Study in Australia: International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) at Australian Universities

From 1 January 2017, the Australian Government is replacing the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) with a single program, the Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP or RTP).

As current support programs are not continuing beyond 1 January 2017, the University is required by legislation to transfer all IPRS recipients to the new Australian Government Research Training Program

Brief description:

The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) program is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR).  The IPRS program was established to maintain and develop international research linkages and specifically aims to:

•  attract top quality international postgraduate students to areas of research strength in Australian higher education providers; and

•  support Australia’s research effort.

The IPRS program enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience with leading Australian researchers.  The scholarships are available for a period of two years for a Masters by research degree or three years for a Doctorate by research degree.

Host Institution(s):

The list of Australian Universities that offers the IPRS is found at this link.

Field of study: 

Any postgraduate research programme offered at participating Australian Universities.

Number of Awards:

Around 330 are awarded annually. The allocation of IPRS grants to participating universities is based on a formula that is reflective of their overall research performance.

Target group:

Scholarships are open to international students of all countries (except Australia and New Zealand).

Scholarship value/inclusions:

The Australian Government Research Training Program InternationaI Fee Offset Scholarship:

• covers tuition fees for 3 years with the possibility of two six month extensions.  
• provides program length overseas student health cover for the student (Student Visa Subclass 500 only) and their immediate family.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for an IPRS, a student must:

(a) be an international student; and

(b) meet international student visa requirements as specified by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), including the requirement to purchase and maintain a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Ageing; and

(c) be commencing full-time enrolment for the first time in a HDR at an eligible scholarship provider in Australia; and

(d) be undertaking study in a subject area identified by the provider as one of its areas of research concentration; and

(e) not hold a research qualification regarded by the provider to be equivalent to an Australian Research Doctorate degree or, if undertaking a Research Masters degree, not hold a research qualification regarded by the provider to be equivalent to or higher than an Australian Research Masters degree; and

(f) not have held an Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) scholarship within the two years prior to commencing the IPRS; and

(g) not be receiving a scholarship for which course tuition is a component under any other scholarship scheme to which the Australian Government makes a substantial contribution.

You must check with the Universities if they require specific eligibility requirements.

Application instructions:

Applications for a scholarship need to be made directly to a participating Universities/Higher Education Providers (HEPs) in Australia. HEPs are responsible for determining the selection process by which scholarships are allocated to applicants.

The deadline varies among universities but is around 31st August -1st September each year. It is important to visit the website of the University where you intend to apply and the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Scholarship information:

In order to be considered in the main round of scholarships, students are required to have applied for admission by 15 April in the year of commencing their HDR Program or 31 August in the year prior to commencing their HDR program. Applications must be complete at the time of submission, including all supporting documentation and referee reports, in order to be considered in the scholarship ranking process.

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to make contact with the relevant Graduate Studies Convener or a prospective supervisor, prior to lodging an application, to discuss the proposed research topic and related matters.

A range of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the new AGRTP Scholarships are available here.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  https://www.education.gov.au/research-training-program