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Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships 2027

First, the name: the scheme in the queue is called the “Australian Government Research Scholarship”, but that is not its real name. The real scheme is the Research Training Program (RTP) — a federal block grant that the Australian Government pays to universities, which then award it to research students as a full tuition offset plus a living stipend. Second, there is no single RTP deadline and no central application: you apply to a university, not to the government, and each university runs its own round on its own dates. The official stipend range for 2026 is AUD 34,315 to AUD 53,608 (2027 base: AUD 35,550), with universities setting the rate inside that range — Sydney pays AUD 42,754 a year (2026), ANU AUD 39,069. The next open round is the University of Sydney’s, closing 18 December 2026.

Next round 18 Dec 2026 · 52 days left Open Updated 16 Oct 2026 By Australian Government
Award
RTP Fees Offset covers full tuition, plus a stipend and allowances (relocation, thesis; Overseas Student Health Cover for internationals). Official stipend range: 2026 base AUD 34,315 / maximum AUD 53,608; 2027 base AUD 35,550 / maximum AUD 55,537 — universities set the rate within that range. Sydney pays AUD 42,754 a year (2026) / AUD 44,293 (2027); ANU AUD 39,069 a year. Duration: Master’s by research up to 2 years, PhD up to 4 years.
Eligible
Domestic or international student enrolled in or commencing a Higher Degree by Research (Master’s by Research or PhD) at a participating Australian university. An outstanding academic record and previous research experience; the equivalent of an Australian Honours degree; meets the university’s English-language requirements.
How
1) Choose a participating university and secure/identify a supervisor (required at some universities). 2) Apply for HDR admission through that university’s portal. 3) Submit that university’s scholarship/RTP form by its own deadline (Sydney: separate RTP form; ANU: tick the scholarship in the admission application — no separate form). 4) No application goes to the Department of Education — there is no central portal.
Deadline
No central deadline — it varies by university. Next open rounds: University of Sydney Research Periods 3 & 4, 2027 — 18 December 2026; Southern Cross University — 31 October 2026; Central Queensland University — 31 December 2026; ANU Round 2 — 15 April 2027. Already closed: Sydney RP 1 & 2, 2027 (11 September 2026) and ANU Round 1.
Fine print
The queue title’s “Australian Government Research Scholarship” is not the scheme’s real name — the real name is the Research Training Program (RTP). One aggregator’s flat “AUD 52,352 stipend” is the official 2025 maximum rate mislabelled as the standard stipend — do not use it. Bright’s “AUD 1,000 travel from home country to/from Adelaide” is Adelaide-specific, not a general RTP benefit. The Sydney 18 December 2026 date is aggregator-corroborated; the official Sydney page’s timeline table did not render in the fetch.

About the programme

The Research Training Program (RTP) is how the Australian Government funds research degrees. It is not a scholarship you apply to directly: the Government gives block grants to universities, and each university awards RTP places to its own research students. An RTP award has two parts — an RTP Fees Offset, which covers full tuition, and an RTP Stipend, a living allowance paid while you study. Some universities also add allowances for relocation, thesis costs and, for international students, Overseas Student Health Cover. A Master’s by research is funded for up to 2 years; a PhD for up to 4 years.

How much you actually receive depends on your university, because the Government publishes a range, not a single figure: for 2026 the base rate is AUD 34,315 and the maximum is AUD 53,608; for 2027 the base is AUD 35,550 and the maximum AUD 55,537. The University of Sydney pays AUD 42,754 a year (2026 rate, AUD 44,293 in 2027); ANU pays AUD 39,069 a year. Any page quoting one flat “RTP stipend” for the whole country is simplifying — and one aggregator’s flat “AUD 52,352” is simply the official 2025 maximum rate, mislabelled as the standard stipend.

Eligibility

  • Be a domestic or international student enrolled in, or commencing, a Higher Degree by Research — a Master’s by Research or a PhD — at a participating Australian university.
  • Have an outstanding academic record and previous research experience.
  • Hold the equivalent of an Australian Honours degree (per Bright; university-specific).
  • Meet the university’s English-language requirements.
  • Do not hold a concurrent RTP at another institution (aggregator-only).

Benefits

  • RTP Fees Offset: full tuition covered.
  • RTP Stipend: a living allowance — official 2026 range AUD 34,315–53,608; 2027 base AUD 35,550 (maximum AUD 55,537).
  • Allowances: relocation and thesis allowances (Sydney: up to AUD 1,485 each way for relocation, AUD 420 Master’s / AUD 840 Doctoral for thesis), plus Overseas Student Health Cover for internationals.
  • Duration: Master’s by research up to 2 years; PhD up to 4 years.
  • Example rates: Sydney AUD 42,754 a year (2026) / AUD 44,293 (2027); ANU AUD 39,069 a year.

