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The RTP (Research Training Program) is an Australian government scheme that gives support to students doing research degrees like Master by Research or PhD. The RTP Scholarships 2026 helps both domestic and international students. Many universities in Australia use RTP to fund research students. This makes RTP one of the most trusted paths for doing research in Australia.
About the RTP Scholarships
RTP replaced older schemes like the APA, IPRS, and RTS starting 1 January 2017. The Australian Government gives funds to universities, and universities then select students to receive RTP support.
Under RTP, students may get:
- Tuition fees offset (so they don’t pay research tuition).
- Stipend (living allowance) for cost of living.
- Allowances for research costs, travel, relocation in some cases.
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be applying to a research degree (Master by Research or PhD) at an eligible Australian university.
- You can be domestic or international depending on university policy.
- You must satisfy English language requirements of the university.
- You must not already have funding covering the same costs (i.e., cannot double-dip)
- Some universities require you to be full time, on-campus. For example, Southern Cross University requires full-time international HDR.
Scholarship Coverage
- Full tuition fee offset (you don’t pay research tuition).
- Living stipend (tax-free) for support during research period.
- For international students: health cover (OSHC) in many cases.
- Relocation allowance or moving costs sometimes granted (for example at Deakin)
- Research cost allowances, travel to conferences etc in some universities
Timelines & Deadlines for 2026
- Southern Cross University (SCU): International RTP application closes midnight 31 October 2025
- Deakin University: For international round towards 2026, the closing date is 24 August 2025 for February 2026 intake.
- University of Queensland (UQ): For 2026 research quarters, applications opened on 31 March 2025 and closed by 18 May 2025 for some rounds.
- University of Western Australia (UWA): For international HDR scholarships, the round opens 1 July 2025 and closes 31 August 2025.
Because each university sets its own schedule, you must check the university you plan to apply to.
How to Apply (Step by Step)
- Pick a university which offers RTP for your field.
- Find a supervisor and get approval to work under them (if needed).
- Prepare research proposal or project plan.
- Gather documents: transcripts, CV, reference letters, English test score etc.
- Fill scholarship and admission applications (sometimes same, sometimes separate) at university portal.
- Submit all documents before deadline.
- Wait for selection. Universities will assess your profile, proposal, references.
- If you are offered the award, accept it, enroll in the university.
Selection Process
- Universities rank candidates based on academic merit, strength of research proposal, and capacity to carry out the project.
- Sometimes interviews or assessments may be involved. Not all universities use them publicly.
- Universities also check you meet all rules and eligibility.
Example Cases
- At UQ, their Graduate School Scholarships include RTP support. For HDR students they give stipend + tuition fee offset.
- At University of Melbourne, the Melbourne Research Scholarship + RTP together give 100% fee remission and a living stipend of about AUD 38,500 per year (for 2025 rates)
- At Deakin, the RTP stipend is AUD 35,550 per annum (2025 rate) and the tuition fees offset duration: 3 years for PhD, 4 years for tuition.
- At SCU, the 2026 RTP stipend is AUD 34,315 per year and duration up to 3 years 3 months.