Prestigious and Other Major Scholarships
Each year the University offers a number of prestigious, and other major, scholarships to students with an outstanding academic record and excellent research potential. Most of the prestigious scholarships listed below are possible as a result of generous bequests to the University.
A.O. Capell Scholarship, Stella Mary Langford Scholarship & Henry James Williams Scholarship
Helen Macpherson Smith Scholarships
Fred Knight Research Scholarship
Sir John and Lady Higgins Research Scholarship
Ernst & Grace Matthaei Research Scholarship
William and Kate Herschell Scholarship
Application process
APA and MRS applicants who lodge their application and all of the required documents by the October 31 closing date are automatically considered for the prestigious scholarships listed below (i.e. a separate application is not required).
Applicants who wish to be considered for the Sir John and Lady Higgins Research Scholarship, Baillieu Research Scholarship or the Ernst & Grace Matthaei Research Scholarship must submit additional information with their postgraduate scholarship application by 31 October. These documents are outlined below.
Applicants who wish to be considered for the William and Kate Herschell Scholarship should direct enquiries to the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to lodge their application for a postgraduate scholarship via SCHOLS, our online application service.
Grimwade Scholarship
Supported by the Russell and Mab Grimwade Miegunyah Fund, this scholarship is awarded to the highest-ranked PhD applicant from interstate or New Zealand on the recommendation of the Miegunyah Fund Committee. There is normally one Grimwade Scholarship awarded each year.
Benefits
$25,000 per annum, and in the first year a $2,500 relocation grant is provided.
The scholarship also provides for conference and other travel expenses to the value of $3,500 per annum. In the first year, $2,500 of the $3,500 is paid as the relocation grant. The recipient will receive the $2,500 relocation grant with their first scholarship payment.
Pratt Foundation Scholarship
First awarded in 1997, Pratt Foundation Scholarships are generously supported by Mr Richard Pratt, A.O. and his family through the Pratt Foundation. One new scholarship is awarded each year to a high ranking Victorian applicant for a graduate research degree.
Benefits
$25,000 per annum and other benefits as per the APA.
A.O. Capell Scholarship, Stella Mary Langford Scholarship & Henry James Williams Scholarship
These three scholarships are offered to highly ranked applicants for an APA or MRS, and are funded by the A.O. Capell Scholarship Fund, the Stella Mary Langford Scholarship Fund, and the Henry & Louisa Williams Bequest respectively. There is normally one Stella Mary Langford Scholarship, and one Henry James Williams Scholarship awarded each year. The A.O. Capell Scholarship is awarded once every three years. The Henry James William Scholarship cannot be awarded to a student undertaking music or theology studies.
Benefits
Each scholarship is valued at $25,000 per annum and provides other benefits as per the APA.
The Helen Macpherson Smith Scholarships
The trustees of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust have donated funds to establish special scholarships for outstanding women who are entering postgraduate study. Two scholarships are available annually and are normally awarded to the highest-ranked female recipients of an APA or MRS entering a:
- scientific/technical discipline, and
- a humanities/social sciences discipline.
Benefits
$6,800 (2008 rate) top-up payment (payable over one year) in addition to an APA or MRS.
Fred Knight Research Scholarship
This scholarship, normally offered once a year, is awarded as a top-up to a high-ranking recipient of an APA or MRS. It is funded by the Fred Knight Research Scholarship Fund.
Benefits
$6,800 (2008 rate) top-up payment (payable over one year) in addition to an APA or MRS.
Sir John and Lady Higgins Research Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students undertaking a research higher degree in the fields of industrial chemistry and biochemistry which relate directly to the study and development of the pastoral and agricultural industries. The Sir John and Lady Higgins Scholarship is normally awarded once every two years.
Benefits
$22,000 per annum and other benefits as per the APA.
Application procedure
To be considered for this scholarship applicants must:
- indicate on SCHOLS, the online application service, their interest in being considered for this scholarship; and
- submit to the Melbourne Scholarships Office by 31 October a statement:
- that explains how their research in industrial chemistry and biochemistry relates directly to the study and development of the pastoral and agricultural industries (up to one page)
- from the relevant head of department or postgraduate co-ordinator that verifies the relationship between the proposed research and the development of the pastoral and agricultural industries, and also provides departmental support for the applicant's intended research.
If the application and required documents are not submitted by the closing date, the application will not be considered for the scholarship.
Ernst & Grace Matthaei Research Scholarship
This scholarship, normally awarded once a year, is offered to an APA or MRS applicant undertaking studies in the field of optics. It is funded through the Ernst and Grace Matthaei Bequest.
Benefits
$22,000 per annum and other benefits as per the APA.
Application procedure
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must:
- indicate on SCHOLS, the online application service, their interest in being considered for this scholarship; and
- submit to the Melbourne Scholarships Office by 31 October, or the next working day if the 31st falls on a weekend, written advice from the relevant department that verifies that the graduate research degree is (or will be in the case of applicants who have not yet commenced) in the field of optics or on problems logically allied with optics. The advice may be provided by the supervisor, head of department or postgraduate co-ordinator in the department in which the graduate research degree is, or will be, undertaken.
If the application and required documents are not submitted by the closing date, the application will not be considered for the scholarship.
Baillieu Research Scholarship
This scholarship is for postgraduate study in medicine, law, commerce, economics or architecture. Preference is given to lineal descendants of Australian soldiers and sailors killed, blinded or permanently incapacitated while engaged in war service, with priority being given to WW1 service. The scholarship is funded through the Baillieu Research Scholarship Fund and is awarded as funds permit.
Benefits
$19,425 per annum (2008 rate) and other benefits as per the MRS.
Application procedure
Applicants who wish to be considered for this scholarship should lodge to the Melbourne Scholarships Office by 31 October:
- the SCHOLS online application indicating that they wish to be considered for the Baillieu Research Scholarship; and
- documents to verify that they are a lineal descendent (i.e. child, grand child, great grand child etc) of an Australian solider or sailor killed, blinded or permanently incapacitated while engaged in war service. The documentation must indicate the war in which their ancestor was engaged.
The regulation for this scholarship:
- defines someone as permanently and totally incapacitated if he/she has been incapacitated for life to such an extent as to be prevented from earning a normal wage.
- defines the term 'Australian soldier' as including members of the Australian Army Medical Corps Nursing Service.
If the application and required documents are not submitted by the closing date, the application will not be considered for the scholarship.
William and Kate Herschell Scholarship
This scholarship, normally awarded once a year, is offered to an APA or MRS applicant undertaking studies in the Faculty of Education. It is funded through the William and Kate Herschell Scholarship Fund. Interested applicants should direct enquiries to the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
Benefits
$30,000 per annum (2008 rate).
Application outcome
Applicants will be advised via standard mail by the end of December of the outcome of their application for the above scholarships. Applicants can also check the outcome of their application via SCHOLS, the online application service.
Closing dates & timelines
31 October (or the next working day if 31 October falls on a weekend).
For detailed selection timelines please refer to the table of timelines for local applicants.
For further information
Please contact the Graduate Research Scholarships Team on 03 8344 8747 or via www.postgradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query.