Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Acceptability and Behavioural Pathways in Road User Charging Reform
Stipend scholarship to support research students at the University of Sydney Business School
Highlights
| Value | Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|---|---|---|---|
| USYD RTP rate p.a. (up to 3.5 years) |
|
19 March 2026 | 1 April 2026 |
How to apply
Apply here.
Benefits
The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $33,511 per annum for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
The recipient of this scholarship will also receive the Business School Supplementary Research Scholarship (BSSRS) for up to 14 research periods for a PhD recipient, on nomination by the Associate Dean (Research Education) in the University of Sydney Business School.
Benefits provided by the BSSRS will include:
i. stipend which will be valued at the difference between the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate and the value outlined in Clause 4.a,
ii. Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF),
may also include tuition fee which will be indicated in the Scholarship Offer letter.
Who's eligible
You must:
- be willing to apply for admission, have an offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the University of Sydney Business School at the University of Sydney
- conduct research in acceptability and behavioural pathways in road user charging reform.
Background
This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in acceptability and behavioural pathways in road user charging reform.
This Scholarship is funded by Australian Research Council (ARC).
PROJECT TITLE
An Agreeable Price: Discovering the path to critical road pricing reform
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project investigates pathways for transitioning to a fair, equitable, and financially sustainable road user charging (road pricing) system for passenger vehicles. Using innovative experimental methods, behavioural studies, and technology-enabled field trials, the research will develop and evaluate a novel, revenue-neutral charging framework based on travel distance and duration rather than traditional fuel taxes and fixed registration fees. The project seeks to understand driver and policymaker responses to alternative pricing structures, identify sources of public and political resistance, and assess impacts on travel behaviour, congestion, and emissions. Outcomes are expected to include evidence-based recommendations for acceptable and future-proof road pricing reform, supporting long-term infrastructure funding while promoting economic efficiency, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
PhD RESPONSIBILITIES
Within the project the PhD student will be responsible for delivering quality outputs related to the following work packages in the project:
Semi-Structured Interviews with Policy-Makers (Acceptability to Policy-Makers)
The student will design and conduct qualitative interviews with federal, state, and territory policy-makers, as well as key industry representatives, to explore perceptions of fairness, feasibility, privacy, transparency, and revenue use in road pricing reform. They will be responsible for recruitment, interview protocol development, data collection, and qualitative coding and thematic analysis using software such as NVivo. The outputs will provide a structured understanding of institutional preferences, political constraints, and realistic timelines for reform, while also supporting the formation of a stakeholder advisory group.
Online Questionnaire and Choice Experiment (Acceptability to Drivers and RUC Preferences)
The student will lead the development and implementation of a large-scale online survey and stated choice experiment targeting a representative sample of drivers. Responsibilities include survey design, experimental design generation, panel coordination, and advanced statistical modelling of preference data using discrete choice techniques in R. This work package will generate quantitative evidence on public acceptability, willingness to adopt alternative charging schemes, and the relative importance of pricing and payment attributes.
Field Experiment (Feasibility, Trip Choice and Mode Choice Impacts)
The student will co-design and manage a six-month real-world field trial testing distance- and duration-based charging systems with volunteer drivers. Tasks will include participant recruitment, coordination of in-vehicle technology deployment, monthly data collection, behavioural survey administration, and analysis of revealed-preference travel data. The work will evaluate practical feasibility, privacy perceptions, and behavioural impacts of alternative charging mechanisms, providing rare empirical evidence from real-world implementation conditions.
Translation Pathways (Policy Transition and Public Communication)
The student will contribute to synthesising research findings into actionable transition pathways for road pricing reform at state and federal levels. This includes facilitating stakeholder workshops, applying policy analysis frameworks, and developing visual and multimedia communication tools to enhance public and political understanding. The outputs will focus on building acceptance, clarifying revenue neutrality and fairness, and producing educational materials that support evidence-based policy adoption.
CANDIDATE PROFILES AND DESIRED SKILLS
The ideal PhD candidate will have an interdisciplinary skillset combining strong communication abilities with quantitative analytical competence. Because the role involves conducting semi-structured interviews and engaging with senior policy-makers and industry stakeholders, the student must be confident, professional, and articulate in both written and verbal communication. They should also be comfortable working with quantitative data and statistical analysis, with experience in tools such as R or Python being advantageous, although advanced or specialised methods will be taught and supported by the research team. Overall, the position suits a candidate who is organised, curious, and capable of working across qualitative and quantitative research tasks in a collaborative environment.
1. Background
a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in acceptability and behavioural pathways in road user charging reform.
b. This Scholarship is funded by Australian Research Council (ARC).
2. Eligibility
a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the University of Sydney Business School.
b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research in acceptability and behavioural pathways in road user charging reform.
3. Selection Criteria
a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:
I. academic merit, and
II. area of study and/or research proposal.
b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).
4. Value
a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $33,511 per annum for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
b. The recipient may not apply for an extension of the stipend allowance.
c. The recipient of this scholarship will also receive the Business School Supplementary Research Scholarship (BSSRS) for up to 14 research periods for a PhD recipient, on nomination by the Associate Dean (Research Education) in the University of Sydney Business School.
d. Benefits provided by the BSSRS
I. will include:
i. stipend which will be valued at the difference between the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate and the value outlined in Clause 4.a,
ii. Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF),
II. may also include tuition fee which will be indicated in the Scholarship Offer letter.
e. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.
f. No other amount is payable.
g. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.
5. Eligibility for Progression
a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.
6. Leave Arrangements
a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.
b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.
7. Research Overseas
a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.
b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.
8. Suspension
a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.
b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.
9. Changes in Enrolment
a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.
10. Termination
a. The Scholarship will be terminated:
I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).
b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:
I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.
c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.
d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.
11. Misconduct
a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct 2023 (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Student Charter 2020 and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.
b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.
12. Other Conditions
a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.
b. The Scholarship recipient is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by a project participant or the University of Sydney confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the University of Sydney or project participant as appropriate, or authorised by law or Parliament to disclose.
c. The Scholarship recipient must acknowledge the ARC’s support of their scholarship in any media, publications or presentations arising from the research. This must include acknowledgement of the ARC funding as outlined on the ARC website.