Financial assistance for overseas study

Information about how to finance your overseas study experience through scholarships, grants, OS-HELP loans, continuing Centrelink payments and costs and budgeting while you’re overseas.

Can I get financial assistance?

RMIT has a range of funding options for students, including grants and scholarships worth up to $10,000.

You may qualify for one funding opportunity per overseas study experience, and will be considered for all possible options. Please be aware that due to quotas and eligibility, we cannot guarantee that you will be eligible for financial assistance.

See below for details of funding options available and how to apply (if an application is required).

Budgeting for your overseas study

Planning your finances is an important part of preparing for studying overseas. You'll need to pay for all living expenses, such as accommodation, travel and food.

Living costs vary according to your destination and length of your overseas study, so it’s important to prepare a budget. Be sure to check costs and inclusions for the program you're applying for in order to plan your budget.

Grants and scholarships

Amount

Between $500 - $1,000 per student.

Eligibility

Eligibility is generally defined as students who are not eligible for any other form of global learning funding.

How to apply

There is no application form for global learning grants. If there is funding available and you are eligible, you will be contacted by the Global Learning team with an offer.

Amount

$2,500 for up to 10 students who take part in exchange to RMIT Vietnam in 2026.

Eligibility

Eligibility is generally defined as students who are not eligible for any other form of global learning funding.

How to apply

There is no application form for global learning grants. If there is funding available and you are eligible, you will be contacted by the Global Learning team with an offer.

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is an initiative of the Australian government which aims to increase knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian students to participate in semester-based or short-term study, internships, mentorships, practicums and research in 38 host locations across the Indo-Pacific region.

NCP Mobility grants (different to NCP Scholarships – see below) are the most common form of NCP funding and support short-term overseas study. Mobility grants are available for specific projects selected by the Australian Government, so check the program description on Mobi to find out if there is NCP funding available for the project you are interested in.

Amount

  • Up to $4,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least 4 weeks per student
  • Up to $6,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least 6 weeks per student
  • Up to $9,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least 9 weeks per student
  • Refer to Mobi for details of programs and grants available.

Eligibility

If there are NCP grants available for a project, students must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

  • Currently enrolled in RMIT onshore campus and undertaking an undergraduate course.
  • Hold Australian citizenship.
  • Will receive academic credit for the program.
  • Have not reached the maximum NCP grant allocation (students are allowed to receive a maximum of two (2) NCP grants during their degree).

How to apply

There is no application required for NCP mobility grants. If there is funding available for the mobility project you are participating in, and you are eligible, you will be contacted by the Global Learning team with an offer by email.  Before you accept a grant or scholarship, view the RMIT Funding Terms and Conditions (see below).

Further information

  • Grant payments are usually received 2-4 weeks before the program begins.
  • Payments are disbursed on a fortnightly basis. Please make sure your bank details are accurate and up to date on Enrolment Online

Applications are now open for the 2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program — a prestigious Australian Government initiative that supports Australian undergraduate students to undertake study, language training, and internships in the Indo-Pacific region.  

2026 NCP Scholarship Program Objectives:

  •   Lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by increasing the number of Australian undergraduates studying and undertaking internships in the region.
  • Deepen people-to-people and institutional relationships between Australia and the Indo-Pacific.
  • Develop a diverse cohort of Australian alumni with professional and personal networks across the Indo-Pacific.  

For the 2026 round, successful scholars can receive up to $107,000 to support:  

  • Tuition fees for your approved study component.  
  • Travel and establishment allowances. 
  • A monthly living stipend.
  • Language training costs.
  • Health and travel insurance. 
  • Support for internship or mentorship components.  

Eligibility

View the NCP Guidelines and NCP Advice to Applicants . 

Applicants must have already received an offer for:

  • Semester Exchange in Semester 1 2026, or
  • Be in the process of applying/will apply for Semester Exchange in Semester 2 2026 (applications for Semester 2 close 30 September 2025 ), or
  • RMIT Cross-Campus Program to Vietnam in 2026, or
  • Study Abroad Program commencing in 2026.

