The Melbourne Scholarship can make a research degree in Australia far more affordable, covering full tuition and offering a living allowance of up to AUD 135,000 across the award period, with relocation and health-cover support available for eligible international students.
It is open to high-achieving domestic and international applicants who meet entry requirements for a master’s by research or PhD at the University of Melbourne; for 2027 consideration, apply by 31 October 2026. The catch: it is a merit-based award with strong competition, and only research degrees qualify coursework master’s applicants will need to look elsewhere. Most students ask the same question before applying to Melbourne Scholarship: is there any funding? Here is the answer, in detail.
Melbourne Scholarship
1. Benefits of Melbourne Scholarship
2. Eligibility criteria for the Melbourne Scholarship
3. Documents required for the Melbourne Scholarship
4. How to apply for the Melbourne Scholarship
5. Deadlines for the Melbourne Scholarship
1. Benefits of the Melbourne Scholarship
The University of Melbourne Scholarship provides successful candidates with the following financial and academic support:
- Full tuition fee coverage for up to two years (Master’s by Research) or up to four years (doctoral degree).
- A living stipend of $39,500 per year pro rata (based on 2026 full-time study rates), lasting up to two years for Master’s by Research students and up to 3.5 years for doctoral students. The stipend may be adjusted annually and includes limited paid sick, maternity, and parental leave.
- A relocation grant of $2,000 for students moving from another Australian state or territory outside Victoria.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership for international students requiring a student visa to study in Australia.
2. Eligibility criteria for Melbourne Scholarship
To qualify for the University of Melbourne Scholarship, applicants must:
- Demonstrate English language proficiency.
- Be a citizen of any country.
Have applied for and met the admission requirements for a Master’s by Research or Doctoral Research degree at the University of Melbourne, or already be enrolled in a graduate research program at the university.
3. Documents required for Melbourne Scholarship
3.2. Passport & National ID card
3.3. English Proficiency Proof (IELTS/TOEFL)
3.6. Statement of Purpose or Motivational Letter
3.1. Academic documents
This includes all your certificates & academic record like
A: Bachelor’s transcript & certificate
B: Master’s transcript & certificate (if the student is applying for 2nd Masters or fellowship)
C: Metric & FSC transcripts (10-12th Grade) (A level) (DMCs) and certificates (Supporting academic documents)
D: Course summary (to explain your courses & how your previous courses & studies resemble your future studies in which you are applying)
3.2. Valid passport, Birth certificate & NIC
The passport of the applicant must contain at least one full blank page on both sides.
The passport must be valid at the time of visa application and on arrival to Australia.
A birth certificate or national ID card is also important to attach.
3.3. English Proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL)
International students can meet the requirements of English proficiency by filling one of the following criteria.
IELTS with 6.5 overall and 6.0 in each,
TOEFL 84 and a minimum of 24 in all subsets,
58 in PTE with no communicative skills less than 50.
3.4. Recommendation letters / Letters of References
The applicants must provide 2-3 letters of recommendation from the previous university, (Depending upon courses).
It is advised to provide a letter of recommendation from the HOD (Head of department or Relevant course head) who should be a PhD.
The referees need to write their contact details (Email, phone number) at the end of the letter.
The letter must include an official letterhead, signature, and official stamp and must be of the current date.
Ask your Referees to write about your academic achievements & discuss their confidence in you that you are fully compatible with the project or course you wish to pursue.
The referees must also mention how long they know the applicant & when was the last time they came in contact with the applicant.
If you want to study in UK for free, find out our detailed guides about Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships.
3.5. Research Plan / Proposal (Optional)
Research publications/ Achievements (conference papers, article review, abstract of thesis)
The research proposal is mostly required for postdocs or Ph.D. students. (Depend upon the courses)
It asks you to write about the research project you agree upon completing with the assigned academic advisor.
Your research proposal should be a brief description of your research goals and objectives, the methods with which you wish to process that research, the outcomes you desire, the timeline and budget you have estimated, and the area of study you wish upon exploring.
