Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship (VCPS)

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and research potential to local and international candidates undertaking a research doctoral degree.

The Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships (VCPS) are funded by RMIT University. The university will provide 10 VCPS for commencement in 2023. Applications must be received by 15 September.

All scholarship applications must include evidence of contact with the proposed senior supervisor. This should be uploaded as an additional document with your application. You must provide the names of academic staff who have agreed to supervise your proposed research in the relevant section of application, along with email evidence of support.

The VCPS provides the following benefits to recipients:

• a stipend of $44,737 per annum pro rata (full-time study) which represents a generous RMIT top-up of approximately $15,000 above the RTP rate
• a research support allowance of $5,000 per annum to support research activities
• International candidates in receipt of this scholarship are also awarded an RMIT Research International Tuition Fee Scholarship (RRITFS)
• All local candidates, Australian and New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of Australia are provided with an RTP Fee Offset scholarship. Applicants in receipt of an RTP Fee Offset scholarship are not required to pay tuition fees for the maximum duration of their candidature
• a relocation allowance for the cost of relocating in order to take up their postgraduate research program, up to $515 per adult and $255 per child to a maximum of $1,540
• paid sick, maternity and parenting leave (within the limits of the Scholarship Terms and Conditions).
• if you are an international candidate, you will also receive the cost of an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy for your visa duration.

The duration of a Vice Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship is three and a half years full-time. This will be reduced by any periods of study undertaken towards an equivalent research degree prior to the commencement of the program at RMIT University.

VCPS 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.

To be considered for a VCPS scholarship you must hold, or be currently completing:

• a Master by Research
• a Master by Coursework with a significant research component graded as high distinction, or equivalent
• an Honours degree achieving first-class Honours
• a 4 year bachelor degree achieving a GPA of 4 or equivalent (80% or above).

If you do not hold one of the above qualifications, you will only be considered for scholarship if you have previous publications or significant research experience. All other applicants will be considered ineligible.

In addition to the above, to be eligible for this scholarship you must:

• be an Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia, or an international candidate who is commencing in an RMIT PhD program from 1 January 2023
• have applied for a full-time PhD program at RMIT. Part-time VCPS may be approved for candidates with exceptional circumstances (e.g. for medical reasons or due to significant care commitments). Part-time scholarships are not tax exempt. Please refer to the Scholarship Terms and Conditions for further details.

You will be considered ineligible for a VCPS if:

• you have already commenced your PhD program at RMIT
• you already hold a research doctorate, or an equivalent research qualification
• you are currently receiving another equivalent award, scholarship or research related salary providing a benefit greater than 75% of the 2022 RTP base rate to undertake the research degree
• you have not met the English requirements by the published scholarship deadline (international only).