Grant

Macdonald Scholarship

Application is required. Check eligibility

Key scholarship details

Application status

Not open yet

Applications open

12 Nov 2025

Applications close

5 Jan 2026

Benefit amount

Up to $6,000

Eligible study level

Graduate coursework

Eligible student type

Domestic and international students

Eligible study stage

Current study

Benefit duration

One-off

Summary

This scholarship, with benefits of up to $6,000, offers students the opportunity to travel domestically (outside City of Melbourne) or internationally, for a period of 4 or more weeks, to develop practical career skills and enhance their employability.

About the donor

The Macdonald Scholarship was created by the Macdonald family to honour their father and husband, Rod Macdonald, a University of Melbourne alumnus.  Rod Macdonald became a leader in post WW2 modernist architectural design through a strong vision for design innovation, inspired by his own work overseas, including when he won the Haddon Travelling Scholarship in 1949.  This scholarship will support future generations of students to gain practical experience overseas and to share their learnings with peers.

Benefits

This scholarship offers a one-off payment of approximately $6,000 and will vary based on the annual income of the fund.

The funding must be used prior to graduation and preferably before commencement of the last 50 points of study.

Amount:

Up to $6,000

Duration:

One-off

Quantity:

1

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be enrolled in a graduate degree by coursework (including double masters) in Architecture
  • Have completed the first year (100 points) prior to travel
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Have investigated or confirmed work placement opportunities (approximately 4 weeks in duration) either outside the City of Melbourne or internationally.

Selection criteria

Eligible applicants are assessed on a combination of their academic merit, application responses and, if shortlisted, their performance in interview.

Preference will be given to applicants who are able to clearly:

  • Articulate their interest in design innovation
  • Outline how their proposed work placement will support them to build their knowledge of the practical application of design innovation in the built environment
  • Describe their plan to actively share experience and build mentoring skills with their faculty peers, via their chosen method, while travelling and/or upon returning.

Study level:

Graduate coursework

Student type:

Domestic and international students

Study stage type:

Current study

Study area:

Architecture, building, planning and design

Need help understanding the process?

Visit our scholarship guide

Application

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted online.

When will I know the outcome?

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend an interview shortly after the closing date. The outcome will be communicated no later than 6 weeks after the closing of the application.

Submit an application

Status:

Not open yet

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.

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