RTP Stipend and Benefits for International Students (2026–27)
An international RTP package normally has three parts: a tax-free stipend, a full tuition offset and OSHC. The stipend floor is national, but each university sets its own rate, duration and allowances.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
The three parts of an RTP scholarship
According to the Department of Education, a university can give you one or more of these:
- Fees offset — the university fully offsets your research degree tuition. The dollar value varies by university and field.
- Stipend — a living allowance paid in regular instalments.
- Allowances — ancillary costs such as relocation, thesis printing and publication costs, or OSHC for international students and their dependants.
Some universities also hand out fee-offset-only awards. Melbourne, for example, lists “fee offset scholarships” separately from stipend-and-fee-offset scholarships (Melbourne GRS page). Read your offer carefully: a tuition waiver alone leaves you to cover living costs, which matters for your visa finances.
National minimum and maximum
The base and maximum rates are indexed each 1 January, and the next year’s rates are announced by 1 October (Department of Education).
| Year | Full-time base | Full-time maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,511 | $52,352 |
| 2026 | $34,315 | $53,608 |
| 2027 | $35,550 | $55,537 |
Full-time RTP stipends are tax-exempt if they meet the Australian Taxation Office’s criteria. Part-time stipends are taxable.
What big universities actually pay
| University | Full-time stipend | Stipend duration (PhD) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $42,754 (2026); $44,293 (2027) | Up to 14 research periods; no extension | RTP international |
| ANU | $40,475 (ANU 2027 rate) | 3.5 years + 6-month extension available | ANU RTP |
| Melbourne | $39,500 (2026); $41,100 (2027) | Up to 3.5 years | GRS page |
| UQ | $39,220 (2026) | 3.5 years + possibility of 1 extension | UQGRSS |
| UTS | $39,000 (2026) | 3 years 6 months | 2026 conditions |
| Monash | $37,145 (2026); $41,100 (2027, rates) | Check scholarship terms | MGS page |
These are the university-wide rates for the main graduate research scholarships, which pay the same whether the money comes from the RTP or the university’s own scheme. Individual projects can add top-ups.
Tuition offset
For international students, the fees offset is usually worth more than the stipend. Melbourne gives a full fee offset for up to four years for a doctorate and two years for a research master’s. Sydney covers 100% of tuition fees for up to 14 research periods when you hold its RTP Stipend Scholarship. Note the mismatch at Melbourne: tuition is covered for up to four years, but the living allowance runs for 3.5.
Health cover (OSHC)
Student visa holders must keep Overseas Student Health Cover. The universities in this guide include it for international scholars:
- Melbourne: OSHC single membership for international students who need a student visa (source).
- Sydney: OSHC is part of the RTP Fee Offset (source).
- ANU: OSHC reimbursement under the RTP Fee Offset (source).
- UQ: single OSHC included with UQGRSS (source).
Single cover is the norm. If your partner or children come with you, budget for upgrading to family cover yourself unless your offer says otherwise.
Relocation and thesis allowances
| University | Relocation | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | $3,000 if moving from outside Australia | Limited paid sick, maternity and parenting leave |
| Sydney | Up to $1,485 to travel to Sydney, plus up to $1,485 to return home after completion | Thesis allowance |
| UTS | Only for moves from elsewhere in Australia (up to $1,520), so not for international arrivals | Thesis allowance up to $840 (doctoral) |
| ANU | Travel/removal allowance | Dependent child allowance (international only), thesis allowance |
A stipend is designed to cover one person’s modest living costs. If you bring family, rent and family OSHC can quickly outgrow it. Check the cost-of-living pages for your target city before you accept.
Sources: Department of Education RTP page and FAQs; scholarship pages and conditions for Sydney, Melbourne, ANU, UQ, UTS and Monash. Rates checked 6 October 2026.