Key scholarship details
Application status
Not open yet
Applications open
16 Mar 2026
Applications close
11 May 2026
Benefit amount
$1,000 - $5,400
Eligible study level
Undergraduate, Honours
Eligible student type
Domestic and international students
Eligible study stage
Current study
Benefit duration
One-off
Summary
The Shakespeare Scholarship is offered to Bachelor of Arts students with a major in English Literature and Theatre Studies who submit the best essay on the subject of Shakespeare.
About the donor
In 1863, a group of prominent Victorians raised funds to commemorate the tercentenary of Shakespeare's birth in 1864. The first aim was to build a statue of Shakespeare in Melbourne; however, the £752 collected fell short of this goal. In 1866 the University Council agreed to accept the funds, contribute additional support to reach £1,000 and establish a scholarship in Shakespeare's honour. One of the Faculty's longest-running scholarships, the award has successfully supported Shakespeare scholars since that time.
Benefits
The scholarship provides a one-off payment of between $1,000 to $5,400 depending on the applicant pool.
Amount:
$1,000 - $5,400
Duration:
One-off
Quantity:
At least 1
Eligibility and selection criteria
Eligibility
To be considered for this scholarship, you must:
- Be enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne undertaking an English and Theatre Studies major
- Be undertaking a second, third or fourth year English and Theatre Studies subject
Selection criteria
The scholarship is offered to the student(s) ranked highest by the selection panel based on their essay.
Conditions
Students must:
- Accept the award online within 21 days
Study level:
Undergraduate, Honours
Student type:
Domestic and international students
Study stage type:
Current study
Study area:
Arts, humanities and social sciences
Need help understanding the process?
Visit our scholarship guideApplication
How to apply
You must submit an online application and include:
- A 4000-5000 word essay on Shakespeare
For further queries contact: Faculty of Arts - Scholarships and Prizes
When will I know the outcome?
Applicants are advised of the outcome via email within 8-10 weeks.
Submit an applicationStatus:
Not open yet
Recipient feedback
The scholarship was a great boost of confidence going into my final year of Arts, majoring in English and Theatre studies. Shakespeare’s works still hold an astounding ability to channel the socio-political climates in which they are performed, and to challenge an audience’s sense of independent self and collective identity. I hope I can continue to pursue this line of investigation around the role of Shakespeare in National Theatres, looking into other plays and adaptations.
Gemma Hannan
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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