Graduate Research Scholarships

The Melbourne Research Scholarship and Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship are offered to high-achieving international and domestic students who are enrolling in a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne.

Application type

No application is required. You will be automatically considered for this award.

Benefit type

General allowance
Fee remission
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student
International student

Total value

100% fee remission and up to $135,000

Applicable study areas

All study areas

Number of scholarships awarded

Approximately 600

  • Eligibility & selection criteria

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

    • have applied for and meet the  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

    All domestic students who are offered admission to a Masters by Research or doctoral degree (PhD) at the University of Melbourne will receive a Research Training Program Scholarship (Fee Offset).

    Graduate Research Scholarships that provide a stipend as well as fee offset are awarded to domestic and international students based on academic merit. Eligible applicants are scored and ranked according to their academic achievement of their last completed degree and their research potential in their field of study. Factors such as completion of a degree at the same level of the research course for which the scholarship is sought, relevant professional experience, refereed publications, specialist medical qualifications or composition of original music may be taken into consideration.

    Conditions

    These scholarships are subject to the Graduate Research Scholarships Terms & Conditions (as amended).

  • Application process

    If you are a new student and have applied for a graduate research course by the application closing date for that course, you will be automatically considered for the Graduate Research Scholarships. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within ten business days of having submitted your course application.

    If you have accepted a graduate research course offer and deferred commencement in order to be reconsidered for a scholarship, you must submit an online application form by 31 October to be considered for a scholarship in the following year. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within ten business days of having submitted the online form.

    If you are currently enrolled in a graduate research course for which you seek a scholarship, you must submit an online application form by 31 October to be considered for a scholarship in the following year. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within ten business days of having submitted the online form.

  • When will I know the outcome?

    Domestic students will receive an offer for Research Training Program Scholarship (Fee Offset) as part of their course offer.

    Offers for Graduate Research Scholarships that provide a stipend and fee offset are made separately but around the same time course offers are made.

  • Variations of this award
    Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS)

    This scholarship is available to high-achieving domestic and international students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or doctoral degree.

    Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships

    This scholarship is supported by the Australian Commonwealth Government and offered by the University of Melbourne to high-achieving domestic and international students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or Doctorate by Research degree. See also the University's RTP Scholarship Policy.

    China Scholarship Council - University of Melbourne PhD Scholarship

    This scholarship is provided by the China Scholarship Council and the University of Melbourne to promote international collaboration and is offered to citizens of the People's Republic of China wishing to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of Melbourne.

What are the benefits?

Stipend and fee offset scholarships
  • Full fee offset for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to four years for students undertaking a doctoral degree.
  • Living allowance of $37,000 per year pro rata (2024 full-time study rate) for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to 3.5 years for students undertaking a doctoral degree. The living allowance may be indexed annually and includes limited paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.
  • Relocation grant of $2000 for students moving from States or Territories other than Victoria or $3000 for students moving from outside Australia.
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership for international students who require a student visa to study in Australia
Fee offset scholarships
  • Full fee offset for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to four years for students undertaking a doctoral degree.

For further information, see Manage my scholarship.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.