Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) 2027 (Fully Funded)
The Research Training Program (RTP) is an Australian Government initiative that supports domestic and international students undertaking research master’s and doctoral degrees at eligible Australian universities. Administered directly by each university, the RTP replaced earlier schemes like the APA and IPRS in 2017. The program emphasizes flexibility, academic excellence, and strong industry collaboration. A unique feature of the RTP is its focus on research internships with non-academic partners, encouraging students to engage with industry and apply their research in real-world contexts.
If you are interested, check out the available courses for international students in different institutions, such as the bachelor’s courses and Master’s courses for international students.
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Coverage
This government fully funded scholarship for international students covers the following:
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Tuition fees
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Living Stipend
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Allowances to cover additional costs associated with undertaking a Higher Degree by Research
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), you need to meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled or intend to enroll in a higher degree by research (HDR) program at an eligible Australian Higher Education Provider
- Meet the academic requirements set by the individual university offering the program
- Not be receiving another equivalent award or scholarship providing a benefit greater than 75% of the RTP stipend for the same purpose
For detailed requirements, refer to the official eligibility page .
Eligible degree levels
Eligible programmes
Eligible nationalities
How to Apply
In this section, we'll provide a clear general overview of requirements and steps to guide you through the application process for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP).
To apply for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), please follow these steps:
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Apply through an eligible institution
Important Note: The application procedures and required documents for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) may vary depending on your degree, program, nationality and other factors. For specific details regarding the requirements, kindly visit the official website of Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP).
Application Deadlines
Now that you’re familiar with the application procedure, it’s time to know the application dates! Knowing the dates for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) will help you prepare early and it will also give you the time you need to put together a competitive application.
Application deadlines vary
The application deadlines for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) vary. It’s important to review official guidelines on the official website or contact administrators for specific deadlines. Make sure to regularly check the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) page for the latest and most accurate information on application deadlines.
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Eligible Institutions
The eligible institutions for Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) are listed below:
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- University of Adelaide
- University of Canberra
- University of Divinity
- University of Melbourne
- University of Newcastle
- University of New England
- University of New South Wales
- University of Notre Dame Australia
- University of Queensland
- University of South Australia
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of Sydney
- University of Tasmania
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- University of Western Australia
- University of Wollongong
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Recipients
Meet students who have received Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) and learn how they secured their award.
Scholarship Recipients and Their Study Backgrounds
These four published stories describe PhD study supported by the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) at University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, University of Wollongong and Flinders University.
| Nationalities | Stories per nationality |
|---|---|
| Filipino, Indian, Iranian | 1 each |
| Degree level | Stories | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | 4 | Microbiology; Electrical Engineering; Politics and International Studies |
Funding Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported coverage |
|---|---|
| Debanjana Maity — PhD in Microbiology at University of Queensland | Reported tuition and living support through RTP alongside a separate university top-up scholarship. The top-up formed an additional component of her funding package. |
| Shahriyar Safat Dipta (2021–2025) — PhD research at University of New South Wales | Reported full tuition coverage for 3.5 years and overseas student health insurance for the programme. |
| Francisco (Kiko) Bautista — PhD in Politics and International Studies at University of Wollongong | Full tuition waiver for 3.5 years and an allowance of approximately AUD 36,000 per year. |
| Rahmat Khezri — PhD in Electrical Engineering at Flinders University | Full PhD tuition and a living stipend of approximately AUD 28,000 per year. |
Examples of Featured Recipients’ Application Backgrounds
| Recipient and degree/program | Scholarship/application route | Reported background and preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Debanjana Maity — PhD in Microbiology at University of Queensland | RTP and university top-up applications | MRes in Molecular Microbiology at Newcastle University and an integrated BTech–MTech in Biotechnology at KIIT. Prior international research, publications and protein-biochemistry skills supported a proposal aligned with the host laboratory. |
| Shahriyar Safat Dipta — PhD research at University of New South Wales | RTP doctoral application | Electrical and Electronic Engineering bachelor’s, CGPA 3.89; applied without a master’s degree. Built a research proposal from undergraduate research interests and tailored the CV toward relevant research strengths. |
| Francisco (Kiko) Bautista — PhD in Politics and International Studies at University of Wollongong | AGRTP doctoral application | Communication Research bachelor’s, Philippine Studies master’s and a joint MEd in Adult Education for Social Change; journalism, research, public-service and volunteer experience. Developed previous academic papers into journal articles and sought feedback on the proposal. |
| Rahmat Khezri — PhD in Electrical Engineering at Flinders University | AGRTPS doctoral application | Electrical Engineering bachelor’s and master’s, six journal papers and three conference papers before applying. Compared research groups and aligned the proposal with a supervisor’s energy and power-systems expertise. |
How Recipients Met Language Requirements
| Language requirement route | Stories / total funded degree-study stories | Recipients and examples |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 2/4 | IELTS taken for the application (Debanjana Maity, Shahriyar Safat Dipta). |
| TOEFL | 1/4 | 85 (Rahmat Khezri). |
| English-test exemption at the host university | 1/4 | Previous British master’s accepted for the PhD English-test exemption (Francisco (Kiko) Bautista). |
Application Timelines Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Application or scholarship route | Reported application timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Shahriyar Safat Dipta (2021–2025) — PhD research at University of New South Wales | RTP scholarship and doctoral admission | Initially awarded for the May 2020 intake; deferred twice during COVID-19, enrolled offshore in February 2021 and arrived in Sydney on 2 December 2021 after obtaining a travel exemption. |
What Recipients Pursued After Their Scholarship-Funded Studies
| Recipient | Scholarship-funded degree/program | Reported outcome or current status |
|---|---|---|
| Shahriyar Safat Dipta (2021–2025) | PhD research at University of New South Wales | Reported current role: Electrical Engineer at iAuto Energy. |
| Debanjana Maity | PhD in Microbiology at University of Queensland | Ongoing study: researching bacterial cell-envelope biology and antimicrobial resistance, with student-representative and committee involvement. |
Applicants Who Declined This Scholarship
| Applicant and intended degree/program | Offer from Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) | Alternative chosen | Reason described in the story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zulfiqar Ali — PhD study at RMIT University | An RTP scholarship offer. | ACARP-supported PhD at University of Adelaide. | His supervisor and research goals. |
What Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholars Say
Advice and reflections from scholars about the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) application process and programme.