Your overall planned program must commence between 1 Jan and 31 Dec 2026 and will end within 19 months – before 31 July 2028.

Important: You must first apply to RMIT for consideration and be successfully nominated before you can submit an NCP Scholarship application to the NCP Secretariat/DFAT. 

As outlined in the 2026 NCP Scholarship Program Guidelines, applicants must:  

  • Be an Australian citizen.
  • Be enrolled in an Australian bachelor’s degree or bachelor honors degree when applying and for the duration of the scholarship program.
  • Be aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) on 1 January 2026.
  • Not be a previous recipient of an NCP Scholarship.  
  • Not be an employee of the Australian Government (including DFAT) or an immediate family member of such an employee.  
  • Undertake the scholarship program in an eligible Indo-Pacific host location.  

*Note: The definition of ‘undergraduate courses’ for this purpose is as defined by the Higher Education Administrative Information for Providers

How to apply

Students who meet the eligibility criteria can apply by completing the New Colombo Plan Scholarship application by Sunday 24 August, 2025 at 11:59pm AEST. 

Before you accept a grant or scholarship, view the RMIT Funding Terms and Conditions (see below) . It is recommend to read the NCP Guidelines and NCP Advice to Applicants before you apply. 

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is an initiative of the Australian government which aims to increase knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian students to participate in semester-based or short-term study, internships, mentorships, practicums and research in 38 host locations across the Indo-Pacific region.

The NCP Semester Program was introduced in the 2026 round and provides Australian undergraduate students with the opportunity to study and gain valuable experience in the Indo-Pacific region. Through one or two semester-long programs, students can take part in study, language learning, internships or research, helping them build knowledge, skills and connections that strengthen Australia's engagement with the region.

Amount

  • Up to $15,000 per student for participation in a project of at least one semester
  • Up to $24,000 per student for participation in a project of two consecutive semesters
  • Refer to Mobi for details of programs and grants available.

Eligibility

If there are NCP grants available for a project, students must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

  • Currently enrolled in RMIT onshore campus and undertaking an undergraduate course
  • Hold Australian citizenship
  • Will receive academic credit for the program
  • Have not reached the maximum NCP grant allocation (students are allowed to receive a maximum of two (2) NCP grants during their degree).

How to apply

There is no application required for NCP semester grants. If there is funding available for the mobility project you are participating in, and you are eligible, you will be contacted by the Global Learning team with an offer by email.  Before you accept a grant or scholarship, view the RMIT Funding Terms and Conditions (see below).

Further information

Grant payments are usually received 2-4 weeks before the program begins.

Payments are disbursed on a fortnightly basis. Please make sure your bank details are accurate and up to date on Enrolment Online.

Equity Travel Grants are financial assistance for Australian students on an overseas study experience who can demonstrate financial and educational disadvantage.

Amount

The grant provides up to $3500, depending on your program and destination.

RMIT is fortunate to maintain relationships with a range of generous philanthropic donors who are committed to supporting RMIT students to participate in overseas study. Please see below for philanthropic funding available.

Note: Australian citizenship is a requirement to be eligible for most philanthropic funding.

Saskia Loer Hansen Memorial Scholarship

Saskia Loer Hansen was a much-loved friend and colleague of the RMIT University community. She served in a number of senior roles during her seven years at RMIT, most recently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Engagement and Interim General Director RMIT Vietnam. To honour Saskia's commitment to global education and cultural exchange by supporting students who demonstrate leadership and a passion for intercultural engagement a memorial scholarship has been established. The scholarship aims to enable students facing barriers to participate in impactful global experiences.  

Amount and eligibility 

  • Saskia Loer Hansen Memorial Scholarships are awarded to students who can demonstrate financial disadvantage and demonstrated leadership potential within academic, extracurricular, or community settings.   
  • The Saskia Loer Hansen Memorial Scholarships Scholarship pays AUD $10,000 as a one-off payment to 2 students per year (one per semester). 
  • RMIT students participating in a semester/year exchange in any country in Semester 2, 2026.
  • Applications to open in April/May 2026.

Selection criteria

Scholarships will be awarded based on:

  • Students facing financial disadvantage 
  • Students who have made contributions to cultural exchange initiatives (such as participation in clubs or societies, volunteering for organisations or charities that focus on cultural exchange or support for international communities  
  • Demonstrated leadership potential within academic, extracurricular, or community settings
  • Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents or humanitarian visa holders.  

How to apply

For more information and to apply for the Saskia Loer Hansen Memorial Scholarship, please refer to the instructions and application form on Mobi.

 

Storey Scholarship

Amount and eligibility 

The Storey Scholarship pays AUD $10,000 as a one-off payment to 3 students per semester. 

Selection criteria

Scholarships will be awarded based on:

  • community service activities
  • extra-curricular interests
  • successful placement as an RMIT exchange student
  • amount of time applicant has spent abroad.

How to apply

For more information and to apply for a Storey Scholarship, please refer to the instructions and application form on Mobi.
 

Carolyn and Hans Varney Travel Scholarship for Interior Design Excellence

Amount and eligibility: $8,000 each year to support one student studying interior design.

How to apply: Selection is based on academic performance and equity. Eligible students will be contacted directly to apply.

The Milan Program – Annemarie and Arturo Gandioli-Fumagalli Foundation

Amount and eligibility: Each year, $8,000 is available to support one undergraduate or postgraduate student in Industrial Design, Architecture, or Fashion. For 2026, Industrial Design students are eligible. The award alternates yearly among these disciplines. The selected student will participate in a semester exchange program in Milan, Italy.

How to apply: Selection is based on academic performance. Eligible students will be contacted directly to apply.
 

Damian Rasmussen Scholarship

Amount and eligibility: $1,400 each year to support one undergraduate or postgraduate landscape architecture student participating in overseas study.

How to apply: Selection is based on academic performance and equity. Eligible students will be contacted directly to apply.

Before you accept a grant or scholarship, view the RMIT Funding Terms and Conditions (see below).
 

Westpac Australia-Asia Fellowship

The Westpac Australia Asia Fellowship is a nine-month immersive leadership program for students who have previously studied in the Asia Pacific. It includes residential programs in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, helping participants strengthen their Asia capability and leadership skills while building professional networks. All major travel, accommodation and program costs are covered, valued at approximately AUD $16,000.

Amount and eligibility: Covers travel, accommodation, and program costs valued at approximately AUD $16,000.

Selection criteria: For students who have previously completed a semester of study in the Asia Pacific.  Applicants should demonstrate academic achievement, leadership potential, and a commitment to developing their Asia capability.  See webpage for more information.

How to apply: For more information and to apply, visit the Westpac Australia Asia Fellowship website here.

 

Before you accept a grant or scholarship, view the RMIT Funding Terms and Conditions (see below).

RMIT sometimes has funding available through Destination Australia and the Cheung Kong Group to support outbound students participating in exchange programs in Asia, and inbound students studying at RMIT in Melbourne from Asia. The amount of funding available changes each year.

EligibilityTo be considered for funding through Destination Australia – Cheung Kong, you must:

  • be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
  • not be receiving any other grant or scholarship through RMIT Global Learning
  • be participating in an exchange program to/from an eligible location in Asia

How to apply: Eligible students will be invited to apply. Eligibility changes each round and is dependent on priority locations of Cheung Kong Group.

Speak to your RMIT Program Coordinator to find out about any funding that may be available specific to your academic area.

There are also funding opportunities available through external providers, including but not limited to:

Above are the external grant opportunities. RMIT does not administer this funding. Please apply directly to the relevant grants.

The Erasmus+ Programme is a European funding programme established in 1987, designed to support university students studying abroad in Europe.  

Amount and eligibility: Dependent on individual partner institutions and subject to change annually; can include monthly stipends and/or travel payments. Only applicable to students allocated to a European partner institution with Erasmus+ availability for RMIT in the relevant academic year. 

How to apply: Eligible students will be contacted directly to apply. Selection is based on host institution allocation, Erasmus+ funding availability, and academic performance. 

Loans and Government support

Overseas Student HELP loans (OS-HELP) are provided by the Commonwealth government to eligible HECS-HELP students undertaking various international experiences for credit. This loan is added to your HECS-HELP debt.

Value and duration

In 2025, the maximum you can borrow for a six-month study period is: 

  • $8,245 if you do not study in Asia
  • $9,893 if you study in Asia
  • an extra $1,314 if you do an approved Asian language study in preparation for your study in Asia.

In 2026, the maximum you can borrow for a six-month study period is: 

  • $8,442 if you do not study in Asia 
  • $10,130 if you study in Asia 
  • plus, an extra $1,345 if you do approved Asian language study in preparation for your study in Asia (and meet the eligibility requirements) 

Eligibility

To be eligible for this loan, you must:

  • have been selected by your education provider to receive an OS‑HELP loan
  • be one of the following:
    • An Australian citizen.
    • A Pacific engagement visa (PEV) holder (note: PEV holders become eligible from 1 February 2024).
    • A New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the residency requirements and who will be resident in Australia at the time of applying.
  • have not received an OS-HELP loan on more than one other occasion
  • be enrolled with an Australian education provider in a Commonwealth supported place 
  • have successfully completed the equivalent of at least two full-time semesters of study as a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) student (96 credit points) towards your current RMIT program
  • be studying full-time overseas and this study will count towards the course requirements for the Australian course you are enrolled in
  • have at least 12 credit points of study to complete towards your current program at RMIT when you return
  • have a valid tax file number (TFN) at the time of applying
  • have a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
  • have submitted an OS-HELP debt confirmation form to your education provider, through Mobi
  • have read the OS-HELP Statement of Terms and Conditions booklet
  • receive approval from RMIT Global Learning for your overseas mobility activity
  • not apply after the completion of your overseas mobility activity.

Full-time load whilst overseas

To meet this eligibility criteria a full-time load is calculated by a formula that takes account of both the credit points and the length of time of the overseas study. Travel dates to and from the study program are not included in the calculation. In general, the following are regarded as full-time study loads for OS-HELP:

  • 72 credit points over two semesters (26 weeks) of overseas study.
  • 36 credit points over a semester (13 weeks) of overseas study.
  • 24 credit points taken over no more than 8 weeks of overseas study.
  • 12 credit points taken over no more than 4 weeks of overseas study.
  • 6 credit points taken over no more than 2 weeks of overseas study.

Asian language supplement loan

A supplementary OS-HELP loan is available to assist with the cost of language study undertaken in preparation for overseas mobility activity in Asia (in addition to the overseas program). This study must be additional and relevant to the mobility program, not part of a student’s current RMIT award and taken at an appropriate level. The study can be taken at any institution, domestic or abroad and must be taken prior to starting the mobility program/activity. (Note: a supplementary loan amount is considered as part of an OS-HELP loan for overseas study and does not count towards the lifetime maximum of two OS-HELP loans).

Evidence such as receipts, enrolment records, or results must be supplied when you receive your offer.

How to apply

To apply, complete the OS-HELP Application Form through Mobi.

Note: you must be accepted in Mobi for your overseas mobility activity before payment is made. All information, including frequently asked questions, is provided through the link above.

Application deadline

You can apply any time. It is highly recommended that students apply for OS-HELP at least 6 weeks before the overseas mobility activity start date. Note that payment can be made a maximum of 6 months prior to your program start date.

Students cannot apply for an OS-HELP loan after they have finished their overseas mobility activity. However, an application is still possible whilst you are undertaking your overseas mobility activity, and loan approval will be dependent on current processing times.

