11 Fully-Funded PhD Scholarships in Australia Closing in September 2026

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11 Fully-Funded PhD Scholarships in Australia Closing in September 2026

Students looking for fully funded PhD opportunities in Australia have 11 scholarships to consider before the September 30, 2026 deadline. These doctoral opportunities cover fields including artificial intelligence, mathematics, chemistry, environmental science, hydrogen technology, automated vehicles, and battery recycling.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT), RMIT University, Bond University, and the University of Canberra offer the scholarships. Pakistan is included among the eligible countries listed for these opportunities.

Annual stipends range from AUD 34,315 to AUD 41,555, and the scholarships also offer tuition support and living allowances, according to the listings.

Australia PhD Scholarships 2026 Details

Scholarship	University	Field	Annual Stipend	Deadline
Shaping the Future of Mobility in Rural and Remote Regions	QUT	Automated Vehicle Technologies	AUD 41,555	September 30, 2026
Battery Recycling and Resource Recovery	RMIT	Chemical Engineering	AUD 36,245	September 30, 2026
Hydrogen Ecosystem	RMIT	Materials Science	AUD 34,841	September 30, 2026
Generative AI for Intelligent Process Safety Management	RMIT	Artificial Intelligence	AUD 35,886	September 30, 2026
Colloid and Surface Chemistry	RMIT	Chemistry	AUD 35,886	September 30, 2026
Human-Computer Interaction	RMIT	Human-Computer Interaction	AUD 35,886	September 30, 2026
Mathematics	RMIT	Mathematics	AUD 35,886	September 30, 2026
Developing Carbon Nano Materials from Wastes	RMIT	Chemical Engineering	AUD 34,841	September 30, 2026
Bond University Postgraduate Research Scholarship	Bond University	All Fields	AUD 34,315	September 30, 2026
Materials Development for Environmental Applications	RMIT	Materials Science	AUD 35,886	September 30, 2026
HDR Stipend Scholarship	University of Canberra	All Fields	AUD 36,225	September 30, 2026

1. QUT PhD Scholarship in Automated Vehicles

The Shaping the Future of Mobility in Rural and Remote Regions PhD Scholarship at Queensland University of Technology offers the highest annual stipend in this list at AUD 41,555.

Research under the program focuses on automated vehicle technologies and mobility challenges in rural, regional, and remote areas. Students may work on areas such as navigation, sensing, digital twins, human factors, infrastructure, safety, policy, and economic modelling.

The listing gives a minimum GPA of 2.8. Accepted English language options include IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 58, and C1 Advanced 176.

2. RMIT PhD in Battery Recycling

RMIT University is offering a PhD position in Battery Recycling and Resource Recovery with a stipend of AUD 36,245 per year.

The research focuses on sustainable methods for recycling batteries and recovering valuable materials. Relevant backgrounds include chemical engineering, materials science, metallurgy, mining engineering, chemistry, environmental engineering, electrochemistry, and related disciplines.

3. RMIT PhD Scholarship in Hydrogen Ecosystem

A second RMIT opportunity focuses on the hydrogen ecosystem and provides AUD 34,841 per year.

The research looks at advanced materials for hydrogen production, storage, transport, and other applications. Candidates with backgrounds in materials science, chemistry, nanotechnology, energy engineering, or related fields can apply.

The listed minimum GPA is 2.5, while English options include IELTS 6.5, PTE Academic 58, TOEFL iBT 79, C1 Advanced 176, and C2 Proficiency 176.

4. RMIT Generative AI PhD Scholarship

The PhD Scholarship in Generative AI for Intelligent Process Safety Management offers AUD 35,886 per year.

This project combines generative AI with industrial process safety. It focuses on using advanced AI methods to identify hazards, assess risks, and improve safety management in areas such as chemical processing and emerging energy technologies.

Applicants can come from fields including artificial intelligence, computer science, software engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering, or related areas.

5. RMIT PhD in Colloid and Surface Chemistry

RMIT is also offering a PhD Scholarship in Colloid and Surface Chemistry with an annual stipend of AUD 35,886.

Research will examine lipid nanocarriers and their interaction with biological surfaces. The project is linked to areas such as colloid science, surface chemistry, nanotechnology, and drug delivery.

