Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarships) Guidelines 2025

These Guidelines, titled the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarships) Guidelines 2025, replace the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017 and set the Commonwealth’s rules for the Research Training Program, RTP, from their commencement date (the day after registration) under the authority of s 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (see ss 1-3 and Schedule 1). They convert the RTP into an annual block‑grant model paid to HEPs (Higher Education Providers) on a calendar year basis, define how the Funding Pool is allocated among HEPs, specify permitted uses of RTP grant amounts, set student eligibility and selection requirements for RTP Scholarships, and impose administrative and reporting obligations on HEPs.

Mechanically, allocation to each HEP is decided by a formula that weights three components: weighted HDR student completions (50 per cent), Competitive Income (Category 1 income) (25 per cent), and Engagement Income (Categories 2, 3 and 4 income combined) (25 per cent) (see s 9(1)). Weighted completions are calculated using a matrix that increases the value of Indigenous completions, Research Doctorate completions that include an eligible research internship, and completions in specified high‑cost Fields of Education (FOEs) (see ss 10-12). The Minister determines the total Funding Pool each Grant Year and may index it consistent with Part 5‑6 of the Act (definition of Funding Pool in s 4, and note in s 4).

Operational requirements include: HEPs must spend RTP Grant Amounts only on RTP Fees Offsets, RTP Stipends and RTP Allowances, with a cap of 10 per cent of a HEP’s RTP Grant Amount available for scholarships to overseas students (ss 15(1)-(3)). RTP Stipends must be awarded by competitive selection and paid fortnightly, within prescribed base and maximum rates (s 18). HEPs must publish and annually review an RTP Scholarship Policy covering selection, supervision, leave and suspension arrangements, and grievance procedures (s 22). The Guidelines also preserve existing grants and decisions made under the 2017 instrument through saving provisions (s 6).

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Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarships) Guidelines 2025

I, Jason Clare, Minister for Education, make the following guidelines.

Dated 27/11/2025

Jason Clare

Minister for Education

Contents

Part 1 – Introduction

1 Name

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Definitions

5 Schedules

Part 2 – Application, saving and transitional provisions

6 Saving and application provisions for the RTP

Part 3 – Research Training Program

7 Program objectives

8 RTP Grant Amount for New HEPs

9 RTP Grant Amount for HEPs and Merged HEPs

10 Weighted HDR student completions

11 Requirements of an eligible research internship

12 High-cost and low-cost Fields of Education

13 Adjustment of RTP Grant Amounts

14 Student eligibility requirements

15 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – expenditure

16 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – period of support

17 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Fees Offset

18 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Stipends

19 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Allowances

20 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – offering RTP Scholarships

21 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – terminating RTP Scholarships

22 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Scholarship Policy

23 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – acknowledgement of Commonwealth contribution

24 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – communications about RTP Scholarships

Schedule 1—Repeals

Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017

Part 1 – Introduction

1 Name

This instrument is the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarships) Guidelines 2025.

2 Commencement

This instrument commences the day after this instrument is registered.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

4 Definitions

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in Schedule 1 of the Act, including the following:

(a) Australian Qualifications Framework;

(b) domestic student;

(d) overseas student;

(e) tuition fees.

In this instrument:

ABS means the Australian Bureau of Statistics as established under the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975.

Act means the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

affiliate means an entity that is formally or functionally integrated into a HEP’s core academic, clinical or research operations, but does not include an entity that is only connected to the HEP through external co-supervisory or co-funding arrangements, or because it has entered into a written agreement with the HEP about research internships undertaken by students of the HEP.

AQF means the Australian Qualifications Framework.

ASCED means the Australian Standard Classification of Education managed by the ABS for use in the collection, storage and dissemination of statistical and administrative data relating to educational activity in Australia, as in force at the time this instrument commenced.

Note: The ASCED as in force at the time the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarships) Guidelines 2025 commenced can be viewed on the ABS website at http://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-standard-classification-education-asced.

Australian ADI has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act 2001.

Category 1 income means Australian competitive grants R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department.

Category 2 income means other public sector R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department.

Category 3 income means industry and other R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department.

Category 4 income means Cooperative Research Centre R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department.

Competitive Income means Category 1 income.

continuing student means either:

(a) a student whose period of support under the Research Training Scheme, International Postgraduate Research Scholarship or Australian Postgraduate Awards would terminate on or after 1 January 2017; or

(b) a student who has received an offer of support by a HEP under the Research Training Scheme, International Postgraduate Research Scholarships or Australian Postgraduate Awards, and accepted this offer of support, and whose offer of support was scheduled to commence on or after 1 January 2017.

course of study means an accredited HDR course that leads to the award of a Research Doctorate or a Research Masters.

