PhD Stipends and Research Scholarships in Australia and New Zealand (RTP and University Doctoral Awards)

Two different funding systems for doctoral study

Australia and New Zealand both fund research degrees (a PhD or a research master's, together called a Higher Degree by Research or HDR in Australia) generously, but they do it in different ways. This guide is a focused deep-dive on doctoral money — the stipend that covers your living costs, and the fee support that covers tuition — rather than a general postgraduate-funding overview.

In Australia the central mechanism is the Research Training Program (RTP), a Commonwealth scheme that flows to universities as a block grant. In New Zealand the headline feature is different: international doctoral students are charged the same tuition as domestic students, and then compete for university and government scholarships on the same footing as local candidates.

Amounts change every year and vary by institution, so this guide explains the structure. Always confirm the current stipend rate, fee level and closing dates on the official Department of Education page and your target university's scholarship page before you rely on any number.

Australia: the Research Training Program (RTP)

The RTP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and administered by each eligible university. Importantly, the government does not select students or take applications — universities run the application, selection and offer process. To apply, you contact your chosen university's graduate research office directly, usually as part of your HDR admission.

The RTP can provide three kinds of support, and a student may receive one or more of them. A university decides how to package them from its allocation.

• Fees offset — covers your HDR tuition. Where an RTP fees offset is awarded it fully offsets the course-fee liability, so many RTP-supported candidates study tuition-free.
• Stipend — a regular living-cost payment while you undertake the research degree.
• Allowances — help with ancillary costs (for example relocation, thesis or academic publication costs, or Overseas Student Health Cover for international students), as offered by the university.

RTP eligibility, tax and top-ups

Both domestic and international students enrolled in an accredited research doctorate or research master's at an eligible Australian university can be considered for RTP support. To receive an RTP fees offset you must not already hold an equivalent Australian Government award designed to offset your HDR fees.

For tax, the Department of Education notes that full-time RTP stipends are treated as tax-exempt provided the additional Australian Taxation Office (ATO) criteria are met, while part-time RTP stipends are taxable. This is general information, not tax or financial advice — check your situation with the ATO or a qualified adviser.

Many universities also fund their own doctoral scholarships and "top-up" scholarships (often for particular schools, projects or industry partners) that add to an RTP stipend. Because both the base stipend rate and top-up availability differ by university and change annually, treat any figure you see elsewhere as indicative and verify it on the provider's page.

New Zealand: the domestic-fee rate for international PhDs

New Zealand's flagship feature for doctoral candidates is a government funding scheme under which international PhD students pay the same annual tuition as New Zealand domestic PhD students — a substantial difference from master's or undergraduate international fees.

The key condition is residence: to keep the domestic fee rate you must live in New Zealand for the duration of your doctoral programme. Universities such as the University of Auckland state that you may still undertake research activities and conferences overseas, but only up to a cumulative total of no more than 12 months across the whole programme. Confirm the exact fee and the residence rule on your university's official doctoral-fees page.

New Zealand doctoral scholarships (stipend + fees)

Because international PhD students are treated as domestic for fees, they can also compete for the same university doctoral scholarships as local candidates. A typical university doctoral scholarship is competitive and provides a tax-free living stipend plus payment of tuition fees for a fixed term; the rate and term are set by each university.

At the national level, the New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarship (NZIDRS) is a government-supported award that covers tuition fees, a living stipend and health insurance. Availability, rounds and value are set by the administering bodies and change over time.

No scholarship is guaranteed — these awards are merit-based and heavily contested. Apply early, line up strong references and a clear research proposal, and check each award's current terms and deadlines on the official/university source.

• University doctoral scholarship — stipend + fees, awarded competitively by the university.
• NZIDRS — national award covering fees, a stipend and health insurance (check current rounds).
• College/faculty and project-specific scholarships — often advertised alongside a supervisor's funded project.

How to plan your doctoral funding

Start with the research, not the money: a strong fit with a supervisor and a fundable project is what unlocks most doctoral scholarships in both countries. Identify potential supervisors, then ask the graduate research office which scholarships you would be considered for and when the rounds close.

In Australia, apply for HDR admission and flag your interest in an RTP scholarship and any school top-ups. In New Zealand, confirm you meet the on-shore residence condition for the domestic fee rate, and apply for the university doctoral scholarship (and NZIDRS if a round is open).

Budget realistically. Even a full stipend is a living allowance, not a salary, and living costs vary by city. Read the general PhD and research-funding guides linked below for the wider picture, and always verify current stipend and fee figures before committing.