ANU University Research Scholarships 2027–2028 (Fully Funded)

The ANU University Research Scholarships are competitive research scholarships offered by The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia, to support high-achieving students undertaking Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programmes.

The scholarships are available to domestic and international students and cover research degrees such as the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil). ANU currently lists the 2027 full-time base stipend at AUD 40,475 per year, paid fortnightly. The scholarship also provides additional benefits such as travel and removal allowances, a thesis allowance, dependent-child support for eligible international students, and paid medical, maternity and parental leave.

For international students, ANU’s research scholarship information states that its central stipend scholarships, including the University Research Scholarship, include a tuition fee scholarship. ANU also lists an HDR Fee Merit Scholarship that can be awarded concurrently with the University Research Scholarship to eligible international students and covers international student fees and OSHC.

One important point is that there is no separate scholarship application for new applicants. Prospective students are considered for eligible scholarships through their HDR admission application. Applicants should select the option to be considered for “Australia: ANU – Other Scholarship” when completing the admission application.

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ANU University Research Scholarships 2027–2028 – Quick Overview

Details	Information
University	The Australian National University (ANU)
Location	Canberra, Australia
Scholarship	ANU University Research Scholarship (URS)
Study Level	Postgraduate research
Eligible Degrees	PhD and MPhil
Students	Domestic and international
Field of Study	All fields
Selection Basis	Academic merit
2027 Full-Time Stipend	AUD 40,475 per year
PhD Stipend Duration	3.5 years
MPhil Stipend Duration	1.5 years
Tuition Support for International Students	Included through ANU central fee scholarship arrangements
Additional Benefits	Travel/removal, thesis, dependent-child and paid-leave benefits
Application	No separate scholarship application for prospective students
Round 1 International Deadline	August 31 each year
Round 2 Deadline	April 15 each year
Application Status	Open year-round, with specific scholarship-round deadlines

What Are the ANU University Research Scholarships?

The ANU University Research Scholarships are university-funded scholarships designed to support high-achieving HDR students whose research aligns with ANU’s strategic directions.

ANU’s research degree scholarship system covers both the University Research Scholarship (URS) and the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), among other centrally managed awards.

The University Research Scholarship is available to students who are beginning or continuing an eligible HDR programme. Selection is competitive and based on academic merit, research potential, referee reports, English-language competency, supervisor support, and comparison with other applications received in the same round.

The scholarship is therefore intended for serious research candidates rather than students enrolled in standard coursework programmes.

What Does the ANU University Research Scholarship Cover?

The current 2027 scholarship information lists a full-time base stipend of AUD 40,475 per year.

The stipend is paid in fortnightly instalments and is normally tax-free for full-time students under ANU’s research scholarship arrangements.

The scholarship also provides additional benefits, which can include:

Travel and removal allowances for eligible students relocating to Canberra
Thesis allowance
Dependent-child allowance for eligible international students
Paid medical leave
Paid maternity and parental leave
Paid carer’s leave under applicable ANU scholarship conditions

The exact allowances and conditions depend on the year of commencement and the conditions attached to the individual scholarship offer.

How Long Is the Scholarship?

The University Research Scholarship provides stipend payments for:

3.5 years for PhD candidates
1.5 years for MPhil candidates

ANU also states that a six-month extension may be available in eligible circumstances.

The extension is not automatic. It depends on the scholarship rules, satisfactory progress, and the reason for the delay.

Students should read the conditions of award attached to their scholarship because previous enrolment periods and approved interruptions can affect the remaining scholarship period.

Tuition Fees for International Students

International students normally have tuition obligations when studying at ANU, but the university provides fee scholarships alongside its central research stipend scholarships.

ANU’s research scholarship information states that central stipend scholarships, including the University Research Scholarship, include a tuition fee scholarship for international HDR students.

ANU also offers the HDR Fee Merit Scholarship, which is available concurrently with the University Research Scholarship for eligible international students who have achieved at least Honours 1 (H1) or equivalent. This scholarship covers:

International Student Fees for the standard programme duration
Overseas Student Health Cover for the scholar and immediate family

For a PhD, the published fee scholarship duration is up to 4 years, while the MPhil duration is up to 2 years.