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is listed, along with English requirements including IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, and PTE Academic 58.

6. RMIT PhD Scholarship in Human-Computer Interaction

Students interested in artificial intelligence and interactive technologies can apply for the Human-Computer Interaction PhD Scholarship at RMIT.

The scholarship provides AUD 35,886 per year. Research will explore intelligent interfaces that help people work with AI while maintaining human control and decision-making.

The program can suit candidates with backgrounds in computer science, software engineering, artificial intelligence, psychology, cognitive science, data science, or related fields.

7. RMIT PhD Scholarship in Mathematics

The PhD Scholarship in Mathematics provides an annual stipend of AUD 35,886.

Its research focuses on areas including network science, complex systems, spectral graph theory, and nonlinear dynamics. These mathematical approaches can be used to study problems involving disease spread, neural networks, energy systems, and other complex networks.

Applicants should have relevant qualifications in mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline.

8. RMIT PhD Scholarship for Developing Carbon Nano Materials From Wastes

Another RMIT opportunity offers AUD 34,841 per year for research into producing carbon nanomaterials from waste.

The project combines chemical engineering, nanotechnology, experimental research, and process modelling. It aims to explore ways to turn waste materials into useful advanced materials while supporting resource recovery and sustainable production.

Relevant backgrounds include chemical engineering, materials engineering, chemistry, nanotechnology, and environmental engineering.

9. Bond University Postgraduate Research Scholarship

The Bond University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (BUPRS) offers a stipend of AUD 34,315 per year for doctoral research across a broad range of fields.

The scholarship includes a 100% tuition fee waiver for up to four years, while the living stipend can continue for up to three years. Eligible international students can also receive Single Overseas Student Health Cover.

Applicants must first obtain a Letter of Offer for an eligible doctoral program. Bond University assesses candidates based on academic achievement, research potential, research experience, publications, and other research achievements.

10. RMIT PhD Scholarship in Materials Development

RMIT’s PhD Scholarship in Materials Development for Environmental Applications offers AUD 35,886 per year.

The research focuses on developing advanced membrane materials for water purification. It combines materials science, environmental engineering, and machine learning to improve membrane performance and support more effective water treatment.

Applicants with backgrounds in materials science, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, chemistry, nanotechnology, or related areas may apply.

11. University of Canberra HDR Stipend Scholarship

The University of Canberra HDR Stipend Scholarship provides AUD 36,225 per year to high-achieving students undertaking full-time Higher Degree by Research study.

The scholarship normally supports students for up to 3.5 years. International students may also receive a tuition fee waiver through the university’s competitive assessment process.

Applicants are assessed on academic merit, research potential, research experience, research proposal quality, and strategic alignment. The listing gives a GPA range of 3.7 to 4.0 and an IELTS requirement of 6.5.

Eligibility and Requirements

Requirements vary between the 11 PhD opportunities, so applicants should review the criteria for their selected scholarship carefully.

Most listings require a relevant academic background, strong research potential, academic transcripts, and degree documents. Several also require an essay and two recommendation letters.

The RMIT scholarships generally list a minimum GPA of 2.5, while QUT lists 2.8. Bond University lists a 75% academic requirement, and the University of Canberra scholarship lists a 3.7–4.0 GPA range.

Financial Support

All 11 opportunities are listed as fully funded and provide a living stipend. Tuition support is also included in the scholarship information.

The annual financial support starts at AUD 34,315 under the Bond University scholarship and reaches AUD 41,555 under the QUT automated vehicles scholarship.

Several opportunities also include additional support such as health insurance, professional development, research facilities, academic supervision, and collaboration with research or industry partners.

How to Apply

Applicants should first select a PhD opportunity that matches their academic background and research interests. They then need to review the relevant university’s admission and scholarship requirements and prepare the required documents.

Depending on the scholarship, applicants may need to submit transcripts, degree documents, an essay, recommendation letters, and other supporting materials. Some research scholarships may also require applicants to contact the relevant supervisor or obtain university admission before applying for the scholarship.

According to the scholarship listings provided for these opportunities, the deadline for all 11 is September 30, 2026. Candidates should check the latest application instructions for their chosen university before submitting their application.

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