Candidature Support Funds

The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) provides a funding allowance to Higher Education Providers to support the research training of domestic and overseas candidates undertaking Higher Degree Research.

Full time candidates can request up to $2000 in Candidature Support Funds (CSF) for each research year of enrolment, for the maximum of 1 year for Stage 2 Masters of Research Candidates ($2000 total) and 3 years for Doctoral Candidates ($6000 total). Part time Candidates can access up to $1000 per year.

Considering applying for Candidature Support Funding?

Your first step should be to contact Rinu and Melinda at PostgradsHCAadmin@westernsydney.edu.au.

It is crucial to bear in mind that Candidature Support Funding is a resource which must be applied for in advance and which is subject to approval by the School’s Research & Higher Degrees Committee (SRHDC). The cardinal rule of CSF is accordingly that candidates must under no circumstances spend these funds prior to receiving School approval. Note that preliminary budget approval in your Confirmation of Candidature does not amount to School approval. Any CSF request that has been actioned prior to receiving School endorsement will not be approved as per the RHD Candidature Essential Resources Procedures and the University's Travel Policy.

***Note that all travel requests must be submitted at least four weeks (for domestic flights) or six weeks (for international flights) in advance of the requested travel date to allow sufficient time for processing. Travel requests made outside of this timeframe will not be approved.

The Candidate Support Funding Application form can be accessed here.

The University’s Essential Resources Policy describes standard resources available to research candidates. Permissible expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • skill development;
  • research materials or equipment (which will remain the property of WSU)
  • field work;
  • transcription costs;
  • participant reimbursement;
  • travel for conference attendance;
  • cost to support academic publishing;
  • other travel consumables;
  • registration fees;
  • writing skill development;
  • editing;
  • technical costs associated with exhibition;
  • recording and/or filming and film editing;
  • thesis binding;
  • special software purchases;
  • access to external facilities;
  • access to specialised equipment;
  • access to vehicles for field trips;
  • postage, photocopying or office materials;
  • acquisition of data sets; and
  • mandatory WHS awareness and training.