2024-2025 International Scholarship Round–iRTP and iMQRES at The Macquarie University, Australia
Apply for the International Research Training Program (iRTP) scholarship and the International Macquarie Research Excellence Scholarship Program (iMQRES) for Session 1 2025.
The number of international places funded through the RTP varies from year to year. Those applying for an iRTP will be automatically considered for the University funded iMQRES in the same round.
About the scholarship
The iRTP is the Australian Government’s Research Training Program Scholarship scheme for international graduate research students. This scheme is administered by individual universities on behalf of the Department of Education. Applications for iRTP Scholarships are made directly to participating universities.
The iMQRES scheme is a Macquarie University Macquarie University scholarship program that aims to support exceptional international graduate research students enrolled in research priority areas aligned with the University’s Strategic Research Framework 2015 to 2025 (World-Leading Research with World-Changing Impact), as well as that of the broader University.
Selection process
Macquarie University has its own application and selection process, as outlined in the Research Training Program Scholarship (RTP) Policy and the Macquarie University HDR Scholarship Rating Criteria.
Macquarie University:
- ranks applicants on the basis of academic merit, relevant research output and experience and/or potential and the University’s Strategic Research Framework
- assesses overseas qualifications using Australian Government guidelines to determine their comparability to qualifications on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Selection processes for candidates to be awarded the International Research Training Program Scholarship (iRTP) and International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (iMQRES) will also include considerations of the Research Environment. This may include:
- an evaluation of the alignment of the candidate’s project with Macquarie University’s research strategy and research priorities
- the quality of the supervisory team
- the international standing of the research area.
Availability
Awards will only be available to applicants who, at the time of application:
- are a citizen of a country other than Australia or New Zealand, and not an Australian permanent resident
- intend to reside in Sydney, Australia during their candidature
- plan to undertake a Master of Research or Doctor of Philosophy in S1 2025 full-time
- meet the admission criteria for commencement into the Master of Research (MRes – refer to schedule 2.3) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- at the time of application meet the English language requirement for Macquarie research degree
- satisfy all the criteria for admission to Macquarie University
- will have a valid visa enabling the commencement of study in Session 1 2025
- [New criteria for 2025] at the time of application, have completed their degree if applying for a Doctor of Philosophy. Applicants in the final semester of their program will not be eligible (except for Macquarie applicants and all applicants applying for MQBS)
- [New criteria for 2025] have confirmation of supervision from an eligible Macquarie University researcher (compulsory for FOA, FMHHS, FSE and desirable for MQBS).
Awards will not be available to those who:
- are currently enrolled in a progressing Macquarie cohort (MRes Year 1 to Year 2 or MRes to PhD)
- commenced enrolment in a Macquarie University higher degree research program prior to 1 July 2024
- are receiving another equivalent or major award, full scholarship (eg tuition and stipend) or salary to undertake the proposed program
- have already completed a research degree at the same or higher level than the proposed candidature in the same program of study
- provide false or misleading information to the University. Where there is reason to believe this condition has not been upheld, the University reserves the right to reassess the student’s entitlement to the award
- submit incomplete applications.
Applications will be withdrawn if they are incomplete. Applications cannot be held over to a future scholarship round. If you miss the deadline you will need to re-apply for the next round.
Award-holders may:
- be in receipt of minor awards (eg a tuition only or stipend only scholarship), allowances or other earnings which are supplementary to an iRTP or iMQRES, or derived from part-time work undertaken within the guidelines set by the relevant scholarship conditions
- receive stipend top-up funding from industry or other sources to a maximum equivalent of 75 per cent of the Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate at Macquarie University
- be in receipt of additional funds for field work, equipment and other such expenses not covered by the award.
If you are seeking to establish eligibility for a scholarship you are encouraged to provide full documentation of your achievements to assist in the assessment of your qualifications.
Other relevant research qualifications which may be considered include:
- completion of a research masters degree or equivalent eg a coursework masters with a substantial research component. You will be asked to provide information on your thesis eg the abstract, examiner reports, thesis copy, length, grade, examination process and the percentage of research component in the course
- published research, preferably in refereed publications eg journals, books, book chapters etc
- conference presentations, preferably refereed
- highly relevant and substantial work-related research experience.