University of Sydney Australian Government RTP Master Scholarship 2026 – Full Tuition + $42,754 Stipend

Scholarship Description

The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship at the University of Sydney is a prestigious, fully funded research scholarship funded by the Australian Government. It is designed to support outstanding domestic and international students pursuing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR), including a Master's by Research.

The RTP Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, covering full tuition fees, a generous living stipend, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for international students, and additional allowances for relocation and thesis costs. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account academic merit, research experience, and the quality of the research environment and supervision. The University of Sydney is one of Australia's leading research institutions, making this scholarship an exceptional opportunity to conduct world-class research in a vibrant academic community.

Scholarship Location

The scholarship is tenable at the University of Sydney in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Research is conducted across the university's faculties and research centres, with the main campus located in Camperdown/Darlington. Summer internships and research placements are undertaken within the university's facilities.

Scholarship Deadline

The RTP Scholarship application has multiple deadlines depending on the intended research period. For the 2026/2027 cycle, the key deadlines are 11 September 2026 for Research Periods 1 & 2, 2027, and 18 December 2026 for Research Periods 3 & 4, 2027.

Note: Applications for admission and the scholarship must be submitted by the deadlines outlined in the Application and Award Timeline. Late applications will not be accepted.

Host Institution

University of Sydney – Australia's first university, consistently ranked among the top universities globally. It is a member of the Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of Australia's leading research-intensive universities. The university offers a dynamic research environment with world-class facilities and supervision across a wide range of disciplines.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Master's by Research (also available for PhD).

Eligible Fields: All Master's by Research programs offered at the University of Sydney are eligible. This includes research across faculties such as Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Medicine and Health, Science, and Architecture, Design and Planning.

Duration: Up to 2 years for a Master's by Research (full-time equivalent). For PhD students, the duration is up to 3.5 years.

Target Group

The scholarship is open to both domestic and international students. It targets high-achieving students who are commencing or currently enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program at the University of Sydney. Preference may be given to applicants intending to enrol in a PhD, those who have not previously received an Australian Government or University Scholarship to complete an HDR course at the same level, and those who have not previously completed an HDR course at the same level of study.

Scholarship Duration & Amount

Duration: Up to 2 years for a Master's by Research (full-time equivalent).

Scholarship benefits include:

• Full tuition fees – 100% tuition fee coverage for up to 14 research periods (for international students via the RTP Fee Offset).
• Annual stipend – $42,754 per year (2026 rate, tax-free, indexed annually). The 2027 rate is $44,293 per year. Paid fortnightly to cover living expenses.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – Provided for international students for the duration of the scholarship.
• Relocation allowance – Up to $1,485 to assist with moving to Sydney (for eligible students).
• Thesis allowance – Up to $420 for Master's candidates to cover direct costs of producing a thesis.

Scholarship Eligibility

Essential criteria for 2026/2027:

• Enrollment: Must be commencing or currently enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research (Master's by Research or PhD) at the University of Sydney.
• Citizenship: Open to both domestic and international students.
• Academic Merit: Must demonstrate an outstanding academic record and strong research potential.
• Admission: Must have an unconditional offer of admission or be currently enrolled in a master's by research or PhD at the University of Sydney.
• Research Environment: Availability of a high-quality research environment and resources to support the candidature.
• Supervision: Availability of appropriate supervisory arrangements.
• Full-time Study: Must be enrolled full-time (part-time study may be approved in certain circumstances).

Application Procedure

1. Apply for admission – Submit an application for admission to a Higher Degree by Research (Master's by Research) at the University of Sydney through the Sydney Courses portal. Ensure all required documentation is submitted by the deadline.
2. Submit the scholarship application form – During the admission application process, you must complete the additional scholarship application form to be considered for the RTP Scholarship. There is no separate fee for this.
3. Meet the deadline – Submit your admission application and scholarship form by the applicable deadline: 11 September 2026 for Research Periods 1 & 2, 2027, or 18 December 2026 for Research Periods 3 & 4, 2027.
4. Prepare supporting documents – Gather transcripts, research proposal, CV, and any other required materials. Ensure your research proposal is strong and well-aligned with the university's research strengths.
5. Await notification – Scholarship outcomes are typically issued from 10 November 2026 (for Periods 1 & 2) or 26 February 2027 (for Periods 3 & 4).
6. Accept your award – If selected, you will need to accept the scholarship and confirm your enrollment.

Important notes: The RTP Scholarship is awarded through a competitive process based on application rankings. The selection criteria include academic merit, research experience, and the availability of a high-quality research environment and supervision. You must complete both the admission application and the scholarship application form to be considered.

Official Website & Application Link

University of Sydney RTP Scholarship – Official Page

RTP International Information: https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/australian-government-research-training-program/rtp-international.html