The Australian National University (ANU) offers the Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship to support domestic and international students pursuing Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, this scholarship aims to promote advanced research and academic excellence by providing financial assistance to outstanding postgraduate researchers. The RTP Stipend Scholarship enables students to undertake full-time research degrees at ANU while receiving financial support for living expenses. The program is highly competitive and awarded based on academic merit and research potential. Overview of the Scholarship The RTP Stipend Scholarship is designed to support students pursuing postgraduate research degrees, including PhD and other Higher Degree Research programs. Each year, ANU conducts central scholarship rounds to allocate funding through the RTP and other university-managed research scholarships. Key objectives of the scholarship include: Supporting high-achieving research students. Promoting innovative academic research aligned with ANU priorities. Encouraging international collaboration and global research engagement. Strengthening Australia’s research and innovation capacity. Scholarship Value and Benefits Successful recipients receive a comprehensive financial package to support their research studies. Key benefits include: Annual stipend: AUD $39,069 per year (2026 full-time base rate). Payment schedule: Fortnightly payments to support living costs. Duration: Up to 3.5 years for full-time research programs. Extension: A possible 6-month extension subject to approval. This funding helps scholars focus on their research without financial constraints while pursuing advanced academic work at ANU. Eligibility The scholarship is available to a wide range of candidates pursuing research programs at ANU. Eligible applicants include: Domestic students in Australia. International students applying to ANU research programs. Prospective students applying for HDR admission. Current ANU students who recently commenced research programs. Eligibility conditions follow the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017, which outline the requirements for the RTP scholarship scheme. ANU also applies its own RTP Policy and Procedures to manage scholarship selection and administration. Selection Criteria Scholarship recipients are selected through a competitive ranking process. Candidates are evaluated according to several factors to determine eligibility and ranking. Selection is primarily based on: Academic merit and academic achievements. Research potential and alignment with ANU priorities. Availability of a qualified research supervisor. Confirmation that adequate research resources and facilities are available. Alignment of the proposed research with ANU’s strategic research areas. Only the highest-ranked candidates who meet these requirements are offered scholarships. Scholarship Application Rounds ANU conducts two central scholarship rounds each year. These rounds determine when candidates can apply and when they can begin their research program. Round 1 (Main Round) International applicants: Deadline 31 August each year. Domestic applicants: Deadline 31 October each year. Commencement: Between January and March of the following year. This round is the largest scholarship intake and is intended primarily for new HDR students beginning their research in the next academic year. Round 2 (Smaller Round) Application deadline: 15 April each year. Commencement: By 31 August of the same year. This round provides a second opportunity for candidates who wish to begin their research program within the same year. Application Process There is no separate application form for the RTP Stipend Scholarship for most applicants. Instead, candidates apply through the HDR admission process. Steps to apply include: Submit an application for admission to a Higher Degree Research program at ANU. During the application process, select the scholarships you wish to be considered for, including the RTP Stipend Scholarship. Ensure that all academic documents, research proposals, and references are submitted before the scholarship deadline. Note: Current ANU research students who recently commenced their studies may apply using a special HDR Scholarship Consideration Request Form. Ongoing Eligibility Recipients must maintain strong academic performance to continue receiving the scholarship. Conditions for continued funding include: Maintaining satisfactory academic progress in the research program. Meeting all university research milestones and requirements. Complying with ANU policies related to postgraduate research. Failure to meet academic requirements may result in suspension or termination of the scholarship. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the scholarships. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.