The Australian National University (ANU) awards the University Research Scholarship (URS) each year to higher degree by research candidates whose work fits the university’s strategic research directions. It is one of the two central ANU scholarship schemes, alongside the Australian Government Research Training Program, and both are decided in the same central rounds. Recipients study for a PhD or a masters by research at the ANU campus in Canberra. The scholarship pays a fortnightly living stipend and comes with a tuition fee scholarship. Domestic and international candidates compete on the same terms, and each ANU College convenes a selection committee that scores and ranks all eligible applicants on merit. Every field of study is covered.
Benefits & funding
- Stipend of A$40,475 per year, the full-time base rate for 2027, paid fortnightly for 3.5 years
- A six-month extension is available; continuation depends on academic performance
- A tuition fee scholarship is included in the central stipend scholarships (RTP and URS)
- Travel and removal allowances for candidates relocating to Canberra to start their research program
- Thesis allowance
- Dependant child allowance for international candidates
- Paid medical, maternity and parental leave
Eligibility
- Open to domestic and international candidates; no nationality or residency requirement
- Open to prospective candidates and to current ANU candidates who have typically completed less than one year full-time equivalent
- Enrolment in, or an admission application for, an accredited ANU higher degree by research program (PhD or masters by research)
- A minimum of Honours (H1) or the H1 equivalent in prior study
- Industry PhD candidates who receive a full-time salary are not eligible
- Any field of study
- PhD admission normally requires an Australian bachelor degree with at least second-class honours or the international equivalent; MPhil admission requires a bachelor degree or higher at an overall grade of distinction or above
- ANU English language requirements must be met before an offer is made
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Application process
- 1Find a prospective supervisor through the ANU research portal and contact them, or the relevant Graduate Studies Convener, to discuss the proposed research topic. Endorsement from a college and a supervisor is needed before an application can be assessed.
- 2Gather academic transcripts, graduation certificates, a research proposal and at least two referee reports.
- 3Submit the higher degree by research admission application through the ANU application portal and select the University Research Scholarship among the scholarships to be considered for. There is no separate scholarship form.
- 4Submit two to three weeks before the scholarship deadline. Referee report requests are only triggered when the program application is submitted, and the file must be complete, referee reports included, by the deadline.
- 5Current ANU candidates instead use the “Request for a current ANU student to be considered for a HDR scholarship” form.
- 6College selection committees score and rank every eligible applicant. ANU emails the outcome of an admission application within six to eight weeks of assessment.
Program timeline
31 August 2026
Round 1 deadline for international candidates, for commencement by 31 March 2027
31 October 2026
Round 1 deadline for domestic candidates, for commencement by 31 March 2027
15 April 2027
Round 2 deadline for international and domestic candidates, for commencement by 31 August 2027
Stipend runs 3.5 years from commencement, with a possible six-month extension