Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships (RTP) 2022-2023
Australian Government RTP Scholarships
Both Australian Domestic and International students are eligible to apply for the Australian Government Research Training Program 2022-2023. The Research Training Program (RTP) is administered by individual universities on behalf of the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. Applications for RTP Scholarships need to be made directly to participating universities. Each university has its own application and selection process. Applicants must look into chosen university directly to discuss how to apply for the RTP scheme.
The RTP provides block grants, on a calendar year basis, to HEPs to support both domestic and overseas students undertaking Research Doctorate and Research Masters’s degrees, known as higher degrees by research (HDRs) by the Australian government.
RTP scholarships are available to domestic and overseas students enrolled in an accredited HDR course at an Australian HEP. RTP scholarships are available for a maximum period of two years for a research master’s and for a research doctorate degree, scholarships are available for a minimum of three years, up to a maximum of four years, at the discretion of the HEP.
Benefits Australian Government RTP Scholarships:
A HEP must only spend its RTP Grant Amounts on costs incurred in providing one or more of the following types of support to an RTP Scholarship recipient:
- RTP Fees Offset paid to individual students by way of satisfaction of their liability for tuition fees;
- RTP Stipend to assist students with their living costs while undertaking an HDR;
- RTP Allowances to assist students with ancillary costs of an HDR including but not limited to:
- a) for overseas students, a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the Commonwealth Department of Health and which covers the student and their spouse and dependents (if any);
- b) Relocation costs to undertake an HDR; and
- c) HDR thesis printing and academic publication costs.
Each year, the range for RTP stipend rates for the following year will be announced by 1 October. The RTP stipend rate range is effective from 1 January. The table below details current and recent RTP stipend rates.
| Year | Full-time base RTP stipend rate ($) | Full-time max RTP stipend rate ($) |
| 2021 | 28,597 | 44,674 |
| 2020 | 28,092 | 43,885 |
| 2019 | 27,596 | 43,110 |
Participating Universities for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships:
The list of eligible higher education providers for research block grants are listed below:
- Federation University Australia
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
- Australian Catholic University
- The University of Notre Dame Australia
- Bond University
- University of Technology Sydney
- Swinburne University of Technology
- The University of Sydney
- Edith Cowan University
- The University of Western Australia
- Murdoch University
- University of South Australia
- Central Queensland University
- Monash University
- Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
- Flinders University
- Griffith University
- Deakin University
- Macquarie University
- Queensland University of Technology
- The University of Melbourne
- The University of Queensland
- University of New South Wales
- Southern Cross University
- Victoria University
- University of Canberra
- Curtin University
- The University of Adelaide
- University of Newcastle
- La Trobe University
- University of Divinity
- University of Wollongong
- Charles Sturt University
- University of Southern Queensland
- Charles Darwin University
- Western Sydney University
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- The Australian National University
- James Cook University
- University of Tasmania
- Torrens University of Australia
Eligibility Criteria Australia’s Research Training (RTP) Scholarships :
To be eligible for an RTP Stipend, RTP Fees Offset, or RTP Allowance a student;
- Must be a domestic student or an overseas student enrolled in an accredited HDR course of study at an Australian HEP.
- Must not be receiving income from another source to support that student’s general living costs while undertaking their course of study if that income is greater than 75 percent of that student’s RTP Stipend Income unrelated to the student’s course of study or income received for the student’s course of study but not for the purposes of supporting general living costs is not to be taken into account.
- Must not be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Commonwealth designed to offset HDR
For overseas students please note that there is a cap of 10 percent on the amount of RTP funding that can be used to support overseas students.
Please note that universities are responsible for the application and selection processes for RTP Scholarships, so you will need to contact your chosen university’s postgraduate research office directly to discuss how to apply.
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships Documents Requirement:
It is preferable that applicants prepare a set of documents before applying for the Australian Government Research Training Program RTP Scholarships to avoid any hassle while applying. Students often get confused about the documents required and it becomes really time taking for them to find out the needed documents to apply for the scholarships. This list of documents will save time and would be a quick guide for applicants looking to apply for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships.
- English Language Proficiency Certificate (IELTS/TOEFL)
- CV for Scholarship
- Study plan explaining why you are suitable for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships.
- A valid copy of passport.
- Copies of all the educational documents (transcripts/certificates)
- Motivation Letter enlisting key points on why you are applying for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships.
- Statement of Purpose (SOP) to ensure your key role in bringing about positive changes and learn new skills.
- Two original Recommendation Letters by previous professors/Institutes
- The research proposal in order to propose your innovative idea
Application Procedure for Australian Government Research Training Program RTP Scholarships:
- To apply for the Australian Government Research Training Scholarships, applicants can directly apply from the chosen University. Applicants must get in touch with the scholarship office of the University they have chosen. Some countries require you to apply through an Education Agent. You will be notified if this is the case when you register to apply for a course.
- Before applying for HDR admission either directly or through an agent, make sure you have all of your supporting documentation in order. A well-prepared application is considered favorably when the university is assessing you for HDR admission.
- Applicants can download the application form from the university’s official website and fill in the boxes with the required information.
Deadline for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships:
Closing dates for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships varies from university to university.
Applicant must read the conditions to apply for and deadlines of participating universities for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships from the official website here.
