Scholarship Information
The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship provides a living allowance for high-quality research higher degree students. They are awarded on academic merit and research experience and/or potential.
The RTP also includes a tuition fee off-set for all domestic Research Masters or PhD students. Please refer to the website for further information about the tuition fee off-set.
The Commonwealth Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) provides funding to Australian Higher Education Providers (HEP) to award financial aid to support both domestic and international HDR candidates.
These awards are governed by the Research Training Program (RTP) and University Research Training Scheme (URTS) Scholarship Policy (PDF, 70.23 KB).
What does it include?
RTP Scholarships provide students with the following forms of support:
- RTP Fees Offset pay for the tuition fees of a higher degree by research (HDR) student that would otherwise have been paid by the student. This requires a university to fully offset tuition fees applicable for a student. This is not a stipend.
- RTP Stipends assist students with their living costs while they undertake a HDR.
HDR candidates applying for RTP Stipend scholarships and/or Domestic Fee Offsets must meet the Australian Government RTP eligibility requirements (see bottom of this page).
Stipend Information:
Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential to undertake a HDR at an Australian university and are not automatically granted to all students. The scholarships are provided to assist with general living costs.
- AU$28,854 (2022 rate) per annum tax-free for full-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.
- AU$14,427 (2022 rate) per annum, taxable, for part-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.
Three years full-time for a doctoral degree, two years for a research Master's degree. The duration of an RTP stipend scholarship cannot be extended.
You must be enrolled in an accredited HDR course of study at an Australian Higher Education Provider (HEP) and demonstrate exceptional research potential to undertake a HDR.
You must not be receiving income from another source to support your general living costs while enrolled in a course of study if that income is greater than 75% of the RTP stipend rate.
Please note: income unrelated to your course of study or income received for your course of study but not for the purpose of supporting general living costs is not considered.
Additional benefits include:
- paid sick leave
- maternity leave
- relocation allowance. The relocation allowance for RTP stipend recipients is up to $2,000 for domestic students.
Australian Government RTP Domestic Fee Offset
The RTP Domestic Fee Offset helps CDU provide tuition fee offsets to domestic candidates commencing or enrolled in HDR programs for which Australian Government RTP support is available.
Domestic Masters by Research students receive the offset for two years FTE.
Domestic PhD students receive the offset for four years FTE.
You must not be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Australian Government designed to offset HDR tuition fees.
If you require an extension to your candidature, domestic fees may apply.
For more information please visit RTP Scholarships - FAQs.
