Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (RTPS)

Benefits & funding

• Stipend of AUD 36,500 a year at the full-time 2026 rate, tax-exempt; the half-time rate is AUD 18,250 and is taxable.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recipients receive AUD 53,608 a year full-time, or AUD 26,804 half-time.
• 100% tuition fee waiver for the standard duration of the program — 4 years for a PhD, 2 years for an MPhil.
• Stipend tenure of up to 3.5 years for a PhD, rising to 4 years for Indigenous RTPS recipients and to 3 years 9 months where a research internship is undertaken; 2 years for an MPhil.
• Relocation allowance of up to AUD 1,000 for domestic recipients and up to AUD 1,500 for international recipients.
• Early thesis submission allowance worth up to two months, or 40 full-time-equivalent working days, of stipend.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (BUPA Comprehensive) for international student visa holders: up to 54 months for a PhD and up to 30 months for an MPhil.
• Paid leave: 20 working days of recreation leave a year, 10 days of personal leave with up to 60 further days for medically substantiated illness, at least 20 weeks of parental leave per child, and 10 days of family and domestic violence leave.

Eligibility

• Open to domestic students and to overseas students eligible to enrol in an MPhil or PhD at the university; no nationality is barred.
• Applicants must be commencing full-time study in an MPhil or PhD program.
• Applicants must not already hold a research degree at, or above, the level they are applying for.
• Applicants must not currently hold an RTP scholarship, an overseas sponsored scholarship or an equivalent award.
• Only completed qualifications are assessed; incomplete study does not count towards eligibility.
• International applicants must evidence the minimum English language proficiency for direct entry, and cannot enrol half-time.
• An international applicant coming from a coursework qualification must have completed that qualification within the most recent four semesters at Adelaide University or a foundation university, meaning the University of Adelaide or the University of South Australia.
• Written confirmation of supervisory support from an eligible principal supervisor is required before an application is lodged.
• Entry routes for 2027 differ, so applicants should check which one fits: the Graduate Research Talent Scheme covers domestic applicants and international applicants who hold a relevant Australian or New Zealand qualification, while the Signature Research Theme round is open to domestic and international applicants alike. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates may apply at any time, outside the rounds.

Application process

1. 1
   Check the academic entry requirements for the PhD or MPhil, and the English language requirements for direct entry.
2. 2
   Review the scholarship round timelines and confirm which route matches the applicant’s background and citizenship.
3. 3
   Find a research project and a principal supervisor, then obtain written confirmation of supervisory support.
4. 4
   Apply online through the domestic or international research application portal, attaching academic transcripts, the university’s structured CV template, a research proposal on the university template and English test results where applicable.
5. 5
   Accept the admission offer and, separately, the scholarship offer; international recipients then receive a Confirmation of Enrolment for the student visa application.

Program timeline

1. Signature Research Theme expressions of interest expected to open

   End of August 2026

2. Graduate Research Talent Scheme Round 1 opens

   Early to mid-September 2026

3. Round 1 closes

   Late October 2026

4. Round 2 opens

   Mid-February 2027

5. Round 2 closes

   Late March 2027

6. Round 3 opens

   Mid-July 2027

7. Round 3 closes

   Mid-August 2027

8. Ongoing

   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates may apply at any time