Therefore, an eligible international student receiving the relevant stipend and fee scholarship package can receive both living support and tuition-fee coverage.

Who Can Apply for the ANU University Research Scholarship?

The scholarship is open to domestic and international students enrolled or enrolling in an accredited HDR course at ANU.

The specific scholarship eligibility requires the applicant to have achieved at least Honours 1 (H1) or an H1 equivalent in previous studies.

ANU describes first-class honours or equivalent as the competitive standard for research degree scholarships. Students with other qualifications or substantial research experience may sometimes be considered under special circumstances.

Applicants must also meet the admission requirements of their chosen HDR programme.

The University Research Scholarship is not available to an Industry PhD candidate who is receiving a full-time salary.

Academic Requirements

Academic performance is one of the most important parts of the ANU University Research Scholarships selection process.

ANU’s research degree scholarship page states that applicants should have a first-class honours degree or equivalent to be competitive.

Depending on the degree and academic system, applicants may qualify with:

A first-class honours degree or equivalent
A relevant Master’s degree with a suitable research background
Other qualifications and research experience in special cases

The exact admission standard varies between ANU Colleges, schools and research programmes.

A strong academic record alone does not guarantee a scholarship because ANU also assesses research potential, supervisor support, referee reports, English competency and the strength of competing applications.

Research Proposal and Supervisor

A suitable supervisor is an important part of an HDR application at ANU.

The university advises prospective research students to identify a research area and make contact with a potential supervisor before submitting their formal application.

Most colleges expect applicants to have the support of a potential supervisor or relevant college before their application can be assessed.

The research proposal should describe the proposed research project clearly. It should normally explain the research problem, objectives, methodology, expected contribution, relevant literature and available resources.

The proposal is not necessarily the final version of the thesis plan. Students may refine it after enrolment with their supervisors.

English Language Requirements

All ANU applicants must satisfy the university’s English language requirements.

There is not one single English score that applies to every research discipline. Applicants should check the current ANU English Language Admission Requirements for Students policy together with the entry requirements of their chosen HDR programme.

Some ANU research areas may publish additional English requirements, so applicants should not assume that one IELTS or TOEFL score applies across the entire university.

Meeting the English requirement is necessary for admission, but English competency is also considered during the scholarship ranking process.

Eligible Study Fields

The ANU University Research Scholarships are listed as covering all fields of study.

Research opportunities at ANU span a broad range of disciplines, including:

Arts and humanities
Social sciences
Business and economics
Law and public policy
Computer science
Engineering
Environment and sustainability
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Medicine
Neuroscience
Agriculture
Astronomy and astrophysics
Asia-Pacific studies

The availability of supervision and research facilities is an important consideration.

Students should choose a research topic that matches ANU’s expertise and identify an academic or research group capable of supporting the proposed work.

Documents Required

A complete HDR application is essential for scholarship consideration.

The ANU research application information says applicants should provide:

Academic transcripts
Graduation or degree certificates
Research proposal
Curriculum vitae
Referee details
Evidence of English-language proficiency where required
Other programme-specific documents

At least two referee reports are required to begin assessment of an HDR admission application. Academic referees who can comment on research ability are preferred, although professional references can also be accepted in certain cases.

Applicants should upload clear original academic documents. Where documents are not in English, ANU requires the original-language documents together with appropriate official translations.

Some research programmes can have additional requirements such as portfolios, writing samples, publications or discipline-specific research materials.

How to Apply for ANU University Research Scholarships

Step 1: Select a PhD or MPhil programme

Start by choosing a research degree that matches your academic background and research interests.

Review the programme’s entry requirements, research areas, supervision options and any college-specific instructions.

Step 2: Find a potential supervisor

Identify an ANU academic whose research is relevant to your proposed topic.

Contact the potential supervisor or the relevant HDR Convener before applying, as ANU strongly encourages applicants to discuss their proposed research and supervision arrangements in advance.

Step 3: Prepare your research proposal

Develop a clear and realistic proposal that explains what you intend to investigate, why it matters and how you intend to conduct the research.

Your proposal should be aligned with the available expertise and facilities at ANU.

