Higher Degree by Research scholarships

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, 250.26 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).

Australian Government RTP Stipend

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.

The Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship provides an indexed stipend - paid fortnightly - of $28,597.00 (2021 rate) per annum.

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.

If you require an extension to your candidature, domestic fees may apply.

To be eligible for an Australian Government RTP

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.

In addition, for an RTP stipend:

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.

In addition, for an RTP Domestic fee offset:

You must not be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Australian Government designed to offset HDR tuition fees.

For more information please visit RTP Scholarships - FAQs.

Get in touch

E: research.degrees@cdu.edu.au
T: 08 8946 6548

Prospective research students are encouraged to visit the Find A Supervisor page to find suitable projects and supervisors.

FULL MASTERS BY RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP 

Demography and Social Outcomes Research in the  Northern Territory of Australia

Demographic researchers at CDU’s Northern Institute are conducting a program of research to measure and report on demographic and social capital outcomes for the Northern Territory’s diverse population.

A full domestic Masters Scholarship is available for the right applicant to conduct research in these areas. The candidate will complete a Master by Research over a two-year full-time period working with the Demography and Growth Planning research team at the Northern Institute.

We are seeking candidates with the following attributes:

• A Bachelor with Honours degree or Masters by Coursework with a research component.
• Experience in data analysis, survey methods, and data modelling/ statistical techniques
• Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident (domestic student)
• Lives in the Northern Territory or is willing to move to the Northern Territory of Australia (this requirement may be reviewed for exceptional candidates)

What we offer:

• A stipend of $28,597 per year (2021 value; indexed annually) for 2 years, with an additional one-off $2,000 allocated to support part of the student’s relocation to the Northern Territory.
• Tuition fee waiver for the Masters course (estimated at. $20,500 per year,) for 2 years. The application is open to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents.

Please apply by sending:

• Curriculum vitae, including 2 academic referees;
• A cover letter outlining your research interests and experiences in the field;
• A copy of your academic qualifications and academic transcripts;

Please do not contact us if you do not meet the above creteria. If you do, and you have enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Andrew Taylor at andrew.taylor@cdu.edu.au

Designing Buildings with Zero Waste

ABOUT THE PROJECT

This project will explore methodologies and processes to design and construct with the aim of reducing construction waste stream to landfill. In 2018-19, construction waste stream was one of the largest generators of waste in Australia with an increase of 22% since 2016-17. This is an opportunity to work on identifying ways of managing this waste and achieving circular economy in the design and construction sector. 

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA AND STIPEND

Applicants must be Australian Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents. Australian First Nations applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. It is preferable that the successful candidate resides in Alice Springs while completing the project. Applicants will be selected on the basis of their strength of academic performance and compatibility of research expertise and industry skill. 

The scholarship offers a living allowance of $28,597 (2021 rate) per annum and a tuition fee waiver for up to two years.  Applicants should hold minimum qualifications equivalent to Second Class Honours A. The scholarship will be competitively awarded, available during the relevant research period only, and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.

Applicants will need to attend an interview and must meet the Charles Darwin University Master’s by Research (MRes) entry requirements. 

• a Bachelor Honours degree with first-class or second-class honours or
• a Master by Coursework or Extended Masters, which contains a substantial research component

The preferred applicants will be invited to submit a full application online.

HOW TO APPLY

Iterested applicants are asked to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) including:

• A brief CV
• A copy of your undergraduate transcript
• A statement addressing your research interests and suitability for the project and scholarship

Email your EOI to Dr Deepika Mathur (details below). Download the flyer here and read about other scholarship opportunities with Northern Institute here.

CONTACT

Dr Deepika Mathur
Northern Institute 
T. 08 8946 5214 or 08 8946 7468
E. deepika.mathur@cdu.edu.au
W. cdu.edu.au/staff/deepika-mathur

HDR Opportunities with Menzies School of Health Research

As one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and a leader in global and tropical research into life-threatening illnesses, Menzies continues to translate its research into effective partnerships and programs in communities across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. With a history of over 35 years of scientific discovery and public health achievement, Menzies continues its endeavour to break the cycle of disease and to reduce health inequities in Australia and the Asia- Pacific region, particularly for disadvantaged populations.

In partnership with Charles Darwin University, Menzies delivers high quality research degrees to PhD, Master by Research and Honours students. Our degrees address the major public health challenges in Northern and Central Australia, neighbouring and international regions. These challenges include: health inequities; economic and social determinants; changing environmental conditions; infectious and chronic diseases; development and urbanisation; and access to and acceptability of services. Our students are supported and mentored by world-class researchers in their respective research fields.

Our project handbook contains a list of currently available research projects. Students studying at Menzies are enrolled through Charles Darwin University. More information about eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on Charles Darwin University webpage. To find out more about scholarship opportunities available and application process please contact researchdegrees@menzies.edu.au.

To download the handbook click here.

PhD scholarship

Project name: Maternal mental health admission during the postnatal period and its effect on adverse childhood health, development, and educational outcomes

• Contact Person Abel Fekadu Dadi (Bsc, MPH, PhD)
• Course: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Study and Thesis Model: Full time, PhD by Publication
• Scholarship: Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship – Domestic Students
• Expected Commencement Date: August 2022 the latest

Centre for Child Development and Education researchers are conducting a research on pre- pregnancy and perinatal mental health related admission and its adverse pregnancy, birth and childhood development and educational outcomes using the NT administrative linked data. The first part of a PhD program will review the effect of pre-pregnancy perinatal mental health admissions on adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Subsequent investigation will assess the effect of maternal mental health admission during the postnatal period on adverse childhood health, development, and educational outcomes. Alternatively, potential candidates are encouraged to propose their own research idea, which should be supported by a short concept note with a methodology and data source.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Has master’s degree in health sciences, social sciences, Biostatistics, Epidemiology
• Strong experience or background in quantitative research, big data analysis
• Australian Citizen or Permanent resident (international candidate living in Australia are welcome to apply)      

What we offer

• A stipend of $28,597 per year (2021 value; indexed annually) for 3 years (with 6 months possible extension)
• Relocation cost up to $2,000
• The application is open to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents.

Apply by sending:

• Curriculum vitae, including 2 academic referees.
• A cover letter outlining your research interests and experiences in the field.
• A concept note with not more than five pages if you prefer to conduct on your own research idea  
• A copy of your academic qualifications and academic transcripts.

Applicants will be required to apply through the Higher Degree by Research for Domestic Students.

Applications close on 19 November for admission and scholarship for 2022.

Project Identifying mathematical expression for teaching and learning mathematics in diverse Australian Indigenous languages

• Principal Supervisor: Dr Cris Edmonds-Wathen
• Course: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Study and Thesis Model: Full time, PhD by Publication
• Scholarship: Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship – Domestic Students
• Expected Commencement Date: No later than Monday, 07 March 2022 (negotiable)

There is an exciting opportunity for a PhD scholar to work on a project that aims to improve the potential for delivering mathematics education in Australian Indigenous languages with the goal of improving the mathematical learning of Indigenous language speaking students.

This project aims to identify the language structures required to develop mathematics registers in diverse Australian Indigenous languages. It will:

• systematically investigate the mathematical affordances of Australian Indigenous languages, and
• develop guidelines to identify and develop the language required to teach and learn mathematics in Australian Indigenous languages.

The PhD scholar will investigate how an Indigenous language can be used in school mathematics education, working closely with a specific school and community. The candidate is also expected to contribute to developing theoretical perspectives on the relationship between language and school mathematics knowledge in contexts of linguistic diversity.

Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship:

Annual stipend valued at $28,597.00 (2021 value; indexed annually) which is provided by the Australian Commonwealth Government. A maximum period of three years (with a possible extension of six months) from the research commencement date.

The University will also support Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students by providing RTP Scholarship recipients with a University Relocation Allowance. In 2021, this allowance is up to $2,000. CDU receives funding from the Australian Government to support research training costs that would otherwise be paid by students as a tuition fee. In 2021, the estimated annual amount of this component of the RTP scholarship is $20,500 per student.

The period of support for the RTP Fees Offset scholarship is a maximum period of four years full-time equivalent (FTE) from the research commencement date. If an extension is approved after the maximum period of the RTP Fees Offset Scholarship, domestic tuition fees may apply. Project funds will be available for some fieldwork funding although the successful candidate may need to apply for additional fieldwork funds.

About You

The selection of applicants for the award of the RTP Stipend Scholarship involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. The following essential selection criteria apply:

• An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen
• A first-class Honours degree or a Master’s degree containing a substantial research component in a relevant field
• Prior studies in linguistics or education

The candidate should either come from an Indigenous community or have a close relationship with a suitable community that enables this research to be undertaken in a respectful, responsible and reciprocal manner. Being able to speak an Indigenous language is greatly advantageous.

Application Process

Interested applicants should contact Dr Cris Edmonds-Wathen (Principal supervisor of the PhD position) by email at cris.edmonds-wathen@cdu.edu.au with the following items:

• Curriculum vitae, including details of 2 academic referees
• A cover letter outlining a) your research interests, and b) how you meet the above selection criteria
• A copy of your academic qualifications and academic transcripts

Applicants will then be required to apply through the Higher Degree by Research for Domestic Students.

Applications close on 31 October 2021 for admission and scholarship for 2022

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, 250.26 KB).

International Candidates can be offered the following RTP scholarship:

• Australian Government RTP Stipend.

HDR candidates applying for RTP Stipend scholarships must meet the Australian Government RTP eligibility requirements (see bottom of this page).

Australian Government RTP Stipend

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.

The Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship provides an indexed stipend—paid fortnightly—of $28,597 (2021 rate) per annum.

Additional benefits include:

• paid sick leave
• maternity leave
• relocation allowance. The relocation allowance for RTP stipend recipients is up to $2,500 for international students.

Please note the Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship does not cover Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).  Students will be required to cover these costs.

Australian Government RTP eligibility requirements

You must be enrolled in an accredited HDR course of study at an Australian Higher Education Provider (HEP).

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. International students may have additional income limitations due to student visa requirements.

For more information please visit RTP Scholarships - FAQs.

Get in touch

E: research.degrees@cdu.edu.au
T: 08 8946 6548

The URTS Fee Offset is a scholarship offered to international HDR candidates of exceptional research potential commencing or enrolling in a HDR program who have been awarded an Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship.

The fee offset may fully or partially remove the liability of the HDR candidate to pay program tuition fees for the year in which it is awarded.

International HDR candidates who are not awarded an Australian Government RTP Stipend can still apply for a URTS Fee Offset.

Please note: the URTS Fee Offset is not a Commonwealth scholarship.

Eligibility requirements

You must be enrolled in a HDR at CDU and demonstrate exceptional research potential to undertake a HDR.

You must not already be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Australian Government designed to offset HDR tuition fees.

Get in touch

E: research.degrees@cdu.edu.au
T: 08 8946 6548

Visit the International website for a list of the application documents.