With prestigious government-funded programmes like the Australia Awards Scholarships, Destination Australia Scholarships, and the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships, Australia has long been a global centre for international students. The RTP is the most prominent of these programmes for individuals who wish to pursue advanced research degrees.
With this award talented researchers can concentrate entirely on their academic endeavours, as it offers a living stipend and allowances in addition to a tuition cost offset. This fellowship offers international students, in particular, the opportunity to study in Australia for free and become a part of a thriving research community.
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This post takes you through a list of Australia RTP Scholarships for international students.
What is the RTP Scholarship?
The Research Training Program (RTP) is a national program that offers financial aid to students in Australia pursuing higher degrees through research (HDR).
Additionally, over 40 Australian universities will still provide the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) in 2026. This program assists students pursuing higher degrees by research (HDR), such as Master’s by Research and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes, and is available to both domestic and international students.
RTP scholarships are available to students from almost any academic background because they cover a broad variety of fields, including science, engineering, technology, humanities, social sciences, business, education, and health sciences.
Benefits of the Australia RTP Scholarship
There are three primary advantages of the scholarship:
- The entire cost of research tuition is covered by the tuition fee offset.
- A living stipend is a yearly sum of money given to cover living expenses; depending on the university, stipend values for 2026 are anticipated to range from AUD $37,000 to AUD $38,500 annually.
- Allowances are extra forms of assistance, including conference or thesis funding, health insurance for overseas students, and relocation grants.
Note that beginning in 2017, the RTP took the place of previous programmes such as the International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) and the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA). Additionally, Australian institutions are extremely competitive since they only receive a small number of RTP scholarships annually.
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Who Can Apply for the Australia RTP Scholarship?
Although eligibility differs by university, both domestic and international students are welcome to apply. In general, candidates need to:
- be starting a PhD or Master’s by Research programme.
- possess a solid academic background and a track record of promising research.
- fulfil the university’s English language requirements.
- not be eligible for a second government award that would pay the same expenses.
The List of Top Australian Universities Offering RTP Scholarships in 2026
Examples of RTP scholarship opportunities offered by Australian colleges include the following: :
| University | Scholarship Name | Key Benefits | Eligibility / Notes | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | RTP & Melbourne Research Scholarships (350 Scholarships) | Full tuition remission, stipend (~AUD $38,500 p.a.), relocation allowance, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). | Open to domestic and international HDR students. | Not specified |
| University of Sydney | RTP Scholarships | Covers tuition fees and stipends for international and domestic HDR students across faculties. | Open to both domestic and international applicants. | Not specified |
| University of Western Australia (UWA) | RTP Scholarships | Tuition offsets and living stipends (~AUD $37,000 p.a. in 2025), plus relocation and study support. | Open to Australian and international applicants. | Not specified |
| Griffith University | RTP International Fee Offset Scholarships | Covers tuition fees and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). | For international HDR candidates. | Not specified |
| Bond University | RTP Scholarships | Living stipends and tuition fee offsets for doctoral students. | Open to research doctoral students. | Sept 30, 2026 |
| Avondale University | RTP Scholarships | Fee waivers, stipends, and research allowances. | For HDR candidates. | Not specified |
| University of New England (UNE) | RTP Stipend Scholarships | Tuition coverage and stipends. | Open to international HDR students. | Not specified |
| University of Newcastle | RTP Scholarships | Competitive awards for selected domestic and international HDR students. | For research students. | Nov 30, 2025 |
| La Trobe University | RTP Graduate Research Scholarships | Stipends, tuition fee offsets, and research allowances. | Open to domestic and international graduate researchers. | Not specified |
You can also apply for other Australian scholarships for spring 2026 intakes.
Why Apply for an RTP Scholarship?
- Study at highly regarded universities in Australia for free.
- Get a sizeable stipend to assist with living expenses.
- Get extra funding for needs related to research, health, and relocation.
- Do top-notch research to advance your academic career.
- Join the thriving research community in Australia.
What is the Timeline for 2026 Intake Applications
The majority of universities only accept applications for RTP scholarships once or twice a year. Although specific dates differ for each school, deadlines for the 2026 intake will typically fall between August and November 2025. For the most recent information, applicants are urged to visit the HDR scholarships page of the university of their choice.
Conclusion
The RTP Scholarships offer a great opportunity for international students to further their research careers in a nurturing academic setting while studying for free. If you want to study in Australia, this programme is worth pursuing because it offers living stipends, fully covered tuition, and access to international research opportunities.
