Research Stipend Scholarships

RMIT has two stipend scholarships available. The RTP Stipend Scholarship (RSS) and the RMIT Research Stipend Scholarship (RRSS).

RSS scholarships are funded by the Australian government and RRSS scholarships are funded by RMIT University. When you apply for a research scholarship through one of the University’s rounds, you will automatically be considered for all the scholarships for which you are eligible.

2023 research scholarships Scholarship applications are now being accepted for commencement of study in March 2023. To be considered for commencement in March 2023, the following deadlines apply:

• 15 September for international applicants and applicants for the Vice Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship (VCPS) scheme
• 14 October for domestic applicants. Applicants who would like to be considered for a VCPS must also complete the VCPS Expression of Interest form at the same time.

Scholarship applicants must provide the names of academic staff who have agreed to supervise your research and upload correspondence from the staff member indicating agreement to provide supervision when completing the Expression of Interest (EOI). Your application may be unsuccessful if you fail to do this.

Scholarship applications will be assessed from 1 July. There may be strong competition to for places in some of the research projects on offer.

Applicants are advised to start the application process and submit their application well in advance of these advertised deadlines

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a competitive selection process that ranks applicants according to their academic achievement, research outputs and relevant professional experience.

Priority is given to applicants who:

• have achieved a high distinction in the final two years of the qualifying program(s). At RMIT, a grade of high distinction represents an academic achievement of 80% or higher
• may be considered by RMIT as having an equivalent level of academic attainment, taking into account previous study, relevant work experience, research publications and other research experience
• are able to take receipt of a scholarship for a minimum 12 months duration on a full-time basis (or part-time equivalent) because of prior enrolment in a graduate research program
• have not already completed a graduate research program at the same or higher course level. For example, Masters by Research applicants should not have already completed a Masters by Research or PhD
• an applicant must not previously have held an RMIT or Commonwealth-funded postgraduate research scholarship unless it was terminated within six months of the scholarship’s payments commencing
• are or will be enrolled and primarily based at an RMIT Australian campus. International applicants must meet English language requirements by the application closing date to be considered for a scholarship.

Part-time applications from local applicants may be approved if applicants are able to demonstrate exceptional circumstances as specified in the Research Scholarship Terms and Conditions. Scholarships provided to candidates enrolled on a part-time basis are not tax exempt.

Currently enrolled candidates applying for a scholarship or candidates transferring to RMIT from another institution must have at least 24 months (or part time equivalent) for PhD and 12 months for Masters by research candidature remaining from the commencement of the scholarship.

You will be considered ineligible for a stipend scholarship if:

• you are applying for or undertaking a Masters by Research and you already hold a Research Doctorate, Research Masters or an equivalent research qualification
• you are applying for or undertaking a Research Doctorate and you already hold a Research Doctorate or an equivalent research qualification
• you have previously held a Commonwealth-funded postgraduate research scholarship unless it was terminated within six months of the scholarship commencement date, or
• you are currently receiving another equivalent award, scholarship or research related salary providing a benefit greater than 75% of the annual value of the stipend this scholarship provides.