•Meet Southern Cross University admission requirements for a Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Master by Research)

•Hold a Bachelor degree with First Class Honours or equivalent research experience and qualifications (e.g., a Master degree with a substantial research component or published peer-reviewed research)

•Intend to enroll as a full-time candidate in an eligible Higher Degree by Research program

•Meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements for research candidates (e.g., Academic IELTS overall 6.5 with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent)

•Must not be in receipt of another equivalent scholarship or stipend providing financial assistance greater than 75% of the base RTP stipend rate

The Southern Cross University Graduate School offers generous scholarship opportunities to support domestic and international candidates undertaking Higher Degree by Research (HDR) studies, including Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master by Research programs. Key scholarship offerings include the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships, the Southern Cross University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (SCUPRS), and specialized industry or faculty-funded research project stipends. These scholarships are designed to foster world-class research across priority areas including environmental science, marine ecology, agricultural and plant science, health, and regional community development.

•Living allowance stipend (indexed annually at the standard Australian Government RTP rate, approx. $32,000 to $35,000+ AUD per annum tax-free)

•Research Training Program (RTP) Tuition Fee Offset covering 100% of tuition fees for the standard duration of the degree (up to 3.5–4 years for PhD, up to 2 years for Master by Research)

•Single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for eligible international candidates

•Relocation allowance for candidates moving to Southern Cross University campuses (where eligible)