Research fees
Read about our higher degree by research fees and find out whether you’re eligible for a government-funded Domestic Fee Offset Scholarship.
Scholarships and fees
Research Training Program (RTP) funding comes from the Australian Government but is managed by individual universities. If you're eligible for an RTP-funded place, you can study a higher degree by research for free. If not, you may have to pay full tuition fees.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be doing a masters by research course or a PhD and be either:
- an Australian citizen
- an Australian permanent resident
- a New Zealand citizen
or - a Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) holder.
If you’re eligible, you may be offered a Domestic Fee Offset Scholarship. This means you won’t have to pay any tuition fees up front or accrue a HELP debt for the stated duration of the course. However, if your RTP-funded term expires before you submit your thesis, you may have to pay the full tuition fee until you complete your course.
The PhD funded term is three years (full time) but students may request an RTP funding extension. The masters by research funded term is two years (full time) and no RTP funding extension applies.
Externally funded and co-funded industry scholarships are offered during the year in specific research areas. If you receive one of these, you'll automatically get an RTP-funded Domestic Fee Offset Scholarship as well.
If you do have to pay tuition fees, the amount will depend on your research area and course duration. Please refer to page 6 of the 2024 International Student Tuition Fee Schedule (PDF, 300 KB).