Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships, explained

What the RTP actually is

The Research Training Program is administered by the Australian Government's Department of Education, which allocates funding to universities each year as a block grant based on their research training performance and load. Universities then use that funding to support research candidates — both domestic and international — enrolled in a research doctorate or research masters.

The funding has two main components. The RTP Fees Offset covers some or all of a student's tuition fees for the research component of their degree. The RTP Stipend is a living allowance paid to eligible students, typically fortnightly, to support day-to-day costs while they study full-time.

Because the money is allocated to the university, not the student, individual institutions decide how many places they can fund each year and which candidates receive an offset, a stipend, both, or occasionally neither — meaning two applicants with similar academic records at different universities can receive quite different funding outcomes for what looks like the same degree.

How the stipend works

The Australian Government sets a minimum RTP stipend rate each year, and it's indexed annually — meaning the number changes on a set date most years, usually at the start of the calendar year. As at 2026, published university stipend rates for full-time RTP recipients commonly sit somewhere in the mid-$30,000s to low-$40,000s a year, tax-free, with the exact figure varying by university because many institutions top up the government minimum from their own funds rather than paying only the base rate.

That range is a general guide, not a number to plan a budget around — the only reliable figure is the one published on the specific university's current scholarships page for the specific stipend you're being offered, since it changes yearly and differs meaningfully institution to institution.

Part-time candidates are typically eligible for a stipend paid at a reduced proportion of the full-time rate. Stipends are generally paid for a fixed maximum duration tied to your candidature — commonly a set number of years for a PhD, sometimes with a possible short extension in defined circumstances — not for the entire time you're enrolled if your research runs long.

Who is eligible

RTP funding is available to both domestic and international students undertaking a research doctorate (like a PhD) or a research masters at an eligible Australian university, provided they meet the university's academic entry requirements for that program. International eligibility isn't universal across every scholarship funded from RTP money though — some RTP-funded places at some universities are specifically reserved for domestic students, so check the individual scholarship's eligibility criteria rather than assuming every RTP-branded scholarship is open to international applicants.

Most universities automatically consider eligible applicants for RTP funding as part of the standard research degree application — you generally don't submit a completely separate form, though some institutions do run a distinct scholarship application alongside the admission application, with its own deadline.

Because RTP places are limited and allocated by the university, getting an offer of admission to a research degree does not automatically guarantee RTP funding — the two are related but separate decisions, and it's worth confirming explicitly whether an admission offer includes funding or not before you commit.

How it differs from a scholarship you apply for directly

Unlike a scholarship with its own dedicated application form, essay and selection panel, RTP funding is usually folded into the research degree admission process itself. The strength of your case often comes down to the quality of your research proposal, your academic record, and — critically for a PhD — whether you've already secured an academic supervisor willing to take you on, since most universities require a supervisor agreement in principle before they'll process a research degree application at all.

This makes RTP funding feel less like a competitive scholarship round with a fixed closing date and more like a resourcing decision that happens alongside your admission — which also means timelines can be less predictable and more dependent on finding the right supervisor match than on hitting a scholarship deadline.

Some universities layer additional named scholarships (destination-specific, faculty-specific, or donor-funded) on top of the base RTP allocation, effectively topping up either the stipend or the fee offset for particularly strong candidates.

What to check before you accept an offer

Read the specific funding letter, not just the admission offer. Confirm whether you're receiving a fee offset, a stipend, or both, the exact annual stipend amount and whether it's indexed during your candidature, the maximum duration of funding, and any conditions attached — such as maintaining full-time enrolment or satisfactory progress reviews.

Ask explicitly whether the stipend is taxable (RTP stipends are typically tax-free in Australia, but confirm this for your specific situation) and whether it affects your ability to work part-time alongside your research, since some funding conditions place limits on outside paid work.

If the offer doesn't include funding at all, ask directly whether other funded places might open up, whether a top-up scholarship exists at faculty level, or whether reapplying in a later round with a stronger proposal or a different supervisor might change the outcome — university research offices are generally used to this question and can usually give a straight answer.

Is the Research Training Program the same as a PhD scholarship?

Not exactly. RTP is the government funding scheme universities draw on to fund research places; individual universities then allocate that funding to specific PhD and research masters candidates, sometimes badged as a named scholarship and sometimes simply described as an RTP-funded place.

How much is the RTP stipend in 2026?

The government sets an indexed minimum rate each year, and published university rates as at 2026 commonly sit in the mid-$30,000s to low-$40,000s a year, tax-free — but the exact figure varies by university because many top up the base rate. Check the current published rate for the specific university and program you're applying to rather than relying on a figure from a previous year.

Can international students get RTP funding?

Yes, RTP funding is generally available to both domestic and international research students at eligible universities, though not every RTP-funded scholarship at every university is open to international applicants — check the eligibility criteria on the specific scholarship or program page.

Do I need a supervisor before applying for RTP funding?

For most PhD applications, yes — universities typically require an academic supervisor to agree to take you on, along with a research proposal, before your research degree admission (and therefore any linked RTP funding) can be processed.

Does an RTP stipend cover tuition fees too?

The stipend is a separate living allowance from the RTP Fees Offset, which covers tuition. Some students receive both, some receive only one — check exactly which components are included in your specific offer letter.