Graduate Research Scholarships at the University of Melbourne (Australia)

The University of Melbourne offers Graduate Research Scholarships, including the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, to support outstanding domestic and international students pursuing graduate research degrees. These highly competitive scholarships are designed to attract high-achieving researchers and provide comprehensive financial support throughout their studies.

Scholarship Overview

• Scholarship Type: Graduate Research Scholarships

• Application Required: No (automatic consideration)

• Application Status: Open

• Eligible Study Level: Graduate research

• Eligible Students: Domestic and international students

• Eligible Study Stage: Future study and current study

• Duration: One or more years

• Number of Scholarships: 600

• Total Value: 100% fee remission and up to $135,000

Scholarship Benefits

The Graduate Research Scholarships provide a combination of stipend and fee offset support, ensuring students can focus fully on their research.

Stipend and Fee Offset Scholarships

• Full fee remission:

  • Up to 2 years for a Masters by Research

  • Up to 4 years for a Doctoral (PhD) degree

• Living allowance:

  • $39,500 per year (pro rata) for 2026 full-time study

  • Up to 2 years for Masters by Research

  • Up to 3.5 years for Doctoral degrees

  • Includes limited paid sick, maternity, and parenting leave

• Relocation grant:

  • $2,000 for students moving from outside Victoria

  • $3,000 for students moving from outside Australia

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC):

  • Single Membership for international students requiring a student visa

Fee Offset Scholarships Only

• Full fee remission for:

  • Up to 2 years (Masters by Research)

  • Up to 4 years (Doctoral degree)

Eligible Study Areas

The scholarships support research across a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Agricultural and veterinary sciences

• Architecture, building, planning and design

• Arts, humanities and social sciences

• Business and economics

• Education

• Engineering

• Environment

• Health

• Information technology and computer science

• Law

• Music, visual and performing arts

• Science

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

• 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

• Domestic students offered admission to a Masters by Research or Doctoral (PhD) program automatically receive a Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset Scholarship.

• Graduate Research Scholarships with stipend and fee offset are awarded to domestic and international students based on academic merit.

Selection is based on:

• Academic performance in the most recently completed degree

• Research potential in the chosen field of study

Additional factors that may be considered include:

• Completion of a degree at the same level as the proposed research course

• Relevant professional experience

• Refereed publications

• Specialist medical qualifications

• Composition of original music (where applicable)

Conditions

All scholarships are subject to the Graduate Research Scholarships Terms and Conditions, as amended by the University of Melbourne.

How to Apply

No separate scholarship application is required for most applicants.

• New students:
  If you apply for a graduate research course by the course application deadline, you will be automatically considered for the Graduate Research Scholarships. A scholarship application will be added to your record within ten business days after submitting your course application.

• Deferred students:
  Students who accept a course offer and defer commencement to be reconsidered for a scholarship must submit an online application by 31 October for consideration in the following year.

• Currently enrolled students:
  Students already enrolled in a graduate research degree must submit an online application by 31 October to be considered for a scholarship in the following year.

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When Will Applicants Know the Outcome?

• Domestic students will receive confirmation of their RTP Fee Offset Scholarship as part of their course offer.

• Offers for Graduate Research Scholarships with stipend and fee offset are made separately but generally around the same time as course offers.