Returning home

As an Australia Awards Scholarship student, you’ll need to leave Australia before your student visa expires, or within 30 days of the completion of your studies, whichever comes first.  

We’ll arrange a return home workshop and farewell ceremony before you leave – it's a wonderful way to wrap up your time here! 

How to request return home travel

To request return home travel, you need to complete and return the Return Home Flight Booking Form to the International Sponsored Students Team at sponsored.student@uts.edu.au.

What if my spouse is also on an Australian Awards Scholarship

If you’re in Australia with your spouse who is also on an Australia Awards Scholarship, you can stay here until they complete their Australia Awards Scholarship. You’ll need to transfer to an Australia Awards Scholarship Dependant Visa, at your own expense.

To request this change, inform International Sponsored Students Team at least 3 months before your scholarship end date. We need to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Canberra) to get a "no objection letter" which you will need when you apply for the Australia Awards Scholarship Dependant Visa. 

What happens after I return home?

You’ll need to head back home for at least 2 years after finishing your degree to meet your scholarship conditions. Keep in mind that any time spent in Australia during the 2-year return home period will extend the end date accordingly.  

It’s important to meet these conditions, otherwise it may activate a Debt to the Commonwealth, detailed in section 5.7 of the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook (opens an external site).

Don’t forget to contact your Australia Awards Scholarship post to get a Letter of Support for all visa applications.