PAKISTAN
AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT
SCHOLARSHIPS
Country Strategy-
________________________
Human resource development is a basic
building block for development across various
sectors in any country. Scholarships provided
by the Australian Government strengthen
Pakistan’s access to well qualified graduates
who can assume leadership positions and
apply higher-level skills and analysis in their
agencies and activities.
The Australian Development Scholarships
(ADS) aim to contribute to the long term
development needs of Pakistan, and to
promote growth and stability through
opportunities to undertake full time study in
Australia. Priority sectors are agreed with the
Government of Pakistan in order to address
jointly determined priority human resource
development needs. ADS support the priorities
of Australia's bilateral aid program.
ADS also assist in developing a well educated
cadre in the public and private sectors, and
play an important role in fostering and
sustaining Australia’s relationship with
Pakistan.
Type, Level and Number of
Scholarships ___
AusAID offers scholarships across Pakistan for
Masters level study. Public category awards
are open to government employees, while the
Open/Equity category is for the general public
who meet necessary selection criteria.
For the 2011 intake, the total number of
scholarships provided were:
46 awards under ADS.
5 awards (Masters only) under Australia
Pakistan Agriculture Scholarships Program
(APAS).
Gender balance is a priority for the
Government of Australia and female
candidates are encouraged to apply. AusAID
aims to achieve an equal representation of
high quality men and women in each intake.
In 2010 five percent of awards were
awarded to people with disability. High
priority is given to those who have not
studied overseas at the post-graduate level.
Scholarships are offered for the minimum
period in which an individual could be
expected to complete the academic
program.
Priority
Sectors___________________________
Australian assistance to Pakistan is focused
on basic health (maternal, neonatal and
child health care services), education
(basic education services), rural
development and food security. These
sectors are supported through the
scholarships program. The program also
targets public sector reform and improved
standards of governance in both public and
private sectors.
The aim is to improve technical and
leadership capacity of men and women
working in federal and provincial
governments, non-profit civil society, and
the private sector primarily within three
designated priority sectors in Balochistan,
FATA and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The Application
Process____________________
In all cases, the application process is
based on the principles of transparency
and merit. Specific information on the
application process, and the four Profiles
under which prospective applicants can
apply, is outlined when scholarships are
advertised. This information is also
available on the AusAID Pakistan
Scholarships program website (see below).
Special
conditions_______________________
• Eligibility criteria and restrictions
specific to Pakistan are outlined
below. All applicants must: Not be
Pakistani citizens (dual nationals
are not eligible) and not have
permanent residence in Australia or
New Zealand;
• not be married or engaged to a
person who is eligible to hold
Australian or New Zealand
citizenship or permanent residence;
• not have applied for permanent
residency in Australia or New
Zealand;
• satisfy Australian Government
requirements for international
student visas for entry to Australia
(health, character etc.);
• not hold another scholarship;
• not have held a foreign scholarship in
the 24 months preceding the application
(24 months are calculated from the date
of arrival back in Pakistan to the closing
date for receipt of applications);
• be residing in Pakistan;
• be applying to commence a new course
of study and not be seeking support for
a course already commenced in
Australia (on-going study programs will
not be supported);
• be able to take up the scholarship in the
year in which it is offered;
• have outlined a case that is clear
about their objectives and
motivation to make a contribution
to development in Pakistan, and
specific about the area of
development priority in which they
seek to make the contribution;
• be applying for courses that fall
within the priority areas identified
above;
• be able to demonstrate the ability
to meet the English Language
Proficiency requirements for the
scholarship;
• satisfy the admission requirements
of the Australian tertiary institution
and the course to be undertaken;
• have a relevant academic
background to the proposed study
in Australia;
• be applying for a Masters level
course;
• have completed 16 years of
education;
• have at least 2 years work
experience for profile 1, 3 & 4 and
have 5 years of experience for
profile 2 in the field in which they
are applying; and
• at the time of application be not
more than 45 years of age.
It is a pre-condition of accepting an ADS
award that scholarship holders return to
their home country to take up a position
that utilises their study for a minimum
period of two years.
Preparatory
Training____________________
“Foundation Awards” are offered as part
of the ADS. These awards are designed to
operate in conjunction with the broader
assistance offered to all candidates (e.g.
course advice, IELTS testing, pre-
departure briefings, etc.). This allows for
greater in-country assistance to be
provided to relevant candidates on an
efficiently targeted basis.
The Foundation Awards are primarily
intended to provide modest levels of
additional assistance to selected
candidates to apply for ADS awards. The
provision of this additional assistance is
limited to that required to meet one or
more of the following three purposes:
• Ensuring that target proportions of
various categories of candidates
are met
• Ensuring equity in award delivery
• Ensuring targeted and thereby
efficient application of resources
The five main areas in which assistance is
likely to be provided are:
• Preliminary Advice and
Development of Study Plan
• Boosting English Language
Proficiency
• Boosting Foundation Knowledge
• Boosting General Study Skills
• Life Skills Training
• Special Needs Assistance
Contact
Information______________________
ADS Scholarship Inquiries
Serena Office Complex
Level 4, Central Wing
Khayaban-e-Suharwardy,
ISLAMABAD
Telephone: +92 51 2600186 Ext 106
Fax: +92 51 2600191
Email: info@adspakistan.com.pk
Website: http://www.adspakistan.com.pk/