"I am a recipient of the University of Queensland Research Training Program (UQ RTP) Scholarship, a competitive award jointly funded by the Australian Government and UQ to support high-calibre PhD students... These scholarships provide full tuition coverage and a living stipend, enabling me to focus entirely on my research, training, and broader academic involvement"
"My experience at UQ so far has been deeply fulfilling. The research culture is collaborative, forward-thinking, and supportive. I’ve had opportunities to present my work, attend high-level seminars, and even supervise an Honours student working on the interaction between the BAM complex and DolP"
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), eligibility, funding, and applications.
Yes. Global Scholarships lists RTP as a full funding government scholarship for Master’s and PhD study in Australia, and the coverage section includes tuition fees, a living stipend, and allowances tied to Higher Degree by Research study. First-hand experience supports that. According to Debanjana Maity, a UQ RTP recipient, “These scholarships provide full tuition coverage and a living stipend.”
Usually no. Applicants apply through an eligible institution. In other words, your admission route, supervisor fit, and scholarship consideration are usually handled through the university’s own graduate research process rather than through one centralized RTP application portal.
In many cases, yes, or at least very early in the process. Debanjana Maity advised applicants to “Start early—especially in contacting supervisors and preparing documents.” Her own preparation involved identifying labs that matched her research interests and sending tailored emails to potential supervisors. Likewise, Shahriyar Safat Dipta said that open conversations with prospective supervisors can help applicants understand whether their profile is competitive for scholarship funding.
They can be, depending on your background and university requirements. In the two Global Scholarships RTP recipient stories, both recipients reported taking IELTS when applying from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Shahriyar noted, “I took IELTS,” and explained that English testing is a standard requirement for many applicants, while extra standardized tests are generally not part of higher degree research scholarship applications in Australia.
Yes. The general Global Scholarships RTP page states that application deadlines vary by institution. That is why applicants should track not only the scholarship timeline, but also supervisor outreach, admission deadlines, referee availability, and document preparation well in advance.
The recipient stories suggest that research fit matters a lot. Debanjana emphasized preparing a strong proposal aligned with her prospective supervisor’s expertise, while Shahriyar highlighted the value of previous research alignment, a focused CV, and having documents ready before the deadline. Strong academic results, research experience, publications where relevant, tailored proposals, and clear communication with supervisors can all help strengthen an application.
That depends on the university, research group, and field, but the recipient stories describe a positive research environment. At UQ, Debanjana Maity described her experience as “deeply fulfilling,” and said the research culture was collaborative, forward-thinking, and supportive.
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
Thank you so much. May I know how much the scholarship covers so that I’m able to plan accordingly?
Hello, the base salary for 2025 is 33,511 AUD and the max is 52,352 AUD. It changes every year
Hi Hyun,
My Name is Nazish Tahir from Karachi Pakistan , I am 44 yrs old with dual bachelors degree program in commerce Law, BCOM plus LLB with 10 yrs of experience in Procurement, Contract Management and Client support roles. I am willing to relocate to another country on master degree scholarship basis, I regularly follow Global Scholarship page, but always get confused to choose best suitable option, I need genuine advice based on my profile where and how to apply as I want to move with my spouse and dependents.
Hello, RTP is for PhD students mostly, although there are Master’s research spots available, but those are few. There are actually not many Master’s scholarships available in general, and you’ve hit the age limit for some government scholarships. I highly recommend that you look into Fulbright and Chevening as there are no age limits, and for Chevening, there’s actually quite a few recipients you’ve received scholarships for LLM law. You can take a look at the recipients here. Check with the page to see where other people have received scholarships to start.
Hi Hyun,
My name is Nwamata Ogochukwu from Lagos, Nigeria. I am 21 years old. I am currently seeking a fully funded, research-based Master’s scholarship in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related field.
I just concluded my undergraduate program in Computer Science and I have research experience in secure digital systems, I am passionate about advancing into AI/ML research and contributing to meaningful, impactful work.
I would be deeply grateful for any opportunities, recommendations, or guidance toward universities and programs offering fully funded research-based Master’s positions. Thank you!
Hello, RTP can support research Master’s degrees, and you apply through the Australian university rather than directly to the government. Melbourne’s Graduate Research Scholarships are one route to explore. Look for a research Master’s with a supervisor in AI/ML or Data Science, and check whether your degree and research experience meet its entry requirements; make sure the funding offer includes both tuition and a stipend.