Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne (Fully Funded)

You are here because you want to know whether the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne are truly fully funded, who is eligible, what the stipend covers, and how to apply — without missing the deadline. This guide gives you the latest update on everything, updated each year to stay accurate and actionable.

What Are the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne (Fully Funded)?

The Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne (Fully Funded) are among the most generous postgraduate funding awards in the Southern Hemisphere — and they are currently open to both domestic and international students each year. These Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne cover full tuition fees, a tax-free living stipend, a relocation grant, and health insurance for eligible international applicants. Approximately 600 Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne are awarded annually, making this one of the highest-volume fully funded research scholarship programs in the world. If you are considering a Master’s degree by research or a PhD in Australia, the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne (Fully Funded) should be your first target — and this guide gives you the latest update to help you compete successfully.

The University of Melbourne, ranked #1 in Australia and consistently in the global top 35, runs two flagship schemes under the graduate research scholarship umbrella: the Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) and the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, both funded in part by the Australian Government. Together, these programs eliminate the biggest financial barriers to advanced research — tuition and cost of living — so that talented scholars from any country can pursue world-class research without financial strain.

Key Scholarship Programs: MRS vs. RTP Explained

When people search for Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne, they are typically referring to two distinct but complementary programs. Understanding the difference between the two is critical before you apply.

Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS)

The MRS is a university-funded award designed to attract the highest-achieving domestic and international researchers. It provides both a fee offset and a stipend, and is awarded on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated research potential. Eligible students are scored and ranked, with only the top-ranked applicants receiving the full stipend-plus-fee package.

Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

The RTP is funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government and administered through the University of Melbourne. It is divided into two components:

RTP Fee Offset: All domestic students who receive a Masters by Research or PhD offer automatically receive this. It covers 100% of tuition fees for the standard duration of the program.
RTP Stipend: Competitive, awarded to high-ranking domestic and international students on top of the fee offset.

The practical takeaway: if you are a domestic student admitted to a research degree, you will almost certainly receive a fee offset. Winning a stipend — whether through MRS or RTP — requires a stronger academic record and research proposal.

What Does “Fully Funded” Actually Cover?

The phrase “fully funded” is not an overstatement when applied to the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne. Here is exactly what top-ranked recipients receive each year:

Full Tuition Fee Offset

Up to 2 years for Masters by Research students
Up to 4 years for doctoral (PhD) students

No tuition invoices. No fee deferrals. Your course fees are completely waived for the standard program duration.

Annual Living Stipend (Tax-Free)

The living allowance is indexed annually and currently stands at approximately AUD $39,500 per year (full-time rate). This stipend is:

Paid fortnightly through the University’s payroll system
Tax-exempt for Australian residents
Adjusted pro-rata for approved part-time students

For PhD students, the stipend runs for up to 3.5 years. For Masters by Research, it covers up to 2 years.

Relocation Grant

AUD $2,000 for students relocating from within Australia (outside Victoria)
AUD $3,000 for international students relocating from outside Australia

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

International scholarship recipients are provided with single-membership OSHC for the duration of their enrolment — a requirement for all international student visa holders in Australia.

Paid Leave Entitlements

Scholarship holders receive limited paid sick leave, maternity leave, and parenting leave, in line with the Graduate Research Scholarship Terms and Conditions.

The total value of a PhD package over 3.5 years — when you add up the stipend, fee waiver (worth AUD $40,000–$60,000+), relocation grant, and health cover — can exceed AUD $135,000 to $200,000+, depending on your discipline and fee schedule.

Comparison Table: MRS vs. RTP Scholarship

Use this table to understand which award applies to you, and what you can realistically expect to receive each year.

Feature	Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS)	RTP Fee Offset (Automatic)	RTP Stipend (Competitive)
Funder	University of Melbourne	Australian Government	Australian Government
Eligibility	Domestic & International	Domestic students only (automatic)	Domestic & International (merit-based)
Tuition Fee Waiver	Yes (full offset)	Yes (full offset)	Yes (full offset)
Living Stipend	Yes (~AUD $39,500/yr)	No	Yes (~AUD $39,500/yr)
Relocation Grant	Yes ($2K–$3K)	No	Yes ($2K–$3K)
Health Cover (OSHC)	Yes (international students)	No	Yes (international students)
Duration — Masters	Up to 2 years	Up to 2 years	Up to 2 years
Duration — PhD	Up to 3.5 years (stipend) / 4 years (fee offset)	Up to 4 years	Up to 3.5 years (stipend) / 4 years (fee offset)
Application Required?	No — automatic with course application	No — automatic with admission	No — automatic with course application
Selection Basis	Academic merit + research potential	Admission offer	Academic merit + research potential
Availability	~600 awards annually	Available to all eligible domestic admits	Competitive — top ranked applicants

