The Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) is one of the most lucrative scholarships all over the world. I gained this scholarship in 2024 to study a PhD program at the Australian National University. People often ask me about the facilities of this scholarship. Today, I’ll go ahead and outline the details, focusing on the facilities associated with it.
The AGRTP scholarship is awarded only to the full-time Doctoral (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) candidates in selected universities. Funded directly by the Australian government, it is independent of any project-specific program. Unlike the US style, the scholar is free from any teaching related responsibilities against the funding. You can seek teaching related jobs, earn extra money out of your PhD works.
Getting AGRTP scholarship is very competitive. You have to fulfill eligibility criteria, equip your profile so that you can win the competition. Particularly, your track record should demonstrate how integrated you are in academia and research. In my case, a research experience and credible publication helped me to beat the competition.
This scholarship offers full tuition fee offset, a yearly stipend, health insurance, a round-trip relocation expenses, thesis allowance and child (dependent) allowance. As an awardee, your tuition fee is waived for 3.5 years. It can be extended for additional 6 months upon extension of the program. That means you do not need to pay any admission fee, tuition fee during this period.
The stipend amount may slightly vary region to region. Whereas the current stipend value at the Australian National University is $ 38,154 per annum, it is $35,522 at the University of Wollongong. This variation is due to differences in the cost of living across locations. You will get paid fortnightly.
The mentioned two facilities are common, people expect it. But there are some surprising facilities that the government scholarship awardees receive in Australia. Let’s share my story. When I prepared all the documents for visa application, I supposed to pay my visa fee. Surprisingly, I did not need to pay visa fee because I am an AGRTP awardee! Interestingly, this information is not mentioned in any university website. May be it is a part of the Australian government policy rather than the university concern.
The relocation cost allowance is only for international student. You will get a certain amount of money, covering a round trip for the entire tenure. That means it covers your first trip to join the university and the trip of coming back home. Not bad!
Many international students get funding without health insurance coverage. It is an extra headache. But, the AGRTP scholarship is the royal award that covers health insurance too. You and your near family will get this facility. Additionally, you will also get a small amount for dependents. If you have children, you need to provide their information. In case you give birth during the program, you can also claim the allowance.
Finally, the scholarship also caters for printing and binding your thesis so that you are rewarded for the expense of producing the final copies required for submission.