Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) International Scholarships at University of Flinders

Overview

The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (AGRTPS) — International is a fully funded research scholarship awarded by Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, to outstanding international students pursuing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) — either a PhD (Research Doctorate) or a Master's by Research. It is funded under the Australian Government's national Research Training Program and is among the most competitive research scholarships available to international students in Australia.

Flinders University is a public research university ranked in the global top 500, with particular strength in health sciences, medicine, nursing, engineering, environmental science, and social work. Adelaide is consistently ranked among the world's most liveable cities and is significantly more affordable than Sydney or Melbourne, making it a practical base for research students.

• Fully funded: covers tuition, annual living stipend (AUD $36,061 in 2026), OSHC health cover, and relocation allowance
• Open to all international students including Nepali citizens — no country restriction
• PhD duration up to 3.5 years; Master's by Research up to 2 years
• Stipend is tax-free and indexed annually to the Australian Government rate
• Classified as a Commonwealth Sponsored Scholarship for Australian student visa purposes
• Applicants are automatically considered for the Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (FIPRS) at the same time — no separate application needed for both

⚠️ Highly competitive — research publication record is essential. Only up to 5 scholarships are awarded per year. In 2026, every successful applicant had submitted the maximum of 5 peer-reviewed publications. Students without publications are unlikely to be competitive. This scholarship is designed for applicants with an existing research background — typically those who have completed an Honours degree (or equivalent 4-year research-integrated degree) and have begun building a publication record.

Is This Scholarship Right for Nepali Applicants?

Nepali students are eligible, but the profile of a competitive applicant is very specific. The ideal candidate is a Nepali researcher who has completed a 4-year bachelor's degree with a strong research component (or an Honours degree equivalent), has ideally published in peer-reviewed journals or produced substantial research output, and has already identified a potential supervisor at Flinders University in their research area. Students fresh from a +2 or standard Bachelor's degree should first build a research profile — through an MPhil, a research assistant role, or publications — before targeting this scholarship.

Eligibility

Who is Eligible

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of any country except Australia or New Zealand, and must not hold Australian citizenship, Australian permanent resident status, or New Zealand citizenship. Nepali citizens fully qualify.
• First-time HDR commencement: Must be commencing a Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Master's by Research) in Australia for the first time. Students who previously commenced an HDR and terminated within six months may still be considered.
• Full-time enrolment: Must intend to undertake full-time study. The scholarship does not cover part-time HDR enrolment.
• Research concentration area: Must intend to enrol in one of Flinders University's designated areas of research concentration — fields where Flinders has particular strength, concentrated resources, and external funding.
• Academic entry requirements: Must satisfy Flinders University's entry requirements for HDR admission, equivalent to at least an Australian First Class Honours degree (a 4-year degree with a significant research component and high academic standing).
• English proficiency: Must meet Flinders University's English language requirements for HDR candidature. Test results must be valid until 31 March 2027 — results expiring before that date will render the scholarship application ineligible.
• Confirmed supervisor: Must have an informal agreement from a Flinders academic staff member to supervise the research. Applications without supervisor confirmation are not considered.

Who is Not Eligible

• Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, and New Zealand citizens.
• Students enrolling part-time or in a coursework-based postgraduate degree (e.g., a standard taught Master's). This scholarship is for Higher Degrees by Research only.
• Students who have already commenced an HDR in Australia (with the limited exception above for those who terminated within six months).
• Applicants without a confirmed research supervisor at Flinders University — this is a hard requirement, not a formality.
• Applicants whose English proficiency test results expire before 31 March 2027.
• Applicants who do not intend to enrol in a Flinders University research concentration area.

How to Apply

1. Identify your research area and potential supervisor. Browse Flinders University's research centres and institutes and the researcher directory to find an academic whose work aligns with your research interest. Email them directly to discuss your proposed research and secure an informal supervisory agreement. You cannot apply without a supervisor's confirmation.
2. Prepare your research proposal. Write a proposal of approximately 500 words covering the research problem, hypothesis or question, and your intended methodology or approach. This should be tailored to your proposed Flinders supervisor's area of expertise.
3. Select up to 5 publications. Given the extreme competitiveness of the scholarship (all 2026 winners had 5 publications), curate your strongest peer-reviewed publications — ideally in English and not more than 5 years old. Each publication must be accompanied by a completed cover sheet with a URL. Publications without cover sheets are not considered.
4. Obtain two academic referee reports. Download the Confidential Referee's Report form from the Flinders scholarships page. Complete Section A yourself and forward copies to two academic referees who can speak to your research ability and potential. Referee reports must be submitted directly to hdr.scholarships@flinders.edu.au by the closing date.
5. Apply for HDR admission via Studylink. If you do not yet hold a valid Flinders offer, register and apply for HDR admission at student-flinders.studylink.com. A Flinders Student ID is generated within 1 hour of registration — note this number.
6. Activate your Flinders account (FAN). Use your Student ID and date of birth at activate.flinders.edu.au to obtain your Flinders Authentication Name (FAN).
7. Submit the scholarship application via Student System. Log into the Flinders Student System and apply for the International HDR Scholarship Group. This single application covers both the AGRTPS and the FIPRS — no separate application is needed for both.
8. Upload all required documents. All documents must be in PDF, named in the format: YourName_DocumentType (e.g., Sharma_Transcript). Required: certified transcripts of all university-level study (translated to English), CV, research proposal, supervisor agreement email, publications with cover sheets, and English proficiency test results valid to 31 March 2027.
9. Submit before the deadline. The 2026 closing date is midnight, Thursday 18 June 2026 (Australian Central Standard Time). Incomplete applications are not accepted. Allow time to ensure referee reports are submitted on time — they are submitted independently by your referees, not by you.