Charles Darwin University Research Training Program in Australia

Applications are now open for the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, a fully funded opportunity for students who want to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master by Research in Australia. The scholarship is open to a wide range of research fields, including health, engineering, environment, business, education, and many more. It is available to both domestic and international students.

It covers full tuition fees along with a generous yearly stipend, so successful applicants can focus fully on their research without financial stress. There is no application fee. Since candidates must be invited to apply by CDU’s HDR team, the exact deadline is notified individually rather than fixed on a single date each year, so interested students should reach out to CDU early to confirm timelines.You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here

Key Details:

• Program Type: Research Training Program
• Host Country: Australia
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Application Deadline: Notified individually by CDU after an applicant is invited to apply
• Open For: All nationalities
• Application Fee: None

What This Scholarship Offers:

• Full coverage of tuition fees, so students do not pay for their research degree
• A yearly tax free stipend to support living costs during the research period
• Additional allowances for relocation and related costs
• Support for study related expenses such as libraries, laboratories, computing resources, and technical staff assistance
• The chance to build skills valued in both academic careers and industry roles
• Opportunities to collaborate with universities, industry partners, and other research organisations
• A strong foundation for a future research career, backed by recognised qualifications from an Australian university

Also Check: CEFIPRA Indo-French Collaborative Scientific Research Programme 2026

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be a domestic or international student
• Meet CDU’s academic and English language entry requirements
• Be invited to apply by the CDU HDR (Higher Degree by Research) team
• Submit a complete RTP scholarship application by the notified deadline
• Not be receiving equivalent financial support from another source for your HDR studies

Also Check: Visiting Researcher Programme at CMRE NATO in Italy

How Applications Are Ranked:

CDU assesses and ranks applications using four main categories. Each carries a specific point value, and together they determine your competitiveness for the scholarship.

1. Qualifications and Academic Performance:

Maximum points: 4 for international applicants, 6 for domestic applicants

What CDU is looking for:

• A strong academic record, such as a high GPA, in a Bachelor’s, Honours, or Master’s degree
• Relevant research experience tied to your qualification

Minimum research activity requirements:

• Master by Research applicants need at least half a semester full time equivalent (FTE), or 20 credit points, of research activity at AQF Level 8 or above in a relevant course
• PhD applicants need at least one semester FTE, or 40 credit points, of research activity at AQF Level 8 or above in a relevant course

Evidence you should provide:

• Academic transcripts
• Officially translated documents (if originals are not in English)
• Grading system details from your institution
• Copies of theses
• Official unit and course outlines

Important notes:

• AQF refers to the Australian Qualifications Framework
• CDU’s grading system and international grade conversion details are available on CDU’s official grades page
• Ungraded qualifications will be assessed on a case by case basis
• All transcripts and theses must be officially translated into English before submission
• You are responsible for clearly showing which units in your degree involved research and their weighting, the grading system your institution uses, the level and length of any thesis, and evidence that a unit qualifies as research if its name is unclear, such as one simply called “Project”
• If you submit a thesis, CDU will assess it only using the documents you provide. CDU will not search institutional websites or other external sources for supporting information

2. Quality Research Publications and Non Traditional Research Outputs:

Maximum points: 4

What CDU is looking for:

• Recent, high quality, peer reviewed research publications where you are the first author or a co-author
• Non Traditional Research Outputs (NTROs), such as creative works, exhibitions, or performances, where relevant to your field

Evidence you should provide:

• A direct link to the published output, or an electronic copy of it
• Evidence of the output’s quality and impact

For traditional publications, include:

• Journal or conference rankings, such as Scimago or CORE
• Publisher details
• Evidence of peer review
• Full reference including a DOI link
• Evidence of publication

For NTROs, include:

• Documentation of research significance, such as an exhibition catalogue or artist statement
• Evidence of public dissemination, such as press coverage or program listings
• Confirmation from your intended supervisor that the output aligns with recognised standards in your discipline

Important notes:

• Quality matters far more than quantity. Listing many outputs without strong justification will not help your application
• Submit up to four outputs (including NTROs) that best showcase your research excellence
• Every output must include clear evidence of its quality, impact, and relevance to your field
• Outputs older than 10 years may be considered less competitive unless you make a strong case for their continued relevance
• If you are unsure whether your older outputs are stronger than newer ones, you may submit up to six outputs, but only the top four will be scored
• Only outputs that have been formally accepted for publication, are already in press, or are already published will be considered. Work still under review, in revision, or submitted but not yet accepted will not be assessed

3. Research Experience and Portfolio:

Maximum points: 2

What this covers:

• Broader research experience that is not already captured in Criteria 1 or 2, including research related employment at a reputable institution or organisation, and research outputs not submitted under Criterion 2

Evidence you should provide:

• Official verification from your employer
• A direct link to any published output, or an electronic copy, along with evidence of its quality and impact
• Researcher profiles, such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, or ORCID

Important note:

• All claims must be clearly documented. General statements without supporting evidence will not be considered

4. Strategic Priority Alignment

What this covers:

• Additional points or weighting may be awarded if your proposed research aligns with CDU’s strategic research priorities or institutional strengths

Also Check: ICGEB Collaborative Research Programme (CRP) Grants

How to Apply:

• Review CDU’s academic and English language entry requirements before applying
• Wait for an official invitation to apply from the CDU HDR team, since applications are by invitation only
• Prepare all required evidence, including academic transcripts, translated documents, research outputs, and any supporting proof of research experience
• Submit a complete application before the deadline given in your invitation
• Confirm with CDU that you are not receiving equivalent financial support from another source

Also Check: University of Cambridge, 8 Week Summer Research Studentship (Fully Funded)