Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme 2024 to Support Domestic and Overseas Students Undertaking Research Degrees

Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme

The Research Training Program (RTP) provides block grants, on a calendar year basis, to higher education providers (HEPs) to support both domestic and overseas students undertaking research doctorate and research masters degrees, known as higher degrees by research (HDRs).

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Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme

The Objectives of the Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme

• provide flexible funding arrangements to support the training of domestic students and overseas students undertaking HDRs at Australian HEPs
• deliver graduates with the skills required to build careers in academia and other sectors of the labor market
• support collaboration between HEPs and industry, and other research end-users
• Support overseas students undertaking HDR studies at Australian HEPs.

Students can be offered Research Training Program Scholarships for one or more of the following:

• tuition fees offset
• stipend for general living costs
• Allowances related to the ancillary cost of research degrees.

Research masters students – period of support

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 2 years for a research masters degree.

Research doctorate students – period of support

RTP Scholarships are available for a research doctorate degree for a minimum of 3 years, up to a maximum of 4 years, at the discretion of the HEP. RTP funding is administered by individual HEPs who each have their own application and selection process. Students need to contact their chosen provider directly to discuss how to apply for the RTP scheme.

For HEP administrators, RTP Frequently Asked Questions for administrators are available.

Research Training Program industry internship weighting

Through the 2021-2022 Budget, the Government announced the introduction of a RTP internship weighting. A weighting of 2.0 will be incorporated into the existing HDR completions weightings within the current RTP funding allocation formula. This will apply to each research doctorate student reported from 2022 as completing their course having undertaken an eligible industry internship. Eligible industry internships are at least 3 months long, consist of 60 full-time equivalent days of engagement, and are agreed in written form with a research end-user within 18 months of course commencement for a full-time student, or within 36 months for a part-time student.

HEPs, research doctorate students, and research end-users, have the flexibility to decide on optimal arrangements for each industry internship within the eligibility criteria, including the timing for their commencement. Research doctorate student completion data collected from 2022 will be used in 2024 RTP funding calculation and allocation processes onwards.

This incentive will drive early engagement between industry, HEPs and research doctorate students, and will strengthen links between the latest research and industry innovation. It will also open a pipeline of highly skilled research doctorate students for employment in industry based, non-academic roles.

HEPs will continue to receive RTP funding for each research doctorate completion, irrespective of whether they have undertaken an industry internship. However, the additional 2.0 RTP weighting will only be allocated where an eligible industry internship has been undertaken.

Guidelines, conditions and calculations

Australian Government funding is provided through annual research block grants to eligible Australian HEPs in accordance with section 46-20 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA).

The Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017  provide the legislative basis for the provision of funding to this program and prescribes the conditions that apply to RTP grant amounts. The 2023 RTP grant amounts allocated to participating providers is based on a formula that is reflective of their overall research performance.

Research Training Program stipend rates

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.

RTP Stipend Rates

Year    Full-time base RTP stipend rate ($)    Full-time max RTP stipend rate ($)

2023    29,863                                                                         46,653

2022    28,854                                                                         45,076

2021    28,597                                                                         44,674

Application Process for the Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme

HEPs are responsible for the application and selection processes for RTP Scholarships. Prospective candidates need to contact their chosen HEP’s postgraduate research office directly to discuss how to apply. The list of eligible HEPs is available in Table A and B of HESA.

Apply Here for the Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme

Australian Government Scholarship Research Training Programme