Australia’s government funding for international students runs through two main channels: the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s flagship Australia Awards program, and the national Research Training Program that funds PhD places at every major university.
The ten programs below show how that funding reaches students across the country.
1. Australia Awards Scholarships
Funded by the Australian government, the [Australia Awards Scholarships](/australia-awards-scholarships/) support students from partner countries across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, covering tuition, living costs, and airfare.
2. Destination Australia Program
Funded by the Australian government to support study outside major capital cities, the [Destination Australia Program](/destination-australia-program/) provides an annual payment toward tuition and living costs for students at regional campuses.
3. Australian Government Research Training Program
This national scheme allocates government-funded doctoral places to every major Australian university, with each institution then distributing tuition offsets and living stipends to admitted PhD candidates.
4. University of Melbourne Research Training Program Scholarship
Drawing on its share of national Research Training Program places, the [Melbourne Research Scholarship](/melbourne-research-scholarship/) funds doctoral candidates with a living stipend and tuition fee offset.
5. University of Sydney Research Training Program Scholarship
The [Sydney RTP Scholarship](/sydney-rtp-scholarship/) funds doctoral candidates with a government-backed living stipend and a full tuition fee waiver.
6. Macquarie International Research Training Program Scholarship
The [Macquarie IRTP Scholarship](/macquarie-irtp-scholarship/) covers tuition and provides a living stipend for international doctoral candidates, drawing on Macquarie’s Research Training Program allocation.
7. UNSW Research Training Program Scholarship
UNSW allocates its share of national Research Training Program places to incoming doctoral candidates, covering tuition and providing a living stipend for the length of the PhD.
8. Australian National University Research Training Program Scholarship
ANU distributes Research Training Program places to incoming doctoral candidates each year, covering tuition and a living stipend across its various research schools.
9. University of Queensland Research Training Program Scholarship
UQ funds doctoral candidates through its share of national Research Training Program places, providing a tuition offset and stipend for the length of the degree.
10. Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships
A dedicated stream within the broader Australia Awards program, this scholarship specifically supports students from Pacific Island nations pursuing study in Australia.
Because Research Training Program funding is allocated to universities rather than directly to individual students, the strength of a research proposal and a confirmed supervisor usually matters more than the formal scholarship application itself.
Because Australia Awards prioritizes candidates who already work in sectors connected to their country.’s development goals, applicants with relevant professional experience in government, education, or public health often have a real advantage over those applying straight from an undergraduate degree.
Research Training Program places are typically confirmed only after a university department agrees to supervise the proposed project, so reaching out to potential supervisors well before the formal application opens remains one of the most effective early steps.
Applicants should also budget realistically for the time it takes to finalize a Research Training Program place, since confirming a supervisor and finalizing a research proposal can take several months before a formal scholarship offer is even issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Research Training Program the same as a university scholarship?
It is the underlying federal funding mechanism, but each university distributes it under its own scholarship name and selection process.
Does Australia Awards cover every country?
No, it is limited to a defined list of partner countries across Asia, the Pacific, and parts of Africa, with specific priority fields set for each one.
Are Research Training Program places available for master’s students?
They are primarily reserved for PhD and research master’s candidates rather than coursework master’s students.
How many years does Research Training Program funding typically cover?
Most funds three to three and a half years of full-time doctoral study, occasionally with a short extension in specific circumstances.
Is Destination Australia only for international students?
No, it supports both domestic and international students studying at eligible regional campuses.
Can a student hold both an Australia Awards Scholarship and a Research Training Program place?
Generally no, since both are designed to be the primary source of funding and are not intended to be combined for the same period of study.
Do Pacific-specific scholarships have different eligibility rules?
Yes, Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships apply specific quotas and priorities for Pacific Island nations that differ from the broader Australia Awards program.