ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must: 

Be a domestic or international student*.

Meet CDU’s academic and English language entry requirements.

Be a current Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student** in their first year (FTE) of candidature or have a CDU offer for CDU HDR admission to commence in 2026.

Submit a complete RTP scholarship application by the advertised closing date.

Not be receiving equivalent financial support from another source for HDR studies. 

Domestic students are Australian citizens, permanent residents or New Zealand citizens); International students are all others that do not fit those criteria.  

At CDU HDR programs include Doctor of Philosophy and Master by Research only. 

BENEFIT:

Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential to undertake an HDR at an Australian university and are not automatically granted to all students. The scholarships are provided to assist with general living costs.

AU$34,190 (2025 rate) per annum tax-free for full-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.

AU$17,095 (2025 rate) per annum, taxable, for part-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.

Three years full-time for a doctoral degree and two years for research Master’s degree. 

You must be enrolled in an accredited HDR course of study at an Australian Higher Education Provider (HEP) and demonstrate exceptional research potential to undertake an HDR.

You must not receive income from another source to support your general living costs while enrolled in a course of study if that income is greater than 75% of the RTP stipend rate.

Please note income unrelated to your course of study or income received for your course of study but not for the purpose of supporting general living costs is not considered.

Additional benefits include:

paid sick leave

maternity leave

relocation allowance. The relocation allowance for RTP stipend recipients is up to $2,000 for domestic students and $2,500 for international students. Conditions apply.