Endeavour Scholarship (Australia)

The Endeavour Scholarship was an Australian government program that funded international students for postgraduate study, research, and vocational education in Australia. It was replaced by the Endeavour Leadership Program (ELP) in 2019, which was subsequently discontinued. Musicians seeking Australian government funding for postgraduate study should now look at two successor programs: the Research Training Program (RTP) for domestic and international research students, and Australia Awards Scholarships for students from developing countries. These programs cover tuition and provide living stipends at major Australian institutions including the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and the Australian National University School of Music.

Current Successor Programs

Research Training Program (RTP)

The RTP is the primary Australian government funding scheme for domestic and international postgraduate research students (Master's by research and PhD). It is administered by individual universities on behalf of the Department of Education.

What is covered:

• Full tuition offset for up to 2 years (Master's by research) or 4 years (PhD)
• RTP Stipend: approximately 32,000 AUD per year (2025/2026 rate, set by each university but must meet the minimum)
• Sick leave, parental leave, and relocation allowance (varies by university)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for international students (at some universities)

Eligibility:

• Hold a bachelor's degree with honours or a Master's degree for PhD entry
• Hold a bachelor's degree for Master's by research entry
• International students must meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with no band below 6.0)
• Must apply directly to the university, not to the government
• Each university sets its own RTP application deadline (typically between September and November for the following academic year)

Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards are long-term development scholarships funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). They are available to citizens of participating developing countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

What is covered:

• Full tuition for the duration of the program
• Return airfare to Australia
• Establishment allowance (approximately 5,000 AUD on arrival)
• Contribution to living expenses (CLE): approximately 31,000 AUD per year (2025/2026 rate)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• Pre-course English language training (if required)
• Supplementary academic support

Eligibility:

• Be a citizen of an eligible participating country (check the Australia Awards country list)
• Meet the academic and English language requirements of the host university
• Not hold or have held an Australian government scholarship in the preceding 24 months
• Meet DFAT's development focus areas for your country (which may or may not include music/arts)

Limitation for musicians: Australia Awards are tied to development priorities. Music and arts are not always listed as priority fields. Check your country's specific priority areas before applying. If music is not listed, you may need to frame your application around education, cultural development, or community development.

How to Apply for Current Programs

RTP Application Process

1. Identify a research topic and potential supervisor at an Australian university with a music program
2. Contact the supervisor directly with your research proposal and CV
3. Apply for admission to the university's research program (Master's by research or PhD)
4. Indicate on the application that you wish to be considered for the RTP scholarship
5. Submit by the university's RTP deadline (varies, but commonly September to October for the following year)

For music performance applicants, some universities offer practice-based research degrees where your performance portfolio forms part of the research output. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music both accept practice-based PhDs.

Australia Awards Application Process

1. Check if your country is eligible on the Australia Awards website
2. Verify that music or a related field (education, cultural development) is listed as a priority for your country
3. Apply through the Australia Awards online application system or the Australian Embassy in your country
4. Submit academic transcripts, proof of citizenship, employment history, and a development impact plan
5. Deadlines vary by country but typically fall between February and April

Real-World Example

A musicologist from Fiji with a Master's degree in ethnomusicology applies for an RTP scholarship at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in September 2026. She contacts a potential supervisor with a research proposal examining the transmission of Pacific Islander musical traditions in diasporic communities in Australia. The supervisor agrees to support her application.

She applies for admission to the PhD program and indicates she wants to be considered for the RTP. She submits her academic transcripts, a 5-page research proposal, two academic references, and her IELTS results (overall 7.5). The university ranks her application against other candidates and awards her an RTP scholarship in December 2026.

Her scholarship covers full tuition for 4 years (approximately 48,000 AUD per year in tuition offset), a stipend of 32,000 AUD per year (128,000 AUD over 4 years), and OSHC for the duration. The total package value exceeds 320,000 AUD over four years. She begins her PhD in March 2027.

If she were from a non-research background, she could alternatively apply for Australia Awards if Fiji's priority fields include education or cultural development. She would need to demonstrate how her music studies contribute to development outcomes in Fiji.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Australia has several world-class music institutions, particularly the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and the Elder Conservatorium (University of Adelaide). The RTP makes PhD and Master's by research study accessible to international musicians without tuition debt, and the stipend of approximately 32,000 AUD per year is livable in most Australian cities (though Sydney and Melbourne are expensive).

The key distinction is that the RTP funds research degrees, not coursework degrees. If you want a Master's in music performance (coursework), the RTP will not cover it. You would need to look at university-specific international scholarships or Australia Awards (if eligible). Practice-based research PhDs, where your creative output (compositions, performances, recordings) counts as research, are an option for performers and composers who want to combine artistic practice with academic research.

The key steps are:

1. Determine whether you want a research degree (RTP eligible) or coursework degree (not RTP eligible)
2. If research, identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
3. If coursework, check Australia Awards eligibility for your country
4. Prepare English language test results (IELTS or TOEFL)
5. Submit applications before the relevant deadlines

Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• Endeavour program is discontinued: The original Endeavour Scholarships and the Endeavour Leadership Program no longer exist. Do not apply for them. Use the RTP or Australia Awards instead.
• RTP is research-only: The RTP does not fund coursework Master's programs. If you want a performance Master's, you need university-specific scholarships or self-funding.
• Australia Awards are development-focused: Music is rarely a priority field. You may need to frame your application around education or cultural development to qualify.
• High cost of living: Sydney and Melbourne are among the most expensive cities in the world. The 32,000 AUD stipend is adequate but not generous. Rent alone can consume 15,000 to 20,000 AUD per year.
• Competitive RTP allocation: Each university receives a fixed number of RTP slots. International students compete with domestic students for these slots. Strong academic record and a well-developed research proposal are essential.
• Long application timelines: From initial supervisor contact to scholarship award can take 6 to 12 months. Start early.
• Visa requirements: International students must obtain a Subclass 500 Student Visa, which requires proof of financial capacity, OSHC, and English proficiency.

Related Opportunities

• Chevening Scholarship for one-year Master's study in the UK
• MEXT Scholarship for study at Japanese universities
• Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
• Music Schools Directory to find Australian conservatoires and music programs
• Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your post-graduation earnings
• Visit the Australia Awards website for official details on eligibility by country
• Visit the Research Training Program page for RTP details