International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS)

About the International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS)

The Australian Government of the Department of Industry each year,  provides a number of International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) to eligible candidates. These scholarships allow students of exceptional research promise to undertake full-time postgraduate study in Australian universities. Part of the main purpose of the International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) is to attract international postgraduate students to study for a higher degree by research in Australia and by so doing support Australia’s research effort. Two universities are worthy of note in this post that offers the International Postgraduate Research Scholarships, (IPRS) and they are the University of Adelaide and the Murdoch University.

The University of Adelaide offers International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) which are available in the first two scholarship rounds to only outstanding international applicants from any country who have a First Class Honours result or equivalent, to support their study towards a Higher Degree by Research in areas of University research strength. The selection and ranking of applicants within the University of Adelaide is undertaken by the Graduate Scholarships Committee, using the criteria of academic merit and research potential.

The Murdoch University offers international postgraduate research scholarship, (IPRS) for pursuing a PHD degree in Philosophy, Doctor of Education (EdD) or Master by Research (MPhil) programme at the university. Applicants who wish to apply for these programs should possess an honors degree (at least upper second-class honors) or an equivalent. The scholarship award is for a maximum duration of three years for PhD and EdD studies and two years duration for MPhil. Scholarships are awarded on academic merit, research experience and potential. Normally, under the IPRS conditions, travel and relocation costs are the sole responsibilities of the applicant however the Murdoch University provides their IPRS recipients with a partial allowance for relocation and transportation. Murdoch University award recipients also have access to a conference travel allowance once during the course of their degree program, also maintenance funding is set by the School and a thesis production allowance is also awarded.

Value

The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships, (IPRS) covers the annual tuition fees in a Doctoral or Master’s Degree by research, also covering the cost of a standard Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the awarded students and their dependents. All successful IPRS applicants will also receive an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) which provides an annual living allowance of $26,288 for the overall duration of the program. When an award holder holds a subclass visa, then the scholarship body helps to cover the cost of health insurance but, in a case where the award holder does not hold a subclass visa then he or she is responsible for the cost of the health insurance. It is also worthy of note, that the scholarship award does not cover the student visa application fees.

Who Is Eligible

To be eligible to apply for the IPRS, you must possess some of the following criteria; be an overseas student and meet international student visa requirements as specified by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), including the requirement to purchase and maintain a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the Australian Government Department of Health. Successful applicants must be able to commence in full time enrolment for the first time in the year for which the IPRS is awarded.

Applicants will not be considered for this scholarship if they:

• Already hold a research qualification regarded by UTS as equivalent to the commencing HDR course.
• Have held an Australia Award (AusAID) scholarship within the two years prior to commencing the IPRS.
• Have been receiving a scholarship for which course tuition is a component under any other scheme to which the Australian Government makes a substantial contribution.
• Have previously received an IPRS for a research degree.
• International applicants who have not provided evidence of their meeting the minimum English language proficiency requirements for direct entry by the scholarship closing date.

IPRS scholarships can only be awarded to applicants applying to study in an area of university research. Citizens and Permanent Residents of Australia, and citizens of New Zealand are ineligible as the scholarship is available to only students of other countries of residence.

International applicants are not eligible if they have already commenced the degree for which they are seeking an award unless they can establish that they were unable to apply previously.

Other information

The duration of a full-time scholarship is 3 years for a PhD candidate and 2 years for a Masters’s candidate. The IPRS is extremely competitive and only a few qualified students are awarded each year. Generally, applicants who succeed in winning an IPRS scholarship must have completed a Master’s degree including a significant research component and also have several publications and relevant work and research experience. Applicants who wish to apply to the IPRS must submit their completed application by the relevant application deadline. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.