The Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) and the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship are the primary fully funded scholarships for graduate research degrees at the University of Melbourne. These prestigious awards are offered to high-achieving domestic and international students.9 They appear to be awarded in conjunction or as part of a comprehensive “Graduate Research Scholarships” package, with the university offering over 1200 scholarships in total across various categories.9 The explicit linkage and combined offering of the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship clarify a common point of confusion for applicants. This indicates a strategic integration of university and government funding, creating a single, robust, and comprehensive scholarship program for graduate research. This simplifies the application process for students, as they are effectively applying for a combined funding package rather than navigating two distinct major research scholarships, reflecting a streamlined approach to attracting top talent.
Benefits
The Graduate Research Scholarships at the University of Melbourne, encompassing the MRS and RTP, provide extensive financial support designed to cover all major expenses for research students.
- Full Fee Offset (Tuition Remission): These scholarships cover 100% of tuition fees for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree and up to four years for those undertaking a Doctoral degree.9 It is important to note that this remission does not cover the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which students are responsible for paying if it appears on their Statement of Liability.12
- Living Allowance (Stipend): A tax-free stipend of $38,500 per year (based on the 2025 full-time study rate) is provided. This allowance is granted for up to two years for Masters by Research degrees or up to 3.5 years for Doctoral degrees.9 The living allowance may be indexed annually and importantly includes limited paid sick, maternity, and parenting leave.9 The inclusion of “limited paid sick, maternity and parenting leave” as part of the living allowance benefits reflects a progressive and supportive institutional approach. This goes beyond mere financial provision, indicating the University of Melbourne’s recognition of the diverse life circumstances of graduate researchers and its commitment to fostering their well-being and successful completion of their degrees, even amidst personal challenges. This can significantly enhance the university’s appeal to a broader and more diverse pool of prospective researchers.
- Relocation Grant: To assist students with moving expenses, a relocation grant is provided. This grant amounts to $2,000 for students moving from Australian States or Territories other than Victoria, and $3,000 for students moving from outside Australia.9
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): For international students who require a student visa to study in Australia, a Single Membership OSHC is provided.9 If the University arranges the OSHC on the student’s behalf, the membership cost is automatically covered.12
- Overall Benefit Amount: The total value of these comprehensive scholarships, including 100% fee remission, can be up to $135,000.9
- Duration: Scholarships are awarded for one or more years, aligning with the typical duration of Masters by Research (up to 2 years) and Doctoral (up to 4 years) degrees.9
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for the University of Melbourne’s graduate research scholarships is based on a combination of meeting degree entry requirements and demonstrating strong academic and research potential.
- General Eligibility: To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must either have applied for and meet the entry requirements for a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne, or be currently enrolled in a graduate research degree at the university.9
- Academic Achievement and Research Potential: Scholarships that provide both a stipend and fee offset are awarded to both domestic and international students based on academic merit.9 Eligible applicants are scored and ranked according to their academic achievement from their last completed degree and their demonstrated research potential in their chosen field of study.9
- Factors Considered: The selection panels consider various factors beyond just grades when assessing applicants. These may include 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 even the composition of original music, depending on the field.9
- RTP Fee Offset for Domestic Students: All domestic students who are offered admission to a Masters by Research or doctoral degree at the University of Melbourne will automatically receive a Research Training Program Scholarship (Fee Offset), which covers their tuition fees.9
Application Process
The application process for the University of Melbourne’s graduate research scholarships varies depending on the applicant’s current status.
- Automatic Consideration for New Graduate Research Applicants: A significant feature of the University of Melbourne’s scholarship system is the automatic consideration for new graduate research applicants. If a prospective student applies for a graduate research course by its application closing date, they will be automatically considered for the Graduate Research Scholarships.9 This means no separate scholarship application is required for this cohort.10 Confirmation of automatic consideration is typically received within seven days of submitting the course application.10 This “automatic consideration” process fundamentally shifts the application strategy for new graduate research applicants. It implies that the strength and completeness of the graduate research degree application itself, including the research proposal, academic transcripts, and any supporting documents, are paramount for scholarship success. Applicants should therefore view their course application as their primary scholarship bid, dedicating maximal effort to demonstrating their research potential and academic excellence within that single submission, rather than preparing a separate, distinct scholarship essay.
- Application for Deferred or Currently Enrolled Students: A critical nuance in the application process is for students who have already received an offer for a graduate research course and deferred its commencement to a later year, or for those who are currently enrolled in a graduate research course for which they seek a scholarship. These individuals must submit a separate online application form by October 31 to be considered for a scholarship in the following year.9 This requirement for deferred or currently enrolled students to submit a separate online application by October 31 creates a bifurcated application process. This critical distinction means applicants must accurately identify their current status (new, deferred, or currently enrolled) to ensure they follow the correct application pathway, as failing to do so could result in missed scholarship opportunities.
- Outcome Notification Process: Domestic students typically receive an offer for a Research Training Program Scholarship (Fee Offset) as part of their course offer. Offers for Graduate Research Scholarships that provide both a stipend and fee offset are made separately but generally around the same time course offers are made.10
- Activating Benefits: Scholarship benefits can only be activated once the scholarship offer has been accepted, the course commenced, Australian bank details updated, and all conditions specified in the scholarship offer have been met.12
Leave and Changes: Students are able to apply for leave from their scholarship if needed.12 It is important to note that any changes to enrolment can affect scholarship payments or the duration of the award.12
Key Application Dates and Intakes
Understanding the application timelines is crucial, particularly given the automatic consideration process for new applicants.
- Course Application Closing Dates for Automatic Consideration: For new students, scholarship consideration is directly tied to the graduate research course application closing date.9 These deadlines are not universal and vary by faculty and specific course.11 General timely application closing dates for graduate coursework are August 31 for the start-year intake and January 31 for the mid-year intake, though applicants should always confirm the precise dates on the relevant course page.13 International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by these timely deadlines to maximize the range and number of scholarships for which they can be considered.13
- Specific Deadlines for Deferred/Enrolled Students: For individuals who have deferred their course commencement or are already enrolled in a graduate research course, a separate online scholarship application must be submitted by October 31 for consideration in the following year.9
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