Fees & scholarships

Fees

Fee levels are set by the University and vary depending on whether you are an international or domestic student.

Domestic students (Australian citizens and permanent residents, as well as New Zealand citizens) do not currently pay tuition fees for PhD programs. At present they are also covered by exemptions from the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), although this remains under review by the University.

All international students are required to pay a tuition fee. In 2013 the annual tuition fee is AUD $24,746. Please note that this amount usually increases each year. International students also need to continually hold valid overseas student health cover as part of their visa requirements.

All students are required to pay a services and amenities fee. In 2013 this is $273.

Information on fees for all students is available on the student fees section of the ANU website (see Fees).

Scholarships

The Department does not provide its own funding for PhD study. Instead it draws on University and Australian federal government schemes. These vary in nature between international and domestic applicants.

International students

International students, who meet eligibility requirements, may apply for an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). This covers tuition fees only. Application for the IPRS is made when you make an application for admission, but you do need to indicate in the relevant box that you wish to be considered.

The ANU occasionally offers a small number of scholarships to international students to cover living costs only. These vary from year to year in number and size of award. Students who indicate they wish to apply for an IPRS are automatically entered into this scholarship round if available.

International students who are awarded an IPRS will be automatically be considered for additional funding to support living expenses.

International students should also investigate the Endeavour Postgraduate Award scheme which is managed by the Australian government directly and not by the ANU.

Domestic students

Domestic students who meet eligibility requirements may apply for an Australian Post-Graduate Award (APA) which provides a stipend for three years (remember domestic students pay no fees).

Information on all scholarships for students is available at Scholarships

Eligibility

The Australian government scholarship guidelines require that international and Australian applicants must have a First Class Honours degree (or graduate qualifications at a level deemed equivalent to an undergraduate First Class Honours [HI] degree) to be eligible to apply for these scholarships. In the US system an HI is equivalent to a GPA of 3.75.

However, competition for all types of scholarship is intense and students with the above requirements are only eligible to apply, there is no guarantee of award.

Closing dates

The closing dates for scholarship applications are 31 August for international students, and 31 October for Australian and New Zealand students. A very small number of scholarships are sometimes available mid-year. The closing date for these intensely competitive scholarships is 31 May. Please note, however, that some scholarships vary in their application closing dates. Full details of the range of scholarships available can be found on the scholarships section of the College website.

While the University accepts PhD applications for admission at any time of the year, applicants need to be aware that under current Australian government and University rules, once enrolled, PhD students will not be eligible to apply for many of the PhD scholarships on offer. Applicants should consult the Director of PhD Studies if they are contemplating an application independently of applying for a scholarship.