DOI means a unique digital label for a person, place, or thing.

eligible research internship means a research internship which fulfils the requirements set out in section 11.

Engagement Income means Category 2 income, Category 3 income and Category 4 income.

FOE or Field of Education means a Field of Education code specified in the ASCED.

full-time student load means the student load undertaken by a student who is enrolled on a full-time basis at the HEP.

Funding Pool means the total amount of funding available for a given Grant Year for the RTP.

Note: The Minister determines the total amount of funding available in a given Grant Year for the RTP, and in doing so, may take into account whether it is appropriate to determine the Funding Pool in a Grant Year by indexing the Funding Pool amount in the preceding Grant Year by an amount (such as an amount determined by the method set out in Part 5-6 of the Act).

Grant Year means the calendar year in respect of which the grant is made.

HDR means a higher degree by research, which is a Research Doctorate or Research Masters course of study for which at least two-thirds of the student load for the course is required as research work.

Health Department is the Department of State of the Commonwealth that is administered by the Minister administering the Health Insurance Act 1973.

HDR period of suspension means a period of time during which a HDR student is not undertaking their HDR, which has been approved in accordance with a HEP’s policies.

HEP means a Table A provider or Table B provider as listed in section 16-15 or section 16-20 of the Act.

HERDC means the Higher Education Research Data Collection which includes information on the HEP’s R&D income, as certified and submitted by HEPs by 30 June each year.

HESDC means the Higher Education Student Data Collection, which refers to a published data set which includes information that has been reported and verified by HEPs.

Indigenous student means a HDR student who is an Indigenous person.

merging HEP means a body corporate that was a HEP in a previous Grant Year and merged or combined with another body corporate that was also a HEP in a previous Grant Year, to form a HEP.

Note: From 2026, the bodies known as the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia will be examples of merging HEPs, as bodies that were HEPs in 2025 but will cease to be HEPs in 2026, after combining to form Adelaide University.

non-Indigenous student means a HDR student who is not an Indigenous person.

ORCID means an Open Researcher and Contributor ID, which is a persistent identifier issued by the non-profit organisation named ORCID, for a person who conducts or contributes to research.

part-time student load means the student load undertaken by a student who is enrolled on a part-time basis at the HEP.

R&D or research means Research and Experimental Development as defined in the Frascati Manual 2015 maintained by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, as in force at the time this instrument commenced.

Note: The Frascati Manual 2015 as in force at the time the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarships) Guidelines 2025 commenced can be viewed on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s website at https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264239012-en.

Research Doctorate means a Level 10 Doctoral Degree (Research) or Doctoral Degree (Professional) qualification as described in the AQF.

research end-user means an individual, group or organisation that will directly use or directly benefit from the output, outcome or results of research created in collaboration with a HDR student enrolled at a HEP, and is not a HEP, or a controlled entity, subsidiary or affiliate of the HEP.

research internship means an arrangement between a student and an individual, group or organisation, in which the student undertakes R&D related to their HDR, and can form part of the student’s HDR or be undertaken during a HDR period of suspension.

Research Masters means a Level 9 Masters Degree (Research) qualification as described in the AQF.

RTP means the Research Training Program described in Part 3 of this instrument.

RTP Allowance means an RTP Scholarship that is awarded to a HDR student to assist with ancillary costs incurred by the student in undertaking a HDR.

RTP Fees Offset means an RTP Scholarship that is equivalent to a HDR student’s total fee liability for the relevant HDR course, and awarded to the student to extinguish the student’s liability to pay course fees.

RTP Scholarship means support that is awarded to a student by a HEP for the purposes of the RTP.

RTP Scholarship Policy means a policy that specifies a HEP’s administrative rules that apply to RTP Scholarships.

RTP Scholarship Suspension means a period of time during which a scholarship holder is not receiving RTP Scholarship support, which has been approved in accordance with a HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy.

RTP Stipend means an RTP Scholarship that is awarded to a HDR student to assist the student with general living costs.

5 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Part 2 – Application, saving and transitional provisions

6 Saving and application provisions for the RTP

(1) The repeal of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017 does not affect the validity of payments or decisions made under that instrument, and decisions made under that instrument are taken to continue to have effect as if those decisions were made under this instrument.

(2) Despite the repeal of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017, conditions specified under that instrument as in force immediately prior to the repeal are to be taken to remain in force in respect of a grant made prior to that repeal.

