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Research student fees

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.

On this page: 
Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset
Getting HELP with your fees
Scholarships
Further assistance & advice

Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset

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 place where your tuition costs are funded by the Commonwealth.

This scheme is available for students accepted into the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Masters by Research and Professional Doctorates, and may be available to students in Year 1 of the PhD (Integrated).

A separate application is not required for the RTP fee offset. Your eligibility is assessed as part of your course application.

Read more about the RTP on the Department of Education website.

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 Programme (HELP), administered by the Government.

FEE-HELP is a loan scheme to help eligible full-fee paying students pay for all or part of their tuition. It cannot be used for additional study costs such as accommodation or text books. The total amount of FEE‑HELP a person can use is known as the ‘FEE‑HELP limit’.

This scheme is available for students in Year 1 of the PhD (Integrated) and any other graduate research student not covered by the RTS.

Read more about FEE-HELP and how to apply on the Study Assist website.

How much you can borrow

Eligible students can borrow up to the FEE‑HELP limit to pay their tuition fees. For 2016, the FEE‑HELP limit is $99,389 for most students.

Please note, this is a lifetime limit and is not reset or ‘topped up’ by any repayments that you make. The FEE‑HELP limit is the total amount available to eligible students under both the FEE‑HELP and VET FEE‑HELP loan schemes. Any amount you borrow under either FEE‑HELP or VET FEE‑HELP will reduce your FEE‑HELP balance until you have reached the FEE‑HELP limit.

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 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

For more information about your funding options please email apply.research@vu.edu.au.