You must complete all required steps outlined in your offer email to receive your loan prior to the completion of your mobility activity. If you have not completed all three steps once your activity is complete, your application will be automatically declined.

Terms and conditions

Your OS-HELP loan is added to your HELP debt. See Study Assist: OS-HELP loans and overseas study.

If you are currently receiving Youth Allowance you may be able to continue to receive payments while studying overseas. If you undertake a short-term or semester-based program and are studying the equivalent of a full-time load while overseas, you should make an appointment with Centrelink to discuss your plans.

The Study Overseas team will be able to support your discussion with Centrelink by providing you with a Mobility Confirmation letter. Please contact your Study Overseas Advisor for more information.

Find out more about continuing your Centrelink support while overseas:

Overseas Study Funding Terms and Conditions

Each funding type has specific terms and conditions. Please read the Global Learning Ambassador Requirements (see below), as well as the type of scholarship or grant you have been offered to see the specific terms and conditions that apply. Contact global.funding@rmit.edu.au if you have any questions or require clarification.

All RMIT students who receive a grant or scholarship to support their overseas study are required to act as responsible RMIT Global Learning Ambassadors. Requirements and conditions are as follows:

  • You will produce images/videos and blog posts during your mobility activity that may be used by RMIT to promote overseas study experiences (see guidelines below).
  • If requested, you will agree to submit a profile with official RMIT News.
  • After completing your overseas study, you will participate in a pre-departure session to share your experience and answer questions, if requested. This may include being on the panel to provide general advice and tips or share examples from your personal experience.

Share your content

 Share your content through social media using the following hashtags: #RMITGlobal, #Outbound, #NewColomboPlan and #ncp (if applicable) and #RMITVietnam (if applicable).

Guidelines for blog posts

  • Create 2-3 blog posts describing your experience. Posts can be on any platform of your choice and should be between 100-500 words (approx.).

Guidelines for images and video

  • Examples of what you may include are photos/videos of life on campus, local public transport, weekend trips, local food, unique accommodation, etc.
  • If you post pictures of people, please ensure you have their permission first. Images of children/people under 18 should be avoided.
  • Images/video should be posted to your social media account/s (Facebook, Instagram, and/or YouTube). If you prefer to use Instagram but don’t want to make your account public, we suggest creating a public profile specifically for use on your overseas study or use either of the other two platforms where individual posts can be made public.
  • All posts must include the following hashtags: 
    #RMITGlobal, #Outbound, #NewColomboPlan and #ncp (if applicable) and #RMITVietnam (if applicable).
  • Please also consider geo-tagging your location.

In addition to the Global Learning Ambassador Requirements, the terms and conditions outlined below also apply.

By accepting New Colombo Plan funding I acknowledge that I am obliged to fulfil the conditions under which the grant is awarded, and I will be personally liable to repay the funds in full should I fail to comply with these conditions.

I declare that I understand the following:

Payment

I will be paid the funds into my Australian bank account and the funds received will be used to meet the costs incurred during my mobility activity. Payment will be made within a few days of the payment schedule date as outlined on my scholarship offer in Enrolment Online, as long as I have provided my updated bank details.

