Research grants boost national postgraduate numbers

An additional 1000 Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) will be offered as part of the higher education research block grants in 2009.

APA scholarships are awarded by institutions to students of exceptional research potential undertaking a PhD or Masters by research degree, to assist with students' living costs.

"The Rudd government is on track to deliver on its election commitment to increase the number of Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship places offered each year to 3500 by 2012," Senator Carr said when announcing the additional grants.

"In 2009, the government is providing an additional $20.4 million to fund 1000 additional postgraduate awards through the government's Scholarships for a Competitive Future.

"Taking into account this additional funding, the Rudd government is providing $52.8 million for new APA scholarships in 2009, providing financial support to 2584 exceptional students commencing a postgraduate research degree.

"This is in addition to those continuing postgraduate students who are already receiving APAs from previous years. In total, the APA program is worth $121.2 million.

"For Australia to have a globally competitive innovation system, we must encourage our best and brightest students to go on to higher degrees in research — that's what APAs are all about."

Senator Carr also released details of the allocation of $1.27 billion in higher education research grants to Australia's 41 universities in 2009. Altogether, $597.7 million will be provided under the Research Training Scheme in 2009 for tuition support for students undertaking research higher degrees.

Other support for higher education research will include the Institutional Grants Scheme and the Research Infrastructure Block Grants Scheme, which will provide $314.5 million and $212.3 million respectively in 2009.

Funding support is being provided to Australia's learned academies and other science associations — a crucial source of independent advice on science and research.

More information is available on the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research's Research Block Grants page.