Adelaide University Scholarship 2026 | Fully Funded | Australia

If you are planning to study in Australia with financial support, the Adelaide University Scholarship is one of the best opportunities available for international students. The Adelaide University Scholarship provides fully funded programs across a wide range of fields. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the DAAD Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.

The Adelaide University Scholarship 2026-2027 is offered for master’s and doctoral research studies. This scholarship covers an annual living allowance of $36,500, a relocation allowance of $2,000, and a 100% tuition fee waiver for the duration of the award.

Adelaide University is a leading Australian institution known for its strong research culture, global rankings, and commitment to academic excellence. The university offers world-class programs across multiple disciplines and provides generous research scholarships to support international students with tuition fees, living expenses, and research opportunities.

Adelaide University offers competitive research scholarships to support outstanding PhD and Master of Philosophy students across all disciplines. The Adelaide University Research Scholarships (AURS) and Research Training Program Scholarships (RTPS) provide a living stipend, full tuition fee waiver, and additional allowances, including support for relocation, Overseas Student Health Cover (if applicable), and dedicated support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Adelaide University Research Scholarships (AURS) are being awarded in and out of scholarship rounds. This award includes a living stipend and a tuition fee waiver for the duration of the scholarship.

Adelaide University offers a number of Research Training Program Scholarships (RTPS) to outstanding domestic and international graduates from any country to commence a research program. These scholarships are only available through our merit rounds.

Adelaide University Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Master’s, PhD
• Institution(s): Adelaide University
• Study in: Australia
• Opportunity Focus Areas: Click here to find all the available research projects.
• Program Period: Master’s: 2 years; PhD: 3.5 years.

Adelaide University Scholarship Application Deadline

The applications for the Adelaide University Scholarship are accepted all year-round.

Adelaide University Scholarship Coverage

The Adelaide University Scholarship, comprising Adelaide University Research Scholarships (AURS) and Research Training Program Scholarships (RTPS), provides the recipient with the following benefits:

• A stipend (living allowance) for the duration of the scholarship.
• A 100% tuition fee waiver for the duration of the award.
• Additional allowances for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
• Additional allowances for relocation and (if applicable) overseas student health cover.

Eligibility Criteria for the Adelaide University Scholarship 2026

To be eligible for the Adelaide University Scholarship, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Required Language: English
  • English Language Test requirements for General: (6.5) overall (no band less than 6.0) in IELTS and (79+) Reading 13, Listening 12, Speaking 18 & Writing 21 in TOEFL.
  • English Language Test requirements for Arts, Business, and Economics: (7) overall (no band less than 6.5) in IELTS and (94+) Reading 19, Listening 20, Speaking 20, & Writing 24 in TOEFL.
• Eligible Countries: All countries in the world
  • An international student.
  • A New Zealand citizen.
  • An Australian citizen.
  • Australian permanent resident.
  • Australian humanitarian visa holder.
• Must apply for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil) program
• Must have a strong academic background that meets Adelaide University’s entry requirements
• Must meet the English language proficiency requirements for research degrees
• Open to both domestic and international students
• Must be applying for a full-time research study
• Must secure written confirmation of supervision from an eligible Adelaide University supervisor
• Should demonstrate research potential, such as prior research experience, publications, or relevant academic work
• Must meet the specific eligibility criteria of the scholarship round being applied for (including residency requirements, if applicable)
• Applicants should not be holding another equivalent scholarship or award at the same time

How to Apply for the Adelaide University Scholarship 2026?

Please follow the application instructions below to apply for this scholarship:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
First, make sure you meet the academic entry requirements for your chosen research program (PhD, Master of Philosophy, or Master of Research). You must also meet the English language proficiency requirements, as all research programs are taught in English. If you don’t qualify directly, research-based graduate certificate pathways may be available.

Step 2: Review Scholarship Opportunities
Adelaide University offers multiple scholarship rounds for both domestic and international students. Carefully review the eligibility criteria, residency requirements, and deadlines. Some scholarships are highly competitive and may also consider relevant research experience, publications, or professional background.

Step 3: Find a Supervisor or Research Project
Identify a research project or supervisor that matches your academic interests. You must contact a potential supervisor and receive written confirmation of supervision before applying. For funded project rounds, applicants may also need to attend an interview with the supervisor.

Step 4: Apply Online
Submit your online application with all required documents, including academic transcripts, English test results (if applicable), CV, research proposal, and supervisor confirmation. Incomplete applications will not be assessed, so ensure all documents are uploaded before submission.

You do not need to specify which scholarship you are applying for, as you are automatically considered for all graduate research scholarships (where eligible).

Required Documents

Applicants need to prepare and upload the following documents during the application process:

• Official academic transcripts and degree certificates (including grading scheme)
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
• Written confirmation of supervision from the proposed Adelaide University supervisor (email confirmation is acceptable)
• Interview confirmation with the proposed supervisor (if required)
• Academic curriculum vitae (CV) using Adelaide University’s structured CV template
• Research proposal using the Adelaide University Research Proposal template
• Valid passport or identification document
• Name change documents (if applicable)
• References or recommendation letters (if applicable)
• Any additional supporting documents relevant to your application
• Supporting forms, if applicable (e.g., remote candidature request, credit application,  education agent nomination)

Note: Certified copies may be requested at any stage of the application process.

Websites

To apply and know more about the Adelaide University Scholarship, please visit the official website:

• Adelaide University Research Scholarships
• Research Training Program Scholarships
• Adelaide University Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adelaide University actually a new university, or just a rebrand of UniSA / the University of Adelaide?

Adelaide University is a new institution created by combining the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, and it opens to students from January 2026. For 2026 intakes, scholarship information and applications are being moved to Adelaide University’s official channels.

I already hold a scholarship (or fee discount) from UniSA or the University of Adelaide. Will I lose it after the transition?

If you already have an awarded scholarship or fee discount from either founding university, it is intended to be maintained when you transition to Adelaide University under the terms you accepted. In many cases, current international coursework students are not eligible to add a second Adelaide University scholarship on top of an existing arrangement.

The post says the deadline is “ongoing”. Does that mean I can apply anytime?

Not always. Research scholarships are commonly assessed in scheduled rounds (with published open/close dates and outcome timelines), and there can also be project-linked scholarships offered outside the main rounds. So “ongoing” usually means opportunities are available across the year, not that every scholarship is assessed instantly at any time.

I’m already enrolled in a PhD/MPhil. Can I still apply for these scholarships after I’ve started?

It depends on the scholarship type. In many cases, currently enrolled graduate research students may only apply for certain RTP-style scholarships (not all categories), and there are usually minimum candidature-remaining requirements. Your eligibility is assessed based on work completed before your current research program.

Is the stipend tax-free, and how do payments work in practice?

For these graduate research scholarships, the full-time stipend is generally paid as tax-exempt, while part-time stipends are typically treated as taxable. Stipends are paid fortnightly in arrears into an Australian bank account, and payments are not made into overseas bank accounts.

Does the scholarship cover OSHC (health insurance), and does it include my spouse/children?

For international student-visa holders, the scholarship commonly provides OSHC for the student for the standard program duration (as set at acceptance). Because it is issued as a single policy for the student, dependents are usually not included under this scholarship OSHC benefit, so plan separate cover if you bring family.

Can I work part-time or take extra scholarships while on this award?

Yes, but you must make sure employment does not slow down your research progress. The expectation is that full-time candidates commit about 40 hours per week to research; if progress milestones aren’t met, stipend payments can be suspended. You may be able to accept top-up funding, but there are caps/conditions (for example, RTP-style awards often limit how much extra scholarship income you can hold).