Step 4: Submit the HDR admission application

Complete the ANU online admission application and upload all required documents.

During the application, select “Australia: ANU – Other Scholarship” to indicate that you want to be considered for eligible centrally managed scholarships.

Step 5: Ensure referee reports are submitted

Your referees receive requests after your application is submitted.

ANU recommends completing the application two to three weeks before the scholarship deadline so that referees have enough time to submit their reports.

Your application must be complete, including the referee reports, by the applicable scholarship deadline to enter the ranking process.

Scholarship Selection Process

The ANU University Research Scholarships use a competitive merit-based selection process.

ANU states that the selection considers:

Academic record
Research potential
Support from the proposed supervisor
Research location and environment
Referee reports
English-language competency
Comparison with other applications in the same round

Each ANU College convenes a selection committee to score and rank eligible H1 or equivalent applicants.

This means admission and scholarship selection are closely connected but should not be treated as exactly the same decision.

A student may meet the admission requirements but not receive a competitive stipend scholarship.

Scholarship Deadlines for 2027–2028

ANU has two central scholarship rounds for HDR students.

Scholarship Round	Deadline	Expected Commencement
Round 1 – International	August 31 each year	By March 31 of the following year
Round 1 – Domestic	October 31 each year	By March 31 of the following year
Round 2 – International & Domestic	April 15 each year	By August 31 of the same year

For international applicants seeking a scholarship for 2027 commencement by March 31, 2027, the main Round 1 deadline was August 31, 2026, which has now passed.

The next central Round 2 deadline is April 15, 2027, for research students commencing by August 31, 2027.

For students targeting 2028 commencement, the Round 1 international deadline is expected to be August 31, 2027, under ANU’s current annual schedule.

Applicants should also check their individual research school’s preferred internal deadlines because some ANU academic units ask international applicants to contact supervisors or submit preliminary materials several weeks or months before the central scholarship deadline.

Current Status of ANU University Research Scholarships 2027–2028

The ANU University Research Scholarships page is currently listed as open for applications throughout the year, but scholarship consideration takes place through specific rounds.

For international students, the August 31, 2026 Round 1 deadline for commencement by March 2027 has passed.

Applicants seeking a 2027 start may still have the April 15, 2027 Round 2 scholarship round, which is intended for commencement by August 31, 2027.

Students planning for a 2028 start should prepare for the next international Round 1 deadline on August 31, 2027, subject to ANU’s future confirmation.

The university recommends submitting complete applications two to three weeks before the scholarship deadline so referee reports can arrive on time.

Can International Students Apply?

Yes. The ANU University Research Scholarships are available to both domestic and international students.

For international applicants, ANU provides tuition-fee scholarship arrangements alongside central stipend scholarships. Eligible international students can also be considered for the HDR Fee Merit Scholarship, which covers international student fees and OSHC under its stated conditions.

International students must meet ANU’s academic, English-language, admission and scholarship-selection requirements.

They should also check visa requirements and the conditions attached to the final scholarship and admission offers.

Can Pakistani Students Apply?

Yes. Pakistani students can apply as international candidates for eligible HDR programmes at ANU.

There is no general Pakistan-specific exclusion listed on the University Research Scholarship page. Pakistani applicants must meet the same academic, research, supervision, English and documentation requirements applicable to other international applicants.

The strongest approach is to identify a suitable ANU research area and potential supervisor first, then submit the complete HDR application before the applicable scholarship deadline.

What Additional Benefits Are Available?

Beyond the main stipend, ANU’s current University Research Scholarship information lists several additional benefits.

Travel and Relocation Support

Eligible scholars relocating to Canberra can receive travel and removal allowances under the scholarship conditions.

The exact amount and eligibility are determined by the applicable conditions of award.

Thesis Allowance

The scholarship provides a thesis allowance to help with eligible costs associated with completing the research thesis.

Dependent Child Allowance

Eligible international scholarship recipients may receive a dependent-child allowance under the relevant conditions.

Paid Leave

ANU’s research scholarship framework can provide paid medical, maternity and parental leave, subject to the applicable rules.

These benefits make the scholarship package more comprehensive than a basic living stipend.

Is the ANU University Research Scholarship Fully Funded?

