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The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Domestic Stipend Scholarship provides a living allowance for high-quality higher degree by research candidates.
Stipend scholarships are awarded through a competitive process which considers academic merit, research experience and/or potential. Priority will be given to candidates completing a HDR program for the first time. Applications are especially encouraged from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those from diverse gender identities for discipline within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas
Domestic round dates
UniSC holds two RTP Domestic selection rounds a year
Applications will be accepted up to midnight AEST on the round closing date. Any applications received after this point will not be considered.
Scholarship applications will only be accepted during round open periods.
| Opens | Closes | Assessment | Outcomes sent | Acceptances due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 February | 22 March | April/May | 31 May onwards | 30 June |
| 1 August | 27 September | October/Nov | 13 December onwards | 30 December |
How to apply
- Applicants must provide two referee reports to support their application.
- Referees must have knowledge of the applicant's qualifications, level of skill and capacity for research.
- Referees must not be potential or current supervisors.
- If you are applying through a professional experience pathway, at least one referee must be able to comment on relevant work experience.
- Applicants must request their referees complete the referee report and return to the applicant for the applicant to upload as an attachment as part of their application by the round closing date.
- UniSC will not request these reports on your behalf. It is the applicants responsibility to request and attach the referee reports to their application.
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Read the HDR Scholarships - Awarding Guidelines prior to completing the application form. The guidelines provides details on the selection criteria and scoring matrix used to rank your application.
- Read the guide for the application portal here
- Applicants will create a profile on the online application platform and address the selection criteria and application questions on the platform. The Graduate Research School has prepared example responses in an exemplar document by the Dean of Graduate Research of de-identified recent successful applicants
- The Principal supervisor will be require to complete a supporting document as part of the application, this can be found here ensure that a completed version is included in the applications attachments section in the application platform
Prospective HDR applicants
Applicants must submit both a HDR program application and RTP Scholarship application by the round closing date if they wish to apply for a scholarship.
The RTP scholarship application portal is available here
If successful, future students will receive an offer for scholarship as part of their offer to program. Early outcomes for scholarships will not be available
Current UniSC HDR candidates
Students enrolled in or have already received their offer for admission to a HDR program at UniSC should complete their application on the scholarship platform available here
For further information refer to the Research Training Program Scholarship Schedule of Conditions and Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship- Operational Policy.
If you need assistance on how to apply, please contact UniSC Graduate Research School: researchtraining@usc.edu.au
- Eligibility
Prospective Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) applicants will simultaneously submit an application into a HDR program at the University of the Sunshine Coast. To be successful in scholarship application, applicants will require a successful admission into a HDR Program.
Current HDR UniSC applicants will require an active offer or enrolment in a HDR program.
- Selection criteria
Higher Degree by Research Scholarships - Awarding Guidelines
- Value
Stipend
AU$34,449.95 (2024 rate) per annum tax-free, paid in fortnightly instalments. The rate is indexed annually commensurate with the RTP base stipend rate.
Domestic candidates are automatically assessed for a fee offset as part of the HDR admission assessment process. For further information, refer to the Research Training Program (RTP) webpage.
Duration
Stipend is awarded for 3 years with a possibility of two 6-month extensions in approved circumstances for Doctoral programs and 1.5 years with the possibility of one 6-month extension in approved circumstances for Masters programs. Stipend payments will cease upon submission of thesis.
For continuing students, periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the scholarship will reduce the duration of the award tenure.
- Application
Refer to How to Apply Step 3 - Submit application