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CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship

Last verified 20 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Top-up stipend, operating costs and CSIRO supervision for PhD students working on strategic CSIRO research projects at partner Australian universities.

Provider
CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
Host country
Australia
Deadline
Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).
Region
Oceania

Applying from your country? See your edition: Kenya · Nigeria · Ghana · Ethiopia · Uganda · Tanzania · Rwanda · Angola · Mozambique · São Tomé & Príncipe · Senegal · Cameroon · Ivory Coast · Benin · Togo · DR Congo

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply
PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project.
Funding
Fully Funded
Study level
PhD
Deadline
Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).

Key eligibility criteria

  • PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project.

Recorded funding information

  • Fully Funded

About the CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship (2026)

## Why this matters for African students CSIRO is Australia's national science agency. The Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship provides a **top-up stipend on top of the university RTP/HDR stipend**, an operating budget for research, and dual supervision (university + CSIRO scientist). For African STEM graduates, this is one of the few routes that combines a fully funded PhD with **paid industry-grade research experience** in agriculture, climate, mining, health and digital science — all sectors highly relevant to African economies. ## Recruiter tips - Apply to the **CSIRO project first**, then to the partner university — projects are listed on the CSIRO Students portal. - WAEC/KCSE/NSC holders typically need a completed Master's by research or Honours-equivalent (First Class) to be competitive. - Strong fit areas for African applicants: AgriFood, water, mining/minerals, public health genomics. ## Eligibility snapshot PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project. ## Required documents - Certified academic transcripts (WAEC / KCSE / NSC + degree certificates where applicable) - Passport bio-data page (valid 6+ months beyond intended visa start) - English proficiency proof (IELTS 6.0–7.0 overall, or TOEFL iBT / PTE Academic / Duolingo where the provider accepts it) - CV/résumé with full education and work history - Personal statement or motivation letter (typically 500–1000 words) - Two academic or professional references on letterhead - Conditional or full Letter of Offer from the host university (where the scholarship is post-offer) - Financial declaration showing ability to cover any costs not funded by the scholarship ## Application steps 1. **Confirm fit** — re-read the official eligibility criteria on the provider's site and check the current intake window. 2. **Apply for admission** — most Australian scholarships require a conditional or full Letter of Offer before scholarship assessment. 3. **Prepare evidence** — gather certified transcripts, English test scores, references, and identity documents as PDFs. 4. **Submit the scholarship application** — through the university's scholarship portal or the dedicated provider link, before the published deadline. 5. **Track outcomes** — most awards are announced 4–10 weeks after the deadline. If awarded, accept formally and request your CoE. 6. **Apply for the Subclass 500 student visa** — book biometrics, complete the medical exam, and lodge the visa with your CoE, OSHC, and proof of funds.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

  • Fully Funded

CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

  • PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project.

CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

    How to apply for the CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship 2026

    Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

    1. 1
      Check the provider's process

      Consult https://www.csiro.au/en/careers/Scholarships-student-opportunities/csiro-postgraduate-scholarships to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.

    2. 2
      Check eligibility and any requested materials

      Listed eligibility: PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.

    3. 3
      Check dates and next steps

      Listed deadline information: Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

    CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship deadline & application timeline

    Provider deadline information: Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).. This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

    1. Planning suggestion: 12 months out

      Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.

    2. Planning suggestion: 6 months out

      If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.

    3. Planning suggestion: 3 months out

      If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.

    4. Planning suggestion: 1 month out

      If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.

    5. Provider deadline
      Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).

      Provider deadline information: Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).. Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

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    Editorial verification note

    Editorially reviewed on May 2026. Tuition amount, eligibility, and deadline confirmed against the official provider URL. Re-check the official page before applying — exact closing dates and award amounts can change between cycles.
    Last checked 5/20/2026

    Frequently asked questions

    Who can apply for the CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship?+

    PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project.

    What funding does the CSIRO Research Plus Postgraduate Scholarship offer?+

    Listed funding: Fully Funded. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

    When is the application deadline?+

    Provider deadline information: Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).. Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

    What documents do I need to apply?+

    No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

    How do I check the application process?+

    Consult https://www.csiro.au/en/careers/Scholarships-student-opportunities/csiro-postgraduate-scholarships to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: PhD candidates enrolled (or eligible to enrol) at an Australian university partnered with CSIRO. Open to international students including African applicants. Must align with an advertised CSIRO project.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: Rolling — new projects posted year-round on the CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarships portal. Each project lists its own closing date (usually 4–8 weeks after posting).. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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