The fees for Higher Degrees by Research vary based on your program of study and whether you are a domestic or international student.
We have several options to assist you in meeting some, or all, of the cost of your study.
Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship Policy
The Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship Policy outlines the requirements of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) stipend and fee offset scholarships at Victoria University (VU) funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP).
Find out more about the RTP Scholarships Procedure.
Research Fees
If you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen you may be eligible for a Research Training Program (RTP) fee offset scholarship where your tuition costs are supported by the Australian Government.
This scheme is available for local students accepted into the Master Research Degrees, Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Applicants in receipt of a RTP Fee Offset scholarship are not required to pay tuition fees for the maximum duration of their candidature (enrolled degree). An enrolment beyond the maximum period of support may result in you incurring tuition fees.
A separate application is not required for the RTP fee offset scholarship. Your eligibility is assessed as part of your course application for admission.
Tuition fees for domestic full fee-paying students and international students will vary, depending on the research area.
Current candidates
To estimate the value of support from the Australian Government provided for a RTP fee offset place, or the tuition fee rate for a domestic full fee paying student and an international student, refer to the 2023 Unit of Study fee schedule.
Example: You are enrolled in 20 days full-time study in a 6-month enrolment period and the annual equivalent course fee for your research thesis unit is $31,990.00.
$31,990.00/365 days in a year = $87.64 per day.
$87.64 x 20 days of enrolment = $1,752.80.
For candidates awarded a RTP fee offset scholarship, refer to the frequently asked questions for students for further information.
Getting HELP with your fees
Eligible students enrolled in a full-fee paying place may be able to get help paying their fees through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), administered by the government.
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme to help eligible domestic full-fee paying students pay for all or part of their tuition. It can't be used for additional study costs such as accommodation or text books.
This scheme is available for students in Year 1 of the PhD (Integrated) and any other graduate research student not covered by the RTP.
How much you can borrow
The total amount of FEE-HELP a person can borrow is set by the combined HELP loan limit. It combines the debt for HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans
For 2023, eligible students can borrow up to the combined HELP loan limit to pay their tuition fees.
The combined HELP loan limits are as follows:
- medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses $162,336
- all other students $113,028.
Available HELP balance
Once you start using FEE‑HELP, the amount of HELP you have left to use is known as your ‘HELP balance’.
The available HELP balance is calculated as your HELP loan limit of that year, minus your HECS-HELP, FEE HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans borrowing. HELP loans are renewable, which means that making a repayment will increase your available HELP balance up to the HELP loan limit, and taking out a loan will reduce your available HELP balance.
Read more about the combined HELP loan limit, HELP balance and Fee-HELP on the Study Assist website.
Scholarships
Victoria University offers a generous range of scholarships for students undertaking a graduate research degree.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, with preference given to students undertaking research projects in one of our priority areas of research strength.
Scholarship programs are also available through many external agencies operating within Australia and internationally. We welcome applications from scholarship recipients through these programs.
Further assistance & advice
If you have any enquiries, please contact us:
