QUT Postgraduate Research Award (QUTPRA)

Benefits & funding

• Living stipend of A$38,310 a year from 1 January 2027 (A$37,010 during 2026), paid fortnightly into an Australian bank account and indexed each year.
• Course fees covered for the first four full-time-equivalent years of a doctorate or two years of a master degree — a Research Training Program Fees Offset for domestic candidates, a QUT Tuition Fee Sponsorship for international candidates. Neither can be converted into cash.
• Single Overseas Student Health Cover, arranged by QUT for eligible commencing international candidates, for the duration of the student visa. Couple and family cover is not offered.
• Paid recreation leave of 20 working days a year and paid sick or carer’s leave of 10 working days a year, both accruing, plus additional sick, parental, domestic-violence and cultural leave provisions.
• Support runs to a maximum of 3.5 years full-time equivalent for a doctorate (including an approved extension of up to six months) and 1.75 years for a master degree.

Eligibility

• Open to Australian, New Zealand and international applicants — no nationality is excluded.
• Applicants must meet QUT’s admission criteria for a research degree, including the English language requirement, by the time the scholarship application is submitted.
• Aimed at people starting a QUT research degree. Current QUT research candidates may apply if they have completed less than one full-time-equivalent year of a doctorate or six months of a master degree.
• Applicants who already hold a research qualification at the same level, or who receive another main living-allowance scholarship, are not eligible.
• Outside income used for living costs must stay below 75 per cent of the annual award rate.
• Full-time internal enrolment on campus is required unless QUT approves part-time or external study; candidates based outside Australia are not eligible.
• Applicants from many countries and regions must lodge their application through an approved QUT representative, under Australian student visa rules.

Application process

1. 1
   Check that you meet QUT’s research degree admission criteria and English language requirement.
2. 2
   Search QUT’s expert database for a supervisor in your field who has capacity, and obtain written agreement to supervise.
3. 3
   Write a research proposal on the template for your discipline, developed with that supervisor.
4. 4
   Submit an expression of interest through the QUT application portal with academic transcripts, CV, proof of citizenship, English test results and the research proposal attached. There is no separate scholarship form — scholarship interest is recorded in the financial details section of the expression of interest.
5. 5
   Submit before the round closes: 11.59pm AEST on 31 July for international applicants, 31 August for domestic applicants.
6. 6
   Faculties rank applicants; outcomes are emailed from 21 November, and successful candidates start between January and July of the following year.

Program timeline

1. Annual scholarship round opens (1 April each year)

   Apr 1, 2026

2. Expression of interest deadline for international applicants, 11.59pm AEST

   Jul 31, 2026

3. Expression of interest deadline for domestic applicants, 11.59pm AEST

   Aug 31, 2026

4. Outcome emails begin

   Nov 21, 2026

5. Successful candidates commence their research degree

   2027-01 to 2027-07

6. Next annual round opens

   Apr 1, 2027