Obtaining funding

RTP scholarships are available to domestic and overseas students enrolled in an accredited HDR course at an Australian HEP. RTP scholarships are available for a maximum period of two years for a research masters. Under temporary arrangements being enacted in 2020 to reduce impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, this maximum period is being extended to two years and six months (full-time students), at the discretion of HEPs. 

RTP scholarships are available for a research doctorate degree for a minimum of three years, up to a maximum of four years, at the discretion of the HEP. Under temporary arrangements being enacted in 2020 to reduce impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, this maximum period is being extended to four years and six months (full-time students), at the discretion of HEPs. 

There are many full-time new awards across all faculties at UNSW each year. Allowances are indexed annually, and are non-taxable. A relocation allowance and a thesis allowance are also available, details on the Postgraduate Research Scholarships webpage.

A small amenities fee is payable for research MSc and PhD students at UNSW who are Australian or New Zealand citizens.

Please see Postgraduate Research Scholarship for more information.

School of Mathematics and Statistics top-up scholarships

The School of Mathematics and Statistics offers generous top-up scholarships for PhD students. They are awarded to holders of an RTP/UIPA Awards, and are valued at $5,000 per year or in line with the RTP/UIPA Scholarship.

Many research students studying in our school come from overseas - international students represent about half of our postgraduate research cohort, especially from Asia, Europe and the Americas.  A number of scholarships are offered to international students on a competitive basis.

International Postgraduate Awards (UIPA) are awarded on academic merit and research capacity to suitably qualified graduates from any country except Australia and New Zealand. The scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a living allowance, normally for a period of two years for a Masters research degree, and three and a half years for a PhD degree. Compulsory health insurance is covered for IPRS holders. Information on how to apply is available online. Further information may be obtained from the Graduate Research School.

International students from certain countries are eligible for a UNSW/home country joint scholarship.  Please follow the instructions carefully, these applications usually need to go through both UNSW and your home country and in the right sequence.

If your supervisor has a stipend to cover your living expenses, you may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Scholarship to cover your living expenses.  Supervisors most likely to have a stipend available are those recently awarded large research grants.

For students from certain developing countries, the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau provides John Crawford Scholarships. A brochure of such countries is available from Australian Embassies and Consulates. Note that in some countries applications close early in March. There are other forms of aid available to students from developing countries, such as scholarships from organisations like the World Bank. Information about these is available in the student's home country.

Students from some developed countries may be able to obtain scholarships for studying in other countries; information about these is available in the student's home country.

Please see Postgraduate Research Scholarship for more information.