University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships 2026 in Australia | Fully Funded Masters & PhD Scholarships

The University of Melbourne has announced the prestigious Graduate Research Scholarships 2026 for domestic and international students pursuing graduate research degrees in Australia. The scholarship program offers full tuition fee remission, living allowance, relocation support, and health insurance coverage for eligible students enrolled in Masters by Research or PhD programs.

The scholarships include the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Australian Government-funded Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship. Each year, approximately 600 scholarships are awarded to outstanding researchers across a wide range of academic disciplines.

Scholarship Overview

• Host Country: Australia
• University: University of Melbourne
• Scholarship Type: Fully Funded Graduate Research Scholarship
• Study Level: Masters by Research & PhD
• Eligible Applicants: Domestic and International Students
• Number of Scholarships: Around 600 annually

Scholarship Benefits

Selected applicants may receive the following benefits:

• Full tuition fee remission
• Living allowance of AUD 39,500 per year (2026 full-time rate)
• Relocation grant:
  • AUD 2,000 for students moving from other Australian states
  • AUD 3,000 for international students and students moving from outside Victoria
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for international students
• Paid sick, maternity, and parenting leave benefits

For doctoral students, the stipend may continue for up to 3.5 years, while Masters by Research students may receive support for up to two years.

Eligible Study Areas

The scholarship supports research across multiple disciplines, including:

• Engineering and Technology
• Science
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Business and Economics
• Law
• Education
• Arts and Humanities
• Computer Science and IT
• Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
• Architecture and Design

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must:

• Apply for and meet the entry requirements of a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne, or
• Be currently enrolled in a graduate research program at the university

Selection is highly competitive and based mainly on:

• Academic merit
• Research potential
• Academic achievements
• Publications and research experience
• Professional experience related to the research field

Additional achievements such as refereed publications, specialist qualifications, and original creative work may also strengthen applications.

Scholarship Selection Process

Graduate Research Scholarships providing both stipend and fee offset are awarded competitively to high-achieving students worldwide. Applicants are ranked according to:

• Academic performance in previous degrees
• Quality of research proposal
• Supervisor support
• Research outputs and publications
• Relevant professional or academic experience

According to online student discussions, international applicants often face strong global competition, especially in fields such as Computer Science, Medicine, and Engineering.

Application Process

Automatic Consideration

Most applicants do not need to submit a separate scholarship application.

Students who apply for a graduate research degree before the course deadline are automatically considered for Graduate Research Scholarships. The university normally confirms scholarship consideration within a few business days after course application submission.

Separate Application Required For:

• Deferred students seeking reconsideration
• Current graduate research students applying for scholarship support in the following year

These applicants must submit an online scholarship application by 31 October.

Application Requirements

Applicants may need:

• Academic transcripts
• Research proposal
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Supervisor confirmation
• English language test results
• Reference letters
• Publications or portfolio (if applicable)

Research supervisor support is considered highly important in competitive scholarship rounds.

Scholarship Duration

• Masters by Research: Up to 2 years
• PhD: Up to 4 years fee remission and 3.5 years stipend support

Student Experiences and Competitiveness

Many applicants on Reddit describe the scholarship process as highly competitive, especially for international students. Applicants with strong research proposals, supervisor support, publications, and relevant experience appear to have better chances of success. Some students also reported receiving scholarship decisions shortly after receiving admission offers, although timelines may vary depending on the faculty and intake round.

Why You Should Apply

The University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships are among Australia’s most prestigious fully funded research scholarships. The program provides comprehensive financial support, world-class research facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with internationally recognized academics and research groups.

For students planning to pursue advanced research degrees in Australia, the scholarship offers an excellent pathway to academic and professional development.