RTP Rounds and Deadlines 2027: University by University
There is no national RTP deadline. Each university runs international scholarship rounds on its own calendar, and several closed for early-2027 starts before October 2026.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
International rounds at five big universities
Status is as of 6 October 2026. Each date links to the university’s own page. Faculties sometimes set earlier internal dates, so check your faculty too.
| University | Round | Closes | Start window | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UQ | International round (source) | Mon 19 Oct 2026 | Research Quarter 4 2027 or early 2028 | Open (EOI opened 20 Aug 2026) |
| Melbourne | Round 1 (MDHS) | 31 Oct 2026 | 2027 | Open |
| Melbourne | Round 2 | 31 Jan 2027 | 2027 | Upcoming |
| Melbourne | Round 3 | 15 May 2027 | 2027 | Upcoming |
| Sydney | RP 1 and 2, 2027 (source) | 11 Sep 2026 | Research Periods 1–2, 2027 | Closed |
| Sydney | RP 3 and 4, 2027 | 18 Dec 2026 | Research Periods 3–4, 2027 | Open |
| Sydney | RP 1 and 2, 2028 | 10 Sep 2027 | Research Periods 1–2, 2028 | Upcoming |
| ANU | Round 1 international (source) | 31 Aug 2026 | By end of March 2027 | Closed |
| ANU | Round 2 | 15 Apr 2027 | By end of August 2027 | Upcoming |
| Monash | Round 3 international (source) | 31 Jul 2026 (brought forward that year from the usual 31 Aug) | January–June 2027 | Closed; outcomes week of 11 Oct 2026 |
| Monash | Round 1 international (source) | 28 Feb 2027 | July–December 2027 | Upcoming (date brought forward) |
Melbourne publishes round dates at faculty level. The 31 October, 31 January and 15 May dates are the ones published by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, which says most scholarships are awarded in the first two rounds. If you are successful, you must start by 31 October of the academic year your offer is for (so a December 2026 offer for 2027 means 31 October 2027), or the scholarship may be withdrawn.
When you hear back
- UQ: assessment runs from 18 November 2026 to 19 February 2027; outcomes are sent from Monday 22 February 2027.
- Sydney (closing 18 December 2026): outcomes are issued from 26 February 2027 and, by Sydney’s own estimate, finalised by 18 May 2027 for offshore applicants, or 30 June 2027 for applicants completing a degree in Australia.
- Melbourne Round 1: the MDHS page says applicants should hear by 18 December 2026.
- Monash: outcomes come roughly six to ten weeks after a round closes. Admission assessment usually starts after scholarship results.
Why international rounds close early
International rounds tend to close earlier than domestic ones. ANU’s Round 1 closes on 31 August for international candidates but 31 October for domestic. UQ’s single international round closes on 19 October 2026, while its domestic Round 1 closed on 31 August 2026 for earlier starts. The gap gives time for visas: UQ suggests applying at least six months before you start and allowing about 12 weeks for visa processing (UQ application dates).
Plan backwards from the round
- 18–12 weeks before closeShortlist supervisors
Read recent papers and check each person is taking students. See Finding a Supervisor.
- 26–8 weeks before closeMake contact or submit an EOI
At UQ the EOI is how a supervisor agrees to back you. A response normally takes up to two weeks.
- 34 weeks before closeFreeze your documents
Final transcripts, certified copies, English score, CV, proposal and referee details.
- 42 weeks before closeSubmit
A complete application at least a week early leaves room for portal problems and missing referee links.
If you missed a round
A missed deadline usually costs you a few months, not a year. Sydney’s next 2027 round closes 18 December 2026, Monash’s on 28 February 2027 and ANU’s Round 2 on 15 April 2027. You can apply to more than one university at the same time (confirmed in the RTP FAQs), so many applicants file in two or three rounds across different universities.
Always confirm on the university’s page before you submit. Dates were checked on 6 October 2026 and can change. Monash brought its 2027 Round 1 forward from 31 March to 28 February. Its 2026 Round 3 closed on 31 July; the live Monash page now shows the usual 31 August for future rounds.