Australian Postgraduate Award

Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) provide valuable support for promising researchers. These awards are funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). Further information about this award is available on the DEST website.

Value

The stipend in 2009 is $20,427 per annum (full-time) with a Research Training Scheme (RTS) place.

An RTS place exempts students from liability under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) for their research higher degree studies. Time limits and other conditions apply to RTS places.

Duration of Awards

APAs are awarded for three years for full-time PhD studies and up to two years for full-time masters by research studies.

PhD students may be granted an extension of up to six months if candidature is also extended.

If the masters by research course is less than two years, the scholarship is normally limited to the standard duration of the masters course. APAs are awarded to masters candidates cannot be extended beyond two years.

Continued receipt of these scholarships is subject to satisfactory academic progress.

Commencement

Recipients of APAs should normally commence their studies between 1 January and 31 March of the year for which the scholarship was awarded. In exceptional circumstances, which require the support of the department and approval by the Postgraduate Scholarships Committee, a later commencement date (up to 31 July) may be possible.

Awards cannot be deferred to the following academic year.