It shall be a brief document yet explain the entire vision to the reader so that those analyzing your application could know of your objectives and grant you the scholarship if they match the program’s criteria and eligibility.
Taking help from an external party is strictly prohibited and violation in this regard could lead to your disqualification no matter how incredible your proposal is.
3.6. Statement of purpose or Letter of Motivation
Remember, SOP or LOM can be asked during university admission.
Technically SOP or LOM are the same things.
It’s a Short biography to tell the panelist about yourself:
Letter of motivation or SOP could be a tricky part while selecting your course in Australian universities.
In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course & scholarship.
3.7. CV
Europass CV can be easily made here.
The Cv must contain all the latest & relevant information about your occupation & interests.
A perfect CV must be hand-signed.
4. How to apply for Melbourne Scholarship
If you are a new applicant and have submitted your application for a graduate research program before the course deadline, you will automatically be considered for the Graduate Research Scholarships at the University of Melbourne.
Within ten working days of submitting your course application, you will receive a notification confirming that a scholarship application has been added to your record.
If you have already accepted an offer for a graduate research program and postponed your commencement date to be reconsidered for a scholarship, you must submit the online application form by October 31 to qualify for scholarship consideration in the following year.
Within ten business days after submitting the form, you will receive confirmation that a scholarship application has been attached to your file.
If you are currently enrolled in a graduate research program and would like to apply for a scholarship, you must complete and submit the online application form by October 31 to be considered for a scholarship in the next year.
After submitting the online form, you will receive a notification within ten business days confirming that a scholarship application has been added to your record.
5. Deadlines for Melbourne Scholarship
Students who submit their graduate research program application before the course deadline will automatically be considered for graduate research scholarships.
While applications are accepted year-round, most scholarships are offered during Round 1 for students commencing their studies in the next academic year. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications by 31 October 2026.
6. Frequently asked questions
Q. Is the scholarship available for coursework master’s programs or only research degrees?
The scholarship is exclusively for graduate research degrees (Master’s by Research and PhD). Coursework-based master’s programs are not covered.
Q. How competitive is the scholarship, and what factors are considered beyond GPA/WAM?
The selection process is highly competitive and prioritizes academic excellence. Additional factors include research potential, relevant work experience, academic publications, specialist qualifications, and creative or research achievements depending on the discipline.
Q. Does applying after 31 October reduce my chances?
Applying after 31 October does not disqualify applicants, but many scholarships are awarded in rounds. Later applications may face greater competition due to fewer remaining awards. Submitting a complete application before the earliest deadline is strongly recommended.
Q. If I am already enrolled or started earlier, when does the scholarship begin and how are payments made?
For students who began their studies before the scholarship offer year, the scholarship typically starts on 1 January of the offer year or the date the offer is accepted, whichever is later. Stipends are generally paid every two weeks from the start date.
Q. Who qualifies for the relocation grant, and when is it paid?
Students may qualify if they lived outside Victoria at the time of application, had not studied at a Victorian institution in the previous 12 months, and moved to Melbourne to begin their studies. The allowance is usually paid after the course begins, often with the first stipend payment.
Q. Can students switch to part-time study after receiving the scholarship?
Yes, with university approval. The stipend is then adjusted based on the new enrolment status, and the scholarship duration is recalculated. Part-time students generally receive 50% of the full-time stipend.
Q. What types of leave are available under the scholarship?
The scholarship includes paid recreational and personal leave each year. Additional leave options (maternity, parental, partner, family violence) may also be available under certain conditions. Standard recreational and personal leave do not extend the scholarship period, but approved leave of absence or course suspension may extend the duration, though stipends are paused during unpaid leave.
Q. What happens if a student transfers programs or changes from Master’s to PhD?
Students transferring between projects or faculties must obtain prior approval. Program changes do not automatically extend the scholarship duration. Upgrading from a Master’s by Research to a PhD counts the scholarship duration from the original Master’s start date. Changing from a PhD to a Master’s reduces the maximum duration to the Master’s limit, and the scholarship may end if that limit has already been exceeded
