Research scholarships

Research Scholarships

Transform your future with a research scholarship

At Adelaide University, international graduate researchers with any major scholarship administered by the Adelaide University Graduate Research School are entitled to a fee waiver for the standard duration of candidature (i.e. up to 4 years for PhD, up to 2 years for MPhil, and up to 1.5 years for MRes).

Graduate Research Talent Scheme Scholarship Round

Designed to recognise academic excellence, research achievement and future research potential, this scholarship supports high-performing graduate researchers across all research disciplines.

To be eligible for this competitive scholarship round, you must be a domestic applicant, or an international applicant who has completed a relevant Australian or New Zealand qualification.

Learn how to apply

Adelaide University Research Scholarships (AURS) and Research Training Program Scholarships (RTPS)

Available in every discipline area to support outstanding candidates pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Philosophy degree, the Adelaide University Research Scholarships (AURS) and Research Training Program Scholarships (RTPS) include:

  • a stipend (living allowance) for the duration of the scholarship,
  • a 100% tuition fee waiver for the duration of the award,
  • additional allowances for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples,
  • additional allowances for relocation and, if applicable, Overseas Student Health Cover.

Further information is available in the Conditions of Award.

Scholarship rounds

Adelaide University offers different types of scholarship rounds for Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy applicants. Please note that these scholarship opportunities and rounds are distinct. If you are interested in multiple opportunities, please submit an application each.

Signature Research Theme (SRT) Scholarship Round

The Signature Research Theme (SRT) Scholarships represent a new, project-based funding mechanism designed to attract outstanding graduate researchers and connect them with Adelaide University’s five Signature Research Themes:

  • Creative and Cultural
  • Defence and National Security
  • Food, Agriculture & Wine
  • Personal and Societal Health
  • Sustainable Green Transition

These scholarships provide graduate researchers with the opportunity to contribute to impactful, transformative research aligned with the SRTs, while being embedded within dynamic and collaborative research communities. Participants will benefit from interdisciplinary engagement, with opportunities also for access to industry partners and external collaborations.

The scholarships are available for entry into Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programs and are open to domestic and international applicants.

Expression of Interest for the Signature Research Theme (SRT) Scholarship Round are expected to open at the end of August 2027.

Graduate Research Talent Scheme Scholarship Round

Applications are now open for graduate researchers seeking to commence a research degree in 2027. Learn how to apply below.

You must be a domestic applicant, or an international applicant who has completed a relevant Australian or New Zealand qualification.

While applications are open now for Round 1, two further rounds will open in 2027:

  • Round 2: Mid-February 2027 through late March 2027
  • Round 3: Mid-July 2027 through mid-August 2027

China Scholarship Council - Adelaide University Partnership Scholarship Program

The China Scholarship Council - Adelaide University Partnership Scholarship Program provides successful candidates from the People's Republic of China with a fully funded research scholarship to undertake a PhD program at Adelaide University.

 Adelaide University applications will be open from 01 October 2026 to 01 February 2027. This application period is for candidates commencing their PhD program between July 2027 and June 2028.

To be eligible for a China Scholarship Council - Adelaide University Partnership Scholarship, applicants must:

  • meet the entry requirements for a PhD program at Adelaide University, including meeting our English Language requirements by the application closing date; and
  • hold an unconditional Offer of Admission at Adelaide University, which is subject to the applicant also being successful in applying for a CSC award.

Applications for this scholarship program occur in three stages, please see below under How to apply.

Out-of-round scholarships

In addition to the scholarships available during scholarship rounds, Adelaide University offers:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD and MPhil candidates can apply for a research scholarship at any time. Further information is available in the Conditions of Award.
  • Master of Research Indigenous Scholarship (MResIS) – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples undertaking a Master of Research (MRes). Further information is available in the Conditions of Award.
  • Master of Research Assistance Scholarships (MResAS), designed to support domestic graduate research students who would be eligible to receive Austudy or Youth Allowance if they were enrolled in a non-research program. For further information, read the Conditions of Award.
  • Externally-funded major awards
  • Top-up scholarships
  • Research internship scholarships
  • Travel scholarships.

How to apply

The application process is not the same for all scholarships. Those offered available ‘out of round’ will usually have their own application process and closing dates.

The Signature Research Theme (SRT) Scholarship Round is a multi-stage process.  

Before you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), please check your eligibility. To be eligible to submit an EOI, you must have completed your qualification or be on track to complete your qualifying program by:

  • 28 February 2028 if you are an international applicant located outside Australia
  • 31 March 2028 if you are located in Australia.

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and are successful in the EOI process will be invited to submit a formal application for admission and scholarship consideration.