(3) Section 13 of the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarship) Guidelines 2025 as made applies in relation to any adjustment of RTP Grant Amounts after the commencement of the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarship) Guidelines 2025, in relation to grants made for Grant Years before, on and after the commencement of the Higher Education Support (Commonwealth Scholarship) Guidelines 2025.

Part 3 – Research Training Program

7 Program objectives

(1) For the purposes of subsection 46-20(1) of the Act, the RTP provides block grants, on a calendar year basis, to HEPs to support the objectives of the RTP.

(2) The objectives of the RTP are to:

(a) support the research training of domestic students and overseas students undertaking HDRs at HEPs;

(b) provide graduates with the skills required to build careers in academia, industry and other sectors of the labour market; and

8 RTP Grant Amount for New HEPs

(1) For the purposes of this section and section 9, “New HEP”, for a Grant Year, means either:

(a) a body corporate that becomes a HEP on 1 January of the Grant Year; or

(b) a body corporate that became a HEP at any time during the previous Grant Year (other than 1 January of the previous Grant Year).

Example 1: A body corporate becomes a HEP on 1 January 2026. Therefore, it is a New HEP for the 2026 Grant Year.

Example 2: A body corporate becomes a HEP on 1 July 2025. Therefore, it is a New HEP for the 2026 Grant Year.

(2) For the purposes of this section and sections 9 and 10, “Merged HEP”, for a Grant Year, means a New HEP that is formed from two or more merging HEPs.

Modified RTP Grant Amounts for New HEPs

(3) Subject to any adjustments that may be made under section 13, the RTP Grant Amount for a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP for a Grant Year is:

(a) if the HEP is a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP for the Grant Year, and the HEP meets the requirement in subsection (5) – the HEP’s RTP Grant Amount calculated in accordance with subsections 9(1) and (2);

(b) if the HEP is a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP for the Grant Year and the HEP does not meet the requirement in subsection (5) – zero;

(i) the HEP was a New HEP that was not a Merged HEP for a previous Grant Year; and

(ii) the RTP Grant Amount for the HEP for that Grant Year and any subsequent Grant Years was zero; and

(iii) the HEP meets the requirement in subsection (5);

– the HEP’s RTP Grant Amount calculated in accordance with subsections 9(1) and (2);

(d) if:

(i) the HEP was a New HEP that was not a Merged HEP for a previous Grant Year; and

(ii) the RTP Grant Amount for the HEP for that Grant Year and any subsequent Grant Years was zero; and

(iii) the HEP does not meet the requirement in subsection (5) – zero;

(e) in all other circumstances relating to a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP, including where paragraphs (3)(a) or (3)(c) applied to the HEP in a previous Grant Year – the HEP’s RTP Grant Amount calculated in accordance with subsections 9(1) and (2).

(4) The RTP Grant Amount for a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP for the Grant Year preceding the Grant Year in relation to which it is a New HEP is zero.

(5) For the purposes of paragraphs (3)(a) to (d), the requirement is that:

(a) by 30 June of the previous calendar year, the HEP has reported and certified the following data:

(i) the HEP’s Competitive Income and Engagement Income for the second calendar year preceding that Grant Year through the HERDC; and

(ii) the HEP’s Competitive Income and Engagement Income for the third calendar year preceding that Grant Year through the HERDC;

(b) the HEP has reported and verified the following data through the HESDC:

(i) the HEP’s HDR student completions for the second calendar year preceding that Grant Year; and

(ii) the HEP’s HDR student completions for the third calendar year preceding that Grant Year.

9 RTP Grant Amount for HEPs and Merged HEPs

Calculation of a HEP’s RTP Grant Amount

(1) Subject to section 8 and subsection (2), a HEP’s RTP Grant Amount for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:

Start formula open bracket 0.5 times Funding Pool for the Grant Year times Completion Share of the HEP for the Grant Year close bracket plus open bracket 0.25 times Funding Pool for the Grant Year times Competitive Income Share of the HEP for the Grant Year close bracket plus open bracket 0.25 times Funding Pool for the Grant Year times Engagement Income Share of the HEP for the Grant Year close bracket end formula

Where:

Completion Share of the HEP for the Grant Year means the amount calculated in accordance with subsection (3).

Competitive Income Share of the HEP for the Grant Year means the amount calculated in accordance with subsection (5).

Engagement Income Share of the HEP for the Grant Year means the amount calculated in accordance with subsection (6).

Note: A HEP’s RTP Grant Amount for a Grant Year is paid in monthly instalments.

