Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (Fully Funded)

The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (AGRTPS) is designed to support international students pursuing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) at Flinders University, Australia. This prestigious and highly competitive scholarship offers financial support, including a living stipend, tuition fee offset, and Overseas Health Care cover. You can also check PhD positions here.

Key Details

• Scholarship Value: $35,010 per year (2025 rate, tax-free)
• Duration: Up to 3.5 years for a Research Doctorate
• Payment Terms: Paid fortnightly
• Closing Date: 18 August 2025
• Student Type: International students (excluding New Zealand citizens and Australian citizens/permanent residents)
• Level of Study: Higher Degrees by Research (PhD or Master of Arts by Research)
• Additional Benefits:
  • Tuition fee offset for up to 4 years via a Research Training Program (RTP) place.
  • Establishment allowance of up to $1,485 for relocation and airfare costs (with receipts) for students moving to Adelaide from overseas.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the AGRTPS, you must meet the following requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of any country except New Zealand and not hold Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or New Zealand citizenship.
• First-Time HDR Study: Intend to commence full-time study for a higher degree by research in Australia for the first time in the award year. Exceptions may apply if you:
  • Started your HDR in the previous year but couldn’t apply for the AGRTPS due to admission timing.
  • Terminated an HDR enrolment within six months of starting.
• Research Area: Plan to enroll in an area of research concentration at Flinders University, where the university has significant expertise and external funding.
• English Proficiency: Meet Flinders University’s English language proficiency requirements for HDR candidature at the time of application.
• Academic Requirements: Satisfy all entry requirements for a higher degree by research.

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Note: Full eligibility details are available in the Conditions of Award.

Selection Criteria

The AGRTPS is awarded based on:

• Academic Merit: Strong academic performance and research training.
• Research Potential: Demonstrated aptitude for independent research, evaluated through publications, academic transcripts, and referee reports.

Applications are ranked according to Flinders University’s Guidelines for Ranking Postgraduate Research Scholarship Applications. Priority is given to candidates undertaking an HDR for the first time. In 2025, successful applicants typically scored the maximum 25 points for publications, submitting 5 high-quality publications.

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Benefits

• Living Stipend: $35,010 per year (2025 rate, tax-free) for up to 3.5 years.
• Tuition Fee Offset: Covers tuition fees for up to 4 years via an RTP place.
• Establishment Allowance: Up to $1,485 for relocation and airfare costs (with receipts) for students moving to Adelaide from overseas.
• Overseas Health Care Cover: Provided to support international students’ health needs in Australia.

How to Apply

Applying for the AGRTPS involves two key steps: admission to an HDR program and scholarship application. Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Apply for Admission

• International Applicants: Submit an application for admission to a Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Master of Arts by Research) via Studylink.
• Existing Applicants: If you already have a valid offer of admission for an HDR at Flinders, you do not need to reapply for admission.
• Registration: Complete your registration on Studylink to receive a Flinders student ID (generated within 1 hour of registration).

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Step 2: Apply for the Scholarship

1. Activate Your Account: Use your Flinders student ID and date of birth to activate your account at activate.flinders.edu.au. You will receive a Flinders Authentication Name (FAN).
2. Submit Scholarship Application:
   • Log in to your OKTA dashboard via the Flinders University website.
   • Navigate to the Student System, select the My Scholarship tab, and click Create a new scholarship application.
   • Select 2025 and choose the International RHD Scholarship Group.
3. Reactivating FAN: If you studied at Flinders more than 12 months ago or previously applied, reactivate your FAN via the FAN reactivation page.

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Application Requirements

To ensure a complete and competitive application, include the following:

1. Research Supervisor

• Secure an informal agreement from an academic staff member at Flinders University to supervise your research.
• Include email evidence of the supervisor’s agreement with your application.
• Note: Applications without a supervisor’s agreement will not be considered.

2. Publications

• Submit up to 5 publications to demonstrate your research quality in your intended study area.
• Each publication requires a completed coversheet (publications without coversheets will not be considered).
• If you have more than 5 publications, consult your supervisor to select the top 5 and explain why these were chosen.
• Publications must be in English (exceptions for specific cases, e.g., government reports in another language) and no older than 5 years.
• Applicants without publications are unlikely to be competitive due to the scholarship’s highly competitive nature.

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3. Academic Transcripts

• Provide certified copies of all university-level academic transcripts, translated into English.
• Do not include secondary school certificates or non-educational awards.

4. Research Proposal

• Submit a 500-word research proposal outlining the problem, hypothesis or question, and methodology or approach.

5. Academic Referees

• Provide two Academic Referee’s Confidential Report forms completed by referees who can assess your academic ability and research potential.
• Complete Section A of the forms and send them to your chosen referees.
• Referees must return the reports to [email protected] by 18 August 2025.
• Indicate on your application form who the referee reports have been sent to.

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6. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Submit an updated CV detailing:
  • Work experience.
  • All research experience.
  • A full list of cited publications (additional publications beyond the top 5 can be listed here without coversheets).

7. Format & Language

• All documents must be in English, saved as PDFs, and uploaded via the application portal.
• Ensure documents are correctly oriented and named with your family name and document type (e.g., Smith_Transcript.pdf, Smith_Publication1.pdf).

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Important Notes

• Incomplete Applications: Will not be accepted. Use the application checklist to ensure all requirements are met.
• Application Deadline: Monday, 18 August 2025 (Australian Central Standard Time).
• Contact Information:
  • For application process queries, email [email protected].
  • For HDR candidature queries, contact the Office of Graduate Research via AskFlinders.
• Competitive Nature: Due to the limited number of scholarships (up to 6), strong academic merit and research output (e.g., publications) are critical for success.