Domestic research scholarships

About the scholarships

Research Training Program Fee Offset scholarship

You may be eligible for a Research Training Program (RTP) fee offset scholarship where your tuition costs are supported by the Australian Government.

This scheme is available for local students accepted into the Research Master Degrees, Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). If you receive an RTP Fee Offset scholarship, you are not required to pay tuition fees for the maximum duration of your candidature (enrolled degree). An enrolment beyond the maximum period of support may result in you incurring tuition fees. All recipients of a RTP Fee Offset scholarship need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

A separate application isn't required for the RTP fee offset scholarship. Your eligibility is assessed as part of your course application for admission.

The Higher Degree by Research Scholarship Policy and the Higher Degree by Scholarships Procedure outline the requirements of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Stipend and Fee Offset scholarships at Victoria University (VU) funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP).

For candidates awarded a RTP Fee Offset scholarship, refer to the frequently asked questions for students for more information.

Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship

Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarships (Domestic) are awarded via a competitive process to graduate researchers based on academic merit and research potential. 

Applicants who wish to be considered and assessed for this scholarship must nominate a research-focus outline in their application.

• Annual stipend value: $35,707 per year (2026 rate)
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every Research Period.

Successful RTP Stipend Scholarship (Domestic) applicants are also assessed for the Vice Chancellor's Graduate Research Award in the main scholarship round.

The number of stipend scholarships awarded is determined by the University funds available in any given year. 

VU Doctoral Research Access Scholarship

VU is committed to encouraging people whose educational opportunities have been disrupted or adversely affected by their life circumstances to participate in graduate research. 

This scholarship supports students who identify as having a disability, are neurodivergent or who are deaf.

This includes:

• being blind or having low vision
• having an acquired brain injury
• being hard-of-hearing or deaf
• having a physical disability (mobility needs for example)
• having a diagnosed mental health condition, illness or other invisible or visible disability

This scholarship is available for applicants for the Research Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees who have a minimum weighted average mark or Honours year grade of 70% (VU Standard) or equivalent. 

Applicants who wish to be considered and assessed for this scholarship must nominate a Research-focus Outline in their application.

• Annual stipend: $44,633 (2026 rate)
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP.

Applicants must submit the following documentation as part of their application:

• Doctoral Research Access and Diversity Scholarship Form
• Supporting evidence such as a letter of support from a community case-worker, medical practitioner or other support practitioner.

• Doctoral Research Access & Research Diversity Scholarship form (PDF, 283.08 KB)

This scholarship is awarded via a competitive process to graduate researchers based on academic merit, research potential and identified need.

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

There is normally only one scholarship awarded for Research Period 1 each year.

VU Doctoral Research Diversity Scholarship

VU is committed to encouraging people whose educational opportunities have been disrupted or adversely affected by their life circumstances to participate in graduate research. 

This scholarship supports students who have living experience of one or more of the following identities and barriers: 

• being part of the LGBTQIA+ community
• being a solo parent or carer
• having lived in out-of-home care (such as being a ward of the state, living in foster or kinship care)
• having experienced recent homelessness
• having experienced family violence or other significant adverse life events
• being a refugee or asylum seeker

This scholarship is available for applicants for the Research Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees who have a minimum weighted average mark or Honours year grade of 70% (VU Standard) or equivalent. 

Applicants who wish to be considered and assessed for this scholarship must nominate a Research-focus Outline in their application.

• Annual stipend: $44,633 (2026 rate)
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP

Applicants must submit the following documentation as part of their application:

• Doctoral Research Access and Diversity Scholarship Form
• Supporting evidence such as a letter of support from a community case-worker, medical practitioner or other support practitioner.

• Doctoral Research Access & Research Diversity Scholarship form (PDF, 283.08 KB)

This scholarship is awarded via a competitive process to graduate researchers based on academic merit, research potential and identified need.

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

There is normally only one scholarship awarded for Research Period 1 each year. 

Nigel Stepto Doctoral Research Scholarship

The Nigel Stepto Doctoral Research Scholarship has been established in memory and honour of Professor Nigel Stepto.

Nigel was a significant contributor and leader in research and research training at Victoria University (2007-2020) specialising in exercise physiology and Women’s Health in the Institute of Health and Sport (IHeS). Nigel was also the Co-Deputy Director – Research Training of the Institute of Health and Sport (IHeS) from 2018 until his untimely death in early 2020.

• Annual stipend: $40,707 (2026 rate)
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP

To be eligible for the Nigel Stepto Doctoral Research Scholarship applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and conduct research that is within an area of Health research in one of the four IHeS research programs.

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

This scholarship will next be offered for Research Period 1, 2028. 

The Tony Kruger Education for Social Justice Doctoral Research Scholarship

The Tony Kruger Education for Social Justice Research Scholarship has been established in memory and honour of Associate Professor Tony Kruger.

Tony Kruger was a teacher in Education at Victoria University, 1987-2020, and the Head, School of Education, Victoria University, 2006 – 2011. He was an inspirational leader in education who was committed to supporting the learning needs of all students. His approach to the education of the next generation of teachers was that all preservice teachers should be concerned about their own professional development and pedagogy and committed to the democratic goals of education. 

• Annual stipend: $40,707 (2026 rate)
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP

To be eligible for the Tony Kruger Education for Social Justice Research Scholarship applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and conduct research within an area of social justice in Education.

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

This scholarship will next be awarded for Research Period 1 2027.

Vice Chancellor's Graduate Research Award

Successful RTP Stipend Scholarship- Domestic applicants will be considered for the Vice Chancellor’s Graduate Research Award.

The Vice Chancellor’s Graduate Research Award comprises a top-up living allowance (stipend) of $10,000 per year in addition to the RTP Stipend Scholarship – Domestic.

This scholarship is only awarded for Research Period 1 each year to the highest ranked domestic applicant. 

Industry Supported scholarships

Industry Supported scholarships relate to specific PhD projects agreed with our industry partners, who contribute at least half the funds for the stipends.

Stipends and fee offset are also supported through the Australian Government Research Training Program.

• Annual stipend: as determined by the project
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

For more details on Industry Supported Scholarships and associated projects, visit the Project and Industry Research Scholarships page.

Project-based scholarships

Victoria University offers scholarships to undertake a PhD on a specific topic as part of an externally funded research project. Conditions and stipend value vary for these projects, as do the funding sources.

• Annual stipend: as determined by the project 
• Tuition fees are covered by the RTP

Successful recipients must pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) every research period.

To see what project-based scholarships are available, visit the Project and Industry Research Scholarships page.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants

VU recognises that Aboriginal Australians are under-represented in graduate research studies and encourages qualified indigenous applicants to undertake their research studies at VU

Within the Moondani Balluk Academic Unit, VU Research offers a range of research scholarships, including:

• Lisa Bellear Indigenous Research Scholarship
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Scholarships
• Foley Collection Scholarship
• Aboriginal History Archive Research Scholarships

If you are a prospective Aboriginal Australian applicant, you are encouraged to submit a VU Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Profile Information form in conjunction with your scholarship application.

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Profile Information form (PDF, 196.65 KB)

Read more about the Moondani Balluk Research Scholarships.