(2) If any HEP’s RTP Grant Amount for a Grant Year under subsection (1) is an amount consisting of a number of whole dollars and a number of cents, their RTP Grant Amount is modified as follows:

(a) the amount allocated to each HEP is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar;

(b) calculate the difference in cents between the amount determined for a HEP under subsection (1) and the amount determined in paragraph (2)(a) (the HEP’s Remainder);

(d) rank each HEP in descending order based on its Remainder’s closeness to 100 and one dollar is assigned to each HEP in order of ranking until all Unallocated Dollars are exhausted; and

(e) the HEP’s RTP Grant Amount is equal to the amount determined in paragraph (2)(a) and any amount assigned to the HEP in paragraph (2)(d).

Completion Share of a HEP

(3) The Completion Share of a HEP for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:

Start formula start fraction Weighted HDR Student Completions for the HEP over Weighted HDR Student Completions for all HEPs end fraction end formula

where:

Weighted HDR Student Completions for the HEP means:

(a) for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP in the Grant Year and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:

(i) the sum of the weighted HDR student completions for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or

(ii) if no data is available about the HEP’s weighted HDR student completions for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i) – the sum of the weighted HDR student completions for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the weighted HDR student completions for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; or

(b) for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years:

(i) the combined weighted HDR student completions for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; and

(ii) for the avoidance of doubt, if either of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i) is 2026, the weighted HDR student completions for the merging HEPs from 1 January 2026 to 24 March 2026 must be included as part of the calculation in subparagraph (i).

Weighted HDR Student Completions for all HEPs means the sum of the weighted HDR student completions for each HEP (excluding any New HEPs that do not meet the requirement in subsection 8(5) for the Grant Year), where the weighted HDR student completions for each HEP is:

(a) for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP in the Grant Year and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:

(i) the sum of the weighted HDR student completions for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or

(ii) if no data is available about the HEP’s weighted student completions for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i) –the sum of the weighted HDR student completions for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the weighted HDR student completions for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; or

(b) for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years is:

(i) the combined weighted HDR student completions for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; and

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), a HEP or merging HEP’s weighted HDR student completions for a calendar year are determined in accordance with section 10 as applicable.

Competitive Income Share

(5) The Competitive Income Share of a HEP for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:

Start formula start fraction Competitive Income for the HEP over Competitive Income for all HEPs end fraction end formula

where:

Competitive Income for the HEP means:

(a) for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP in the Grant Year and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years either:

(i) the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or

(ii) if no data is available about the HEP’s Competitive Income for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i) – the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; or

(b) for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of:

(i) the combined Competitive Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second calendar year preceding the Grant Year; and

(ii) the combined Competitive Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the third calendar year preceding the Grant Year;

Competitive Income for all HEPs means the sum of the Competitive Income for each HEP (excluding any New HEPs that do not meet the requirement in subsection 8(5) for the Grant Year), where the Competitive Income for each HEP is:

(a) for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:

(i) the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or

(b) for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of the Competitive Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.

Engagement Income Share

(6) The Engagement Income Share of a HEP for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:

Start formula start fraction Engagement Income for the HEP over Engagement Income for all HEPs end fraction end formula

where:

Engagement Income for the HEP means:

(a) for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP in the Grant Year and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:

(i) the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or

(ii) if no data is available about the HEP’s Engagement Income for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i) – the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; and

(b) for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of:

(i) the combined Engagement Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second calendar year preceding the Grant Year; and

(ii) the combined Engagement Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.

Engagement Income for all HEPs means the sum of the Engagement Income for each HEP (excluding any New HEPs that do not meet the requirement in subsection 8(5) for the Grant Year), where the Engagement Income for each HEP is:

(a) for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:

(i) the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or

(b) for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of the Engagement Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.

10 Weighted HDR student completions

(1) For the purposes of subsections 9(3) and (4), for the 2026 Grant Year and all future Grant Years, HDR student completions reported in the HESDC are to be weighted according to:

(a) each student’s Indigenous or non-Indigenous status;

(b) whether the student completed an eligible research internship;

(d) the cost type of the HDR.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) and the table in subsection (3), a student has completed an eligible research internship where they have met the requirements as set out in section 11.

