Melbourne Research Scholarship in Australia (Fully Funded)

The Melbourne Research Scholarship provides high-achieving domestic and international students with a fully funded opportunity to pursue graduate research degrees at the University of Melbourne. The scholarship supports students enrolling in a Master’s by Research or a Doctoral (PhD) program and is awarded automatically to eligible candidates based on academic merit and research potential.

About the Melbourne Research Scholarship

The Melbourne Research Scholarship is designed to attract outstanding researchers from around the world and support them throughout their graduate research studies. Eligible applicants are automatically considered when they apply for a graduate research course at the University of Melbourne, eliminating the need for a separate scholarship application in most cases.

Up to 350 scholarships are awarded annually across a wide range of disciplines.

Scholarship Benefits

Recipients of the Melbourne Research Scholarship may receive a combination of fee remission and living support, depending on the award type.

Key benefits include:

• 100% tuition fee remission for up to two years for a Master’s by Research or up to four years for a PhD
• Living stipend of AUD 39,500 per year (2026 full-time rate), paid fortnightly
• Stipend duration: up to two years for Master’s by Research and up to 3.5 years for PhD candidates
• Relocation allowance of AUD 2,000 for students moving from outside Victoria, or AUD 3,000 for students relocating from outside Australia
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for international students requiring a student visa
• Paid sick leave, parental leave, and partner leave (limited)

The total value of the scholarship can reach up to AUD 138,000, depending on the degree and duration.

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Eligible Study Levels

• Master’s by Research
• Doctoral (PhD) programs

The scholarship is open to both domestic and international students, including applicants planning future study and those already enrolled.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered, applicants must:

• Have applied for and meet the entry requirements for a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne, or
• Be currently enrolled in a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne

Selection Criteria

Scholarships are awarded to candidates ranked highest by relevant selection panels. Assessment is based on:

• Academic performance in previous studies
• Research potential in the chosen field
• Relevant professional experience (where applicable)
• Research outputs such as publications, creative works, or specialist qualifications

How to Apply

For most applicants, no separate scholarship application is required.

• Students who apply for a graduate research course by the course closing date are automatically considered for the Melbourne Research Scholarship.
• Applicants will receive confirmation of automatic consideration within seven days of submitting their course application.
• Students who have deferred admission or are already enrolled and seeking scholarship support must submit an online scholarship application form.

Scholarship offers are typically made around the same time as graduate research course offers.

APPLY FOR THE MELBOURNE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP