Higher Degree by Research scholarships

The Domestic RTP 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.

The Domestic RTP Fees Offset pays 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.

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.

The 2024 RTP Scholarship round is open, and you can submit an application for a 2024 RTP Stipend Scholarship until 31 October 2023.

To apply for a Domestic RTP Stipend Scholarship please complete an application via the Application Portal.

• Please note any application received after the 31 October 2023 will not be considered for a RTP Stipend Scholarship.

Scholarship Information

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.

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.

Candidates who receive a RTP Stipend Scholarship will automatically receive an RTP Fee Offset for the tuition fees.  Please see above for further information on the Domestic RTP Fee Offset. All Scholarship awards are governed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) and the CDU Higher Degree by Research – Research Training Scholarship Policy and Procedure.

Scholarship Ranking Guidelines

All Scholarships are considered and awarded through a competitive process.  For information on how the 2024 RTP Stipend Scholarships for Domestic candidates will be awarded please see the 2024 Domestic RTP Scholarship Ranking Guidelines.

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$29,863 (2023 rate) per annum tax-free for full-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.
• AU$14931.50 (2023 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. 

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.

For more information please visit RTP Scholarships - FAQs.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is looking for Australia’s top higher degree by research candidates with the launch of a generous scholarship program.

The 2023 CDU Domestic Excellence Scholars (CDUDES) Scholarships are available in research fields that the university has built a strong reputation, including indigenous studies, ecology, remote health, and energy.

Each scholarship includes a $40, 000 a year stipend and a Domestic RTP Fee offset for the tuition fees. 

Click here for available scholarship opportunities and how to apply.

Northern Institute Postgraduate Research Opportunities

• Human Faces of the NT Public Housing Continuum
• Improving NGO worker retention in the NT Human Services Sector
• Indicators of social wellbeing in NT First Nations Communities
• The impact of alcohol prohibition in NT Aboriginal communities

Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods - PhD Projects

Understanding gene flow and population structure in an animal disease insect vector - CDU has been awarded an Industry PhD grant to undertake an exciting project to understand animal disease spread by an insect vector in northern Australia. Culicoides biting midges, are important disease vectors for a range of viruses, bacteria and nematodes with the potential to introduce exotic animal diseases into Australia. The proposed project will apply genomic methods to understand population structure and gene flow in Culicoides midges across northern Australia and South-east Asia. The project will also analyse blood meal from populations using metabarcoding to obtain information on diet and host range. The project will provide crucial data for modelling movement of Cuilicoides midges in Northern Australia in the event of an exotic disease being carried by this vector and identify sampling approaches for future surveillance efforts. 

RTP Stipends that are linked to Research Projects are advertised when they are open for application.  Please ensure you click on the link for detailed information on the project, the scholarship closing date and instructions on how to apply.  

Integration of Green Hydrogen for Energy Storage and dispatch in Grid Systems - This project is linked to the Regional Research Collaboration Program in collaboration with Central Queensland University (CQU) for the ‘Development of Hydrogen Applications for Regional Industries’ project. The research will comprise of detailed mathematical modelling of different scenarios and options and testing them in CDU’s state-of-the-art Grid Systems Testing facility. The aims are to develop control and optimise islanded and grid-connected renewable energy systems to integrate green hydrogen for energy storage and dispatch according to demand.  Closing date: 6 October 2023.

Exploring opportunities for ecosystem service economies of the Indigenous estate - The proposed project will aim to assess the value of ES from native forests for the Indigenous peoples in East Arnhem Land, NT. The project will evaluate the benefits of forestry-related economic opportunities including job creation, the opportunity to work and learn on-country, enhanced well-being, etc. Estimating the value of Indigenous provenance timber and non-timber products and other ES will help to establish an emerging Indigenous forestry market sector, in line with the National Indigenous Forestry Strategy (2005).  

Using long-range drones to undertake Coastline marine debris surve - This Higher Degree Research thesis will develop a novel methodology using drone aerial systems to survey coastlines for these nets. The drones will be fitted with a combination of RGB and hyperspectral sensors that will identify the nets and asses their size. The information will be used to guide ghost-net collection activities.

Threatened Marine Species Bycatch Mitigation Project - This PhD Project will work across two large cross-sector collaborative projects using new technologies to investigate bycatch mitigation measures for sharks and sawfish in gillnet fisheries and assess sawfish movement patterns following release after capture.

Governance of Global Science - The project is linked to a broader project funded by the Australian Research Council looking at the governance of taxonomic lists, but the PhD project is to consider the governance of science globally. How did scientists decide that Pluto is no longer a planet? Or whether to recognise the Anthropocene? Scientists have no power to enforce their judgements through international law so must negotiate agreements through to a consensus view. Yet these same decisions can have implications for real life if they are subsequently adopted by governments. As part of the research on how scientific organisations govern themselves, the research will consider not only how decisions are reached but also how different organisations resolve disputes and ensure inclusion of a wide range of opinions.  This opportunity is open for Domestic candidates only.

Get in touch

E: research.degrees@cdu.edu.au

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.

All Scholarship awards are governed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) and the CDU Higher Degree by Research – Research Training Scholarship Policy and Procedure.

HDR candidates applying for RTP Stipend scholarships must meet the Australian Government RTP eligibility requirements.

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—of AU$29,863 (2023 rate) per annum tax-free for full-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.

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: international@cdu.edu.au

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

RTP Stipend Scholarships that are linked to Research Projects are advertised when they are open for application.  If there is no Scholarships listed below, then there are currently no Research Project based Scholarships available. Please ensure you click on the link for detailed information on the project, the scholarship closing date and instructions on how to apply. 

The URTS Fee Offset is a scholarship offered to international HDR candidates of exceptional research potential commencing or enrolling in a HDR program.

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: international@cdu.edu.au

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

CDU provides research courses for Australia Awards Scholarship students. Australia Awards Scholarship students enjoy the support services offered to all International students, plus:

• Support from the University's designated Australia Awards Scholarship Officer
• A special Introductory Academic Program
• Additional tuition support as recommended by academic staff

For further information and how to apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship, go to Australia Awards, or email the International team. 

CDU Global provides relevant information regarding the range of scholarships to support international students coming to study at CDU from around the globe.

Our scholarships reward high achieving students with outstanding academic accomplishments and who contribute to the potential to make a positive impact on the world.

Information on the scholarship application process can be found on the CDU International Student Scholarships page

Get in touch

E: international@cdu.edu.au

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