Apply for a graduate research scholarship

Specify which research degree you applying for and the College you will be studying in.

• Masters by Research: build on skills and knowledge from an undergraduate degree.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): conduct research that leads to new knowledge or re-interprets existing ideas, theories and approaches.
• Professional Doctorates: focus on issues in a particular profession and conduct independent research to make an original contribution to improving practice. Research scholarships are offered for the following Professional Doctorates:
  • Doctor of Business Administration.

Students within Year 1 of the PhD (Integrated) are not eligible for a scholarship but are able to apply for Year 2 onwards.

Eligibility for scholarships varies depending on the scholarship, and whether you are a domestic applicant (defined as an Australian citizen/Australian permanent resident/New Zealand citizen) or an international applicant.

Information about eligibility is available on the graduate research scholarships page and in the Graduate Scholarship Application Guide.

• All applicants must meet the University's minimum academic entry requirement of a 70% (Distinction VU standard) average in the most relevant qualifying degree.
• Applications for graduate research scholarships are always highly competitive. Therefore, applicants are expected to have, at minimum, a 1st class honours (80%+ average) or equivalent.

For details on Australian comparability of your overseas qualification(s), please refer to the international academic requirements for a higher degree by research.

English requirements

In some circumstances we will accept test results from other methods of examination not listed in this table.

If you have completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an English language exemption. Check our Guide to English Language Requirements to find out if you qualify for an exemption.

Applications are ranked on the basis of merit with preference given to applicants who pursue a research degree in one of Victoria University’s areas of research focus.

As a graduate research scholarship applicant you are required (within the application form) to name the Research Focus Area which most closely aligns with your area of research.

• Applied Informatics
• Creative Arts & Writing
• Diversity, Communities & Wellbeing
• Education & Lifelong Learning
• Food Sciences & Nutrition
• Health & Biomedicine
• Sport, exercise Science & Active Living
• Strategic Economics & Finance
• Supply Chain & Logistics
• Sustainability & Innovation

Research proposal

All Higher Degree by Research applicants are required to prepare a research proposal for submission.
Your research proposal should be 1- 2 pages (typed, A4) containing:

• title of the research proposal
• name and College of your nominated supervisor (on the title page)
• aims
• significance of the research
• methodology and research techniques
• facilities and equipment required.

CV

Your CV should include:

• your educational qualifications
• most relevant and up to date professional work experience
• a list or recent research publications, if applicable.

Applicants must have supervision confirmed before submitting their application form.

• Use the table below to identify the academic point of contact for the research theme that most closely matches your research area.
• Send an email to the Academic Point of Contact for your selected research theme:
  • request the nomination of a principal supervisor appropriate to your research area
  • attach a copy of your Research Proposal and CV.
• Once your supervision has been confirmed you will be required to provide the name of the confirmed supervisor on your application form and attach the confirmation email.

If your intended topic of research does not align with one of the above research themes please contact the relevant College Research and Research Training Director in order to confirm supervision:

College of Arts: Professor Phillip Deery
Email: phillip.deery@vu.edu.au

College of Business: Dr Jo Vu
Email: jo.vu@vu.edu.au

College of Education: Dr Marg Malloch
Email: marg.malloch@vu.edu.au

College of Engineering and Science: Professor Stephen Collins
Email: stephen.collins@vu.edu.au

College of Health and Biomedicine: Associate Professor John Price
Email: john.price@vu.edu.au

College of Law and Justice: Professor Anona Armstrong
Email: anona.armstrong@vu.edu.au

College of Sport and Exercise Science: Professor Andrew Stewart
Email: andrew.stewart@vu.edu.au

Before you submit your application:

1. Review the information in the Graduate Scholarship Application Guide
2. Instructions for completing the scholarship application will be available later this year, when the scholarship round opens.
3. Download and complete the Graduate Research Scholarships Application Form.
4. Combine the application form and all the supporting documentation (including the email confirming supervision provided by the Academic Point of Contact) into a single PDF file. A full list of required and supporting documentation is available in ‘How to complete the Scholarship Application Form’ document.
5. Attached the PDF file to a single email.
6. Submit the completed application and supporting documentation (as a single email) to the appropriate email address by the deadline specified below.

Forward the Graduate Research Scholarship Referee Report Forms (this is also available as a Microsoft Word document) to your nominated referees with a request they complete, sign and submit the forms to researchscholarships@vu.edu.au by the appropriate deadline.