1. AGRTP and URS Stipend Scholarships

If you receive an AGRTP or URS Scholarship your stipend will increase to a rate of $34,000 per annum. You will be paid at this rate effective from 1 October 2022 for the remainder of this year and on an ongoing basis until your stipend ends. You will receive this rate if you are a domestic or international student. New commencing candidates (effective from 1.10.22) will also receive this increased rate.  

2. ANU PhD Scholarships    

If you receive an ANU PhD Scholarship your stipend will increase to a rate of $34,000 per annum. You will be paid at this rate effective from 1 October 2022 for the remainder of this year and on an ongoing basis until your stipend ends. You will receive this rate if you are a domestic or international student. New commencing candidates (effective from 1.10.22) will also receive this increased rate. 

3. Other HDR Stipend Scholarships

 If you receive a different named HDR stipend scholarship that meets the following criteria:

1. Currently at the RTP base stipend rate
2. Is funded by your ANU College or School

Your current stipend will increase to a rate of $34,000 per annum. You will be paid at this rate effective from 1 October 2022 for the remainder of this year and until your stipend ends. You will receive this rate if you are a domestic or international student. Future commencing HDR candidates who are offered a different named HDR stipend scholarship will need to check their scholarship offer letter to confirm the annual rate of the scholarship they are being offered. 

The Graduate Research Office will email all HDR candidates who are eligible for the stipend rate increase.

The timeframe for this communication is:

1. RTP/URS Stipend recipients: by 1 October 2022 - 21.10.22 UPDATE: an email was sent from GRO to all eligible candidates on the 30/9/22 and an additional email was sent on the 12.10.22 to provide a further update on the likely date that recipients will receive the increase.
2. ANU PhD Scholarship recipients: by 17 October 2022 - 21.10.22 UPDATE: an email was sent from GRO to all eligible candidates on the 17/10/22
3.  Other HDR Stipend Scholarships: by 17 October 2022: 21.10.22 UPDATE an email was sent from GRO to all eligible candidates on the 17/10/22  

The increased rate will be paid into your regular bank account after the increased rate has been processed by the relevant business areas. Please note that whilst we will be working towards ensuring these are paid in the earliest possible pay week (13 October 2022) there may be delays as these changes are dependent on reporting and processing times across multiple areas. If your increase is not reflected in the earliest 13 October pay date then the full accrued increased amount will be back-paid once your increase has been processed.

RTP & URS stipend recipients 

• 21.10.22 UPDATE:  - we expect that you will be paid the increase (and any applicable backpay) from the pay date 10.11.22 (if not earlier).   
• 27.10.22 UPDATE:  the increased rate and applicable back pay was paid in the 27.10.22 pay. 

ANU PhD Scholarship recipients

• 21.10.22 UPDATE: we are still in the process of working with the HR and Finance teams to facilitate the process. Once we have a likely date this page will be updated.

Other eligible HDR Stipend Scholarship recipients:

• 21.10.22 UPDATE: we are still in the process of working with the HR and Finance teams to facilitate the process. Once we have a likely date this page will be updated.

There will be no changes to the duration of the AGRTP Domestic Fee Offset, HDR Fee Remission Merit Scholarship, and HDR Fee Merit Scholarship.

The AGRTP International Fee Offset duration will be increased from 3 years to 3.5 years.

The standard duration of HDR stipend scholarships for eligible HDR candidates will be increased.   

If you have already received an automatic scholarship extension to 3.5 years your scholarship duration will not be extended further. Note any applicable scholarship extensions will be processed in batches prioritised based on urgency, starting with candidates whose scholarship requires extending between 1.10.22 and 31.12.22  

The current standard duration and new increased duration is outlined in the below table.

• Up to 6 months (to a maximum of 4 years) if they complete an internship that is at least 60 working days in length and not with a Higher Education provider (or international equivalent) OR
• Up to 3 months if they experience academic delays beyond their control as per the relevant current Scholarship procedure or Conditions of Award OR
• Up to 3 months if they complete an internship of less than 60 working days that was not with a Higher Education provider (or international equivalent).

MPhil candidates will be able to apply for an extension of:

• Up to 6 months (to a maximum of 2 years) if they complete an approved internship that is at least 60 working days in length and not with a Higher Education provider (or international equivalent) OR
• Up to 3 months if they experience academic delays beyond their control as per the relevant current Scholarship procedure or Conditions of Award OR
• Up to 3 months if they complete an internship of less than 60 working days that was not with a Higher Education provider (or international equivalent).

Note that scholarship extensions based on having completed an eligible internship are only available for candidates who stay on their Program for the duration of their internship.

Summary of stipend extensions:

Indigenous candidates who receive an RTP or URS stipend can apply for a 6 month extension up to 4 years. There are no changes to the current procedure.  

No. This scholarship was only open to applications until 1 September 2022.

We are extending support to all primary carers following the birth or adoption of a child. 60 working days paid parental leave is currently available to a candidate who is a birth parent who has completed 12 months of their RTP/URS stipend.

HDR candidates whose partner gives birth, or is one of two adoptive parents but not the primary caregiver, who have completed 12 months of their RTP/URS stipend, are entitled 5 working days paid leave (partner leave).

Parental leave will now be available to HDR candidates whose partner gives birth, who have completed 12 months of their RTP/URS stipend, if the candidate is the primary carer of the child in the first year of the child’s life. These candidates can access a total of 60 working days leave. Partners who access partner leave will only be eligible for 55 days parental leave.

These provisions also apply if the HDR candidate is the legal parent and primary care-giver of an adopted child:

1. less than five years of age;
2. not a step-child of the student; and
3. has not previously lived continuously with the student for six months or more.