Documents to prepare

  • The HDR admission application for your chosen university.
  • Academic transcripts plus grading-system information.
  • A research proposal.
  • Your CV/résumé.
  • Academic references.
  • English-proficiency evidence (IELTS/TOEFL).
  • Proof of citizenship/residency; a Student ID is issued after the admission application (Sydney FAQ).
  • Note: the exact list varies by university — there is no single published central checklist.

How to apply

  1. Choose a participating university and secure or identify a supervisor (required at some universities, e.g. SCU, CQU).
  2. Apply for HDR admission through that university’s portal (e.g. Sydney Courses).
  3. Submit that university’s scholarship/RTP form by its own deadline — Sydney has a separate RTP form; at ANU you tick the scholarship in the admission application and there is no separate form.
  4. Do not apply to the Department of Education — RTP applications cannot be made through the Department; there is no central portal.

FAQs

What is the deadline for the Australian Government RTP Scholarship 2027?

There is no central deadline — it varies by university. The next open rounds are the University of Sydney (Research Periods 3 & 4, 2027) on 18 December 2026, Southern Cross University on 31 October 2026, Central Queensland University on 31 December 2026, and ANU Round 2 on 15 April 2027.

How much is the RTP stipend?

The official range for 2026 is AUD 34,315 (base) to AUD 53,608 (maximum); for 2027 the base is AUD 35,550 and the maximum AUD 55,537. Universities set the rate within that range — Sydney pays AUD 42,754 a year (2026), ANU AUD 39,069.

Is the RTP fully funded?

Yes, in the usual sense: the RTP Fees Offset covers full tuition, and the stipend covers living costs, with relocation, thesis and health-cover allowances on top. Duration is up to 2 years for a Master’s by research and up to 4 years for a PhD.

How do I apply for the Australian Government RTP?

Apply to a university, not to the government. Choose a participating university, secure a supervisor, apply for HDR admission through that university’s portal, and submit that university’s RTP form by its own deadline. There is no central portal.

What is the real name of the Australian Government Research Scholarship?

The Research Training Program (RTP). “Australian Government Research Scholarship” is the aggregator’s name for it, not the scheme’s official name.

Can international students get the RTP?

Yes — the RTP is open to domestic and international students enrolled in or commencing a Higher Degree by Research at a participating Australian university.

Which university deadlines are still open for RTP 2027?

Sydney Research Periods 3 & 4, 2027 (18 December 2026), Southern Cross University (31 October 2026), Central Queensland University (31 December 2026) and ANU Round 2 (15 April 2027). Sydney RP 1 & 2, 2027 and ANU Round 1 are already closed.

Verified 27 Oct 2026: education.gov.au/research-block-grants/research-training-program (official) — RTP is a federal block grant administered by individual higher education providers; "RTP scholarship applications cannot be made through the Department of Education"; official stipend rates 2026 base AUD 34,315 / max AUD 53,608, 2027 base AUD 35,550 / max AUD 55,537; coverage RTP Fees Offset (full tuition), stipend, allowances (relocation, thesis), OSHC for internationals; duration Master's by research up to 2 years, PhD up to 4 years. education.gov.au RTP FAQ for students (official). sydney.edu.au/scholarships/australian-government-research-training-program.html (official) — process confirmed; its timeline table did not render in the fetch, so the Sydney 18 Dec 2026 date for Research Periods 3 & 4, 2027 is aggregator-corroborated (scholarships.af, Gradualin, ScholarshipsAds, YouthExpat), not direct-official. study.anu.edu.au/scholarships/find-scholarship/australian-government-research-training-program-rtp-stipend (official ANU page) — Round 2 15 April 2027; Round 1 international closed 31 Aug 2026, domestic 26 Oct 2026. Southern Cross University 31 Oct 2026 (AfterSchoolAfrica) and Central Queensland University 31 Dec 2026 (ScholarPositions) are aggregator-only. Sydney stipend AUD 42,754/yr (2026) / AUD 44,293/yr (2027) and ANU AUD 39,069/yr are aggregator/ANU-page figures; Sydney relocation up to AUD 1,485 each way, thesis AUD 420 Master's / AUD 840 Doctoral (aggregator). CONFLICTS: one aggregator (ehsaskafaalat) quotes a flat "AUD 52,352 stipend" — that is the official 2025 maximum rate, mislabelled as the standard stipend; not used. Bright's "AUD 1,000 travel from home country to/from Adelaide" is Adelaide-specific, not a general RTP benefit. The queue title's "Australian Government Research Scholarship" is not the scheme's real name — the real name is Research Training Program (RTP). Already closed: Sydney RP 1 & 2, 2027 (11 Sep 2026); ANU Round 1.

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