Stipend Scholarships provide financial assistance for general living costs, such as rent or groceries, to candidates undertaking a Research Doctorate or Research Masters degree.

Graduate Research School

ACU Stipend Scholarship

The Australian Catholic University offers ACU Stipend Scholarships to support both domestic and international candidates undertaking a Research Doctorate or Research Masters degree.

Successful applicants will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:

Domestic candidate
International candidate

* 2025 value, indexed annually.

To be eligible for an ACU Stipend Scholarship, the following criteria must be met:

  • a student must be a domestic student or an overseas student enrolled in an accredited research higher degree at ACU; and
  • a student must not be receiving income from another source to support their general living costs while undertaking their course of study if that income is greater than 75 per cent of the student’s Stipend rate. Income unrelated to the student’s course of study or income received for the student’s course of study, but not for the purposes of supporting general living costs, will not be taken into account.

ACU Stipend Scholarships are open to all applicants whose research aligns with any of ACU's broad areas of expertise:

Applications open twice per annum in April and October. Application deadlines for 2025 and 2026 are as follows:

  • Monday 21 April 2025, 11:59 PM AEDT
  • Wednesday 1 October 2025, 11:59 PM AEST
  • Wednesday 1 April 2026, 11:59 PM AEDT
  • Thursday 1 October 2026, 11:59 PM AEST

RTP Stipend Scholarships are competitive and are awarded following a merit-based selection process. Candidates with strong academic credentials and research potential are encouraged to apply.

Visit the How to apply page for application instructions.

How to apply

Are you a current research candidate?
  • Visit the Student Portal and download the scholarship application form.
  • Submit your completed form with required documentation to the Graduate Research School at grad.research@acu.edu.au.

ACU Stipend Scholarships are funded by the Australian Catholic University and are awarded and administered in accordance with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy.

ACU Indigenous Research (HDR) Stipend Scholarship

The Australian Catholic University offers ACU Indigenous Research (HDR) Stipend Scholarships to support Indigenous Australians to undertake a Research Doctorate or Research Masters degree.

Successful applicants will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:

  • ACU Indigenous Research (HDR) Stipend Scholarship valued at AUD $52,352* per annum (full-time), paid as a fortnightly stipend.
  • Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship valued at c. AUD $30,000 per annum for the minimum duration of your degree.

* 2025 value, indexed annually.

To be eligible for an ACU Indigenous Research (HDR) Stipend Scholarship, the following criteria must be met:

  • a student must be an Indigenous domestic student enrolled in an accredited research higher degree at ACU; and
  • a student must not be receiving income from another source to support their general living costs while undertaking their course of study if that income is greater than 75 per cent of the student’s Stipend rate. Income unrelated to the student’s course of study or income received for the student’s course of study, but not for the purposes of supporting general living costs, will not be taken into account.

ACU Indigenous Research (HDR) Stipend Scholarships are open to Indigenous applicants whose research aligns with any of ACU's broad areas of expertise:

Applications are open all year round.

Visit the How to apply page for application instructions.

How to apply

Are you a current research candidate?
  • Visit the Student Portal and download the scholarship application form.
  • Submit your completed form with required documentation to the Graduate Research School at grad.research@acu.edu.au.

ACU Indigenous Research (HDR) Stipend Scholarships are funded by the Australian Government and are awarded and administered in accordance with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy.

Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship

The Australian Government offers Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarships to support both domestic and international candidates undertaking a Research Doctorate or Research Masters degree.

Successful applicants will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:

Domestic candidate
  • Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship valued at AUD $33,511* per annum (full-time), paid as a fortnightly stipend.
  • Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship valued at c. AUD $30,000 per annum for the minimum duration of your degree.
International candidate

* 2025 value, indexed annually.

To be eligible for an RTP Stipend Scholarship, the following criteria must be met:

  • a student must be a domestic student or an overseas student enrolled in an accredited research higher degree at ACU; and
  • a student must not be receiving income from another source to support their general living costs while undertaking their course of study if that income is greater than 75 per cent of the student’s Stipend rate. Income unrelated to the student’s course of study or income received for the student’s course of study, but not for the purposes of supporting general living costs, will not be taken into account.

Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarships are open to all applicants whose research aligns with any of ACU's broad areas of expertise:

Applications open twice per annum in April and October. Application deadlines for 2025 and 2026 are as follows:

  • Monday 21 April 2025, 11:59 PM AEDT
  • Wednesday 1 October 2025, 11:59 PM AEST
  • Wednesday 1 April 2026, 11:59 PM AEDT
  • Thursday 1 October 2026, 11:59 PM AEST

RTP Stipend Scholarships are competitive and are awarded following a merit-based selection process. Candidates with strong academic credentials and research potential are encouraged to apply.

Visit the How to apply page for application instructions.

How to apply

Are you a current research candidate?
  • Visit the Student Portal and download the scholarship application form.
  • Submit your completed form with required documentation to the Graduate Research School at grad.research@acu.edu.au.

Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarships are funded by the Australian Government and are awarded and administered in accordance with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy.

Tax obligations: Full-time scholarships are generally tax exempt. Part-time scholarships are taxable. - Is my scholarship taxable? | Australian Taxation Office

For more information contact the Graduate Research School

grad.research@acu.edu.au

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