For eligible international recipients receiving the full stipend and applicable fee scholarship package, the ANU University Research Scholarship can be considered a fully funded research scholarship.

The 2027 base stipend is AUD 40,475 per year, and the scholarship lasts up to 3.5 years for a PhD and 1.5 years for an MPhil.

ANU also states that central stipend scholarships such as URS include a tuition fee scholarship for international students. Additional benefits can include relocation, travel, thesis and dependent-child support.

However, the exact conditions vary according to the scholarship offer. Students should therefore read their individual conditions of award rather than assuming that every possible personal expense is covered.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying for a coursework degree: The University Research Scholarship is for eligible Higher Degree by Research programmes.

Looking for a separate scholarship application: New applicants are automatically considered through the HDR admission application when they select the appropriate scholarship consideration option.

Submitting at the last minute: Referee reports must arrive before the scholarship deadline for an application to be complete.

Ignoring supervisor support: ANU strongly encourages applicants to contact a prospective supervisor or HDR Convener before submitting the application.

Assuming one GPA rule applies to every programme: Academic and admission requirements can vary by research area.

Using the wrong deadline: August 31 is the main international Round 1 deadline, while April 15 is the central Round 2 deadline.

Assuming admission guarantees funding: Scholarship ranking is competitive even when an applicant qualifies for admission.

Calling AUD 40,475 the permanent stipend: This is ANU’s published 2027 full-time base stipend rate and may be indexed in future years.

Official Sources

ANU University Research Scholarships

ANU Research Degree Scholarships

ANU Postgraduate Research — How to Apply

ANU HDR Fee Merit Scholarship

ANU Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship

FAQs About ANU University Research Scholarships 2027–2028

1. What are the ANU University Research Scholarships?

They are competitive ANU scholarships for high-achieving students undertaking eligible Higher Degree by Research programmes such as the PhD and MPhil.

2. How much is the ANU University Research Scholarship in 2027?

The published full-time base stipend for 2027 is AUD 40,475 per year, paid fortnightly.

3. Is the ANU University Research Scholarship fully funded?

For eligible international recipients receiving the stipend and applicable tuition-fee scholarship package, it can provide comprehensive funding including living support and tuition coverage, along with additional allowances under the scholarship conditions.

4. Can international students apply for the ANU University Research Scholarship?

Yes. The scholarship is open to domestic and international students, subject to the relevant HDR admission and scholarship requirements.

5. What degrees are covered by the scholarship?

The University Research Scholarship supports eligible postgraduate research programmes, including PhD and MPhil study.

6. Do I need a separate application for the ANU University Research Scholarship?

No. Prospective applicants are automatically considered through their HDR admission application when they select “Australia: ANU – Other Scholarship” for scholarship consideration.

7. What is the international deadline for ANU research scholarships?

The main Round 1 international deadline is August 31 each year for commencement by March 31 of the following year. The second central round closes on April 15 for commencement by August 31 of the same year.

8. Can Pakistani students apply for ANU University Research Scholarships?

Yes. Pakistani students can apply as international candidates for eligible ANU HDR programmes and can be considered for the University Research Scholarship if they satisfy the academic, research and admission requirements.

Final Thoughts

The ANU University Research Scholarships 2027–2028 provide a strong funding pathway for students who want to undertake a research Master’s or PhD at The Australian National University.

The most important financial figure for the 2027 cycle is the AUD 40,475 annual full-time stipend, supported by additional benefits such as travel and relocation assistance, thesis support and dependent-child assistance for eligible international scholars.

For international applicants, ANU’s central research scholarship structure also provides tuition-fee support, making the package substantially more comprehensive than a stipend-only award.

The application process is also different from many scholarships: there is normally no separate scholarship form for new applicants. Your HDR admission application is the main route to scholarship consideration.

For students planning a 2027 or 2028 start, the timing matters. The international Round 1 deadline for a March 2027 commencement was August 31, 2026, while the next Round 2 deadline is April 15, 2027. Students targeting 2028 should plan around the next international Round 1 deadline of August 31, 2027, while checking ANU’s official pages for any updated dates and conditions.

ANU University Research Scholarships 2027–2028: Funding Guide