Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta, Earns a Fully Funded PhD at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) through the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

My name is Shahriyar Safat Dipta. I am currently working as an Electrical Engineer at iAuto Energy. I completed my PhD in early 2025. It was just before COVID that I first dreamt of pursuing a higher degree research program. I was lucky to get the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. However, there were a few ups and downs along the way.

I first got my scholarship for Term 2 (May), 2020. Due to COVID, I needed to defer my program (twice!) and could finally enroll for Term 1 (February), 2021. Unfortunately, the Australian border was closed at that time, and I couldn’t travel onshore. My supervisor, Prof. Ashraf Uddin, was helpful in that situation, and we formulated a research plan so that parts of it can be completed while being offshore. It allowed me to start my degree and be offshore for up to 1 year.

After a lot of applications for travel exemption, I got approved (thanks to ARC for their support letter) and could come to Sydney on December 2, 2021. My journey throughout the PhD was much swifter afterwards. I got help from my lab-mates, collaborators, Academics, and support staff from the school. This helped me complete my degree in time, though I was offshore for about 9 months.

Now, looking back at that time, I feel lucky I was offered the scholarship, which allowed me to study and research a topic that truly inspires me.

Australian Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship Details

I was offered the Australian Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship. This is the highest level of scholarship as a PhD student at this moment. There are benefits that come with this scholarship. I am listing them below.

• The scholarship covers the full tuition fees for 3.5 years of the PhD program.
• Covers the health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover) for the full duration of the program
• Stipend to cover the living expenses, which is $39,206 per annum for 2026. This is reviewed every year.
• Relocation allowance, up to $2,000 for international students.
• Thesis production allowance of $400 after submission of the thesis.

It’s important to recognize that the living expense stipend is similar for almost all the scholarships for higher degree research programs. However, the amount can vary from one university to another. For more details regarding scholarships at UNSW, the link HDR scholarships | UNSW Sydney can help.

Were You Offered any Other Scholarships?

I was not offered any other scholarships. I only applied for one program at the University of New South Wales and got the RTP scholarship. It is important to note that a student can only apply for one program at a university at once. They can apply for a different program at that university once the outcome of the first program is processed.

Educational Background

I had a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I completed the degree with a CGPA of 3.89. As I didn’t have a master's degree when I applied, having a good CGPA at the bachelor’s level can help a lot. In addition to that, the degree I have decided to some extent to the programs I can apply to. In the interviews with the supervisor or Academics, they sometimes want to see the courses that align with the research you are interested in.

On top of that, the thesis component in previous degrees is really important. That is the closest thing to the level of research in a higher degree program. Overall, the educational background is important to show your passion for a topic. Having a master's degree is useful, and it amplifies the chances of getting a scholarship.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of New South Wales?

How Did You Find Information About the Australian Research Training Program Scholarship and the University of New South Wales?

The university website is often the most useful resource for scholarships. In addition, emailing a program coordinator can sometimes help. However, there can be delays in communications as they can be busy or on leave.

Talking to current students about scholarships can help a lot. They know the process and can help with the deadline and documents required for scholarships.

Talking openly to the prospective supervisor can help understand the possibilities of a scholarship. They are very experienced and can give an idea if the profile of the student is suitable for scholarships. In addition, sometimes the fund comes from the project of supervisor. In those cases, they can have more sway on the scholarship process.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I had to take a standardized English test as I am from a non-English-speaking country. I took IELTS as it was easier to find materials for that. The English tests are not very tough, but you need to be careful about the format of the test. The format varies from one test to another, and we need to familiarize with it and the scoring criteria before sitting for the test.

For higher degree research scholarships in Australia, no other tests are required. There are several English tests to choose from, including PTE Academic, IELTS, TOEFL, etc.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Australian Research Training Program Scholarship?

The first (and the most important) part is to clear your thoughts regarding pursuing a higher degree research program. When I was sure I wanted to go that way, I looked at the requirements of different universities for admission. I was more interested in the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney.

First, a standard English language test is required for every program. I gave a test and tried to get a good score, as it creates a good first impression.

Deciding the area where I want to conduct my research is also a big step. I have seen many people change topics from their previous research and excel in the new topic. I liked the ideas around my previous research at the undergraduate level. Especially because there were things I was interested in doing, but did not have the laboratory facilities. My preparations included making a research proposal, engineering my CV to focus on the research and strong areas, and reading literature on this topic to keep up to date.

Finally, having all your documents ready always helps in the application process. The supervisors often look for students at the very end of the scholarship deadline. As a result, we can only apply in that short time if we have every document ready.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Alignment of my previous research with the topics my supervisor was interested in put me in a good position. However, this is not the only criterion. There are many other things the scholarship committee looks at.

Having a publication on the same topic as your prospective supervisor can help a lot.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would have studied the research of the supervisors I am applying to more rigorously. It’s good to understand the area of research. When you can talk more about their research in interviews/emails, it gives a good impression.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Don’t lose hope. The preparations and journey towards getting a higher degree research scholarship can be quite hectic. But it’s every bit worth it. It’s easy to get disappointed due to multiple rejections, but it’s just part of the journey at the end of the day.