Conditions

  • I accept the Grant Amount from RMIT University and ultimately the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) under the New Colombo Plan
  • I agree to comply with the conditions under which the Grant is awarded.
  • I have read, understand and agree to comply with DFAT’s policy on Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
  • I agree to comply with the New Colombo Plan Student Code of Conduct located here
  • I understand that I must complete complete DFAT's online NCP pre-departure training modules (that is the Risks and Responsibilities and Cultural Awareness modules provided by RMIT via Canvas).
  • I acknowledge that I will be personally liable to repay the grant amount to RMIT in full should I fail to meet or comply with the following conditions:
  • I am an Australian Citizen.
  • If, for any reason, I withdraw or am expelled from my program, I will return the Grant Amount to RMIT no later than seven (7) working days from providing written notice of my withdrawal; or written notice of expulsion from your Host University or RMIT, regardless of whether the withdrawal or expulsion occurs before or after my program commences.
  • I acknowledge that regular failure to attend essential components of the mobility activity, including orientation, classes, professional placements and examinations, may result in me being deemed by RMIT to have withdrawn from the mobility activity, even where I have not provided notice of withdrawal and that under such circumstances the Grant Amount must be repaid to RMIT no later than seven (7) days of written notification being provided.
  • In the event that, prior to my departure from Australia, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT)’s travel advice for a region or country in which my mobility activity is located – is upgraded to Level 4, and where no suitable alternate location which can be found for the running of my mobility activity, I will return the full Grant Amount to RMIT no later than seven (7) days after receiving notification of the upgraded DFAT travel advice.
  • I acknowledge that I must travel on an Australian passport or I may be required to return any funds awarded.

New Colombo Plan Guidelines as outlined by DFAT can be found here:

Privacy

In order to assess your application to participate in the New Colombo Plan (Program), RMIT collects personal information including, but not limited to, your name, your contact details including (residential address, phone number and email), sensitive information including health information, your passport and travel details as well as declarations regarding your financial ability to participate in the Program.  If you do not provide this information, in whole or in part, we may not be able to provide you with a funding grant. RMIT may use your information to:

  • administer the Program
  • assess your application to the Program
  • monitor performance of the Program
  • contact you regarding the Program (including to invite you to events relating to the Program in Australia or overseas)
  • promote the Program (including in promotional material, information and publications in hardcopy and/or on the internet)
  • related purposes.

Some of your personal information will be provided to third parties including overseas recipients, including, but not limited to, your Host University and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Information will only be used for purposes related to your application for participation or subsequent participation in your specified program/s. DFAT will only use personal information for the purposes outlined in the New Colombo Plan Mobility Program Guidelines (Section 13).  Where personal information is provided to overseas recipients the overseas recipient may not be bound by Australian privacy legislation and/or subject to any privacy obligations. In such circumstances, DFAT is not be accountable under the Privacy Act should the overseas recipient breach Australian Privacy Principles. More information regarding the way in which the Home University, DFAT will manage your personal information, including full privacy policies and contact details, can be obtained hereeducation.gov.au/privacy and dfat.gov.au/privacy or by requesting a copy from the relevant organisation.

In addition to the Global Learning Ambassador Requirements, the terms and conditions outlined below also apply.

In accepting this grant, I acknowledge that I am obliged to fulfil the conditions under which the grant is awarded, and I will be personally liable to repay the funds in full should I fail to comply with these conditions.

I declare that I understand the following:
 

Eligibility

Student is not eligible to receive more than one student grant or scholarship for the same activity from RMIT or the same source.

Payment

I will be paid the funds into my Australian bank account and the funds received will be used to meet the costs incurred during my mobility activity.  Payment will be made within a few days of the payment schedule date as outlined on my scholarship offer in Enrolment Online, if I have provided my updated bank details.

Non-Completion of overseas study

If for any reason I am unable to participate in the overseas study, even if the program has commenced, I will repay the award within four weeks of notifying the Global Learning team of my circumstances. I will provide a written account of the reasons for the non-completion to the Global Learning team as soon as the activity is terminated.

Please provide your written account to the Global Learning team by lodging a ticket through the Student Connect Student Service and Support Portal.

Reporting

I will complete any reporting requirements within a reasonable timeframe, if and as requested by the Global Learning team.

Privacy

I understand that my personal information is collected for the purpose of determining my eligibility to receive the funds.  Disclosure of my personal information may be made to the Department of Education as required by law, and to the RMIT Finance area to facilitate payment of my funds.  I also understand that the privacy of my personal information will be protected in accordance with the RMIT Privacy Policy. Further information on privacy at RMIT is available here. I have read and understood the information above, and I confirm that I accept the conditions and obligations outlined.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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