Australia Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships 2026/2027

The Australia Research Training Programme (RTP) Scholarships represent a major funding opportunity for domestic and international students pursuing research master’s or doctoral degrees in Australia.

Depending on the university and scholarship package offered, the project can provide support in the form of tuition cost offsets, living stipends, and other allowances.

About the Australia Research Training Programme

The Research Training Programme (RTP) is an Australian Government programme that supports students pursuing higher degrees by research (HDR).

The Research Training Programme (RTP) is an Australian Government initiative that superseded the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) in 2017.

The RTP is not a single scholarship application; instead, government funding is provided to participating Australian higher education institutions, which then pay eligible higher degrees by research (HDR) students.

Australia Research Training Programme Scholarships Requirements

1. Enrolment in an Eligible Research Degree

• Applicants must be enrolled in an eligible higher degree by research at an authorised Australian higher education provider.

In general, eligible programmes are as follows:

1. Master’s degree by research
2. Research Doctorate degrees

2. Indicate whether you are a domestic or international student.

• The RTP is available to qualifying Australian domestic students and overseas students. International applicants must meet the admission and visa criteria of the respective university.

3. Strong Academic Record

• Most universities choose candidates based on academic performance.

Competitive candidates must have:

• Strong undergraduate grades
• A relevant honours qualification
• Previous research experience
• A research master’s degree
• Academic publications
• Research-related professional experience

4. Research Opportunities

• Applicants must be able to show that they can perform research independently.

This may be evaluated by:

• Research proposal
• Previous work on the thesis
• Publications
• Academic references
• Research experience
• Relevant qualifications

5. University-Specific Requirements

Universities administer RTP scholarships individually, and extra qualifications may include:

• English-language proficiency
• Supervisor approval
• A detailed research proposal
• Academic references
• Previous research experience
• Specific academic qualifications
• Admission to a particular research area

Programmes Available Under the Australia Research Training Programme Scholarships

Business and Economics

• Economics
• Finance
• Accounting
• Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• International business

Engineering and Technology

• Civil engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Software engineering
• Computer science
• Artificial intelligence
• Data science
• Telecommunications
• Renewable energy
• Robotics

Health and Medicine

• Medicine
• Public health
• Nursing
• Biomedical science
• Pharmacy
• Health sciences
• Medical research
• Epidemiology

Natural and Physical Sciences

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Environmental science
• Geology
• Biotechnology
• Marine science

Agriculture and Environmental Studies

• Agricultural science
• Food science
• Environmental management
• Climate science
• Sustainability
• Natural resource management
• Conservation
• Forestry

Social Sciences

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Political science
• International relations
• Anthropology

Development studies

• Social policy
• Education
• Education policy
• Educational leadership
• Curriculum studies
• Teaching and learning
• Higher education
• Educational technology

Law

• Commercial law
• International law
• Human rights
• Public law
• Environmental law
• Legal policy

Arts and Humanities

• History
• Literature
• Philosophy
• Languages
• Cultural studies

Media

• Communication
• Creative arts

Benefits of Australian Research Training Programme (RTP) Scholarships

1. RTP Fee Off-Set

• An RTP fees offset covers the tuition fees for a qualified HDR student, eliminating the fees that they would otherwise owe. by the student. A fees offset is not a living allowance. It is only meant to be used to cover qualified tuition prices.

2. RTP Stipend

An RTP stipend is financial support for a student’s living expenses while pursuing higher degree research.

Students can use the stipend to help with costs such as the following:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Local transportation
• Study-related costs

3. RTP Allowances

• RTP Allowances can aid eligible participants with the extra costs of the research project.

These might be:

• Relocation expenses
• Thesis printing costs
• Academic publication costs
• Health cover costs

4. Research Master’s Funding

• For qualified research master’s degrees, RTP funds are offered for a maximum length of two years.

5. PhD Funding

• The RTP assistance will be provided for a qualifying research doctorate for a minimum of three years and a maximum of four years, at the discretion of the higher education provider.

How to Apply for Australia Research Training Programme Scholarships

• Firstly, applicants are required to select an Australian university.
• Second, applicants must find a qualifying research programme.
• Thirdly, applicants need to select supervisors whose knowledge is relevant to the area of their proposed research.
• Candidates will also have to prepare their research proposal. The research proposal should specify:

1. Your research topic
2. The problem you want to investigate
3. Research questions
4. Objectives
5. Proposed methodology
6. Expected contribution
7. Relevant existing research

• Applicants also need to prepare their application documents, which include:

1. Academic transcripts
2. Degree certificates
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Research proposal
5. Academic references
6. Evidence of English proficiency
7. Identification documents
8. Research publications, where applicable
9. Supervisor information

• Applicants will then apply for admission and scholarship consideration.

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