University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship 2026

What the Scholarship Covers

1. Annual Living Stipend

   • AUD $41,753 per year

   • Paid fortnightly into your Australian bank account

   • Designed to cover living costs in Sydney (rent, food, transport, etc.)

2. Tuition Fees

   • 100% full fee offset for the duration of your degree

   • Applies to either Master’s by Research (1.5–2 years) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (up to 3.5–4 years)

3. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

   • Single cover included for the entire duration of your student visa

   • Required for visa issuance; paid directly by the university

4. Additional Allowances

   • Relocation allowance: Up to AUD $1,250 (to assist with moving to Australia)

   • Thesis allowance:

     • Up to AUD $420 for Master’s by Research students

     • Up to AUD $840 for PhD students

   • Paid sick leave and maternity/paternity leave provisions apply under the RTP guidelines

---

Application Timeline (for 2026 Intake)

The University of Sydney organizes its research intakes into two main periods:

---

Who is Eligible?

You must meet all of the following criteria:

1. International Student

   • Not an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen

2. Enrolled or Applying for:

   • Master’s by Research or

   • PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

   • Your degree must be full-time and based at the University of Sydney

3. Academic Requirements

   • Outstanding academic achievement (usually equivalent to a First Class Honours or GPA above 3.7/4.0 or equivalent)

   • Strong research potential demonstrated through:

     • Academic transcripts

     • Research experience

     • Publications (if any)

     • Referee reports

4. English Language Proficiency

   • IELTS: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0

   • TOEFL iBT: 85+

   • Alternative acceptable tests: PTE, Cambridge English, etc.

5. Unconditional Offer of Admission

   • You must hold or be eligible for an unconditional offer of admission by the scholarship deadline

   • That means all documents, supervisor approval, and funding (if not fully funded) must be confirmed

---

How to Apply

1. Find a Supervisor

   • Identify and contact a potential research supervisor aligned with your academic interests

   • Obtain their written agreement to supervise you

2. Submit Admission Application

   • Apply for a research degree via the University of Sydney application portal

   • During the application, select “Yes” for scholarship consideration

   • No separate scholarship application is required

3. Submit Supporting Documents

   • Academic transcripts

   • CV/Resume

   • Research Proposal (2–3 pages)

   • Proof of English proficiency

   • Supervisor endorsement

   • Two referee reports (often submitted through a secure online form)

---

Selection Criteria

Your application will be ranked competitively based on:

• Academic performance in previous studies

• Research output (publications, thesis quality, conference presentations)

• Research proposal quality and alignment with faculty expertise

• Letters of recommendation

• Supervisor endorsement

Selection is extremely competitive, with only a limited number of scholarships awarded annually.

---

Duration of Scholarship

• PhD: Up to 3.5 years (7 research sessions)

• Master’s by Research: Up to 2 years (4–5 sessions)

• Scholarships may be extended for an additional 6 months in some cases

---

Additional Notes

• You cannot hold multiple major scholarships at once; if awarded another full stipend, you must choose one

• If you begin with a Master’s and transfer to a PhD, you may apply for a scholarship upgrade

• You are expected to live in Sydney and study full-time on campus (remote options only in rare circumstances)

• This scholarship does not support coursework degrees (e.g., MBA, MSc taught programs)

---

Life in Sydney on This Scholarship

• The stipend is generally sufficient for modest living, including rent in shared housing, food, and transport

• Sydney is one of Australia’s most expensive cities, so budgeting is important

• Many students tutor, research assist, or freelance to supplement income (with up to 20 working hours/week allowed during semester)

---

Final Tips for Success

• Start early: Contact supervisors 3–6 months ahead of deadline

• Craft a clear, realistic, and innovative research proposal

• Provide strong referee letters (ideally from academics who supervised your research)

• Ensure your documents are certified and translated if not in English

• Be honest and thorough this is a competitive award