Research Students

Fees for external Examiners

Universities Australia regularly reviews the standard fees that it recommends universities pay to external examiners for Masters, PhDs, and Higher and Professional Doctorates.

The recommended fees as of June 2009 are:

• $225: for Masters theses and non-research Professional Doctorates
• $398: for Doctor of Philosophy theses, Higher Doctorates, and Professional Doctorates where the thesis comprises more that 66% of the assessment

Stipend and Allowance Rates for University Postgraduate Awards

Universities Australia recommends annually to universities the stipend and allowance rates to apply to university postgraduate awards. In accordance with the decision taken at the then AVCC meeting on 14 November 1994, it is recommended that for 2009:

• university postgraduate scholarships be at a rate determined by each individual university up to the base rate for the 2009 Australian Postgraduate Award with Stipend (1); and
• individual universities set other allowances payable to university postgraduate scholarship awardees at the rates applying to the Australian Postgraduate Award with Stipend.

The Australian Postgraduate Award stipend rates for 2009 are as follows:

• $20,427 p.a.: Standard stipend full-time
• $10,934 p.a.: Standard stipend part-time

Source: DIISR website

Indicative Allowance Rates:

• Relocation Expenses: $450 per adult; $225 per child; $1,295 maximum
• Travel Expenses: Economy or student concession airfares
• Thesis: $400 for a Masters thesis, $800 for a PhD thesis

(1) Source: The Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA), DEEWR website

Should you require further information please contact the Policy & Analysis section.