Australian Government Research Training Program
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships are intended to support domestic and international students undertaking research master’s degrees and research doctorate degrees. It is valid for 42 prominent Australian universities and covers international tuition fees and a stipend.
- For Australian Government Research Training Program applications and deadlines, applicants must contact their university.
- Recipients will be awarded AUD 28,092 per annum and maximum financial support of AUD 43,882.
- A university can use only 10% of the allocated RTP grant to support international students.
- Selections are based on academic merit, publications, academic research training, and performance.
- Preference will be given to those with publications and relevant experience.
- Scholarships are tenable for 3+ years for a research doctorate and 2+ years for a research master’s degree.
No restrictions on applying for the Australian Government Research Training Program at more than one university and more than once at the same university.
Highlights
| Scholarship Type | Merit-Based |
| Offered by | Government bodies |
| Organization | Australian Government |
| Application Deadline | Sep 15 ,2023 |
| Number of Scholarships | N/A |
| Amount | Variable Amount |
| Renewability | Yes, Yearly |
| International Student Eligible | Yes |
| Scholarship Website Link | https://www.education.gov.au/research-training-program |
Eligibility Criteria
Following are the principal eligibility criteria for receiving financial assistance under an Australian Government Research Training Program:
- Student Type: International or a domestic student enrolled at an Australian university in an accredited HDR course.
- Applicants must satisfy the university’s academic requirements for the respective Masters and Doctorate program.
- Exam Requirements: International students must submit proof of English language proficiency (ELP).
Application Process
Respective participating Australian universities are responsible for the Australian Government Research Training Program application process.
Australian Government Research Training Program Application
- Applications for a new RTP tuition fee waiver, stipend, and allowance are to be made directly to the university.
- In some universities, applicants just have to checkmark the ‘financial aid’ box in the admission application.
- Applicants need to get in touch with the scholarship office or the postgraduate research office at the university for guidelines regarding the RTP application procedure.
Application Submission Deadline
Since the participating universities manage the application process for the scholarships, the application deadline also varies from university to university.
Student Supporting Documentation
- Summary of the intended research project, approximately 500 words.
- List of published works with URL links and/or copy of each publication.
- Copy of the thesis abstract.
- Email evidence of the supervisor’s agreement to supervise.
Other supporting documents are mentioned in the following table:
| Document Type | Required (Yes or No) |
|---|---|
| Transcripts | Yes |
| LOR | Yes |
| SOP | No |
| ELP score | Yes |
| Resume | No |
| Research Proposal | Yes |
Selection Process
Like the application process, participating universities are in-charge of the selection process. Shortlisting and selection of recipients are quite competitive.
Few common factors affecting the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship selection are:
- Previous coursework
- Work experience
- Research publications
- Referee’s report
- Research experience
Australian Government Research Training Program Support Period
Australian Government Research Training Program support duration varies from course-to-course. The details of the same are mentioned in the table below:
| Program Category | Scholarship Support |
|---|---|
| Full-time Research Doctorate Course | 3 years (can be extended up to 4 years) |
| Part-time Research Doctorate Course | 6 years (can be extended up to 4 years) |
| Full-time Master’s Course | 2 years |
| Part-time Master’s Course | 4 years (maximum) |
*the extension of scholarship support is dependent on HEP’s discretion.
**For a certain duration of leaves approved by the HEP, the recipient’s scholarship period increases.
Termination of Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
The institutions will have to terminate the Australian Government Research and Training program (AGRTP) scholarship of a recipient under the following conditions:
- Failing to fulfill the ongoing eligibility
- On the course’s completion
- If the recipient has not adhered to an RTP Scholarship’s requirement
Grant Details
From January 1, 2017, the Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) replaced International Postgraduate Research Scholarships, Australian Postgraduate Awards, and the Research Training Scheme.
Every year, qualified domestic and international students beginning research masters and doctorate programs at Australian universities are offered financial support under the Australian RTP scheme.
In addition to the RTP scholarship stipend, recipients are free to any additional scholarship. However, the overall financial aid benefit should not be greater than 75% of their annual RTP stipend rate.
A summary of the Australian Government Research Training Program support and benefits are tabulated below:
| Type of Support/Benefit | RTP Fee Offset | RTP Stipend | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Type | Domestic | International | Domestic | International |
| Stipend | - | - | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition Fee Offset | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Student Health Cover | - | - | - | Yes |
| Relocation Allowance | - | - | Yes | Yes |
| Dependent Child Allowance | - | - | - | Yes |
| Thesis Allowance | - | - | Yes | Yes |
Additional Information
Students may appeal a decision made by the university with regards to the offer of a scholarship, allowances, suspension of scholarship, an extension of scholarship, or termination of scholarship.
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