Top Australian Universities Offering Fully Funded Scholarships — Complete Guide for Students (deadlines, stipends, how & where to apply)

Planning to research or study in Australia with a fully funded scholarship? Good news — Australia’s top universities offer a wide range of fully funded scholarships (tuition + stipend ± allowances) for Masters-by-Research and PhD students. This guide walks you through what matters most: what the scholarships are, how much you can expect to receive, exact application routes, typical deadlines, and practical tips so you can apply like a pro.

I’ve focused on the largest, most reliable scholarship stream in Australia — the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) — and the main university-level research scholarships that are funded (or topped up) by each university. Where universities set their own stipend or rounds, I list those official figures and deadlines (with links to the source so you can double-check).

Quick essentials — what to expect overall

• The main federally funded research scholarships in Australia are distributed through the Research Training Program (RTP). RTP funds are administered by each university; you apply at the university, not to the government.

• RTP scholarships typically include: tuition fee offset, a living stipend, and sometimes allowances for relocation, thesis, conference travel or internships. Duration: 3–4 years for PhD, up to 2 years for research Masters (full-time).

• RTP stipend rates are set nationally and indexed annually. For 2025 the RTP base and maximum rates are published by the Australian Government (2025 base: $33,511; 2025 max: $52,352). Universities often top up the base RTP stipend or offer different centrally managed stipend amounts — check each university page.

How this guide is organized

For each university below I give:

1. The scholarship name(s) you’ll want (RTP / University research scholarships).

2. Typical stipend amount (official university page / RTP page).

3. Deadlines / application rounds (most research scholarships have rounds; dates below are the most recent posted by the universities).

4. How & where to apply (exact route).

5. Quick tips specific to that university.

1) Australian National University (ANU) — Canberra

Scholarships: 

ANU RTP / ANU University Research Scholarships (central HDR scholarships)

Typical Stipend: 

ANU RTP offers RTP stipend (indexed to government rates); ANU central scholarships often follow RTP rules (top-up amounts vary by faculty).

Deadlines / rounds: 

ANU usually runs central scholarship rounds. For international applicants, an early round often requires admission application by 31 August and later scholarship deadlines vary.

How to apply:

• Step 1: Identify a supervisor and program in ANU Courses.

• Step 2: Apply for admission via ANU’s online admissions portal before the relevant admission/scholarship cutoff.

• Step 3: Submit the scholarship application (central scholarship form) as instructed on the ANU scholarships page.
  Where apply: ANU Scholarships pages / ANU HDR pages.

Tip: ANU shortlists candidates centrally. Contact likely supervisors early and attach a clear 1-page research concept to your application.

2) University of Melbourne — Melbourne

Scholarships: Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) / Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships / Graduate Research Scholarships.

Typical stipend: 

The Melbourne Research Scholarship and RTP-linked scholarships list a living allowance of $38,500 per year (2025 full-time rate) for HDR students (amount indexed annually). Additionally, the Graduate Research Scholarship may include a full fee offset.

Deadlines / rounds: 

The Faculty and central rounds have multiple cutoffs (e.g., Course admission & scholarship rounds: Round 1 — 31 Oct 2025; Round 2 — 31 Jan 2026; Round 3 — 15 May 2026 — faculty dates may vary).

How to apply:

• Apply for admission to the relevant HDR degree via the University of Melbourne application portal.

• Complete any separate scholarship application required by the faculty or graduate school before the scholarship deadline.
  Where apply: University of Melbourne Scholarships website (Melbourne Research Scholarship / Graduate Research Scholarships).

Tip: Melbourne’s scholarships are highly competitive — a strong research proposal and supervisor backing significantly improves chances.

3) University of Sydney — Sydney

Scholarships: 

University of Sydney RTP / University of Sydney International Research Stipend Scholarships (USydIS) and other centrally managed HDR scholarships.

Typical stipend: University of Sydney lists a scholarship stipend figure of $41,753 per annum (2025 rate) for some international stipend scholarships.

