Key Points
- The main objectives of the Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) scheme are to:
- support postgraduate research training in the higher education sector; and
- provide financial support to domestic postgraduate students of exceptional research promise who undertake their degree by research at an eligible Australian higher education provider (HEP).
- Awards are available for a period of two years for a research masters or three years, with a possible extension of six months, for a research doctorate. Award holders receive an annual stipend and may also be eligible for other allowances.
- APAs are available to domestic postgraduate students of exceptional research promise who undertake their higher degree by research (HDR) at an eligible HEP.
Facts and Figures
Legislation:
Higher Education Support Act 2003
Length of program and proposed annual budget over the program's life
The APAs is an ongoing program.
|
Actual
2009-2010*
$’000
151,090 |
Estimate
2010-2011*
$’000
182,973 |
Estimate
2011-2012*
$’000
217,726 |
Estimate
2012-2013*
$’000
245,603 |
Estimate
2013-2014*
$’000
261,851 |
Source: Portfolio Budget Statement 2010-11
* Paid on a calendar year basis
The Government has committed to double the number of APAs by 2012, beginning in 2009 and is on track to meet this commitment.
The Government has increased the APA stipend from $20,427 in the 2009 academic year to $22,500 in 2010.
Eligibility and target audience
APAs are available to domestic postgraduate students of exceptional research promise who undertake their degree by research at an eligible HEP.
To be eligible for funding, HEPs must be listed in sections 16-15 and 16-20 of the
Higher Education Support Act 2003. Eligible HEPs are provided with block grants for continuing and new awards each year under the scheme.