NIPhD Program - Application Guide

NIPhD Application Information Session for Round 8

MGRO will run an information session on 7 July 2026 to provide an overview of the NIPhD application process for Round 8. It is available to academics and faculty administrators involved in Round 8 applications. Please email MGRO at mgro-industry@monash.edu to indicate your intention to attend this webinar by 29 June 2026.

Before you Apply

Your application must be submitted to your Faculty Graduate Research Office by the Applicant Submission deadline. Please contact your Faculty Graduate Research Office to confirm the relevant deadline for your faculty.

Application Rounds

Round 8 opens in July 2026.

Note to Faculties: To request Grant Management System access for the next round, please email mgro-industry@monash.edu and include the details of the faculty staff member requiring access. Further information, including the application process and Quick Reference Guide, is available on the National Industry PhD - Process for Staff page.

Key Deadlines

Applicant Submission Deadline

Monash academics must submit completed application templates to their relevant Faculty Graduate Research Office by the faculty’s specified deadline. Please contact your Faculty Graduate Research Office to confirm the submission date.

Faculty Initial Submission to MGRO Deadline

Faculties submit completed application templates and Letters of Intent (LOIs) to MGRO via email.

Monash Closing Deadline

Faculties finalise the online applications in GMS for MGRO review and feedback.

Application Dates (Current Round) View

Milestone	Date
Applicant Submission Deadline	Please contact your Faculty Graduate Research Office to confirm the applicable submission deadline.
Faculty Initial Submission to MGRO Deadline	24 July 2026
Monash Closing Deadline	7 August 2026

Application Process

All applications are formally submitted by the Monash Graduate Research Office (MGRO) on behalf of the University.

Monash academics draft the project application using the templated application form (available below) and submit it, together with a copy of the Letter of Intent (LOI), to their Faculty Graduate Research Office by the Applicant Submission Deadline.
Faculties email the draft application and a copy of the LOI to MGRO by the Faculty Initial Submission to MGRO Deadline.
MGRO creates the online application and invites the relevant faculty to edit the application in GMS.
Faculties complete the application entry in GMS and notify MGRO once completed by the Monash Closing Deadline. Please do not submit the application in GMS at this stage.
MGRO reviews and formally submits the applications.

Refer to the “Preparing Your Application” section below for guidance on how to prepare a strong application.

For further support when drafting an application, contact mgro-industry@monash.edu.

Faculties intending to submit an application should contact mgro-industry@monash.edu to indicate your intention to apply and to support tracking applications.

How the scheme operates

How to apply

Application templates

Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to these Frequently Asked Questions to support preparing for an application.

Further FAQs are available on the Department of Education website.

The program requires the University to allocate a GRLO who is responsible for coordinating and submitting NIPhD applications each round.
The Monash Graduate Research Office will assume this role. Email enquiries to mgro-industry@monash.edu.
Faculties will need to appoint a senior administrator within the Faculty Graduate Research office who will be responsible for supporting the Monash Researcher to draft application submissions.
Note: Where a potential student has been identified, they can be named on the application.
To qualify as an eligible Industry Partner, you must:
- be a business or organisation with an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered with the Australian Taxation Office or an Australian Company Number (ACN) registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- already undertake Research and Development (R&D) activities (at the time of of application).
Please note: To qualify as an industry partner for the Industry-Researcher stream, the organisation must be a body corporate. For the full list of conditions under which grants will be awarded to eligible industry partners, please see section 2.9.3 of the Program Guidelines.
The NIPhD program offers two streams:
Industry Linked PhD Stream:
Provides a stipend boost and support for PhD candidates to undertake research projects co-designed by universities and industry. Students must hold a RTP or equivalent stipend from the University.
Industry Researcher PhD Stream:
Designed for industry professionals who wish to pursue a PhD while retaining their job and salary. Students are employees of a business that qualifies as an Industry Partner and are supported by their employer to undertake a PhD project in collaboration with a university. Industry partners receive a government subsidy to cover costs of relinquishing their employee to undertake the PhD.
The National Industry PhD Program rounds are twice a year between February - March and June - August. These rounds do not align with the current RTP scholarship rounds.
Faculties should also consider the following:
- Currently enrolled PhD students early in their candidature holding an existing RTP or equivalent scholarship are eligible (within 12 months of commencement)
- Faculties may wish to fund an RTP equivalent scholarship to a potential student
- Faculties may offer a bridging scholarship to cover the student until the next scholarship round. Students will need to apply for the next scholarship round and be ranked appropriately by the Faculty, to obtain an RTP
- Faculties may request a pre-offer, where they wish to offer a scholarship from their pre-allocation for a new commencing student prior to the relevant scholarship application closing date.
While the program duration is 4 years, the RTP (or equivalent) scholarship funding is expected to align with the period of support outlined in the University RTP Scholarship Policy and Procedures. Students must be approved for, or be in receipt of, a Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend and Fees Offset Scholarship (or similar scholarship) for a minimum of 3.5 years.
The government and industry top-up will be paid for the duration of up to 4 years.
The Industry-Researcher stream involves the government providing a subsidy directly to the industry partner to support their employee to complete the PhD.
Based on advice from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that grants are generally GST exempt, Campus Plus have confirmed that this subsidy does not include GST.
The responsibility is on funding recipients (industry partner) to determine whether they need to claim GST for the received funds. The payment will be paid directly from the the Department of Education (administered via CampusPlus) to the industry partner.
The Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) can provide advice to industry and comprehensive guidelines on GST claims, accessible on the ATO website (GST | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)).
No, the application requires a letter of intent to be included. If the application is successful the project should progress to obtaining a signed agreement. The Department of Education have provided an a collaborative agreement template that covers Intellectual Property (IP) arrangements, confidentiality, funding amounts and period, embedment arrangements, leave, and thesis publication.
This template is voluntary and may be used as a negotiation starting point. The University can use an existing collaborative agreement template of a similar nature.
Standard Template Agreements for Internships: Pre-approved Monash templates and a user guide supporting both candidates who enter into an employment relationship with the partner and those who do not are now available on the OGC intranet and can be accessed via the - Student Agreements portal.
Note that third party agreements and pre-approved agreements with amendments will require OGC review. The OGC are currently finalising a standard collaborative agreement for Industry-based PhD projects, and can be accessed through a request for legal assistance.
Yes. A currently enrolled PhD student may be eligible for the NiPhD Program, provided they are within the first 12 months of their PhD candidature as at the closing date of the relevant round.
Students who have already commenced their PhD can still be considered within this 12‑month window, subject to approval from the participating university and confirmation that all other program requirements are met.
This program offers both full-time and part-time rates.
Please note: Part-time enrolment and stipends may have tax implications. It is preferred that students enrol on a full-time basis.
Yes. International students can take part in the program. Applications can list a potential student.
No. Students cannot apply directly to the NiPhD Program. The application process involves the Monash academic submitting the project application, where the student is identified as the prospective candidate within that application.

Return to industry programs

Graduate Research

Graduate Research

NIPhD Program - Application Guide

Application Guide for Monash Researchers

NIPhD Application Information Session for Round 8

Before you Apply

Application Rounds

Application Dates (Current Round) View

Application Process

How the scheme operates

Program infographic

Eligibility and Requirements

National Industry PhD Program website

How to apply

Project Title and Description

Selection Criteria

Finances

Application Tips

Submitting an application in the GMS

Application templates

Rd 7 Application form

Letter of Intent - Industry Linked stream

Letter of Intent - Industry Researcher stream

Frequently Asked Questions