The University of Melbourne offers a range of graduate research scholarships for international students, providing opportunities to pursue advanced studies in Australia. These scholarships often include living stipends and tuition fee remission, making them highly competitive. Below is a simplified guide to help you understand the eligibility criteria, application process, and key details for applying to these scholarships. You can also checkout Schwarzman Scholars Program in china.
Overview of Graduate Research Courses
The University of Melbourne offers several graduate research programs, including:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Up to 4 years, involving original research and an 80,000-word thesis. Some PhDs include taught subjects in the first year.
- Doctorate by Research: Combines coursework with research, focusing on key literature in your field.
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil): A 2-year research-focused masters, requiring a 30,000–40,000-word thesis.
- Masters by Research: Includes coursework and a shorter thesis of approximately 30,000 words.
Explore specific courses and requirements on the University of Melbourne’s course finder.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for graduate research courses and scholarships, you must meet the following criteria:
Minimum Academic Qualifications
- A 4-year Australian bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with an overall average of over 75% in the final year.
- Completion of a research project/component accounting for at least 25% of your final year’s work at the 4th-year undergraduate or masters level.
- Course-specific requirements may apply. Check the course page for details.
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English Language Proficiency
- If your prior degree (completed within the last 2 years) was taught and assessed entirely in English, you likely meet the requirements.
- Otherwise, you must submit results from TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English (Academic), or Cambridge English (CAE) tests, taken within 24 months of your course start date. Results must be from a single sitting.
- Learn more about English language requirements.
Visa Requirements for International Students
- You must enroll full-time in a CRICOS-registered course.
- Obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa, either through the University or an approved provider.
- Additional health and character checks may be required by the Department of Home Affairs.
Finding a Supervisor
- Many courses require you to secure a supervisor before applying. Check your course page to confirm.
- Use the Find an Expert tool to identify potential supervisors. Ensure their expertise aligns with your research interests.
- Supervisor support does not guarantee admission or a scholarship.
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Research Proposal
- Some courses require a research proposal outlining your research question, area of interest, and methodology.
- Familiarize yourself with current research in your field to craft a strong proposal.
Application Process
Follow these steps to apply for a graduate research course and scholarship:
Step 1: Choose Your Course
- Select a graduate research program (PhD, MPhil, etc.) that aligns with your goals. Visit the graduate course pages for details.
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Step 2: Check Eligibility and Fees
- Confirm you meet the academic, English language, and visa requirements.
- Most international students are automatically considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship, which may cover tuition fees and provide a living stipend. Over 300 scholarships are awarded annually.
- If you don’t receive a tuition fee remission scholarship, you’ll pay full tuition fees. Check estimated fees on the course page and review Fees & Payments.
- Additional scholarships, like Endeavour Scholarships or traveling scholarships, may be available. Explore options at Melbourne Scholarships.
Step 3: Prepare Documentation
- Required Documents:
- Academic transcripts (interim or final results; provide final results as soon as available).
- A CV detailing your academic and professional experience.
- Contact details for two referees (academic if you studied within the last 5 years; professional otherwise).
- A research proposal (if required by the course).
- Optional: GRE/GMAT scores, a folio of creative works, or a writing sample (course-specific).
- Publications (if applicable), formatted as follows:
- Journal Articles: Author(s), article title, journal title, issue/number, year, pages.
- Book Chapters: Author(s), chapter title, book editors, book title, pages, publisher, year.
- Books: Author(s), book title, publisher, year.
- Conference Papers: Author(s), paper title, conference title, date(s).
- Use Digitary VIA for verified digital copies of academic documents (includes a one-time fee of USD 199).
- If a supervisor is required, upload evidence of their in-principle support (e.g., an email or signed form).
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Step 4: Submit Your Application
- Current University of Melbourne Students: Apply through your student account.
- New Students: Apply online via the University’s application portal. Upload all required documents.
- Contact an overseas representative for assistance if needed.
- Check application deadlines on the course page, as some programs have specific selection rounds.
Step 5: Application Assessment and Offers
- After submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your student ID and application reference number.
- If documents are missing, the University will notify you via email.
- Assessment may occur in selection rounds or continuously, depending on the course.
- If successful, you’ll receive an offer email:
- Conditional Offer: Meet conditions (e.g., provide final results or English test scores) before accepting.
- Unconditional Offer: Accept immediately via the online portal.
- To accept, complete the acceptance form and arrange OSHC (if not covered by a scholarship). You’ll receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for your student visa application.
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Step 6: Apply for Scholarships
- You’re automatically considered for the Graduate Research Scholarship if eligible.
- Additional scholarships (e.g., Endeavour, traveling scholarships, or faculty-specific grants) may require separate applications. Visit Research Funding for details.
- Scholarships may cover tuition, living costs, or both. If you don’t receive a tuition fee remission scholarship, you’ll need to pay a minimum deposit of AUD 10,000 to accept your offer.
Step 7: Plan Accommodation
- Options include residential colleges, student apartments, share houses, homestays, or temporary accommodation.
- Explore choices at Accommodation.
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Tuition Fees and Costs
- Tuition Fee Remission: Most international graduate researchers receive a scholarship covering tuition fees for up to 4 years (doctoral) or 2 years (masters).
- Full-Fee Paying Students: If you don’t receive a scholarship, tuition fees vary by course and subject load. Check current tuition fee tables.
- Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF): Covered by the University.
- OSHC: Mandatory for visa holders. Scholarships may cover single OSHC; family cover requires additional payment.
- Other Costs: Budget for textbooks, equipment, accommodation, food, transport, and social activities. Visit Financial Aid for support options.
