated at any time for failure to comply with the laws of Australia, misconduct, breaches of the conditions of the ADS, or for failure to make satisfactory academic progress; and
k. return to their country of citizenship for two years upon the completion of their course of study in Australia. A debt to the Commonwealth of Australia, for the
total cost of the ADS, will be incurred if Students fail to return to their home country, or if they apply for Permanent Residence or a visa to return to Australia within the two year period.
18. Can research be conducted for Masters level study?
18. Yes. You can apply for a Masters (by course work) or Masters (by Research) program-the choice is yours.
19. Do applicants need to submit a research proposal with the application?
19. All Master applicants whose study program will include at least 50 per cent research MUST attach an outline of the proposed research project (up to 1,000 words) to each application form. Details are provided on page 10 of the Application Form. Masters (research) applications received without such an outline will be considered invalid.
19. Are research applicants allowed to undertake fieldwork?
19. Students enrolled in Masters by research or a combined Masters coursework and research program where the research component is at least 50% may be funded by AusAID to undertake fieldwork in their home country or within Australia. These details are provided to the student by the Institution at the time an offer is made.
20. Are applicants allowed to take their families with them to Australia on ADS scholarships?
20. Yes. Candidates must indicate in the application form if they intend to take their family with them to Australia. Universities usually ask for a period of 6 months before a candidate’s family can join them in Australia. Applicants should note that the Australian Government does not provide any additional financial support for the dependents (spouse and children under 18) of ADS students. Under Australian visa requirements parents, parents-in-law or siblings of an applicant are not considered dependents and can not accompany the scholarship recipients to Australia for the duration of their scholarship award.
Students must contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) directly to ascertain the current requirements for family entry. Please refer to the DIAC website: http://www.immi.gov.au for details.
Please note that AusAID does not facilitate family entry visas.
21. What does the student visa process entail?
21. Please refer to the DIAC website http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/576-2/index.htm for AusAID Sponsored Sector: Temporary Visa (Subclass 576) - Assessment Level 2 for student visa requirements.
22. What is the process after being selected for a Scholarship?
22. After a scholarship is offered student RFPs (Request for Placement) are sent to the respective first preference universities. Universities take one month to make a decision on an application. If admission is rejected from both first and second preference Universities the scholarship is cancelled. If admission is offered two copies of the “AusAID Scholarships Contract” along with an Offer Letter are sent to the particular candidate.
One signed copy of the Contract, along with the Visa application forms and required documents, has to be returned within 10 days of receipt, for Visa purposes. Visa processing takes four months.
Pre-departure briefing is organized (mostly in December) and the candidates then leave for their respective destinations.
23. What documentation needs to be attached with the Visa Application Form?
23. The complete list of Visa Application requirements:
Forms
1. Visa application form 157A and photocopy of completed form. (note that you MUST declare your spouse and children on the application form even if they are not travelling to Australia at this time)
2. Supplement for postgraduate students and photocopy of completed form
3. Form 1221
4. Family composition details
Passport
5. Self (valid until the duration of the study program in Australia)
6. Photocopy of your Passport
Photographs
7. Four recent passport size photographs
Letters of support
8. Letter of confirmation from employer
9. NOC from government for Govt. Employees
Educational Documents (the original documents will be returned to you once the visa is granted)
10. Original Educational documents (O levels/matriculation to highest qualification)
11. Certified copies of Original Educational documents
12. Original IELTS score sheet
13. Certified copy of IELTS score sheet
Experience/Trainings/Publications record
12. Detailed C.V. (Kindly account for each lag of more than 2 months in your resume starting from after Matriculation to date eg. Applying to Colleges, Applying for work etc.)
FAMILY VISA APPLICATIONS SHOULD NOT TO BE SENT TO AUSAID. PLEASE SEND THE APPLICATION FORM AND OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION, DIPLOMATIC ENCLAVE NO. 1, G-5/4, ISLAMABAD.
Family entry requirements
13. Separate Visa Application Form 157 and photocopy of completed form
14. Family’s passports and four recent passport size photographs of each family member
15. Family composition details
16. Original marriage certificate (Nikahnama in original script)
17. NADRA Registration Certificate and birth certificates of children
18. Bank statement (showing that you have sufficient funds to meet the expenses of your family’s return airfare and living costs)
19. Evidence of enrolment for any school-aged children (children from 5-18 yrs old)
20. Proof of health insurance covering all family members.
Note: Form 919 is not required for AusAID dependents.