Federation University Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship 2026

Federation University is offering Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship to students seeking to undertake a research degree at the university.

RTP Stipend Scholarships are limited, which means you won't automatically receive one just because you meet the eligibility criteria. Applications are assessed and ranked on merit, and stipends are awarded to the highest-ranked applicants. 

Only domestic students can apply – if you're an international candidate, see our other stipend scholarship opportunities.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJuly 6, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorFederation University Australia
• City to studyVictoria
• School to studyFederation University Australia
• Eligible CountryAustralia , New Zealand

Benefits

• The stipend is $40,000 per year, tax-free. It's paid in fortnightly amounts of $1,532.46 and is designed to help with the cost of living.
• The tuition fees (up to $33,500 per year) will be covered by the Research Training Program Fee-Offset Scholarship.

Requirements

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must be: 

• an Australian citizen 
• a permanent humanitarian visa holder 
• an Australian permanent resident 
  or
• a New Zealand citizen.

Both prospective and current HDR candidates can apply. Current PhD candidates must be within two years of candidature. Current Master of Philosophy students must be within six months of candidature.

Selection Process

The Graduate Research School uses a set of criteria to rank applications, but also aims to award scholarships to a diverse range of new and existing candidates. Most scholarships are awarded to PhD candidates, although Master of Philosophy candidates are still eligible. Applicants who don't already have a PhD may be given priority over those who do.

The Graduate Research School Board (GRSB) operates in accordance with the University's fair and transparent decision-making guidelines. 

Ranking criteria

Academic performance (qualifying degree or honours equivalency case)

• Points are awarded for results or the strength of the honours equivalency case.
• If publication/s and/or research output/s have been used to build an honours equivalence case and demonstrate eligibility, they will not be included in the research uutputs section.

Research performance

• Only refereed research outputs within the last ten years will be included.
• Journal articles that have been published in a journal that is indexed in a reputable database will attract more points than those published in journals that are not indexed.
• DOIs must be provided for any research output to be considered.
• Creative outputs will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Disciplinary excellence

• Applicants who have contributed to a discipline that is aligned with their research project may be awarded points for activity (within the last ten years) that extends beyond normal paid employment or demonstrates disciplinary expertise (such as authoring a response to white papers, creating professional development programs or providing expert commentary in the media).
• Evidence must be provided for examples of disciplinary excellence. 

Research strategy, equity and supervisory support

• Applicants are encouraged to have a full supervisory panel in place to support their application. They should discuss this aspect with their proposed principal supervisor.
• Projects that align to the University Research Strategy may attract additional points. 

Selection timeline

1. All prospective candidate applications will be assessed for eligibility for admission to candidature by the Graduate Research School. 
2. Eligible applications will be ranked according to the criteria above.
3. Successful applicants will be notified in writing. 
4. Applicants who are ineligible for candidature will be notified.
5. Applicants who are eligible for candidature but were unsuccessful in obtaining a stipend scholarship will be notified and asked if they wish to be considered for a PhD or Master of Philosophy candidature supported by an RTP fee-offset scholarship only. 
6. Offers of admission for applicants applying for candidature supported by an RTP fee-offset scholarship only will be issued (if approved by the Graduate Research School).

Application Deadline

How To Apply

For more information, kindly visit Federation University Scholarship webpage.