Murdoch University in Perth runs Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships for students doing higher degrees by research. That means a PhD or a Master's by Research, not a coursework master's. The scholarship is described as support for both domestic and international research students, so a Pakistani applicant coming in as an international candidate is in the group it is meant for. Funding is listed as full or partial, and the deadline varies by round, so you will need to confirm both on the official portal before you plan anything around it. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing as well.
My honest view up front: this is a good fit for someone who already has a clear research idea and is willing to do the slow work of finding a supervisor. It is a poor fit for anyone hoping to apply for a scholarship first and figure out the research later. At Murdoch, like most Australian universities, the RTP is tied to your admission to a research degree. You apply for the degree, and you ask to be considered for the scholarship at the same time.
The Murdoch RTP in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Murdoch University |
| Country | Australia (Perth, Western Australia) |
| Study level | Postgraduate research: PhD and Master's by Research |
| Funding | Full or partial, depending on scholarship terms |
| Opening date | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Deadline | Varies, confirm on the official site |
| Official site | murdoch.edu.au |
Full or partial funding, and why that wording matters
The RTP at Murdoch provides financial support for research degree tuition fees or living allowances, as decided by the terms of each scholarship. Read that sentence carefully. It does not promise that every award covers both tuition and a living allowance. Some candidates may get one, some the other, and the funding label itself is "full / partial".
For a Pakistani student this is the single most important thing to pin down before you accept an offer. If your award covers tuition only, you still need to show how you will pay for rent, food and transport in Perth, and your student visa application will depend on that. If it covers a living allowance but not fees, the gap is even bigger. Ask the university in writing what your specific offer includes. Our guide on bank statements and proof of funds explains how to prepare for the money side if your award is partial.
Beyond the money, RTP candidates get access to the university's research facilities, including the Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory and the Murdoch Virtual Centre for Simulation. You work under supervision from academics in your area, and you have access to the student support services and academic resources at the Perth campus. Murdoch's learning spaces include Boola Katitjin, which the university describes as globally award-winning.
Research areas Murdoch actually wants proposals in
Murdoch names food security, health futures and sustainable development as research focus fields. Research students sit inside specialised institutes and centres rather than floating on their own. The university also says that a significant portion of its research disciplines are rated at world standard or above under Excellence in Research Australia.
The eligible fields listed for research study are broad:
- Agricultural Science and Veterinary Science
- Allied Health, Nursing and Psychology
- Business, Law and Criminology
- Creative Media and Communication
- Education
- Engineering and Energy
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- Indigenous Knowledges
- Information Technology
- Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics
A wide list does not mean every topic will find a home. A proposal that lines up with one of the named focus areas, and with the work of a particular supervisor, is far easier to support than a generic one. If you studied agriculture, environmental science or public health in Pakistan, the food security and health futures themes are an obvious starting point.
Meeting Murdoch's research entry bar
The eligibility conditions are written in general terms. You must:
- meet Murdoch University's entry requirements for a research degree
- hold prior academic qualifications relevant to your proposed project
- meet the university's English Language Competency requirements
- submit a research project proposal and secure a supervisor where applicable
- comply with student visa conditions if you are applying as an international candidate
The source information does not give a minimum CGPA, a specific IELTS or PTE band, or an age limit. Do not assume there are none. Check the research degree entry requirements and the English Language Competency page on the official site for the exact numbers that apply to your degree. "Relevant" prior qualifications also matters: a supervisor will look at whether your previous degree and any research experience actually prepare you for the project you are proposing.
The paperwork for a Murdoch research application
The documents list is short:
- Completed application form
- Academic transcripts and graduation certificates
- Evidence of English language proficiency
- Research project proposal
- Curriculum vitae
- Passport copy
The proposal is the document that decides most outcomes, and it is the one Pakistani applicants most often rush. Your transcripts and degree certificates should be in final form before you submit. Many Australian universities accept scanned copies at application stage, but you should have attested versions ready for later steps. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide walks through that process if you have not done it yet.
Supervisor first, application second
Murdoch's process runs in this order:
- Find a research topic and explore the research projects listed on the Murdoch University website.
- Contact a potential supervisor and secure their support.
- Prepare your research proposal and academic documents.
- Apply online for admission to a research degree and indicate that you want scholarship consideration.
- Wait for assessment and offer outcomes from the university.
Step two is where most people stall. Write to a potential supervisor with a short, specific email: who you are, what you want to research, why their work connects to it, and a one or two page outline attached. Do not send the same message to twenty academics with only the name changed. They can tell. If a supervisor replies with interest, ask them directly about scholarship rounds and whether they think your profile is competitive. Their answer will tell you a lot.
Step four is easy to miss. Because the scholarship sits inside the admission application, make sure you actually tick or indicate scholarship consideration. If you skip it, you may be assessed for admission only.
Intake rounds and when to start
There is no fixed opening date or deadline in the information available. Both are listed as varying, and applications are tied to specific intake rounds for research programs. After submission, applications are evaluated by academic committees before offers go out.
Practically, that means you should start well before you think you need to. Finding a supervisor alone can take a couple of months of back and forth. Check the current research scholarship deadlines on the Murdoch University official website as soon as you decide Murdoch is on your list, and work backwards from the round you are aiming for. If you are also lining up other options, our all Australia scholarships hub lists other universities you can apply to in parallel.
Where Pakistani applicants usually go wrong
The first mistake is treating the RTP as a separate scholarship form. It is not. Your scholarship chances rise and fall with the strength of your research degree application.
The second is writing a proposal before reading what Murdoch actually researches. Spend an evening on the institutes, centres and focus areas pages. A proposal that clearly fits food security or sustainable development, and names how it connects to existing work, reads very differently from a topic copied from a final-year project.
The third is submitting with gaps. An English test result that has not arrived, a missing graduation certificate, a CV with no publications or research experience explained: each one slows processing, and incomplete files can fall behind in a competitive round. Submit a complete file.
The fourth is accepting an offer without reading what it covers. Because funding can be full or partial, confirm exactly what is paid, for how long, and what you need to fund yourself. That answer shapes your visa financial evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the Murdoch RTP scholarship?
The scholarship is described as supporting both domestic and international research students, so international applicants from Pakistan fall within it. You still need to meet the entry, English and visa conditions, so confirm the current rules for international candidates on the official site.
Is this scholarship available for a coursework master's?
No. It is for higher degrees by research, meaning a PhD or a Master's by Research.
Does the RTP cover tuition and living costs together?
Not necessarily. Support is for tuition fees or living allowances as determined by the scholarship terms, and funding is listed as full or partial. Check your individual offer.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
Murdoch asks you to secure a supervisor where applicable, and contacting one is the second step of the process. In practice, apply with a supervisor's support whenever you can.
Where will I study?
Study takes place in Western Australia, mainly at the Murdoch Perth campus.
What is the deadline?
It varies by intake round. Confirm the current dates on the official portal before preparing your application.
For current rounds and deadlines, go to the Murdoch University official website, and keep the Murdoch RTP scholarship page handy for the summary.