Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship 2027: 50%

Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship 2027: 50% Tuition Fee Reduction

Adelaide University is offering a 50% tuition fee reduction to international students starting an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree in 2027 with outstanding results in their previous studies. It is the university's most generous merit award for new international students, decided by a selection panel, with limited places.

Applications opened on Monday 24 August 2026, and there is no fixed closing date on the official page. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all allocations are exhausted, so apply early. This is a partial funding award, not a fully funded scholarship. It halves your tuition fees for the standard full time duration of your degree, while you still pay the other half plus your visa, health cover, travel and living costs.

What the Scholarship Is Worth

The award reduces your international tuition fee by 50% for each study period, for the minimum standard full time duration of your program, as stated on your Offer of Admission. The waiver is applied directly to your tuition fee account, so you are billed for half of the normal international fee.

• The 50% reduction covers tuition fees only. It is not a cash payment, it cannot be transferred, and it cannot be redeemed for cash.
• You pay the remaining 50% of your tuition fees, plus your visa, Overseas Student Health Cover, travel, accommodation, living expenses and textbooks.
• Adelaide University awards you the highest value scholarship you are eligible for, and you can hold only one at a time.

The value is a percentage, not a fixed dollar amount, so your saving depends on the fee of the degree you choose. The university publishes no dollar figure, so do not trust any website that quotes one.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility is strict. You must meet every condition below:

• You must be an international student, which means you are not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder, or a New Zealand citizen.
• You must be applying to a CRICOS registered bachelor degree of at least 96 units, or 2 years of full time study, or a CRICOS registered master degree of at least 72 units, or 1.5 years, at Adelaide University, after any credit or recognition of prior learning.
• You must meet the academic requirement in your admission qualification. For undergraduate applicants only, that is a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 99, or the international equivalent. For undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, it is a minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 6.7 on a 7.0 scale, or a comparable score.
• You must not be applying to an excluded program, and you must not be an Australia Awards recipient.
• You must not be an international sponsored student entitled to a tuition fee waiver equal to or greater than the scholarship value. If your sponsor waiver is smaller, the scholarship applies instead.

Nigeria eligibility rests on the general international student rule, not on a separate Nigeria list. Nigerian applicants who meet the conditions are eligible on the same terms as other international applicants.

Programs That Are Excluded

Not every degree is covered. The official terms list 24 excluded programs, mostly in health, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, the MBA and clinical psychology:

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery; Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Honours), all majors; Bachelor of Medical Studies; Bachelor of Midwifery; Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours); Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours); Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours); Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience); Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
• Doctor of Clinical Dentistry; Doctor of Medicine; Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
• Global Executive Master of Business Administration (Defence and Space); Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy, Musculoskeletal and Sports; Master of Business Administration, all specialisations; Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy; Master of Midwifery (Graduate Entry); Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry); Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry); Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry); Master of Psychology, Clinical, Health, and Organisational and Human Factors

Degrees in business, engineering, IT, science, arts, law or education are likely to be eligible, but confirm your program officially.

How Selection Works

Unlike some Australian university awards granted automatically with your offer, this one is competitive and decided by a selection panel on merit. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all allocations are exhausted. Successful recipients are notified before they commence, and the scholarship is applied to the Offer of Admission.

How to Apply, Step by Step

There are two applications to complete. The scholarship application is separate from the admission application.

1. Choose an eligible program. Pick a CRICOS registered bachelor degree of at least 2 years or a master degree of at least 1.5 years at Adelaide University, and check it is not one of the excluded programs above.
2. Check that you meet the academic bar. You need an ATAR of 99 or equivalent for undergraduate entry, or a GPA of 6.7 on a 7.0 scale or comparable score.
3. Apply for admission. Submit your application for your chosen degree through the university's international application process, with your transcripts and the other documents it asks for.
4. Complete the separate scholarship application form. Use the form linked from the official scholarship page.
5. Wait for the selection panel outcome. If you are successful, the scholarship will appear on your Offer of Admission.
6. Accept your offer. Once the scholarship is on your Offer of Admission, accept it and proceed with enrolment and your visa application.

Apply through the official Adelaide University scholarship page, linked at the end of this article. Do not pay anyone who promises to secure the award for you.

Documents to Prepare

There is no published document checklist for this scholarship, so prepare what your admission application needs: academic transcripts and certificates showing the grades or GPA that meet the 6.7 on a 7.0 scale requirement, or your ATAR of 99 or equivalent; evidence of English language proficiency, if your previous study was not in English; and a valid passport.

