Australia Education and Government Update | October 2026
DFAT Australia Awards Scholarships 2026: Draft Contract Consultation and 2027 Tender Plans
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has invited Australian tertiary education institutions to review draft contractual arrangements for delivering academic and welfare services under the Australia Awards Scholarships program.
The consultation is part of DFAT’s preparation for a future procurement process. The department sought feedback on a draft Deed of Standing Offer and its Statement of Requirements to help ensure that the proposed arrangements are practical, clear and suitable for delivering the scholarship program.
Important update: The consultation feedback deadline was 11 am Australian Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, 24 September 2026. As of 11 October 2026, that deadline has passed. DFAT says the tender is expected to be released in early 2027. The consultation was directed at education institutions, not individual scholarship applicants.
Key Details at a Glance
| Government department | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) |
|---|---|
| Program | Australia Awards Scholarships |
| Consultation document | Draft Deed of Standing Offer and Statement of Requirements |
| Who was invited? | Australian tertiary education institutions interested in future program delivery |
| Feedback deadline | 24 September 2026, 11 am AEST — closed |
| Expected tender timing | Early 2027 |
| Official notice | Read the DFAT consultation notice |
What Has DFAT Announced?
DFAT released a draft Deed of Standing Offer for consultation with Australian tertiary education institutions on 20 August 2026. The proposed document outlines contractual terms for institutions that may provide education services, including academic and welfare support, to Australia Awards Scholarship recipients.
The department is reviewing its contractual arrangements to keep them fit for purpose, aligned with policy and regulatory requirements, and capable of supporting long-term delivery of the scholarship program.
The draft uses standard Deed of Standing Offer terms but also includes provisions tailored to the Australia Awards Scholarships program. DFAT specifically requested feedback on the clarity, practical deliverability and market alignment of the Statement of Requirements.
The Statement of Requirements is intended to be read alongside the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook, which forms part of the program’s wider operating framework.
Official source: DFAT consultation with Australian tertiary education institutions.
Why Is DFAT Consulting on the Draft Contracts?
Before finalising procurement documentation, DFAT wants to understand whether the proposed arrangements can be implemented effectively by institutions that could deliver services under Australia Awards Scholarships.
The consultation was designed to collect practical feedback from the education sector rather than select contractors or award a contract. DFAT identified several objectives for the process.
- Check operational practicality: Determine whether institutions can realistically deliver the proposed academic and welfare services under the draft arrangements.
- Identify unintended impacts: Gather information about potential legal, administrative or implementation issues.
- Improve procurement documents: Use feedback to make the final tender documentation clearer and more suitable for the program.
- Support transparent engagement: Give interested institutions an opportunity to raise concerns before the formal procurement process begins.
Feedback was to be considered collectively. DFAT stated that any resulting changes would be applied consistently so that no consultation participant gained a competitive advantage in a future procurement process.
Who Was Eligible to Participate in the Consultation?
The consultation was aimed at Australian tertiary education institutions that may wish to participate in future Australia Awards Scholarships procurement processes.
DFAT also stated that institutions must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to be eligible to partner with the department on Australia Awards Scholarships.
The consultation itself was voluntary. According to DFAT, institutions that did not participate or did not submit feedback would remain eligible to take part in the future procurement process, subject to the applicable requirements.
Does this apply to individual students?
No. The draft contract consultation concerns how DFAT engages education institutions to deliver services. It is not an individual scholarship application form, a new student visa rule or an announcement that scholarship applications have opened.
Students and prospective applicants should check the official Australia Awards information for their country or region to find eligibility rules, application periods and scholarship-specific requirements.
Official program information: DFAT Australia Awards.
What Was Included in the Draft Contract?
The consultation document was a draft Deed of Standing Offer for education services associated with Australia Awards Scholarships. It included a Statement of Requirements describing the services and expectations that would apply under the proposed arrangements.
DFAT made the draft available in both Word and PDF formats. Institutions were asked to review the document and consider whether its requirements were understandable, deliverable and aligned with the education sector.
The draft should not be treated as a final contract. DFAT’s stated purpose was to obtain feedback before finalising the procurement documentation.
Documents published by DFAT
- Draft Deed of Standing Offer for education services — available through the official consultation page in Word and PDF formats.
- Statement of Requirements and consultation materials — see the documents listed on the same DFAT page.
- Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook — consult the official handbook for the wider program framework.
Institutions were encouraged to read the draft in the context of the existing program framework rather than assess the contractual document in isolation.
