University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship 2026

The University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship (USYDIS) is one of the more substantial research funding options at the University of Sydney, aimed at international students pursuing a PhD or a Master's by research. Rather than a one-time award, it covers a full tuition fee waiver plus an annual living stipend for the length of the research degree, which makes it a strong option for Indian students weighing a research career in Australia over a straight coursework Master's.

On Subraxo, this is worth flagging early to students exploring research pathways, since a "Higher Degree by Research" (HDR) at Sydney works differently from a typical taught Master's. Students first need an offer into an HDR program before the scholarship itself comes into play, so this isn't something to apply for in isolation. It pairs well with early planning, since building a research proposal and finding a supervisor at Sydney takes time before either application deadline.

The pathway depends on where a student currently stands:

• New applicants: Apply for admission to a Higher Degree by Research through Sydney Courses, submit all required admission documents by the relevant deadline, and also submit the separate scholarship application form.
• Currently enrolled HDR students at Sydney: Simply submit the scholarship application form by the relevant deadline, no fresh admission application needed.

In both cases, applicants must be international students at the time of the award, Australian citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for this particular scholarship. A strong academic record and prior research experience matter for the selection process, since this is a competitive, merit-based award rather than an automatic one.

Partial Funding , AUD 42,754

The scholarship is valued at AUD 42,754 per year and is meant to support both tuition costs and everyday living expenses while studying. It also comes with a full tuition fee waiver on top of the stipend, so the total value to an Indian student is significantly higher than the stipend figure alone suggests. PhD scholars can typically hold the award for up to 14 research periods (roughly 3.5 years), while Master's by research students can hold it for up to 7 research periods. Some listings also mention a one-off relocation allowance and a thesis allowance for PhD candidates, which is worth confirming directly with Sydney before an Indian student factors it into their budget.