The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship provides financial support for high-quality higher degree by research candidates.
Scholarships are awarded through a competitive process which considers academic merit, research experience and/or potential.
What is included in the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship?
RTP Funds are used to support HDR candidates through scholarships such as the RTP Tuition Fee Offsets, RTP Stipends and RTP Allowances.
RTP Tuition Fee Offset Scholarship
The fee offset is used to pay for the HDR tuition fees. Candidates awarded a fee offset scholarship will not be required to pay any tuition fees for the period of support awarded. Candidates may however be required to pay UniSC Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
To be eligible for the fee offset, candidates must not be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Commonwealth designed to offset HDR tuition fees. Priority is given to candidates who are undertaking a HDR program for the first time.
RTP Stipend Scholarship
This scholarship provides an annual living stipend allowance commensurate with the current years UniSC Base rate. This 2025 rate is A$35,482 and is indexed annually. Stipend is awarded for 3 years with a possibility of 6 month extension in approved circumstances for Doctoral programs and 1.5 years with the possibility of 6 month extension in approved circumstances for Masters programs. Stipend payments will cease upon submission of thesis.
RTP Allowance
RTP Stipend Scholarship recipients will also have access to a combined total of A$2,000 to assist with their relocation costs associated with undertaking their HDR at UniSC.
How do I apply?
- Applicants must provide two referee reports to support their application.
- Referees must have knowledge of the applicant's qualifications, level of skill and capacity for research.
- Referees must not be potential or current supervisors.
- If you are applying through a professional experience pathway, at least one referee must be able to comment on relevant work experience.
- Applicants must request their referees complete the referee report and return to the applicant for the applicant to upload as an attachment as part of their application by the round closing date.
- UniSC will not request these reports on your behalf. It is the applicants responsibility to request and attach the referee reports to their application.
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Read the HDR Scholarships - Awarding Guidelines prior to completing your application. The guidelines provides details on the selection criteria and scoring matrix used to rank your application.
- Download the Response to criteria 4 template for your Principal Supervisor to complete - this must be attached by the applicant
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We have prepared an application guide available here: Application guide
- Please see the exemplar document for two examples prepared by the Dean of Graduate Research of de-identified recent successful applicants addressing selection criteria
- The only attachments that will be reviewed are referee reports & response to criteria 4. Ensure that your concise responses to criteria are in the application portal, see step 3.
Prospective UniSC HDR applicants
Applicants must submit both of the following before the relevant round closing date:
1) An application to appropriate HDR program using the information and portal through this link: HDR program application
2) RTP Scholarship application through the Scholarship application portal. Provide your responses in the portal question fields only.
Current UniSC HDR candidates
Students enrolled in or have a current offer for admission to a HDR program at UniSC will only need to apply for scholarship through the scholarship Application Portal
Round timings 2025
Domestic
|
Round |
Open date |
Close date |
Assessment |
Outcomes sent |
|
1 |
17 February |
21 March |
April and May |
31 May |
|
2 |
28 July |
12 September |
October & November |
1 December |
International
|
Round |
Open date |
Close date |
Assessment |
Outcomes sent |
|
1 |
1 June |
18 July |
September and October |
14 November |
Require further information?
Please see the Research Training Program Scholarship- Schedule of Conditions for further details. The Department of Education and Training has a website on the Research Training Program and has established a FAQ specifically for HDR. You can also contact the UniSC Graduate Research School with any questions.