University of Sydney RTP and USYDIS PhD Scholarships 2027

Who can apply

An international student at the time of award
Commencing or enrolled in a higher degree by research: a PhD, a master's by research or an MPhil
Commencing students must submit a complete admission application for the research degree by the deadline, as well as the separate scholarship form; a scholarship application cannot be assessed without an admission application
Expected to enrol full-time under the USYDIS terms; part-time only where the University accepts special circumstances beyond your control
Preference may be given to applicants intending to enrol in a PhD, who have not previously received an Australian Government or University scholarship for a research degree at the same level, and who have not previously completed a research degree at that level
Awarded on academic merit and research potential only, not financial need

One form, two possible award packages

The University of Sydney runs two parallel scholarship packages for international research students, and you apply for both with the same scholarship application form. The first is the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend, which automatically brings an RTP Fee Offset. The second is the University’s own International Stipend Scholarship (USYDIS), which automatically brings a University of Sydney Tuition Fee Scholarship. The stipend, relocation allowance and thesis allowance are the same in both. The difference worth knowing is in the extras. The RTP Fee Offset terms include a standard single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy arranged by the University, for up to 57 months for a PhD or 33 months for a master’s by research, and say the student visa application fee will be waived by the relevant Commonwealth department, but only at the time you apply for the visa. The University tuition fee scholarship terms credit tuition only and state that no other benefits are payable. The University’s pages do not say which package you will receive, so budget for health cover and the visa fee in case you are offered the USYDIS route. The OSHC in the RTP package covers the student only, not dependants.

The supervisor must come before the deadline

The most common mistake is treating 18 December 2026 as the date to start applying. The University says scholarship applications are assessed together with your admission application, and that you cannot apply for a scholarship without applying for admission. Its postgraduate research application page says “Before submitting your application, you must secure a supervisor,” and asks for evidence, such as an email, that a primary supervisor has agreed. It also asks for a research proposal of up to 2,000 words, two referee reports on the University’s forms, official transcripts, proof of English if English is not your first language, and a CV. International applicants also pay a non-refundable application processing fee, which the page says is waived for sponsored students. Law and Business School applicants are the exception: they apply for the course first and are allocated a supervisor if admitted. Academics can be slow to reply near the end of the year, so the realistic start is now: find possible supervisors in Sydney Profiles and email them your CV, transcripts for all degrees and an initial proposal, and leave several weeks for a reply.

Who the University will admit to research

To apply for a PhD you need to show prior research experience and a high academic record. In most cases that means a bachelor’s degree with first class honours, or a master’s degree at a high academic standard with a substantial research component, or an equivalent qualification. The University gives its own guide as a WAM (weighted average mark) of 75 over the degree, with honours class I above 80, and says equivalent requirements are decided for other institutions. For a master’s by research or MPhil, a first or second class honours degree or an equivalent qualification is usually needed.

What the 18 December round leads to

The official timeline ties each deadline to a start date. The 18 December 2026 round is for scholarships commencing in Research Periods 3 and 4 of 2027, with outcomes issued from 26 February 2027 and finalised on 18 May 2027 for applicants outside Australia. If you miss it, the FAQ says a late submission is okay, but you are only considered automatically in the next round if you are already enrolled, or you asked to defer your admission to a relevant research period by the deadline for that round. The next round closes on 10 September 2027, for scholarships starting in Research Periods 1 and 2 of 2028. The Scholarships Office does not pre-assess applications, does not release results early even if you are travelling, and gives no ranking feedback to unsuccessful applicants. Applicants on the waitlist are reconsidered as more scholarships become available.

How applications are ranked

The published HDR scholarship selection process says applicants are assessed on a combination of their undergraduate weighted average mark, a first class honours result or an equivalent, any master’s by research, the world ranking of the institution that awarded the qualification, and research experience. Two points matter for applicants from outside Australia. First, if you do not have an honours degree, you can still be ranked as having an equivalent. Overseas qualifications considered equivalent to an Australian first class honours are scored on the average of your second and third year marks, and a coursework master’s with a weighted average of at least 80 and a qualifying research component can count too. Provide exact numerical marks and the grading scale from your transcript: where a mark is not available, the University enters fixed default values, such as 57 for a pass and 69.5 for a credit. Second, research experience is optional but can raise your score. Publications must be original, peer-reviewed, from the last five years and in journals listed in ISI, Scopus (verified as refereed) or the ERA list, and professional or research experience since graduation counts only if it lasted at least 1.5 years and is confirmed by a letter from the employer. The FAQ says you must submit it in the University’s required format, using its research experience form, or it will not be considered.

The money in practice

The stipend is paid fortnightly from your scholarship start date, and the tuition scholarship runs for up to 14 research periods for a research doctorate or 7 for a research master’s, less any study already done towards the degree. The terms state that no extension is possible, so plan a thesis that fits the time. The relocation allowance is a reimbursement, not an advance. You may claim if you were living outside New South Wales when you received the offer, and you pay first, then claim up to A$1,485 for an economy airfare by the most direct route, or for moving, shipping, excess baggage or storage, with official receipts or final invoices. Quotations, pro-forma invoices, accommodation and meals are not accepted, and you must claim within six months of your scholarship start date. A second claim of up to A$1,485 is available for the journey home within six months of completing your degree. You may hold another award alongside the scholarship only if its value is less than 75% of the scholarship. You can defer an offer only to a later research period within the same calendar year, and your admission offer must be deferred too.

How it compares with Melbourne

Applicants often weigh Sydney against the University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships. The main practical difference is the process. At Melbourne, new applicants are considered automatically when they apply for their course. At Sydney you must also submit the separate scholarship form by one of the fixed round deadlines. Both universities fund research degrees and rank applicants mainly on grades and research potential. For the visa, the money you must show and health cover rules, see our guide to studying in Australia.