Assistance from Government of Australia to Bhutan started in the 1960s when the RGoB first received a number of trucks.

Australian assistance in the past has included the Bhutan-Australia Sheep and Wool Project, Air Navigation Equipment to Paro Airport and Scholarships Program. A number of Bhutanese students who are currently holding key positions in the government have studied in Australia under its Scholarships Program.

In 1998-1999, AUD$ 0.640 million was allocated to cover expenses of students already undergoing studies and to accommodate further 10 more students. Against this, RGoB requested for 4 Chartered Accountancy, 1 Mining Engineering, 2 Bachelors degree, 1 Public Administration, 2 MBA and 2 Diploma programs.

Likewise, AUD$ 0.7 million was allocated in 1999-2000 to include 10 new scholarships. Under the scholarship, we requested for 2 Masters in Infrastructure Mgt., 3 Undergraduate programs in Dairy Technology, Business Administration and Survey Engineering and 5 Diploma programs.

In 2000-2001, Government of Australia increased the budget allocation to AUD$ 0.9 million as we had many students undergoing long-term studies and to cover the expenses of 10 new scholarships. We requested AusAID for 1 Undergraduate program in Surveying Engineering, 3 Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Graphic Design and Forensic Science, 3 Masters degree in MBA, Economics and English and 2 Diploma programs. Nomination for Masters in Management was deferred due to medical problems.

In 2001-2002, Government of Australia further increased the budget allocation to AUD$ 1.1 million to accommodate 15 new scholarships. These included 4 Undergraduates, 2 Masters and 9 Diploma programs. Of these, 4 Diploma programs were converted into 2 Masters program.

In recent years Australia has provided Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) valued at approximately $1 million annually for new and ongoing Bhutanese scholars. In 2003-04, the above-mentioned funding covered ten new scholarships and seventeen ongoing scholars.

Bhutan has implemented 727 training/study program in Australia as of July 2004 and currently, there are 104 students undergoing their studies in Australia of which 26 are under AusAID and 78 under RGoB funded programs.

Details of Australian Scholarships through AusAID for Bhutanese planning to study in Australia can be found by reading the following document :

Australian Scholarships through AusAID for Bhutanese planning to study in Australia