Deadlines / rounds: Sydney operates multiple research periods (rounds). For research periods 1 & 2 (2026 intake), deadlines were listed as 12 September 2025; for periods 3 & 4 a later date (e.g., 19 December 2025).

How to apply:

• Apply for admission to a higher degree by research via Sydney Courses.

• Submit the scholarship application form by the scholarship deadline for the chosen research period.
  Where apply: University of Sydney scholarships pages and Sydney Courses portal.

Tip: University of Sydney grants include leave, parental leave provisions, and possible overseas research allowances — check the T&Cs on their PDF policy.

4) UNSW Sydney (University of New South Wales)

Scholarships: 

UNSW Scholarships for HDR students — RTP / UNSW Tuition Fee Scholarship / UNSW Stipend Scholarships.

Typical stipend:

 UNSW advertises various scholarships with stipend amounts around the RTP base rate, and specific tuition fee scholarships list amounts (example: one listed at $39,206 p.a. (2026 rate)).

Deadlines / rounds: UNSW operates scholarship rounds with cutoffs tied to term intakes. Example deadlines listed for Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 rounds vary.

How to apply:

• Apply for admission through UNSW’s HDR application system.

• Complete the scholarship application for central scholarships in the corresponding round.
  Where apply: UNSW Higher Degree Research scholarships pages.

Tip: UNSW has specific tuition fee scholarships that require separate nomination; check faculty pages for project-level scholarships.

5) Monash University — Melbourne

Scholarships: 

Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS) / Monash RTP scholarships / Faculty scholarships.
Typical stipend: Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS) 2025 rate listed as $36,063 p.a. (2025 rate) for full-time HDR students. Monash also manages RTP top-ups and other awards.

Deadlines / rounds: 

Monash runs multiple rounds across the year (centrally managed scholarships and faculty rounds).

How to apply:

• Apply for admission via Monash Online Applications.

• Submit scholarship application as part of the graduate research application process (or per the MGS rounds).
  Where apply: Monash Graduate Research Scholarships pages.

Tip: Monash lists the number of scholarships offered per round as variable — apply early and secure a strong supervisor endorsement.

6) The University of Queensland (UQ)

Scholarships: 

Graduate School Scholarships (UQGSS) — includes RTP-funded scholarships and UQ scholarships.

Typical stipend: 

UQ administers RTP stipends; exact scholarship amounts and rounds are posted each year.

Deadlines / rounds:

 UQ runs annual scholarship rounds — consult the UQ scholarships page for current closing dates.

How to apply: 

Apply for admission via UQ Online Applications and complete the scholarship application per the graduate school instructions.

Tip: UQ’s graduate research office provides templates and application support — use them to polish your research proposal.

7) The University of Adelaide

Scholarships: 

University RTP / Global Citizens / Faculty HDR scholarships.

Typical stipend: 
Adelaide administers RTP / university stipends consistent with Commonwealth guidelines.

Deadlines / rounds: 

For international applicants, Adelaide has merit rounds (example: Feb open – close 8 June 2025 for an international merit round; outcomes late August).

How to apply: 

Apply for admission via the University of Adelaide admissions portal and complete the scholarship application within the stated merit round.

Tip: Adelaide also lists international fee reduction scholarships for undergraduate and some postgraduate coursework students — these are not always full stipend awards.

8) The University of Western Australia (UWA)

Scholarships: 

RTP / UWA Research Scholarships and Faculty scholarships.

Typical stipend:

 UWA awards RTP stipends and sometimes offers top-ups.

Deadlines / rounds: 

UWA runs scholarship rounds; specific dates are on their scholarships page.

How to apply: 

Admission via UWA online, then apply for scholarships listed under UWA Graduate Research Scholarships.

Tip: UWA sometimes advertises project scholarships (supervisor-funded) — contact supervisors directly for funded project opportunities.

9) Other strong universities to consider

• University of Western Sydney / Western Sydney University — HDR scholarships via RTP rounds.

