Research Training Program
Find out more about Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarships and whether you are eligible.
The Research Training Program (RTP) is a dedicated pool of funding provided by the Australian Government under the Higher Education Support Act to support domestic and international students undertaking research doctorate and research master's degrees.
The RTP Scholarship includes Tuition Fees Offsets and living allowances. RTP Tuition Fees Offsets are automatically provided to all domestic HDR students, without the need for a competitive application process, and to selected international HDR students, on the basis of a competitive application process. RTP living allowances, or stipends, are provided to a limited number of selected domestic and international students, via a competitive process.
View the UWA Policy on Australian Government RTP Scholarships.
- Australian Government Domestic RTP Fees Offset Scholarship Conditions
- Australian Government International RTP Fees Offset Scholarship Conditions
- Australian Government RTP Stipend Conditions
What is a domestic student?
For the purpose of the Research Training Program, a domestic student is an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident or a New Zealand citizen who is enrolled in a higher degree by research course.
What is the difference between the RTP Fees Offset Scholarship and the RTS?
The Research Training Scheme (RTS) was introduced on 1 September 2000. The RTS provided block grants to eligible higher education institutions to support research training for students undertaking doctorates and master’s by research. It applied for up to four years full-time equivalent for a doctorate by research and two years full-time equivalent study for a master's by research.
On 1 January 2017 the Research Training Program (RTP) replaced the RTS, the Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) and International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS).
The RTP provides Fees Offset Scholarships to domestic students undertaking doctorates and master’s by research. Students approved for Fees Offset Scholarships are normally entitled to up to four years full-time equivalent for a doctorate by research and two years full-time equivalent study for a master's by research.
This entitlement is subject to the student making satisfactory progress and may vary depending on individual circumstances.
The RTP also provides a limited number of Fees Offset Scholarships for international students who are selected via a competitive process.
In addition, the RTP provides a limited number of living allowance scholarships for domestic and international students who are selected via a competitive process.
What is the value of the RTP Fees Offset Scholarship?
The annual value of the RTP Fees Offset Scholarship at UWA is approximately $33,500, and is subject to change in future years.
Do domestic students have to pay a fee for higher degree by research courses?
Not at UWA. At this stage the University has agreed that no fees will be charged to any domestic student admitted to UWA for a higher degree by research.
However, the Government allows universities to charge fees to students who exhaust their funding entitlement and continue their enrolment. The fee to be imposed will be at the discretion of the institution. Institutions may also provide research training on a fee-paying basis to students not granted an RTP place. The fee to be imposed will also be at the discretion of the institution.
This information may be subject to change without notice. Changes may either be to the Department of Education policy or to the University's policy.