Calculating research block grants

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Research block grants (RBGs) are calculated using two years of the most recently available research income and higher degree by research (HDR) completions data. This method rewards the relative performance of each higher education provider (HEP) in attracting research income and supporting students to completion of a HDR.  

Research Training Program

The Research Training Program (RTP) allocates funding to HEPs based on their share of competitive grant income (25%), engagement income (25%) and weighted HDR completions (50%) in accordance with the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017.

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Image Displaying Types of Research Income by Percentage

A detailed guide to calculating the RTP is available.

Research Support Program

The Research Support Program (RSP) allocates funding to HEPs based on their share of competitive grant income (47%) and engagement income (53%) in accordance with the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017.

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Graph Displaying percentages of research Income

A detailed guide to calculating the RSP is available.

Data used in 2023 RBG calculations

The data used to calculate 2023 RBGs include:

  • 2020 research income
  • 2021 research income
  • 2020 HDR completions
  • 2021 HDR completions

Historical data

Historical RBG allocations, research income, and HDR completions are available in the RBGs time series datasets.