(3) A HEP or merging HEP’s weighted student completions for a year are equal to the sum of the number of completions for each completion type outlined in Column 3 in the table below, multiplied by the relevant weighting in Columns 4 and 5 in the table below:

HEP’s weighted student completions
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
HDR level Cost type Completed an eligible research internship Non-Indigenous student Indigenous student
Research Doctorate High Yes 6.70 11.40
No 4.70 9.40
Low Yes 4.00 6.00
No 2.00 4.00
Research Masters High Not applicable 2.35 4.70
Low Not applicable 1.00 2.00

(4) Notwithstanding the table in subsection (3), the weighting for completion of an eligible research internship is to only be applied:

(a) in relation to Research Doctorate student completions on or after 1 January 2022;

(b) once, for a single student’s Research Doctorate completion, even if the student had completed multiple eligible research internships; and

(c) where the requirements of an eligible research internship set out in section 11 have been met prior to the student completing their Research Doctorate.

(5) High-cost and low-cost completions for the purposes of subsection (3) are determined in accordance with high-cost and low-cost FOEs identified in section 12.

11 Requirements of an eligible research internship

(1) For the purposes of section 10, the requirements of an eligible research internship are that the research internship must:

(a) be undertaken by a Research Doctorate student;

(b) be a minimum of three calendar months in duration;

(d) be related to the student’s Research Doctorate area of research;

(e) meet all requirements in this subsection by the time the student is determined by a HEP or a merging HEP to have completed their Research Doctorate;

(f) be undertaken with an individual, group or organisation that is a research end-user at the time the agreement in paragraph (g) is made; and

(g) require that the HEP or merging HEP, student and research-end user have a written agreement about the:

(i) R&D activities to be undertaken by the student with the research end-user; and

(ii) duration of the internship.

Note: An eligible research internship may be undertaken on-site with a research end-user, on-campus or online, and may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis.

(2) For the purposes of determining the duration of the research internship in paragraph (1)(b), a Research Doctorate student:

(a) commences an internship on the first day in the internship that the student engages in R&D activities which count towards the full-time equivalent days of engagement with a research end-user; and

(b) concludes the internship on the last day in the internship that the student engages in R&D activities which count towards the full-time equivalent days of engagement with the same research end-user.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), a full-time equivalent day is:

(a) the number of hours in a standard working day for the industry associated with the research end-user; or

(b) if there is no standard working day – 7.6 hours.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(g), the agreement must be made:

(a) if a student is undertaking a full-time student load – within 18 months from the commencement date of the student’s Research Doctorate; and

(b) if a student is undertaking a part-time student load – within 36 months from the commencement date of the student’s Research Doctorate.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), the timeframe for making a written agreement is extended by a period equivalent to any HDR period of suspension within the first 18 months of the student’s enrolment, or any increase to the student’s period of support under subsection 16(4).

12 High-cost and low-cost Fields of Education

For the purposes of section 10, the high-cost FOEs are those set out in the table below and low-cost FOEs are those FOEs that are not listed in the table.

FOEs
Column 1 Column 2
ASCED Code ASCED Title
010300-010303 Physics and Astronomy
010500-010599 Chemical Sciences
010700-010799 Earth Sciences
010900-010999 Biological Sciences
019900-019999 Other Natural and Physical Sciences
030101 Manufacturing Engineering
030300-030399 Process and Resources Engineering
030501 Automotive Engineering
030701 Mechanical Engineering
030703 Industrial Engineering
030900-030999 Civil Engineering
031100-031199 Geomatic Engineering
031300 Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology
031301 Electrical Engineering
031303 Electronic Engineering
031305 Computer Engineering
031307 Communications Technologies
031501 Aerospace Engineering
031503 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
031701 Maritime Engineering
039901 Environmental Engineering
039903 Biomedical Engineering
050000-059999 Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
060100-060199 Medical Studies
060501 Pharmacy
060701 Dentistry
061101 Veterinary Studies
069903 Human Movement
090701 Psychology

13 Adjustment of RTP Grant Amounts

(1) If a HEP provides incorrect HERDC data used to calculate the HEP’s RTP Grant Amount for a Grant Year, the HEP must correct the information provided to the department (corrected data), provide supporting evidence that demonstrates the accuracy of the corrected data, and provide information on what caused the HEP to provide incorrect data.

Note: The department may take into account corrected HERDC data and supporting evidence provided by a HEP on or before 1 September in the year the data was first provided to determine RTP Grant Amounts.

(2) If the HEP provides corrected HERDC data and supporting evidence on or before 30 June in the first Grant Year the data is used, the department will only take into account the corrected data to recalculate and adjust RTP Grant Amounts under section 9, if the RTP Grant Amount calculated for the HEP using the corrected HERDC data is less than the RTP Grant Amount calculated for the HEP using the incorrect HERDC data.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, if the HEP provides either the corrected HERDC data or supporting evidence after 30 June in the first Grant Year the data is used, the department will not take into account the corrected data to recalculate and readjust RTP Grant Amounts under section 9.