Consultation Timeline: August to September 2026
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 20 August 2026 | DFAT’s business notification listed the consultation on the draft contract. |
| 25 August 2026 | An online pre-tender sector briefing was scheduled for 11 am AEST. |
| 28 August 2026 | DFAT added briefing presentation and question-and-answer materials to the consultation page. |
| 24 September 2026 | Feedback deadline at 11 am AEST. Late submissions were not to be accepted. |
| Early 2027 | DFAT expects to release the tender documentation, subject to the formal procurement process and approvals. |
The dates above reflect the information published by DFAT. The expected tender timing is a forward-looking estimate and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed release date.
What Happens After the Consultation?
DFAT has said that feedback received through the consultation will be considered collectively and will inform the final tender documentation. The department expects the tender for Australia Awards Scholarships education services to be released in early 2027.
A separate DFAT business notification says the procurement is expected to use a one-step Request for Tender process published on AusTender. DFAT anticipates that multiple institutions may be awarded contracts, reflecting the scale of the program and the need for education services from different providers.
DFAT’s business notification states that it estimates spending more than $160 million in the relevant financial year on similar services from more than 40 Australian tertiary education institutions. This is an estimate for similar services, not a guarantee of the value or number of contracts that will be awarded under the upcoming tender.
Institutions interested in future opportunities should monitor the official procurement channels and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements when the tender is published.
Official procurement information: Australia Awards Scholarships — Partnership with Education Institutions.
For Commonwealth tender opportunities, visit AusTender.
How Can Education Institutions Prepare for the 2027 Tender?
Although the consultation period has closed, eligible institutions can continue preparing for the anticipated procurement process. Preparation should be based on the final tender documents once they become available.
- Monitor DFAT announcements. Check the Australia Awards partnership page and DFAT business notifications for procurement updates.
- Review the program framework. Read the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook and other relevant program materials.
- Check CRICOS registration. Confirm that the institution’s registration and course information meet the applicable requirements.
- Review service-delivery capacity. Assess academic support, student welfare, administration and related institutional capabilities against the published requirements.
- Follow the formal tender instructions. When the Request for Tender is released, check the closing date, eligibility rules, required evidence and submission process.
- Use official communication channels. DFAT directed consultation enquiries to support@australiaawards.org. Future tender questions should follow the instructions published with the procurement opportunity.
These steps are general preparation guidance. They do not guarantee eligibility, selection or a contract award.
Important Notice: Consultation Is Not a Tender or Scholarship Application
- The consultation was not a procurement process, pre-qualification exercise or contractor evaluation.
- Taking part in the consultation did not guarantee a future contract.
- Not taking part did not, by itself, exclude an institution from future procurement.
- The draft contract was not the final contract and may change before tender release.
- The consultation was for institutions, not a new application round for individual students.
- The feedback deadline of 24 September 2026 has passed.
DFAT’s notice also states that the consultation does not constitute a request for proposal or a commitment to purchase services. The scale, scope and focus of a future procurement may change and remain subject to formal approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the DFAT Australia Awards Scholarships contract consultation?
It was a consultation inviting Australian tertiary education institutions to review a draft Deed of Standing Offer and Statement of Requirements for providing academic and welfare services under Australia Awards Scholarships.
2. Is the consultation still open?
No. DFAT specified a feedback deadline of 11 am AEST on 24 September 2026 and stated that late submissions would not be accepted.
3. Who could provide feedback?
Australian tertiary education institutions interested in potentially participating in future Australia Awards Scholarships procurement processes were invited to participate voluntarily.
4. Does this announcement mean Australia Awards Scholarships are open for applications?
No. The announcement concerns institutional contracts for delivering education services. Individuals should check the Australia Awards website and the relevant country or regional program for scholarship application dates.
5. When is the tender expected?
DFAT says the tender is expected to be released in early 2027. This is an anticipated timeframe, not a confirmed tender publication date.
6. Will only institutions that participated in the consultation be eligible?
No. DFAT states that institutions that did not participate or submit feedback remain eligible to participate in a future procurement process, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.
7. Is CRICOS registration required?
DFAT states that institutions will need to be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to be eligible to partner with DFAT on Australia Awards Scholarships.
8. Where can institutions find official updates?
Institutions should monitor DFAT’s official business notifications, the Australia Awards partnership page and AusTender for formal procurement information.
Conclusion
DFAT’s consultation on draft contracts for Australia Awards Scholarships was an early step in preparing the next procurement process for academic and welfare services delivered by Australian tertiary education institutions. The department sought practical feedback to help refine its proposed contractual arrangements before finalising tender documentation.
The consultation deadline closed on 24 September 2026. DFAT expects the tender to be released in early 2027, although the schedule and final procurement requirements may change. Institutions interested in future opportunities should monitor official DFAT notices and AusTender, while prospective scholarship applicants should use the separate Australia Awards application channels relevant to their country or region.
