The objectives of the APA scheme are to:
- Support postgraduate research training in the higher education sector; and
- Provide financial support to postgraduate students of exceptional research promise who undertake their higher degree by research (HDR) at an eligible Australian higher education provider (HEP).
APA scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential undertaking a HDR in Australia. APAs are provided to assist with students' general living costs. From 2011 commencing International Postgraduate Research Scholarship recipients are eligible to apply for an APA.
Awards are available for a period of two years for a Research Masters degree or three years, with a possible extension of six months, for a Research Doctorate degree. Award holders receive an annual stipend and may also be eligible for other allowances.
Australian government funding is provided through annual block grants to eligible Australian HEPs. Section 46 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2010 provide the legislative basis for the provision of funding to this scheme.
The allocation of APA funding to participating providers is based on a formula that is reflective of their overall research performance.
Important note: HEPs administer the APA scheme on behalf of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Applications for a scholarship need to be made directly to participating HEPs, as they are responsible for the APA application, selection and offer process. Students or researchers need to approach their HEP for direction about how to apply for an APA scholarship. Contact details for HEPs may be obtained from the Study Assist website.
Guidelines, conditions and process for determining APA grant amounts
The requirements for the APA scheme are in Chapter 2 of the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2010, which can be downloaded from the Australian Government Federal Register of Legislative Instruments at:
Stipend Rates
- APA stipend rates for 2012 are $23,728 for full-time students and $12,898 for part-time students.
- APA stipend rates for 2011 were $22,860 for full-time students and $12,388 for part-time students.
- APA stipend rates for 2010 were $22,500 for full-time students and $12,176 for part-time students.
- APA stipend rates for 2009 were $20,427 for full-time students and $10,957 for part-time students.
- APA stipend rates for 2008 were $20,007 for full-time students and $10,710 for part-time students.
Further information
For more information on scholarships for postgraduate research students, please refer to the Study Assist website.
Contact
For more information, please email RBGrants@innovation.gov.au with "APA" as the subject line.