Deakin University offers two premier scholarship programs designed to support exceptional students pursuing Higher Degree by Research (HDR) qualifications. The Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship, backed by the Australian Government, and the Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPRS), funded directly by the university, provide comprehensive financial support for both domestic and international candidates embarking on doctoral and research master's programs.
Understanding the Scholarship Programs
Research Training Program (RTP) The RTP represents the Australian Government's flagship initiative for supporting research degree candidates. This nationally competitive program identifies and funds the most promising researchers across all disciplines, ensuring Australia maintains its position as a global research leader.
Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPRS) As Deakin's institutional complement to the RTP, DUPRS provides additional opportunities for exceptional candidates whose research aligns with the university's strategic priorities. This program demonstrates Deakin's commitment to fostering research excellence beyond government-funded positions.
Both scholarships operate through highly competitive selection processes that evaluate candidates based on academic merit, research potential, publication records, and relevant professional experience.
Comprehensive Financial Support
Annual Living Stipend Recipients receive a tax-free stipend of AUD 35,550 annually (2025 rate), providing substantial support for living expenses throughout the research journey. This stipend is indexed annually and designed to allow full-time focus on research without additional employment pressures.
Complete Tuition Coverage The scholarships provide full tuition fee offsets for the entire duration of study—up to four years for doctoral programs and two years for research master's degrees. This comprehensive coverage removes one of the most significant barriers to advanced research education.
Relocation and Settlement Support New recipients can access relocation allowances ranging from AUD 500 to AUD 1,500, depending on the distance of their move. This support acknowledges the practical challenges of relocating for research opportunities.
Health Insurance Coverage International students receive Single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their visa, ensuring access to essential healthcare services throughout their studies.
Duration and Renewal
PhD Candidates Receive up to three years of stipend support with the possibility of a six-month extension in exceptional circumstances, plus four years of tuition fee coverage to accommodate comprehensive research projects.
Research Master's Students Benefit from two years of complete support, allowing sufficient time for substantial research contributions while maintaining progression toward doctoral studies if desired.
Eligibility Framework
Academic Prerequisites Candidates must demonstrate completion of at least four years of tertiary education with exceptional academic performance, particularly achieving 80% or higher in research-focused components. This requirement ensures recipients possess the foundational knowledge necessary for advanced research.
Research Alignment Applicants must be enrolled or planning enrollment in an HDR program at Deakin University, with research proposals that align with the university's strategic research directions and supervisor expertise.
Current Student Considerations Currently enrolled HDR candidates remain eligible provided they have not exceeded three years of doctoral study or two years of research master's work, calculated on a full-time equivalent basis.
Financial Restrictions Recipients cannot simultaneously hold other Commonwealth-funded HDR scholarships, and any external income for living support must not exceed 75% of the stipend rate, ensuring the scholarship serves its intended purpose.
Application Timeline and Process
International Candidates
- February 2026 intake deadline: August 24, 2025
- Applications require significant lead time for visa processing and planning
Domestic Candidates
- February 2026 intake deadline: October 24, 2025
- Additional mid-year intake opportunities with earlier deadlines (typically March for July commencement)
Application Requirements Successful applications must include comprehensive research proposals demonstrating feasibility and innovation, official academic transcripts showing consistent high performance, professional references from academic supervisors or industry leaders, and detailed curriculum vitae highlighting research experience and publications.
Strategic Advantages
Research Environment Deakin University provides access to state-of-the-art research facilities across diverse disciplines including business innovation, health sciences, STEM fields, humanities research, environmental studies, and emerging technologies. The university's collaborative approach connects researchers with industry partners and international networks.
Career Development Recipients benefit from structured professional development programs, mentorship opportunities, and industry engagement initiatives that prepare graduates for leadership roles in academia, industry, and government sectors.
Post-Graduation Outcomes Deakin's research graduates demonstrate exceptional employment outcomes, with high rates of placement in academic positions, industry research roles, and policy-making organizations both domestically and internationally.
Research Areas and Opportunities
Deakin University's research excellence spans multiple domains, offering opportunities in artificial intelligence and data science, sustainable development and environmental research, health innovation and medical technology, business transformation and social enterprise, advanced manufacturing and materials science, and education and social policy research.
Application Strategy
Supervisor Engagement Early identification and engagement with potential supervisors significantly enhances application success. Prospective candidates should research faculty members whose expertise aligns with their research interests and establish preliminary discussions about project feasibility and resource availability.
Proposal Development Successful research proposals demonstrate clear innovation, methodological rigor, realistic timelines, alignment with Deakin's research strengths, and potential for significant scholarly and practical impact.
Academic Excellence Maintaining strong academic performance throughout previous studies remains fundamental to selection success, as these scholarships prioritize candidates with demonstrated research aptitude and academic achievement.
Application Process
Submit applications through Deakin University's dedicated HDR scholarship portal, ensuring all required documentation is complete and submitted before the specified deadlines. Late applications cannot be considered due to the competitive nature of these programs.
Access the official application portal at: https://www.deakin.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/rtp-and-duprs
Long-term Impact
The RTP and DUPRS scholarships represent more than financial support—they provide pathways to research leadership and innovation that extend far beyond the degree completion. Recipients join a distinguished community of scholars contributing to knowledge advancement and practical solutions for global challenges.
These comprehensive funding packages eliminate financial barriers to research excellence, enabling complete focus on discovery, innovation, and scholarly contribution while building the foundation for influential careers in research and development across all sectors of society.
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