• University of Technology Sydney (UTS) — central HDR scholarships and research project scholarships.

• Queensland University of Technology (QUT) — research scholarships with RTP funding.

• University of Wollongong — central HDR scholarships and faculty awards.

How to apply — step-by-step (works for any Australian university)

1. Decide level & field — Masters by Research or PhD; pick supervisors and research groups.

2. Find projects & supervisors — University research pages, faculty staff profiles, or advertised PhD projects. Email 2–3 potential supervisors with a short tailored message + CV + 1-page research concept.

3. Prepare documents — academic transcripts, degree certificates, CV, academic references (usually 2–3), research proposal (1–3 pages for PhD), English proof (if required).

4. Apply for admission — use the university’s HDR/admissions portal before the admission cutoff for the scholarship round.

5. Apply for scholarship — complete the university scholarship application form (often separate from admission) and supply supporting documents and referees. Some universities require referee reports to be submitted by the scholarship close date.

6. Track deadlines & rounds — many universities run multiple rounds (e.g., Round 1, Round 2, Round 3). If you miss one, you may have a later round — but apply early.

7. After submission — expect an outcome by the dates listed on the scholarship pages. If shortlisted, you may be asked for clarifications or an interview.

Stipends & living costs — Realistic Expectations

• RTP base for 2025: $33,511 p.a. (base); RTP max $52,352. Universities may add top-ups or offer their own stipend amounts (e.g., University of Melbourne $38,500 listed for 2025 in some graduate scholarships; Monash MGS $36,063; University of Sydney listed stipend $41,753 for some awards). Always read the university’s scholarship T&Cs for the exact figure and included allowances.

These stipends are meant to cover basic living costs in Australia but you should budget carefully — major cities (Sydney, Melbourne) are more expensive than regional campuses.

Deadlines summary (How to Prioritize)

• Apply early: many universities require admission application before scholarship rounds close. Common early deadlines: August–October for many international scholarship rounds (ANU, UniMelb Round 1, etc.).

• University of Sydney: multiple research period deadlines (example: 12 Sep 2025 for some research periods).

• University of Melbourne: round deadlines (example: 31 Oct 2025; 31 Jan 2026; 15 May 2026 for faculty rounds).

• Monash: four rounds per year for Monash Graduate Scholarship.

• UQ / Adelaide / others: each university posts the scholarship closing dates on their graduate research pages — add them to your calendar as soon as possible.

Practical Application Checklist 

• Shortlist 4–6 universities and 6–10 potential supervisors.

• Prepare 1-page research concept and 2-page CV.

• Request 2–3 academic references early.

• Get official transcripts and certified copies ready.

• Obtain any Medium of Instruction (MOI) or English test results (if required).

• Apply for admission first (where required) at least 2–4 weeks before scholarship close.

• Submit scholarship application and ensure referees’ reports arrive before the deadline.

• Follow up politely with supervisors after submitting (one short email).

Useful Official Pages (Start Here — Bookmark them)

• Australian Government — Research Training Program (RTP) overview, stipend rates.

• University of Melbourne — Melbourne Research Scholarship & RTP pages.

• University of Sydney — RTP and University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship PDF.

• UNSW HDR scholarships & application rounds.

• Monash Graduate Scholarships (MGS).

• UQ Graduate School Scholarships (UQGSS).

• University of Adelaide — research scholarships & merit rounds.

Final Tips — Stand Out and Get Funded

1. Start early and plan rounds — scholarships are competitive; earlier rounds can be less crowded.

2. Find the right supervisor — a supervisor who supports your application is the single most important factor. Email them with a crisp message and your 1-page concept.

3. Polish your research statement — clarity beats length. One page for PhD intent + 1 page for methods is fine for initial contact.

4. Make referees your allies — ask referees early and give them a deadline at least two weeks before the scholarship closing date.

5. Double-check the small print — stipend inclusions, parental leave, external allowances, and overseas research rules differ by university.