600 Graduate Research Scholarships 2026-2027 Available at University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne has opened one of the largest graduate research funding rounds in Australia for the 2026-2027 academic cycle. A total of 600 Graduate Research Scholarships, including the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, are now available for both domestic and international students entering masters by research or doctoral programs.
These Australian scholarship awards require no separate application for new applicants, cover full tuition, and offer living stipends worth up to $135,000, making them among the most financially comprehensive research scholarships in the Asia-Pacific region.
What the Money Actually Covers?
The University of Melbourne structures these grad research scholarships in two tiers for the class of 2026-2027, each designed to remove a different layer of financial pressure from research students.
Stipend and Fee Offset Scholarship (full package):
- Complete tuition fee coverage for up to 2 years (Masters by Research) or up to 4 years (doctoral degrees)
- Annual living allowance of AUD $39,500 (2026 full-time rate, pro rata), paid for up to 2 years for masters students or up to 3.5 years for doctoral candidates
- Living allowance subject to annual indexing and inclusive of limited paid sick, maternity, and parenting leave
- Relocation grant of AUD $2,000 for students moving from Australian states or territories outside Victoria, or AUD $3,000 for those relocating from outside Australia
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) single membership provided for international students requiring a student visa
Fee Offset Scholarship:
- Full tuition fee remission for up to 2 years (Masters by Research) or up to 4 years (doctoral programs)
- Automatically granted to all admitted domestic research students.
Who Actually Qualifies?
Eligibility is broad by design, but selection is merit-driven. Here is what you need to be in the running.
- You must have applied for, or already hold an offer for, a graduate research degree (Masters by Research or PhD) at the University of Melbourne
- Currently enrolled graduate research students at Melbourne are also eligible to apply for the following year
- All domestic students admitted to a research degree automatically receive the RTP Fee Offset Scholarship
- Stipend-inclusive scholarships are awarded competitively to both domestic and international applicants based on academic merit
- Selection ranking considers the academic record of your most recently completed degree and your demonstrated research potential
- Additional weight may be given to factors such as holding a degree at the same level as the research program applied for, relevant professional experience, refereed publications, specialist medical qualifications, or original music composition.
How to Get In (Step by Step)?
The application process is straightforward, though it differs slightly depending on where you are in your academic journey.
If you are a new applicant, simply submit your graduate research course application by the published closing date. The university will automatically generate a scholarship application on your behalf. Expect a confirmation notification within ten business days of submitting your course application.
If you have accepted an offer but deferred your start date and want to be reconsidered for a scholarship, you will need to submit an online scholarship application form to be eligible for the following year’s round. A confirmation will follow within ten business days.
When the Door Closes for this Scholarship?
New students at University of Melbourne will be considered automatically for this graduate research scholarship based course before 31 October, 2026.