Who Is Eligible? Domestic and International Students

The Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne are open to students from any country in the world — there are no nationality restrictions. The university assesses all eligible applicants based on academic achievement and research potential. Here is a breakdown of what you need to qualify each year:

Academic Qualifications

For a Master’s degree by Research program, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to 16 years of education) with a minimum result of approximately 75% or above in your most recently completed degree, and have demonstrated research potential at the undergraduate level.

For a PhD program, you must hold a Master’s degree (equivalent to 18 years of education) with a minimum result of approximately 75% or above, and demonstrate clear research potential in your field — typically evidenced through a Master’s thesis, publications, or a compelling research proposal.

Enrolment Requirement

You must have applied for — or be currently enrolled in — a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne. This includes both Masters by Research and doctoral programs across all faculties.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants must meet the University’s English language requirements. Accepted tests include IELTS, TOEFL iBT, and PTE Academic. Failing to provide evidence of English proficiency by the application deadline is one of the most common reasons for delayed scholarship assessment.

Research Potential Evidence

In addition to grades, the university considers:

Peer-reviewed publications or conference papers
A detailed research proposal
Contact with and support from a potential supervisor at Melbourne
Relevant professional experience in your research field
Specialist qualifications (e.g., medical specialisation, music composition)

Current Students

If you are already enrolled in a research degree at Melbourne, you can apply for the scholarship in subsequent rounds. Current students must submit an online application form — they are not automatically considered like new applicants.

How to Apply — Step-by-Step Guide

One of the most powerful features of the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne is that the application process is remarkably straightforward. There is no separate scholarship application form for new applicants. Here is the exact process, valid each year:

Step 1: Identify Your Research Area and Supervisor

Before you apply, spend time identifying a research topic and, ideally, contact a potential supervisor at the University of Melbourne. A supervisor’s in-principle support strengthens your application significantly. Browse the university’s academic staff profiles and research centres to find the right match.

Step 2: Check Course Requirements

Visit the official University of Melbourne graduate research course pages to confirm entry requirements for your chosen program — whether that is a Masters by Research or a PhD. Confirm that you meet the academic prerequisites and English language requirements.

Step 3: Submit Your Graduate Research Course Application

Apply for your chosen graduate research course through the University of Melbourne’s online application portal. This single application automatically triggers scholarship consideration for new applicants. Make sure you submit it before the course closing date — this is the most critical deadline.

Step 4: Upload Supporting Documents

Your application should include:

Academic transcripts (all prior degrees)
Research proposal (typically 1,500–3,000 words)
Supervisor support letter (strongly recommended)
Evidence of English language proficiency
CV/resume highlighting research experience, publications, and awards
References (typically two academic referees)

Step 5: Wait for the Ranking Outcome

After the course application deadline passes, the university scores and ranks all eligible applicants. Stipend-level awards go to the highest-ranked candidates. Fee-only awards may be offered to strong candidates who narrowly miss the stipend cut-off.

Step 6: Accept Your Offer

If awarded, you will receive a formal scholarship offer. You must accept it, commence your course, and update your bank details with the university before stipend payments can begin. Payments are processed fortnightly.

Pro Tip: Most scholarships are awarded in Round 1, for commencement the following year. You are strongly encouraged to submit your course application before 31 October each year to be considered in the most competitive round. Applications are accepted year-round, but late submissions may be assessed in later rounds with fewer awards available.

Application Deadline: When to Submit Each Year

The Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne do not follow a single fixed deadline for all applicants. The timeline varies depending on your applicant type:

New Applicants (most common case)

There is no separate scholarship deadline. Your scholarship consideration is triggered automatically when you submit your graduate research course application. However, to maximise your chances:

Submit before 31 October each year for Round 1 consideration, covering the following year’s intake
Applications submitted after this date may be assessed in later rounds with fewer stipend awards

Currently Enrolled Students

If you are already enrolled in a graduate research program at Melbourne and wish to be considered for an upcoming scholarship round, you must submit an online scholarship application form by 31 October each year.

Deferred Offer Holders

Students who have deferred their commencement to build a stronger application profile must also submit the online form by 31 October each year.

