Academic Merit Scholarship

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Academic Merit Scholarship

This RMIT scholarship provides Southeast Asian students with a 20% tuition fee reduction for eligible programs.

Empowering Southeast Asian students at RMIT University

In 2025, RMIT awarded 4616 scholarships to our international students, including 774 Academic Merit scholarships.

This scholarship supports outstanding students from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam to pursue their academic goals at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Value and duration

The value of the scholarship is a 20% tuition fee reduction for the duration of the eligible program(s)* as outlined in your offer letter.

Ready to apply?

Check your eligibility for the Academic Merit Scholarship.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for this scholarship you must:

  • be a citizen of Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam 
  • be applying offshore from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam (RMIT Vietnam students who completed cross-campus studies and immediately apply for the same qualification (program) in Melbourne campus are not eligible)
  • be an international student holding a valid student visa or plan to apply for a student visa prior to the program commencement
  • achieve Australian equivalent grade GPA of 2.5 or 70% average or ATAR 75 in your qualifying qualification at the time of application
  • hold a full or conditional offer letter to commence studies in Vocational Education, Associate Degree*, Bachelor’s degree*, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters by Coursework program
  • not be an existing RMIT University student (existing ELICOS or Foundation Studies may be qualified and will be notified after Foundation Studies completion).

* Exclusions apply to the following programs:

  • AD023 Associate Degree in Aviation (Professional Pilots)
  • BP345 Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot Training)
Foundation Studies students enjoy the laneways and cultural sites surrounding RMIT's City campus.

Four reasons to apply for the Academic Merit Scholarship

To find out just how much of a difference this financial support can make to an international student's life in Australia, we spoke to three recipients about their experience.

How to apply

Select an eligible program

Submit an application to study at RMIT

No scholarship application is required

Apply to study at RMIT

Follow our step-by-step guide on how to apply to RMIT as an international student.

After you apply

If you are successful, you will receive an offer letter with the scholarship details outlined.

Terms and conditions

  1. The scholarship is only applicable to tuition fees.
  2. Scholarship selection is based on academic merit.
  3. The scholarship will be revoked if you no longer hold a student visa.
  4. The scholarship is only applicable to the eligible program(s) and duration on your initial offer letter.
  5. Successful applicants will be notified. If you do not receive an outcome, your application has not been successful.
  6. Successful applicants may be invited to participate and get involved in the RMIT Melbourne Open Day.
  7. The scholarship will be revoked if you are granted any other RMIT funded scholarship or Australia Awards scholarship covering tuition fees
  8. Applicants with Foundation Studies packaged offer starting from July 2024 may be qualified and will be notified after completing Foundation Studies.
  9. Applicants should not be in receipt of any other RMIT funded scholarship or Australia Awards scholarship covering tuition fees (applicants under foreign government scholarships e.g. LPDP, MARA are eligible).
  10. It's important to note that this scholarship has limited availability and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your scholarship you must accept your offer and make a deposit payment within 14 days from the date of offer letter.
  11. Students who are already granted the Academic Merit Scholarship are allowed to change program in future semester, the scholarship will continue apply to a new program as long as a new program is not under the exclusion list above.

For full terms and conditions, please view the International Scholarships Terms and Conditions page.

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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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