The Global Excellence Scholarship at the University of Western Australia (UWA) stands out as a premier merit-based award for high-achieving international students seeking a world-class education in a stunning environment. Designed to attract top talent from around the world, this scholarship offers a significant tuition discount, making UWA a more affordable and compelling option. In this post, we break down everything you need to know about the 2026 scholarship: value, eligibility, application process, and how to make the most of it.
What Is the Global Excellence Scholarship?
The Global Excellence Scholarship is a tuition-fee discount offered by UWA to international students entering eligible undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs. Rather than paying the full international tuition rate, scholarship recipients receive an automatic reduction based on their academic qualifications — specifically, an equivalent ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) for undergraduates or a WAM (Weighted Average Mark) for postgraduate students.
Key things to note:
- The scholarship is automatically assessed by UWA Admissions — there’s no separate application required for the Global Excellence Scholarship.
- It applies for the normal full-time duration of the course, meaning the discount continues semester by semester as long as you remain eligible.
- The final scholarship amount is determined after UWA receives and assesses your final academic transcript.
How Much Is the Scholarship Worth?
The value of the Global Excellence Scholarship depends on your academic performance — for undergraduates, this is measured via an equivalent ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank); for postgraduate students, it’s based on WAM (Weighted Average Mark) from prior studies.
Here’s a breakdown of the scholarship amounts for the 2026 intake:
Undergraduate (2026)
| ATAR Range | Scholarship per Year | Total Over Course (if eligible) |
|---|---|---|
| 98.00+ | AUD $12,000 / year | Up to AUD $48,000 over 4 years (for 8 semesters) |
| 90.00 – 97.95 | AUD $10,000 / year | Up to AUD $40,000 over 4 years, or AUD $30,000 over 3 years |
| 85.00 – 89.95 | AUD $6,000 / year | Up to AUD $24,000 (4-year course) or AUD $18,000 (3-year course) |
Note: The “4-year” figure (AUD 48,000) applies specifically to eligible undergraduate programs that run over 8 semesters — for example, certain honors or combined degrees.
Postgraduate (2026)
For postgraduate coursework students, awards are based on your WAM from prior academic work:
| WAM Range | Scholarship per Year | Total for Duration (2 years) |
|---|---|---|
| 85.00+ | AUD $12,000 / year | Up to AUD $24,000 for two years |
| 75.00 – 84.99 | AUD $10,000 / year | Up to AUD $20,000 |
| 65.00 – 74.99 | AUD $6,000 / year | Up to AUD $12,000 |
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2026 Global Excellence Scholarship, you must meet certain academic and course-related criteria. Here’s a breakdown based on UWA’s official guidelines:
- International Student Status
- The scholarship is aimed at non-Australian (international) students.
- Offer from UWA
- You must receive an offer for an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at UWA.
- Some exclusions apply. For example, assured undergraduate pathways into Medicine or Dental Medicine are not eligible.
- For postgraduate, certain professional or clinical degrees are excluded (e.g., UWA micro-credentials, Doctor of Medicine, Juris Doctor).
- Academic Thresholds
- For undergraduates: a minimum equivalent ATAR of 85.00 is required.
- For postgraduates: a minimum WAM of 65.00 is needed.
- If you’re coming via an approved articulation pathway, there may be a higher WAM requirement (e.g., WAM > 75) in some cases.
- Continuation & Retention
- To keep the scholarship, recipients must meet certain academic standards in subsequent semesters. (See UWA’s full terms & conditions for “Criteria for Continuation.”)
- According to reports from students, some mention that a WAM of around 60 may be required to maintain the scholarship beyond the first semester.
- Concurrent Scholarships
- The Global Excellence Scholarship cannot be combined with other UWA-issued tuition fee academic scholarships or awards.
- Deferral
- If you defer your admission to a later intake, there is no guarantee that the same scholarship offer will be available. Scholarship offerings are reviewed annually.
How to Apply for the Scholarship
- No Separate Application Needed: You don’t need to fill out a special form for this scholarship — as long as you apply for admission to a UWA eligible course on UWA Apply, the university will automatically assess you for the Global Excellence Scholarship.
- Submission of Final Transcripts: UWA will make the final decision based on your final academic results (your transcript).
- Scholarship Award in Offer Letter: If you are successful, the scholarship will be offered to you in your letter of offer from UWA.
- Tuition Deduction: The scholarship amount is credited directly to your student account. For example, if your scholarship is AUD $10,000/year, then approximately $5,000 is deducted from each semester’s tuition.
- The deadline for the 2026 UWA Global Excellence Scholarship is 30 July 2026.
For more details about the scholarship, visit UWA scholarship website.
Potential Challenges
No scholarship is without trade-offs or fine print. Here are some key considerations:
- It’s a Tuition Discount, Not Full Funding
- While generous, the Global Excellence Scholarship does not cover living costs, accommodation, health insurance, or other expenses like travel.
- You should budget for these “extra” costs when planning your move to Perth.
- Academic Performance Required for Renewal
- To keep your scholarship, you need to maintain certain academic standards. Falling below may jeopardize its continuation.
- As mentioned above, student reports suggest a minimum WAM may be needed for renewal.
- Final Transcript Matters
- The scholarship offer is formalized once UWA receives your final academic transcript. If there’s a delay or your final results fall short, your scholarship level may be adjusted.
- If you’ve already accepted a conditional offer, UWA may issue a scholarship contract once final results come in.
- No Guarantee After Deferral
- If you defer your admission to a later year or semester, your scholarship offer may not carry over. UWA reviews its scholarship programs annually.
- Competition Is Real
- This is a merit-based award, and many international students will aim for it. Even though it’s “automatic,” meeting the minimum ATAR or WAM doesn’t guarantee the top-tier amount.
- According to UWA’s own listing, there are up to 650 scholarships offered in 2026.
- Cannot Combine with Other UWA Scholarships
- The Global Excellence Scholarship generally cannot be held with other UWA tuition fee reduction scholarships.
Tips to Strengthen Your Application for the Scholarship
If you’re aiming for the UWA Global Excellence Scholarship, here are some strategic tips to improve your chances:
- Strong Academic Performance: Focus on maximizing your ATAR (or equivalent) or your undergraduate grades (if applying to a master’s). Every point can influence which tier of the scholarship you qualify for.
- Early Application: Apply for your course at UWA as early as possible. Even though you don’t need to apply separately for this scholarship, securing your admission early can help in overall planning.
- Prepare Final Transcripts: Make sure your school or university can provide your final transcript on time so that UWA can confirm your scholarship eligibility.
- Know the Continuation Requirements: Read and understand the terms and conditions to make sure you can maintain the scholarship in subsequent years.
- Budget Beyond Tuition: Even with the scholarship, plan for living expenses, flights, visa costs, and health insurance. Explore additional funding (e.g., part-time work, other scholarships) if needed.
- Stay Engaged with UWA Admissions: If there are any uncertainties (about deferrals, transcript submission, or scholarship confirmation), reach out to UWA’s AskUWA or admissions team early.
Conclusion
The 2026 UWA Global Excellence Scholarship is a golden opportunity for high-achieving international students. While it’s not a full free-ride, it offers substantial tuition relief that can make a world-class Australian education more accessible. Because there’s no separate application, qualifying is largely about academic merit — making this scholarship both powerful and efficient to pursue.
If you’re an international student with excellent grades (or university marks), planning to study at UWA is well worth considering — especially with this kind of scholarship backing you. To maximize your chances, focus on getting strong academic results, submitting full and accurate transcripts, and planning your finances carefully for non-tuition costs.
