Graduate Research Services

Step 3: Fees and Scholarships

Appropriate financial support is important in ensuring you can focus on your research during your degree. There are a range of fees and costs associated with undertaking an HDR course. ECU offers various Scholarships and other financial support to offset fees and costs for domestic and international candidates. Many of these scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and accepting a HDR course offer does not guarantee a scholarship offer.

Types of Funding Support

Living Allowance or Stipend

Living allowance (also known as stipend) scholarships provide a fortnightly payment to assist with living expenses in Australia. They vary in value, duration, award conditions and eligibility requirements. For example, some scholarships require you to study full-time and limit your work hours. These scholarships are available to support domestic and international candidates, as well as targeted projects or opportunities.

ECU HDR Scholarships are designed to support outstanding research candidates. Some are funded by ECU directly, while others are funded via the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP). Both of these scholarships are often linked to specific projects which are visible here when applications are open. There are two application rounds per year, typically opening in May and September.

Other scholarships are funded by external partners, many of which are advertised on ECU’s Scholarship webpage. International applicants may also find scholarship opportunities offered by their home country.

Applicants new to Western Australia are encouraged to explore the cost of living in Perth to assess affordability. Useful resources can be found on the Study Perth website (Living in Perth and Moving to Perth).

Receipt of a scholarship is not a mandatory requirement for undertaking a HDR course, and candidates can be self-funded, where appropriate.

Tuition Fee Offset

Domestic HDR candidates are not typically required to pay tuition fees. The Australian Government RTP allows domestic candidates to be provided with tuition fee offsets. This is up to 4 years full-time (or equivalent) for doctoral candidates and 2 years full-time (or equivalent) for Masters by Research candidates. Domestic candidates will automatically be considered for this tuition fee offset when applying for their HDR course.

International candidates may also be eligible for a tuition fee offset. The allocation of RTP tuition fee offset scholarships is managed through a competitive selection process.

Learn more information about RTP tuition fee offset scholarships.

Other funding

You may be eligible to apply for a top-up scholarship or other ad-hoc funding opportunities. Many of these are advertised by Schools, through ECU’s Scholarship webpage or external to the university. Many different internal and external scholarship opportunities may exist to support your proposed research. It is recommended you discuss scholarships opportunities with potential supervisors prior to commencing any formal course or scholarship application.

Applying for scholarships

Visit the Scholarships webpage and follow the links to determine your eligibility for our scholarship opportunities. Please note that you must have applied for, and received a course offer, before you can be awarded a scholarship. A course offer does not guarantee a scholarship offer.

ECU-managed scholarship applications are subject to specific open and closing dates, which are outlined in the scholarship details.

Overseas Student Health Cover and Visa Fees

International applicants should note that you (and your family, if applicable) may be required to obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as a condition of your student visa. Some scholarships may cover a portion of your OSHC and student visa costs.

Other Fees

The Student Services and Amenities Fee, administrative charges and incidental fees may be applicable.

Need further help regarding fees and scholarships?

We suggest reading Steps 1-3 of this guide for a big picture understanding of the process that will help to refine your questions.

• Fees and Scholarships Office
• International Office for more detailed fee information for international candidates