Graduate Research Scholarships (Melbourne Research Scholarship and RTP Scholarship)

Full tuition fee offset for up to four years (PhD) or two years (Masters by Research), a living allowance of AUD 41,100 per year (2027 full-time rate) for up to 3.5 years (PhD), a relocation grant of AUD 3,000 for students moving from outside Australia, and single Overseas Student Health Cover.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• Applied for and meet the entry requirements of a graduate research degree (PhD or Masters by Research) at the University of Melbourne
• Open to domestic and international students
• Ranked highly by the faculty selection panel on prior academic results and research potential
• Course application submitted by the relevant scholarship closing date

Closing dates vary by faculty. For example, Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences assesses 2027 applications in rounds closing 31 October 2026, 31 January 2027 and 15 May 2027, with most scholarships awarded in the first two rounds. Check the How to apply tab of your course page.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Online graduate research course application
• Academic transcripts and evidence of completion
• CV, including any publications
• Research proposal meeting your faculty's requirements
• Contact details of two referees (academic if you studied in the last five years)
• English language test results if required

1. 1

   Step 1: Find a supervisor and course

   Choose a PhD or research Masters course and contact a potential supervisor whose work fits your proposal.
2. 2

   Step 2: Write a strong proposal

   Prepare a research proposal that meets your faculty's requirements; it is a key part of the assessment.
3. 3

   Step 3: Apply by the scholarship date

   Submit your course application before your faculty's scholarship closing date; you are then considered automatically.
4. 4

   Step 4: Watch for the notice

   Within ten business days you should get a note that a scholarship application has been added to your record; offers come around the same time as course offers.

• Subject to the Graduate Research Scholarships Terms and Conditions
• Stipend scholarship offers are made separately from course offers, at around the same time
• Your previous degree must be complete with final results available before you can be ranked

• Apply in the first round your faculty runs; later rounds have fewer awards
• A confirmed supervisor and a well-fitted proposal matter as much as grades
• Publications, conference papers or a strong research Masters greatly improve ranking for African applicants
• Get verified digital copies of your transcripts before applying to avoid delays

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Australia student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• University of Melbourne: Graduate Research Scholarships (opens in a new tab)
• University of Melbourne: Graduate research applications for international students (opens in a new tab)
• University of Melbourne MDHS: Application and scholarship deadlines (opens in a new tab)