Key dates
  • Expressions of Interest (EOIs) open: 31 August 2027
  • Expressions of Interest (EOIs) close: 30 September 2027.
Submitting your Expression of Interest:

EOIs may be submitted by international and domestic applicants, unless project specifications state specific residency/citizenship requirements. If you are interested in more than one scholarship project, you must submit a new EOI for each project.

Please visit the University’s project website to submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).

EOIs are reviewed by the project's nominated supervisor or supervisory panel, where prospective applicant suitability is assessed before invitations are issued for the commencement of an interview process. If successful in the interview process, you will be asked to submit a formal application for admission and scholarship. When completing your EOI, you must:

  • Respond to all questions in the EOI form.
  • Ensure that your responses comply with the stated character limits within the form. Note that character limits include spaces.

EOIs that are incomplete, incorrectly completed, or do not comply with the application requirements will not be accepted.

Important information

Due to the large volume of EOIs anticipated, it will not be possible to:

  • Contact applicants regarding missing information, incomplete responses, or submission errors
  • Respond to individual enquiries about the EOI process.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review their submission carefully before submitting to ensure all requirements have been met.

Project enquiries

If you have questions about a specific project, please contact the supervisor listed as the project contact on the project page. The Graduate Research School is unable to answer project-specific enquiries.

Applications are open now, and close on 2 November 2026.

This scholarship supports graduate researchers seeking to commence a research degree in 2027. You must be a domestic applicant, or an international applicant who has completed a relevant Australian or New Zealand qualification.

Stage 1 – Apply to Adelaide University

Applicants must first apply to Adelaide University, following the steps set out on the Apply for a research degree page.

Importantly, applicants must select “Talent Scheme Scholarship” when completing the online application.

Applications will be assessed against Adelaide University admissions criteria. If successful, applicants will receive a Conditional Offer of Admission and a Conditional Offer for a Talent Scheme Scholarship.

Stage 1 – Receiving the outcome of your application

The Adelaide University Graduate Research School will notify you by email as soon as the outcome of your application is finalised.

Stage 1 – Apply to Adelaide University

Applicants must first apply to Adelaide University, following the steps set out on our How to Apply page.  When completing the online application (Step 4 – Apply online), applicants must select ‘Seeking sponsorship from China Scholarship Council’ under the ‘Financial Support’ section of the form.

Applications will be assessed against Adelaide University Admissions criteria for PhD entry including English Language requirements and compliance with our National Security Obligations.

Successful applicants will receive a Conditional Offer of Admission and a Conditional Offer for an Adelaide University China Fee Scholarship in March 2027. These documents are required before applying to the China Scholarship Council.

Adelaide University nominates successful applicants to the China Scholarship Council.

Important to note, the Adelaide University contribution to the scholarship is only available to applicants that the University nominates to the China Scholarship Council for this scholarship program. If an applicant successfully applies to the China Scholarship Council without being nominated by Adelaide University, they will be permitted to hold the funding provided by the China Scholarship Council but will be personally responsible for any other costs, including covering 100% of their tuition fees.

Stage 2 – Apply to the China Scholarship Council

Following successful Adelaide University nomination, applicants must proceed to apply to the China Scholarship Council around April to May 2027. Information about eligibility criteria and how to apply to the China Scholarship Council are available on their website.

Stage 3 - Receiving the outcome of your application

The Adelaide University Graduate Research School will notify you by email as soon as the outcome of your application is finalised.

Contact

If you have any further question about the China Scholarship Council - Adelaide University Partnership Scholarship Program, please contact research.scholarships@adelaide.edu.au

Applications are now open. Please download the application form and submit with all required documentation to research.scholarships@adelaide.edu.au. Applications can be submitted at any time.

Out of round scholarships, including external awards will have their own processes and closing dates. Opportunities will be advertised on the website, social media or in the graduate research newsletter.

Find scholarships

Available scholarship opportunities connected to a project (internally and externally funded) will be listed throughout the year on the Find a research project webpage. Scholarships without a dedicated project (e.g. philanthropic) will also be promoted throughout the year, please refer to the Research scholarships webpage.

Boost your scholarship competitiveness

Your competitiveness for scholarship(s) will be based on a combination of academic merit, research experience and, for some scholarship opportunities, alignment with the University’s strategic research goals.

Strengthen your application by using the Adelaide University’s structured CV template to highlight your:

  • qualifications & grades,
  • research outputs (e.g. publications, blogs, creative work),
  • relevant research and professional experience, and
  • achievements.

Scholarships are awarded to the highest ranked eligible applicants. Whether you are awarded a scholarship will be determined by the quality of your application relative to the other applications received.

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