Keeping the Scholarship Once You Have It

Winning the scholarship is only the first half of the story. You must keep meeting its conditions for the whole duration of your degree. You must remain an international student and maintain a full time study load for each study period, and a minimum Program Term GPA of 5.5 on a 7.0 scale in each compulsory study period. If your GPA falls below 5.5, the scholarship may be suspended and will not be applied to your next invoice. If it returns to 5.5 or above, it recommences.

You must also pay your tuition fees on time, and tell the scholarship administration immediately if you plan to transfer, discontinue full time study or defer. A leave of absence longer than one year ends the scholarship, and if your Offer of Admission is withdrawn, your scholarship offer is withdrawn too.

What the Scholarship Does Not Cover

Be clear about the gap between this award and a fully funded scholarship. This award covers half of your tuition fees. It does not cover the remaining 50%, your student visa fee, Overseas Student Health Cover, flights, accommodation, food and living expenses in Adelaide, textbooks and study materials, or extra fees for credited courses or courses taken at another institution. Before you accept an offer, work out the full cost of your degree and living expenses, and confirm that you and your family can cover the rest.

Other Adelaide University Scholarships for International Students

If you do not meet the 6.7 GPA or ATAR 99 bar, Adelaide University has other automatic awards, and you will be awarded the highest value one:

• Adelaide Emerging Leaders Award, 25% tuition fee reduction. Automatically assessed and granted to students with a distinction average.
• Adelaide Merit Scholarship, 15% tuition fee reduction. Automatically assessed and awarded to students with a credit average.
• Adelaide Global Alumni Scholarship, 10% tuition fee reduction. Automatically assessed for international students who have previously studied at Adelaide University or a predecessor university.
• Adelaide Sibling Award and Adelaide Partner Award, 10% each. The Sibling Award is for students with a sibling studying at, or an alumnus of, Adelaide University. The Partner Award is for students from an approved partner institution.

These awards are assessed when you apply for admission, so there is no separate form for them.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Forgetting the scholarship form. The 50% award needs a separate application form.
• Applying for an excluded program. Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, most clinical health programs and the MBA are excluded.
• Applying too late. There is no fixed closing date, so there is no last day to aim for. Rolling review means allocations can run out at any point.
• Assuming the scholarship covers living costs. It covers half of your tuition fees only.
• Letting your GPA slip below 5.5. The scholarship is reviewed every compulsory study period, and a weak semester can suspend it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship fully funded?

No. It is a 50% tuition fee reduction for the standard full time duration of your degree. You pay the remaining 50% plus your visa, health cover, travel, accommodation and living costs.

What GPA do I need for the Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship?

You need a minimum overall GPA of 6.7 on a 7.0 scale, or a comparable score, in your admission qualification. Undergraduate applicants can alternatively qualify with a minimum ATAR of 99 or the international equivalent. Once you hold the scholarship, you must maintain a Program Term GPA of at least 5.5 on a 7.0 scale each study period.

Is there a closing date for this scholarship?

No fixed closing date is published on the official page. Applications opened on Monday 24 August 2026 and are reviewed on a rolling basis until allocations are exhausted.

Do Nigerian students qualify for this scholarship?

Yes, on the same terms as other international students. Nigeria eligibility rests on the general international rule, not a separate Nigeria list.

Final Thoughts

The Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship is one of the strongest merit based awards in Australia for 2027 entry, because a 50% tuition fee reduction for the full duration of a degree is rare, and it is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students. The bar is high, and places are limited.

If your grades meet the bar, start now. Choose an eligible program, apply for admission, complete the separate scholarship form, and submit everything early. If your grades fall just short, apply anyway, because the university will assess you for the 25% Emerging Leaders Award or the 15% Merit Scholarship.

Prepare your transcripts, confirm your program, and apply early. A 50% tuition fee reduction is worth the effort, and the only applications that cannot win are never submitted.

Official links:

• Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship (50%), official page: https://adelaide.edu.au/study/scholarships/int/adelaide-academic-excellence-scholarship-50/
• Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship, terms and conditions (PDF): https://adelaide.edu.au/content/dam/adelaideuniversity/documents/study/pdfs/adelaide-academic-excellence-scholarship.pdf
• International student scholarships at Adelaide University: https://adelaide.edu.au/study/scholarships/international-students-scholarships/