University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships 2026

Overview

The University of Melbourne’s Graduate Research Scholarships cover tuition fees and provide a living allowance for domestic and international students undertaking a PhD or Masters by Research. Scholarships are awarded on academic merit; eligible applicants are assessed automatically when they apply for admission to a graduate research degree - there is no separate scholarship application form. The main round closes 31 October 2026 for a 2027 start. Approximately 200 scholarships are awarded per round.

Benefits

• Full tuition fee waiver for up to four years (PhD) or two years (Masters by Research)
• Living stipend of AUD 39,500 per year (2026 full-time rate), tax-free
• Relocation grant: AUD 2,000 from within Australia or AUD 3,000 for international moves
• Thesis submission allowance of AUD 600 on final submission
• Six-month stipend extension for timely submission

Eligibility

• Applicants of any nationality
• Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours, or a Masters degree with a substantial research component
• GPA equivalent to at least 75% on the Australian scale in the most recently completed degree
• Demonstrated research potential (publications, an honours thesis, or prior research employment all count)
• International applicants must meet Melbourne’s English requirements: IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0, or equivalent

Students already enrolled cannot receive a scholarship retroactively; apply at the same time as or before your admission application.

How to Apply

1. Identify a supervisor and confirm their availability before submitting.
2. Apply for graduate research admission through the Graduate Research Portal at gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au.
3. Check the box to be considered for scholarships during the admission application - no separate scholarship form is required.
4. Submit by 31 October 2026. Results are typically released within 12 weeks.

Applicants are ranked by academic merit and research potential. A strong research proposal and at least one peer-reviewed publication significantly improve prospects in competitive fields.