Research scholarships

The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

The Australian Government RTP scheme provides funding for domestic and international students to undertake a higher degree by research at Notre Dame.

The scheme consists of three types of scholarships to be used for:

  • Tuition fees offset

    Domestic students with an offer in an HDR course at Notre Dame are exempt from having to contribute towards the cost of these courses. Notre Dame automatically assesses the eligibility for domestic students, and no application is required for this category. Recipients are exempt from paying fees for their program for a maximum of four years full-time equivalent study for a Doctoral research degree, and two years full-time equivalent study for a Master's research degree.

    International students can also apply for financial support through the Australian Government RTP, but a Tuition Fee Offset Scholarship is only available competitively.

  • Stipend

    This scholarship can assist HDR students with general living costs while undertaking a Research Degree. Stipend Scholarships are available to domestic and international HDR students on a competitive basis. New HDR and currently enrolled research students can apply for a Stipend Scholarship. Stipends are awarded for three years, with the possibility of a maximum of one semester’s extension subject to satisfactory progress to completion.

    Please find further information below in the Stipend scholarships section for information on how to apply.

  • Allowance

    This Scholarship can assist students with ancillary costs related to a Research Degree at Notre Dame. Applications for Allowances are approved by the Pro Vice Chancellor, Research (or delegate). Examples of allowances for consideration are research degree thesis printing and academic publication costs, relocation costs to undertake the research degree or a standard Overseas Health Cover policy for international students.

  • Applying for a scholarship

    The University offers the Australian Government RTP Scholarship through a competitive process.

    Eligibility

    Please refer to the Student Eligibility Requirements.

    Application closing date: Semester 2 RTP application will close on 10 May 2024.

    If the deadline has passed, HDR students can still apply for admission to the candidature only and apply for the scholarship as a current student per the eligibility above.

    Selection process

    The application is assessed competitively, based on the quality of the applicant (such as academic performance/evidence of research capability/relevant professional experience/quality of research project, alignment with the University Research Plan and Transformative Research Themes, Quality of the supervisory team, such as a record of successful supervision, supervisory load and complementary expertise. All scholarship applications will go through the UNDA selection process, and the applicants will be advised of the outcome in mid-November.

    Prospective students

    Please indicate “Yes” to “Are you interested in applying for a scholarship?” on your Expression of Interest Form, and the application will be automatically considered for RTP fees offset and stipend. If “Yes” was not selected but you wish to be considered for a scholarship, please contact Research Office for assistance.

    Current students

    Please complete the RTP Application Form (RTP application is closed for Semester 1, 2024) and submit it to Research Office by the Scholarship application closing date. You are requested to provide your progress for confirmation of candidature and progress review. Please attach these documents to your application. If you are unable to attach these, please provide the reason.

    Please contact hdr.scholarships@nd.edu.au

The Australian Government RTP Scholarship procedures and awards for all three types of scholarships are at the discretion of each individual University.

  • Other scholarships

    • Fulbright Scholarships

      The Fulbright Program is the flagship foreign exchange scholarship program of the United States of America, aimed at increasing binational collaboration, cultural understanding, and the exchange of ideas. Born in the aftermath of WWII, the program was proposed by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Since then the Fulbright Program has become the largest educational exchange program in the world, operating in over 160 countries and with an alumni network of over 370,000 former recipients (5,000 of them under the Australian-American program).

      Opportunities for Australian citizens:

      Opportunities for U.S. American citizens:

      Applications are now closed. 

      Contact our Fulbright Advisers in your campus.

      For further information please visit www.fulbright.org.au

      This grant requires internal clearance via the University Staff Research Grant Preliminary Clearance Form process before submission. Please contact the University Research Office now to express your interest to apply and for support in developing your application:

      Research Office
      Dr Qian Garrett
      Tel: 02 8204 4242
      Email: qian.garrett@nd.edu.au
    • Australian Government Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships

      The Australia Awards–Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are the Australian Government’s competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia.

      The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships build Australia’s reputation for excellence in the provision of education and research, support the internationalisation of the Australian higher education and research sectors and offer high-achieving Australians opportunities to increase their knowledge and expertise in their field.

      For further information please visit Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships.

    • The Rhodes Scholarship

      The purpose of this postgraduate Scholarship is to enable exceptional all-round students to study at the University of Oxford. Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship program. In Australia, one scholar is selected per state, with three additional scholars selected nationwide per year.

      For further information and for application details about the program, please visit the Rhodes Trust website or call Ms Carolyn Lonie on (08) 9433 0667 or email carolyn.lonie@nd.edu.au.

    • The Frank Downing Scholarship (Fremantle, Broome)

      The purpose of this Scholarship is to assist students with costs associated with a Master's degrees (except MBA) at Cambridge and is only available to applicants who are Australian citizens and have either graduated from a Western Australian university OR were born in Western Australia.

      For further information and for application details about the program, please visit the Cambridge Australia Scholarships website or call Ms Carolyn Lonie on (08) 9433 0667 or email carolyn.lonie@nd.edu.au.

    • The RG Menzies Scholarship

      The purpose of this Scholarship is to enable postgraduate study at Harvard University. Candidates for the Scholarship are Australian citizens whose primary objective, after completing their studies at Harvard, is to make a significant contribution to Australia's development.

      For further information and for application details about the program, please visit the Australian National University website or call Ms Carolyn Lonie on (08) 9433 0667 or email carolyn.lonie@nd.edu.au.

    • The Keiran McNamara World Heritage PhD Top-Up Scholarship

      The purpose of this Scholarship is to encourage and assist an eligible PhD student to undertake research at one of the five Western Australian universities. The scholarship aims to further knowledge and expertise relevant to the conservation and management of the natural values of World Heritage areas in Western Australia by attracting the next generation of outstanding intellects to this State.

      For further information and for application details please visit the University of Western Australia website.

    • The Forrest Research Foundation PhD Scholarship

      The Forrest Research Foundation is offering up to 9 prestigious three-year PhD scholarships to outstanding researchers from around the world to conduct paradigm-shifting research at any of Western Australia's five universities.

      These generous scholarships provide all tuition fees, a stipend and accommodation at Forrest Hall in a luxury self-contained studio apartment; all valued at over AU$270,000. Within Forrest Hall, you will live amongst other scholars in a vibrant and inspiring research environment.

      Who can apply?

      Open to candidates of any nationality, working on any subject. You will require an outstanding academic track record (minimum GPA of 3.8/4.0), be a creative thinker, excellent communicator, passionate researcher and wish to join this elite group of exceptional Forrest Scholars. We are driven by excellence, inclusivity and innovation.

      For more information visit Forrest Research.

    • The Capstone Editing Carer’s Travel Grant for Academic Women
    • The Capstone Editing Conference Travel Grant for Postgraduate Research Students

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR-students

    • The Charlie Perkins Scholarships

      The purpose of the Scholarship is to assist postgraduates of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent to study either at Oxford or Cambridge universities for up to three years.

      For further information and application details please visit the Perkins Trust website.