Location: Australia
Program: Postgraduate (Master of Research and PhD Degrees)
Eligibility: International students
Duration: 2 to 4 years
Deadline: March 31, 2026
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The University of South Australia (UniSA) offers a comprehensive and competitive suite of fully funded research degree scholarships for both domestic and international students seeking to pursue a Master of Research or PhD programme at one of Australia’s most innovation-driven and industry-connected public universities. UniSA’s research scholarships are structured around three main funding types: tuition fee offsets or waivers, living stipend allowances, and supplementary funding for specific research costs with most competitive scholarships combining at least two of these elements into a single integrated package.
The University of South Australia, established in its current form in 1991 through the merger of several longstanding South Australian educational institutions with roots dating back to 1856, is widely recognised as Australia’s University of Enterprise a title reflecting its distinctive commitment to producing practical, industry-relevant research and graduating professionals who are immediately job-ready and globally competitive. UniSA is consistently ranked among the world’s top 200 young universities and has achieved a remarkable record of research impact across its five academic divisions, with particular strengths in health sciences, engineering, business, education, and creative industries.
Benefits of the Scholarship
This scholarship will provide the following to its recipients:
- Full tuition fee waiver for the entire funded period (up to 4 years for PhD, up to 2 years for Master of Research)
- Living stipend paid fortnightly
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) with BUPA (singles cover) for international student visa holders under RTPi and ERS scholarships
- Thesis allowance to assist with costs associated with the production of the final research thesis
- Limited relocation expense reimbursement (project-dependent, available for some awards)
- Other benefits
Also Check:
2026 Global Korea Postgraduate Scholarship (GKS) – Kookmin University, South Korea
2026 Development Trust Africa Postgraduate Scholarship – Loughborough University, UK
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following:
- Open to both domestic students (Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents) and international students of all nationalities for research degree programmes (Master of Research or PhD) at UniSA
- Must demonstrate strong academic merit — typically a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours or equivalent, or a Master’s degree with a significant research component, and evidence of research potential through publications, awards, or prior research experience
- Must apply for a specific listed research project at UniSA that has an assigned scholarship — scholarship applications are submitted as part of the project application process via the UniSA online portal
- For RTPi and ERS scholarships: no requirement for external funding; the scholarship provides both stipend and fee waiver
- For IRTS: must be in receipt of or already awarded a fully externally funded living stipend through a recognised sponsor, scholarship body, or industry partner agreement — applicants without an external stipend are not eligible for the IRTS pathway
- IRTS applicants must also be supported by a strong supervisory panel (with an end-user adviser on the panel where appropriate) and be enrolled in a research-rich environment
- International applicants must meet UniSA’s English language proficiency requirements and hold (or be eligible to apply for) an Australian student visa
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander domestic applicants who hold an admission offer without a living allowance may apply for the Aboriginal Enterprise Research Scholarship (AERS) as a supplementary support mechanism
- Must not be in receipt of another scholarship that duplicates any component (stipend or fee waiver) already funded by the UniSA scholarship awarded
- Must comply with the full terms and conditions outlined in the Scholarship Benefits and Conditions document, which must be read in full before accepting any offer
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements
Also Check:
2026 Goldsmiths Sanctuary Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarship – University of London, UK
2026 Global Impact Postgraduate Scholarship – Loughborough University, UK
Selection Criteria
UniSA research scholarships are awarded through a competitive, project-based selection process in which academic merit and research potential are the primary determining factors at every stage. Because scholarships are attached to specific research projects rather than to open calls, the initial stage of selection involves the identification of a suitable listed project by the applicant a process that rewards candidates who have taken the time to engage meaningfully with UniSA’s research areas, read available project descriptions in depth, and reach out proactively to potential supervisors before submitting a formal application.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