14 Student eligibility requirements

A student must meet the following requirements to be eligible for scholarships under this Part:

(a) the student must be a domestic student or an overseas student enrolled in an accredited HDR course of study at a HEP;

(b) in relation to RTP Fees Offset, the student must not be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Commonwealth designed to offset HDR fees.

15 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – expenditure

Expenditure of RTP Grant Amounts

(1) A HEP must only spend its RTP Grant Amount on providing one or more of the following types of support to an RTP Scholarship recipient:

(a) RTP Fees Offset awarded to a student to extinguish the student’s liability to pay HDR course fees;

(b) RTP Stipend awarded to assist students with their living costs while undertaking a HDR; and

(i) for overseas students, the costs of obtaining standard Overseas Student Health Cover approved by the Health Department and which covers the student and their spouse and dependants (if any);

(ii) relocation costs to undertake a HDR; and

(iii) HDR thesis printing and academic publication costs.

Expenditure in relation to overseas students

(2) A HEP must only spend up to a maximum of 10 per cent of its RTP Grant Amount in a Grant Year on the provision of RTP Scholarships to overseas students.

(3) When calculating the 10 per cent cap for the purposes of subsection (2), the HEP must take into account any unspent RTP Grant Amount from the previous Grant Year.

16 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – period of support

(1) A HEP must only provide a student with an RTP Fees Offset and/or RTP Stipend for a course of study for a period that meets the following requirements (period of support):

(a) for an eligible Research Doctorate:

(i) a period that is a minimum of three years, and up to a maximum of four years for a student with a full-time student load; or

(ii) a period that is a minimum of six years and up to a maximum of eight years for a student with a part-time student load; and

(b) for an eligible Research Masters:

(i) a period that is a maximum of two years for a student with a full-time student load; or

(ii) a period that is a maximum of four years for a student with a part-time student load.

(2) A student’s period of support is calculated from the commencement of their relevant course of study.

(3) A student’s period of support will be increased by the length of any periods of leave specified in paragraphs 18(6)(d) to (i) and approved by a HEP.

Example: A student receives 60 working days of additional paid sick leave under paragraph 18(6)(d). That student’s period of support will be increased by 60 working days.

(4) A student’s period of support will be increased by the length of any RTP Scholarship Suspension approved by a HEP.

Example: A student has been approved for an RTP Scholarship Suspension of their RTP Scholarship for a year. That student’s period of support will be increased by a year.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt, a student’s period of support will not be increased if the student in receipt of an RTP Scholarship transfers to another HEP that will also offer the student an RTP Scholarship.

Example: A Research Doctorate student with a full-time student load has received an RTP Stipend and RTP Fees Offset with their first HEP for a period of two years and transfers to a second HEP for the same course of study. The second HEP will also offer the student an RTP Stipend and RTP Fees Offset. The second HEP can only provide the student with a full-time student load with an RTP Stipend and RTP Fees Offset for the remaining two years (since the student used the first two years in their period of support with their first HEP).

17 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Fees Offset

(1) A HEP must only use an RTP Fees Offset to pay the tuition fees of the student who has been awarded the RTP Fees Offset.

(2) A HEP must only award an RTP Fees Offset to domestic students that are not in receipt of another award or scholarship from the Commonwealth for the purpose of paying HDR tuition fees.

Note: A HEP’s process for selecting domestic students for an RTP Fees Offset must be consistent with this instrument, the fairness requirements in Subdivision 19-D in Part 2‑1 of the Act and be detailed in the HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy.

(3) A HEP must only award an RTP Fees Offset to an overseas student as a result of a competitive selection process, with the nature of the competitive selection process to be determined by the HEP.

Note: A HEP’s competitive selection process for selecting overseas students for an RTP Fees Offset must be consistent with this instrument, the fairness requirements in Subdivision 19-D in Part 2‑1 of the Act and be detailed in the HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy.

18 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Stipends

(1) A HEP must only award RTP Stipends as a result of a competitive selection process, with the nature of the competitive selection process to be determined by the HEP.

Note: A HEP may wish to give priority to a class of students, such as Indigenous students, low socioeconomic status (SES) students, students undertaking research in a particular discipline or emerging area of research strength, or students undertaking a HDR for the first time, as part of their competitive selection process. Any competitive selection process conducted must be consistent with this instrument, the fairness requirements in Subdivision 19-D in Part 2-1 of the Act and be detailed in the HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy.

(2) A HEP must pay RTP Stipends, that are determined in accordance with subsections (3), (4) and (5), to students awarded an RTP Stipend from 1 January to 31 December in the relevant RTP Grant Year, and must make those payments in accordance with the following requirements:

(a) the HEP must offer each student approved to undertake a HDR on a full-time student load, and selected by the HEP to receive an RTP Stipend, a stipend rate that is at least equal to the base RTP Stipend rate and no more than the maximum RTP Stipend rate determined in subsection (3);

(b) the HEP must offer each student approved to undertake a HDR on a part-time student load, and selected by the HEP to receive an RTP Stipend, a stipend rate that is at least equal to the base RTP Stipend rate and no more than the maximum RTP Stipend rate determined in subsection (4);

(c) each year, the HEP must pay each student their full-time or part-time RTP Stipend rate in proportion to the period for which the student has been supported with an RTP Stipend; and

(d) the HEP must make fortnightly payments directly to each student in respect of their RTP Stipend, with payments into an account in the student’s name with an Australian ADI considered to be a payment directly to the student.

(3) For the 2025 Grant Year, the base full-time RTP Stipend rate is $33,511 and the maximum full-time RTP Stipend rate is $52,352.

(4) The base part-time RTP Stipend rate and the maximum part-time RTP Stipend rate is 50 per cent of the relevant RTP Stipend rates specified in subsection (3).

(5) The base and maximum RTP Stipend rates specified in subsections (3) and (4) are to be indexed for any subsequent years using the method of indexation set out in Part 5-6 of the Act.

Note: The department will advise HEPs in writing of the base and maximum RTP Stipend rates for subsequent years, by 1 October of the preceding year.

Leave entitlements for RTP Stipend recipients

(6) Subject to subsection (8), a HEP must provide the following leave entitlements to a student in receipt of an RTP Stipend:

(a) the HEP must provide the student with 20 working days of paid recreation leave for each year after 2025, where the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend and undertaking a full-time student load, and 10 working days of paid recreation leave for each year after 2025, where the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend and undertaking a part-time student load;

(b) the HEP must provide the student with 10 working days of paid personal leave for each year after 2025, where the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend and undertaking a full-time load, and 5 working days of paid personal leave for each year after 2025, where the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend and undertaking a part-time student load;

(c) the leave entitlements referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) must accrue over the life of the RTP Stipend and roll over to subsequent years;

(d) the HEP must provide the student with additional paid personal leave of up to a total of 60 working days over the life of the RTP Stipend, while the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend, for periods of illness where the student has insufficient personal leave entitlements available under paragraph (b), provided that a medical certificate has been provided by the student to the HEP;

(e) the student must be able to use their personal leave entitlements in this subsection (including additional personal leave entitlements in paragraph (d)) to cover leave for family caring responsibilities;

(f) if the student has completed 12 months of study while in receipt of an RTP Stipend, the HEP must provide the student with an entitlement to a minimum of 20 weeks of paid parental leave for each child the student will be the primary carer of, on the birth or adoption of the child;

(g) subject to the usual practice of the HEP, if the student has completed 12 months of study while in receipt of an RTP Stipend, the HEP may choose to approve a period of paid partner leave for the student on the birth or adoption of a child, if the student is the partner of the primary carer of the child;

(h) the HEP must provide the student with 10 working days of paid family and domestic violence leave for each year the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend and undertaking a full-time student load, and 5 working days of paid family and domestic violence leave for each year the student is in receipt of an RTP Stipend and undertaking a part-time student load; and

(i) the leave entitlement referred to in paragraph (h) does not accrue over the life of the RTP Stipend and does not roll over to subsequent years.

(7) For the avoidance of doubt, all leave entitlements referred to in subsection (6) are forfeited when the RTP Stipend is terminated.

(8) Despite subsection (6), where a student transfers to a HEP from another HEP and has accessed leave entitlements under subsection (6) during the same calendar year at their previous HEP, the receiving HEP may subtract the amount of leave accessed by the student at the previous HEP from the leave entitlements that the HEP must provide the student under subsection (6) for that calendar year.

19 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Allowances

A HEP must only award a student an RTP Allowance if the HEP has selected the student in accordance with the HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy.

20 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – offering RTP Scholarships

(1) A HEP must only offer a student an RTP Scholarship if:

(a) in relation to RTP Stipends, the student has been selected consistent with the process specified in subsection 18(1);

(b) in relation to RTP Fees Offsets; the student has been selected consistent with the requirements specified in subsections 17(2) or (3);

(c) in relation to RTP Allowances, the student meets the eligibility criteria in section 14 and the HEP has selected the student to receive an RTP Allowance;

(d) the HEP has agreed to provide an RTP Scholarship to a student who is transferring to that HEP and is currently receiving an RTP Scholarship; or

(e) the student is a continuing student.