Key Intake Rounds

Round	Commencement Period	Recommended Submission
Round 1	January–March of the following year	By 31 October each year
Round 2	Mid-year (July) intake	Check individual course pages
Rolling Assessment	Year-round for some programs	As early as possible

Top Fields and Faculties Available

The Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne are available across virtually every discipline. There are no subject restrictions — the scholarship follows the student, not the field. Each year, awards are distributed across the following major faculties:

Faculty of Science
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Melbourne Law School
Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Business and Economics (Melbourne Business School)
Faculty of Education (Melbourne Graduate School of Education)
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
Faculty of Fine Arts and Music (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music)
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Whether you are researching artificial intelligence, climate change, public health policy, medieval literature, or bioinformatics, there is a research degree program — and a scholarship — waiting for you at Melbourne.

Tips to Win a Stipend-Level Award

The university uses a ranking-based system. Getting admitted is one challenge — winning a stipend is another. Here are the most effective strategies, based on what the university publicly weights each year:

1. Maximise Your GPA in Your Last Completed Degree

The primary ranking criterion is your academic achievement in your most recently completed degree. A GPA in the top 10–15% of your graduating class puts you in a strong competitive position. If you are close to finishing a degree, consider deferring your application by one semester to improve your final result.

2. Publish Before You Apply

Even one peer-reviewed publication — in a journal or refereed conference — dramatically elevates your research potential score. A preprint on arXiv or a working paper can also support your case if it demonstrates the quality of your thinking.

3. Secure a Supervisor Before You Apply

The university strongly recommends contacting potential supervisors before submitting your application. A supervisor who actively supports your candidacy can advocate for your application internally during the ranking process.

4. Write a Specific, Compelling Research Proposal

Your research proposal should be specific, methodologically informed, and clearly situated within existing literature. Generic proposals are common — and they rank lower. Show the assessors that you understand the research landscape in your field and have a unique contribution to make.

5. Apply Early in the Round

While applications are accepted year-round, the most competitive and most numerous stipend awards are allocated in Round 1. Submitting before October each year maximises your access to the full pool of available scholarships.

6. Demonstrate Research Potential Beyond Grades

The university explicitly considers factors such as specialist medical qualifications, original music compositions, relevant professional experience, and conference presentations. If you have any of these, highlight them clearly in your CV and personal statement.

Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne (Fully Funded) — Parkville campus aerial view

What People Also Ask

These are the exact questions that searchers ask on Google when looking for information about the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne. Here are accurate, up-to-date answers:

Q: Are the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne fully funded?

Yes. The top-tier awards cover 100% of tuition fees, a living stipend of approximately AUD $39,500 per year, a relocation grant of up to AUD $3,000 for international students, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The total value of a PhD package can exceed AUD $135,000 over 3.5 years. These are among the most comprehensive fully funded research scholarships available in Australia each year.

Q: Who can apply for the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship?

Both domestic and international students are eligible to apply. There are no nationality restrictions. Applicants must be enrolled in — or have applied for — a Masters by Research or PhD program at the University of Melbourne, and must meet the academic merit and research potential criteria.

Q: Is there a separate application for the Graduate Research Scholarship at Melbourne?

No. New applicants are automatically considered for the scholarship when they submit their graduate research course application. Only currently enrolled students and deferred offer holders must submit a separate online scholarship application form, and they must do so by 31 October each year.

Q: What is the stipend for the University of Melbourne research scholarship?

The living stipend is currently approximately AUD $39,500 per year for full-time students (2026 indexed rate). This rate is adjusted annually and is tax-exempt for Australian residents. It is paid fortnightly through the university’s payroll system.

Q: How many Graduate Research Scholarships does Melbourne offer each year?

Approximately 600 awards are available annually. This includes both the Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) and the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship funded by the Australian Government. This makes Melbourne one of the highest-volume graduate research scholarship programs in the world.

Q: What GPA do I need for the University of Melbourne research scholarship?

While the university does not publish a minimum GPA threshold for the stipend award (as it is ranking-based), most scholarship recipients hold a result equivalent to at least 75% or above in their last completed degree. In practice, stipend-level winners often have a GPA in the top 10–15% of their graduating cohort.

Q: Can I apply for the Melbourne research scholarship without a supervisor?

You can apply without a confirmed supervisor, but your application will be significantly stronger with one. The university recommends contacting potential supervisors before submitting your application. Supervisor support is not mandatory but is highly valued in the assessment process.

Q: How long does the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship last?

