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Scholarship opportunities for Science postgraduates

A wide range of scholarships are available for postgraduate research candidates at Monash University .

Monash spends approximately $AUD30 million each year on its postgraduate research scholarship programs. Scholarships for research masters programs generally have a tenure of two years while those for doctoral programs may be held for three years with a possible six month extension in some cases.

There are three-levels of opportunity for candidates wishing to obtain a scholarship to support the pursuit of a research degree in the Faculty of Science. These include:

  1. Centrally-awarded scholarships
  2. Faculty and School funded scholarships
  3. External donor funded scholarships

1. Centrally-awarded scholarships

Over 300 living allowance (stipend-paying) scholarships are offered at the mid-year and end-of-year central scholarship selection rounds, which close on 31 May (for scholarships to commence from 1 August of that year) and 31 October (for scholarships to commence from 1 January of the following year) each year. Approximately 70 international scholarship winners are also offered fees awards to meet their tuition costs. However, as under the Research Training Scheme (RTS) Australian students are not required to pay fees, Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens need only apply for living allowance or stipend scholarships.

2. Faculty and School funded scholarships

The Faculty of Science has recently introduced the Faculty of Science Dean’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme; a very generous incentive which looks to provide funding support to all eligible, newly commencing students in a higher degree by research (HDR) (e.g. MSc, MPhil, PhD) within the faculty or where there are joint supervisory arrangements with other faculties of Monash University.

There are two scholarship types available within this scheme:

Faculty of Science Dean’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship: which will provide a living allowance stipend commensurate with the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA).

Faculty of Science Dean’s International Postgraduate Research Scholarship: which will cover the cost of international tuition fees and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Schools within the Faculty of Science also offer scholarships throughout the year including Monash Departmental Scholarships (MDS) or Monash Research Scholarships (MRS). These are funded through research grants and other outside sources.

3. External donor funded scholarships

Other awards are available through schemes sponsored by AusAID, by individual countries and by a range of organisations and donors. An Australian database, the Joint Academic Scholarship On-Line Network (JASON) , is a very useful resource.

Scholarships currently being offered within these three levels of opportunity are summarized in the tables below:

1. Centrally-awarded scholarships

Name Scholarship type Approximate number offered annually Eligibility Closing Date Further information
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Stipend/living allowance 115 Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents only 31 October- main selection round Other allowances eg relocation and thesis preparation. Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

To apply for a postgraduate research scholarship online, please visit the MRGS website.
Australian Postgraduate Award – Industry (APA) (Industry) Stipend/ living allowance 15 Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents only varies For graduates interested in industrial research and qualified personnel from industry seeking to upgrade their research skills. Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

To apply for a postgraduate research scholarship online, please visit the MRGS website.
Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS), including the Monash Silver Jubilee Scholarship Stipend/living allowance 140 Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and International students 31 October- main selection round Other allowances eg relocation and thesis preparation. Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

To apply for a postgraduate research scholarship online, please visit the MRGS website.
Sir James McNeill Postgraduate Research Scholarship Stipend/living allowance 1-2 Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and International students 31 October- main selection round Only for doctoral degree in Medicine, Engineering, Science and Music

Generous allowances
Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (EIPRS) Tuition fee 25 International students only 31 October- main selection round Overseas Student Health cover also paid. May be held with MGS or other living allowance scholarship. Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

To request an application kit from your school of interest, please contact the relevant staff member on this list.
Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (MIPRS) Tuition fee 45 International students only 31 October- main selection round Overseas Student Health cover also paid

May be held with MGS or other living allowance scholarship. Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

To request an application kit from your school of interest, please contact the relevant staff member on this list.
Monash Indigenous Research Award (MIRA) Stipend/living allowance 2 Indigenous Australians only 31 October- main selection round Cohort support including mentoring and academic and research skills development will be provided for recipients of these awards. Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

To apply for a postgraduate research scholarship online, please visit the MRGS website here.
2011 Equity Scholarship Supplement Scheme (for a student with a disability or long-term medical condition) Stipend or lump sum for purchase of equipment 3 Holders of MGS, APA, MDS or similar who are currently enrolled in a research masters or doctoral program and who are registered with the Disability Liaison Unit or have appropriate medical documentation Thursday, 24 March 2011 Further information and the application form is available here.
Monash Residential Services Higher Degree Research Merit Scholarships Rent assistance 10 Current full-time postgraduate and research students who are current residents with Monash Residential Services 31 March 2010 Further information and the application form is available here.

2. Faculty and School funded scholarships

Name Scholarship type Approximate number offered annually Eligibility Closing Date Further information
Faculty of Science Dean's Postgraduate Research Scholarship Stipend/living allowance Limited Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens Throughout the year Students do not apply for this award per se. Awardees will be nominated by schools. To register your interest in being nominated for this scholarship, please contact the relevant staff member on this list.
Faculty of Science Dean’s International Postgraduate Research Scholarship Tuition fee/Overseas Student Health Cover Llimited International students only. Students must be in receipt of a stipend-paying scholarship commensurate with the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) annual stipend rate, to be eligible for this award Throughout the year Students do not apply for this award. Awardees will be nominated by schools. To register your interest in being nominated for this scholarship, please contact the relevant staff member on this list.
Monash Departmental Scholarships Stipend/living allowance and/or tuition fee Varies Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and International students Throughout the year Other allowances may be payable.

3. External donor funded scholarships

Name Scholarship type Approximate number offered annually Eligibility Closing Date Further information
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 – Research Fellowship (3 year) Stipend Eight The Fellowships are open to candidates in any of the physical or biological sciences, in mathematics, in applied science, or in any branch of engineering. Candidates in science subjects should normally have recently obtained their PhD degree, or be in the final stages of their PhD studies. Those offering engineering do not have to be in possession of a PhD, but must be of at least PhD standard. 25th February 2010 Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.
The American Australian Association (AAS) Australia to US Fellowships Stipend   Research/study must be at the graduate level or above. Proof of acceptance into a US educational institution is required. Applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Applicant must submit a budget for the research/study period. The Fellowships are intended to support part of the costs of one year of research/study in the United States. 15th April 2010 Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.
Australian Development Scholarships Stipend/Tuition Fee   Applicants for Australian Development Scholarships must satisfy both the general eligibility criteria and specific criteria established for each country. Applicants will also need to satisfy all requirements of the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Applications are ongoing Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.
Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network (ARCNN) Travel Grants   Applicants must be postgraduate students or early career researchers currently studying/working in Australia in the area of nanotechnology, a member of ARCNN, attending a ARCNN sponsored event, have documented support from Supervisor and notification of acceptance of participation or acceptance of oral/poster paper Applications are ongoing Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.
Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network (ARCNN) Sponsorship for conferences, workshops, summer and winter schools, and short courses   Sponsorship for Conferences, Workshops, Summer and Winter Schools, and Short courses that are held in Australia, organised by ARCNN members, and are of benefit to the broader nanotechnology community. Applications are ongoing Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.
Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network (ARCNN) Short-term and Long-term visit support funding Unknown Funding support available to postgraduate students and early career researchers (within 5 years of award of PhD degree) for travel and accommodation expenses associated with Short term visits and Long Term Visits, within Australia. Applications are ongoing Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.
Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee (GABCC) PhD Top-up Scholarships PhD Top-up Scholarships   The PhD top-up scholarships are intended to supplement the funding of primary scholarship holders who intend to conduct innovative research that will make a contribution to the management of the GAB. The GABCC welcomes applications from a variety of disciplines including science and engineering, economics and social science. Applications are ongoing Further information regarding eligibility and the application process is available here.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Further information