International research scholarships
Victoria University welcomes international students to apply for a research scholarship.
The international postgraduate research scholarships provide financial assistance to students with excellent academic qualifications who are participating in postgraduate research programs in Australia. These scholarships support high-quality research and are awarded on the basis of academic merit and research potential.
International applicants who do not qualify for the specific scholarships listed below can benefit from our VU Global Research Scholarship offering a 20% tuition fee reduction for the entire timely duration of a research degree.
You're considered an 'international' student if you don't have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or Australian Permanent Residency.
Applications for Research Period 1 2027 are now open.
About the scholarships
Eligibility
To be eligible for one of these scholarships, you must:
- be a citizen of any country other than Australia or New Zealand
- meet the University’s academic entrance requirements for enrolment into a research degree
- meet the University’s English-language proficiency requirements for enrolment in a research degree
Applicants for a RTP Stipend Scholarship – International must also:
- have a weighted average mark (WAM) or Honours year grade of H1 (VU Standard 85% or above) or equivalent in the most recent eligible qualification
- be commencing a research doctoral degree (Doctor of Philosophy)
- nominate a research-focus outline as part of your application
- enrol as a full-time student
You are not eligible for an RTP Stipend Scholarship – International if you are currently studying, or have recently studied, on an AIDAB or AUSAID scholarship and are applying immediately following the AIDAB/AUSAID funded studies.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- have not already obtained a PhD degree or equivalent if they are proposing to undertake another one
- have not previously held an IPRS, VUIPRS or OPRS (unless it was for a Masters of Research degree, and you are applying to undertake PhD studies).
How to apply
Applications for Research Period 1 2027 are now open.
- Select your Research Focus Outline
- Contact the Principal Supervisor to discuss your interest in and suitability for the research topic
- Read the Application Guide for Graduate Research Stipend Scholarships (below)
- Refer to the Apply for Graduate Research and follow the steps to submit your application
- Use the RFO number, supervisory panel, Institute, Course code and Field of Research (FoR) code from your selected Research Focus Outline to assist you with your application
Please ensure you include all required documentation for admission and scholarship with your application.
Applications close: Sunday 13 September 2026 11.59pm (AEST)
Notification of outcomes
Scholarship rounds are competitive and we estimate that applicants will require the equivalent of 85 to 90 on the VU grading scale to be considered for a PhD stipend scholarship.
The number of stipend scholarships awarded is determined by the University funds available in any given year. We receive a large number of high-quality applications and cannot provide all eligible applicants with a scholarship. Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide individual feedback on applications or advise on what scores applicants received against each of the criteria.
Successful applicants will normally be notified of outcomes within two months of the application closing date.
