Nigerian students seeking postgraduate education abroad can now apply for the Australian Government’s fully funded 2026 Research Training Programme scholarship, which supports eligible international candidates pursuing Master’s by Research and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees at participating Australian universities.
The scholarship, funded by the Australian Government, provides successful applicants with full tuition coverage, annual living stipends and other research-related allowances throughout the duration of their studies.
According to information published by Australia’s Department of Education, applications are not submitted through a central government portal. Instead, each participating university manages its own admission and scholarship selection process.
The programme is open to both domestic and international applicants, including Nigerians, provided they satisfy the admission requirements and English language proficiency standards of their preferred institution.
Introduced in 2017, the Research Training Programme replaced the Australian Postgraduate Award, the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the Research Training Scheme. It is aimed at producing highly skilled researchers equipped for careers in academia, industry and other professional fields.
For the 2026 academic session, successful full-time beneficiaries may receive an annual stipend of AUD34,315, although some universities offer higher financial support depending on their funding arrangements.
The scholarship covers up to two years for Master’s by Research programmes and up to four years for full-time PhD studies.
Application deadlines differ across participating universities, with some institutions accepting applications between July and October 2026 for early 2027 admission, while others operate multiple admission cycles throughout the year.
Prospective applicants are advised to identify universities offering research opportunities in their areas of interest and prepare the required documents, including a research proposal, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, referee reports and proof of English language proficiency.
The Australian Department of Education urged candidates to contact their preferred universities directly for institution-specific eligibility requirements, application procedures and deadlines, stressing that there is no single application portal for the scholarship.
The scholarship remains highly competitive, with selection largely based on applicants’ academic performance, research potential, quality of research proposals and recommendation letters.
In addition to tuition and living expenses, many participating universities also provide benefits such as Overseas Student Health Cover, relocation assistance and paid leave entitlements for eligible scholars.
Application guide: https://www.education.gov.au/research-block-grants/research-training-program