(2) A HEP must offer an RTP Scholarship to all students (including continuing students) in writing, and the written offer must include advice on the types of assistance and support being offered, the conditions and period of support of the RTP Scholarship, and the estimated annual value of Australian Government support provided for each type of RTP Scholarship support.

(3) A HEP must also advise all students receiving RTP Scholarships of any changes to RTP Scholarship support provided by the HEP.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(e), a HEP must offer each continuing student an RTP scholarship in a form that does not disadvantage the continuing student, and provides at least equivalent support to what would have been provided to the student through the following former Australian Government programs: the Australian Postgraduate Award, the Research Training Scheme and the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship.

21 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – terminating RTP Scholarships

A HEP must terminate a student’s RTP Scholarship:

(a) if the student ceases to meet the eligibility criteria in section 14, other than during a period in which an RTP Scholarship Suspension has been approved;

(b) on completion of the student’s course of study; or

(c) if the HEP determines that the student has not complied with a requirement specified in the HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy.

22 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – RTP Scholarship Policy

(1) A HEP is responsible for the administration of RTP Scholarships and must include information about the processes, policies and conditions of scholarships in the HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy, which must be reviewed annually and made publicly accessible on the HEP’s website.

(2) A HEP must make decisions, and provide support to students awarded RTP Scholarships, in accordance with its RTP Scholarship Policy.

(3) A HEP’s RTP Scholarship Policy must include:

(a) a summary of the basic information for RTP Scholarships including, but not limited to, the information identified in this instrument in relation to eligibility, types of support available, RTP Stipend rates and periods of support;

(b) information on the application, selection and offer processes for awarding RTP Scholarships, including those targeted to specific cohorts of students;

(c) information on arrangements for continuing students, that are consistent with the condition specified in subsection 20(4);

(d) information on supervision and facilities, including but not limited to:

(i) the facilities and supervision that will be provided to each student awarded an RTP Scholarship; and

(ii) a code of practice relating to the supervision of students undertaking a HDR; and

(e) provisions about RTP Scholarship Suspensions;

(f) information about paid leave for students in receipt of RTP Stipends that is consistent with the conditions specified in subsection 18(6);

(g) provisions that identify the circumstances in which the HEP will not approve a student awarded an RTP Scholarship undertaking work, including any restrictions on the number of hours the student can work;

(h) provisions that deal with changes in the RTP Scholarship student’s enrolment, including but not limited to:

(i) changes in the student’s FOE;

(ii) the student transferring to or from another HEP;

(iii) the student changing from a full-time student load to a part-time student load, or from a part-time student load to full-time student load; and

(iv) the student converting from a Research Masters to a Research Doctorate degree, or from a Research Doctorate to a Research Masters degree;

(i) the procedures for terminating an RTP Scholarship, consistent with the conditions specified in section 21;

(j) the HEP’s grievance and review procedures for HDR students;

(k) information on arrangements for optional industry placements, research internships, professional practice activities or other similar enrichment activities undertaken as part of a HDR, including information on the impacts on the period of support referred to in section 16 and on the student’s RTP Stipend rate; and

(l) a code of conduct for students undertaking a HDR.

23 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – acknowledgement of Commonwealth contribution

(1) A HEP must ensure that the Commonwealth’s contribution is acknowledged when, at any time during or after completion of a HDR, the recipient of an RTP Scholarship or their supervisor or any other party, publishes or produces material (including books, articles, newsletters or other literary or artistic works) which relates to the research project carried out by the recipient of the RTP Scholarship.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the HEP must ensure that the Commonwealth’s contribution is acknowledged in a prominent place and in any material produced through the research project.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commonwealth’s contribution must be acknowledged by including the following form of words in any acknowledgement: “This research was supported by the Commonwealth through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship [DOI: https://doi.org/10.82133/C42F-K220].”

(4) If a student who has been awarded an RTP scholarship has an ORCID, the HEP must require that the student acknowledge the Commonwealth’s contribution through the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship by including the RTP DOI referred to in subsection (3) in the student’s ORCID record.

24 Conditions that apply in relation to RTP grants – communications about RTP Scholarships

A HEP must distinguish, in all of its communications about how students are selected for RTP Scholarships, including on the HEP’s website and in its direct communications with students, student eligibility criteria set by the Commonwealth in section 14 from any additional selection criteria set by the HEP.

Schedule 1—Repeals

Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017

1 The whole of the instrument

Repeal the instrument