The living stipend runs for up to 2 years for Masters by Research students and up to 3.5 years for PhD students. The fee offset extends for up to 2 years (Masters) or 4 years (PhD). Scholarships are not extendable beyond the maximum duration.

Q: Is the Melbourne research scholarship taxable?

No. The living stipend is tax-exempt for Australian residents. International students should check the tax implications in their home country, but within Australia, scholarship stipends are not treated as taxable income under current Australian tax law.

Q: What is the difference between MRS and RTP at University of Melbourne?

Both are part of the Graduate Research Scholarships program. The Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) is university-funded and open to both domestic and international students on a competitive basis. The Research Training Program (RTP) is Australian Government-funded; the fee-offset component is automatically granted to all domestic students admitted to a research degree, while the stipend component is competitive. In practice, a top-ranked applicant may receive either or both.

If you are serious about studying in Australia at the postgraduate or doctoral level, you should apply to multiple scholarship programs to maximise your chances. Here are related opportunities worth exploring on LicensureHub:

Australia Scholarships — Full Guide for International Students: A comprehensive overview of the top 7 fully funded scholarship opportunities across Australian universities, updated annually with the latest deadlines and eligibility requirements.
University of Sydney International Scholarships (Fully Funded): Another top-tier Australian research scholarship with automatic consideration for international students. Compare it to Melbourne to decide where to apply each year.
MEXT Scholarship — Complete Guide to Japan’s Fully Funded Award: If you are open to international research destinations, this Japanese government scholarship covers Master’s and PhD programs at Japan’s top universities.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford — Fully Endowed Graduate Scholarship: A prestigious alternative for researchers considering the United States.
Scholarship Mastery: 7 Powerful Secrets to Win Fully Funded Scholarships: A strategic guide to winning competitive scholarships at any level — undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD.

These are the three most authoritative external resources to consult when applying for Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne. Each link goes directly to an official or highly credible source:

Official Graduate Research Scholarships Page — University of Melbourne — The primary source for scholarship terms, conditions, payment dates, and the latest update on benefits. Always verify stipend rates here before applying, as they are indexed annually.
Graduate Research Scholarships Terms and Conditions — University of Melbourne — The full legal terms governing your award, including leave entitlements, part-time study provisions, and scholarship extension rules.
Australian Government Research Training Program — Department of Education — The official Australian Government page explaining the RTP framework that co-funds the graduate research scholarships at Melbourne and other Group of Eight universities.

Melbourne vs. Other Top Australian Research Scholarships

Before committing your application to Melbourne, it helps to see how its research scholarship compares to other leading Australian universities annually:

Feature	Uni of Melbourne (MRS/RTP)	Uni of Sydney (RTP/USydIS)	Australian National University (HDR)	Monash University (MGS)
Annual Stipend	~AUD $39,500	~AUD $37,000–$39,000	~AUD $39,500	~AUD $39,500
Full Tuition Waiver	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
International Eligible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Awards Per Year	~600	~300–400	~400+	~300+
Health Cover (Intl)	Yes (OSHC)	Yes (OSHC)	Yes (OSHC)	Yes (OSHC)
Relocation Grant	AUD $2K–$3K	AUD $2K–$3K	AUD $2K–$3K	AUD $2K–$3K
Application Required	Automatic (new applicants)	Tick-box in course application	Automatic	Automatic
QS World Ranking	Top 35	Top 20	Top 30	Top 60
Research Expenditure Rank in AU	#2	#3	#4	#5

Final Thoughts: Should You Apply for Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne?

If you are pursuing a Master’s degree by Research or a PhD and want world-class research supervision, a globally respected degree, and a fully funded financial package worth up to AUD $135,000+, then the Graduate Research Scholarships at University of Melbourne (Fully Funded) deserve to be at the very top of your list — each year, without exception.

The combination of automatic consideration, approximately 600 awards available annually, no nationality restrictions, and a generous stipend indexed each year to reflect the cost of living makes this one of the most accessible and competitive research funding programs in the world. The key is preparation: a strong GPA, a clear research proposal, and ideally a supervisor’s in-principle support before you apply.

Do not wait until the last minute. Each year, the most competitive stipend awards are allocated in Round 1. Submit your graduate research course application well before 31 October to maximise your chances. And as always, check the official University of Melbourne scholarships page for the latest update before you apply — stipend rates, deadlines, and terms are reviewed annually.

Explore more fully funded opportunities on LicensureHub, updated with the latest information each year:

Last Reviewed: Annually | Always check the official University of Melbourne scholarships portal for the latest update on stipend rates, deadlines, and terms.