Australian Postgraduate Awards (APAs)

Key dates

Applications for 2014 scholarships open August 2013.

Value and duration
Number of scholarships available
Eligibility
How to apply
Key dates
Selection criteria
Further information
Contacts

Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) are funded by the Commonwealth Government and are awarded to local students or international students who are an IPRS holder commencing from 1 January 2013, undertaking a research Doctoral or Masters degree on the basis of academic excellence and research potential.

Value and duration

In 2013, the APA provided the following benefits to recipients:

a stipend of $27,653 per annum pro rata (full-time study) = Government APA rate of $24,653 plus an RMIT top up of $3000

a government-funded Research Training Scheme (RTS) place or equivalent. An RTS place is supported with a HECS exemption for the normal duration of the course. Applicants successful in receiving an RTS place are not required to pay tuition fees for the maximum duration of their candidature
a relocation allowance for the cost of relocating in order to take up their postgraduate research program - up to $515 per adult and $255 per child to a maximum of $1540
a thesis allowance for the cost of producing a thesis/appropriate durable record - up to $840 for a Doctoral enrolment and $420 for a Masters by research enrolment
paid sick, maternity and parenting leave (within the limits of the Scholarship Guidelines)

The duration of an Australian Postgraduate Award will be reduced by any periods of study undertaken towards a Research degree prior to the commencement of the Award.

Research Masters studies – two (2) years full-time
Research Doctorate studies – three (3) years full-time

A Doctoral candidate may apply for an extension of up to six months subject to satisfactory progress and school approval and the grounds for extension relate to the study and are beyond the control of the student.

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Number of scholarships available

In 2013, RMIT University offered approximately 76 new APAs.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an APA, you must:

Be an Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia, or an international student who is an IPRS holder commencing from 1 January 2013; and
Have completed a Bachelor Degree with First Class Honours, or have demonstrated an equivalent level of academic attainment as determined by RMIT; and
Be currently enrolled in, or have applied for, a full-time postgraduate research program at RMIT. Part-time APAs may be approved for students with exceptional circumstances e.g. for medical reasons or due to significant care commitments. Part-time scholarships are not tax exempt. Please refer to the Scholarship Guidelines for further details.

You will be considered ineligible for an APA if:

You are undertaking a Masters by Research and you already hold a Research Doctorate, Research Masters or an equivalent research qualification;
You are undertaking a Research Doctorate and you already hold a Research Doctorate or an equivalent research qualification;
You have previously held a Commonwealth-funded postgraduate research scholarship unless it was terminated within six months of the scholarship’s payments; or
You are currently receiving another equivalent award, scholarship or salary providing a benefit greater than 75% of the 2012 APA base rate ($24,653) to undertake the HDR.

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How to apply

Applications have now closed for 2013.

The key dates for 2014 scholarship selection will align with the Postgraduate Research Admissions process.

Key dates

Applications for 2014 scholarships will open 12 August 2013* and close 31 October 2013*.

* dates to be confirmed

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Selection criteria

All domestic applications will be ranked based on a model that has been approved by RMIT’s Research Committee. Ranking applications is necessary as the number of scholarships we have to offer are usually fewer than the number of applications we receive.

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