Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded PhD Scholarships in Australia

The Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarships 2027 provide financial support to high-achieving domestic and international students undertaking doctoral research at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.

The scholarships are designed for candidates with exceptional research potential who are applying for or already undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Professional Doctorate at Swinburne.

The scholarship package combines a living stipend with tuition-fee support. Successful international applicants receive a Swinburne Tuition Fee Scholarship, while domestic recipients receive the applicable Research Training Program Fees Offset.

For the current scholarship round, applications opened on 7 September 2026 and close on 9 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. AEDT. Successful international applicants from Round 2 are expected to enrol by 29 June 2027.

Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarships include two scholarship types: the Swinburne University Postgraduate Research Award (SUPRA) and the Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship (RTP Stipend). Applicants are automatically considered for both when they apply for a Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarship.

Successful scholarship recipients can receive:

• Annual living stipend of A$35,500 based on the current 2026 indexed rate.
• Stipend support for three years.
• Possible six-month stipend extension in eligible circumstances.
• Tuition-fee coverage for up to four years.
• Paid leave of absence according to the scholarship conditions.
• Thesis allowance.
• Relocation allowance.
• For eligible international students, tuition-fee support through the Swinburne Tuition Fee Scholarship.
• For eligible international students, applicable overseas student health cover arrangements under the relevant scholarship package.

The stipend is intended to assist with general living costs while undertaking doctoral study.

The stipend amount is indexed, meaning the rate can change for future scholarship years. Applicants for 2027 should therefore check Swinburne's official scholarship page for the applicable 2027 rate before publication.

For eligible international recipients receiving the complete scholarship package, the Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarship can be described as a fully funded doctoral scholarship because it combines a living stipend with tuition-fee coverage.

The scholarship provides tuition support for the applicable period and a stipend for living expenses. Additional allowances may also be available.

However, applicants should not assume that every personal expense is covered. Expenses outside the scholarship entitlements remain the student's responsibility.

The Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarships are available for doctoral study.

Eligible programs include:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Professional Doctorate

The scholarship is not a general Bachelor's, Master's coursework or undergraduate scholarship.

Swinburne also offers separate Master by Research programs, but the current Research Stipend Scholarship page specifically identifies PhD and Professional Doctorate courses as eligible for these stipend scholarships.

Swinburne offers doctoral research opportunities across a broad range of disciplines and research areas.

The University's current research-degree areas include:

• Business
• Business Practice-Based Research
• Clinical Psychology
• Design
• Engineering
• Health Sciences
• Humanities
• Arts
• Social Sciences
• Information and Communication Technology
• Information Systems
• Law
• Science
• Technology Innovation – Science, Engineering and Technology
• Technology Innovation – Health, Arts and Design

Depending on the research area and available supervision, research may include subjects such as:

• Accounting
• Business
• Business Administration
• Economics
• Finance
• Management
• Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• Design
• Architecture and Built Environment
• Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electronics
• Telecommunications
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Information Systems
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science
• Cybersecurity
• Software and Computing
• Robotics
• Health Sciences
• Medicine-related research
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Biomedical Sciences
• Biotechnology
• Biological Sciences
• Environmental Sciences
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Humanities
• Arts
• Communication
• Media
• Cultural Studies
• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Law
• Technology Innovation
• Interdisciplinary research

Applicants should note that the availability of a particular research topic depends on Swinburne's research expertise, research strategy, facilities and available supervisors.

The Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarships are available to both domestic and international applicants.

International students can apply if they meet the admission, research, English-language and scholarship requirements for their proposed doctoral program.

There is no general nationality restriction stated for international applicants on the scholarship page.

Applicants for the Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarships must generally:

• Be applying for or undertaking an eligible PhD or Professional Doctorate at Swinburne.
• Meet the entry requirements of the proposed research degree.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours or an equivalent qualification, or demonstrate equivalent research experience where accepted by Swinburne.
• Propose a research project that aligns with a Swinburne Research Strategy and Ecosystem area.
• Demonstrate research potential.
• Meet Swinburne's English-language requirements where applicable.
• Have a nominated research supervisor who supports the proposed project.
• Meet the relevant scholarship-round requirements.
• Not receive another stipend scholarship that provides more than 75% of the applicable Swinburne scholarship stipend rate.

Applicants may be:

• New applicants seeking admission to a PhD or Professional Doctorate.
• Applicants who have received an offer for doctoral candidature but have not yet enrolled.
• Current Swinburne PhD or Professional Doctorate students who have been enrolled for less than two years at the scholarship-round closing date and demonstrate outstanding progress.

Selection can consider academic achievement, research experience, publications, research proposal quality, supervisory arrangements and relevant professional experience.

Prospective applicants should generally prepare:

• Completed HDR Research Proposal template.
• Signature/support from the nominated Principal Supervisor.
• Certified academic transcripts.
• Evidence of completion of previous qualifications.
• Proof of citizenship or identity.
• Updated resume/CV.
• Evidence of previous research experience.
• Research publications, where applicable.
• Evidence of meeting Swinburne's English-language requirements for international and permanent-resident applicants.
• At least two Swinburne referee reports.

Applicants for Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology) must also arrange two professional references, meaning new psychology applicants generally need at least four referee reports in total.

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applicants should follow these steps:

• Choose an eligible PhD or Professional Doctorate at Swinburne University of Technology.
• Review the entry requirements for the proposed research program.
• Identify a suitable research area and potential supervisor.
• Contact the nominated supervisor and discuss the proposed research.
• Develop the HDR Research Proposal with the supervisor.
• Prepare academic transcripts, CV and evidence of research experience.
• Prepare evidence of English-language proficiency if required.
• Arrange the required referee reports.
• Submit the Swinburne research degree application and select Swinburne Research Scholarships where applicable.
• Upload the required scholarship and admission documents.
• Submit the application before the scholarship-round deadline.
• Wait for the scholarship assessment and outcome.

Applicants are automatically considered for both the SUPRA and RTP Stipend scholarships when applying for a Swinburne Research Stipend Scholarship. They do not need to nominate one of the two scholarships separately.

Important Dates

For the current scholarship round leading to 2027 enrolment:

• Round 2 opens: 7 September 2026
• Round 2 application deadline: 9 October 2026
• Deadline time: 11:59 p.m. AEDT
• Referee reports deadline: 16 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. AEDT
• Round 2 outcome notifications: From 2 December 2026
• International students from Round 2: Enrol by 29 June 2027
• Domestic students from Round 2: Enrol by 26 February 2027

Applicants should check Swinburne's official scholarship page for any changes to dates or future scholarship rounds.

Swinburne assesses Research Stipend Scholarship applications competitively.

The assessment may consider:

• Eligibility for the research degree and scholarship.
• Quality and alignment of the proposed research project with Swinburne's Research Strategy and Ecosystem.
• Previous academic achievement.
• Research and publication experience relative to opportunity.
• Referee reports.
• Relevant professional experience.
• Quality of the proposed supervisory team.
• Research potential.
• Whether the applicant is undertaking doctoral study for the first time.
• Other selection criteria specified for the particular scholarship round.

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee a scholarship because awards are made through a competitive assessment process.