Scholarships

There are a range of government and University funded scholarships available to support you during your candidature.

In addition to these competitive rounds, there are other opportunities which include externally funded major awards, top-ups, industry programs and placements, allowances for operating costs, and travel scholarships.

There are major and mid-year round opportunities for both domestic and international students. If you submit an application during the application rounds, you will automatically be considered for all of the scholarships available in the round. Only a subset of the opportunities available are offered during the major and mid-year rounds. All other opportunities usually require a separate and specific application and you will find this information attached to the funding opportunity listed.

Search for postgraduate research scholarships

  • Domestic applicants

    Domestic scholarship rounds

    The majority of Government and University funded scholarships are offered in the major round with a modest allocation of scholarships available in the mid-year round.  All scholarships include tuition fees and a living allowance. The Australian Government and Research Training Program Scholarship Policy details the scope and provisions of the award. Other awards with individual eligibility criteria may be offered in the major round and you will be considered for all of these, according to the specific criteria for each award.

      Major scholarships available Intake Open and closing dates Outcomes announced
    Mid-year round Semester 2, 2023 1 May 2023 - early June 2023 July 2023

    Return to "How to Apply"

    Selection guidelines

    If you have a completed Bachelor degree and no other postgraduate qualifications, you will be considered for the Master of Philosophy (No Honours) scholarships. Applicants who fall into this pool are ranked using the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) from their undergraduate program and scholarships are awarded to the highest ranked applicants.

    Applicants who hold an Honours degree, postgraduate qualifications with a significant research component, or have significant research experience and/or publications, are considered for Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships, University of Adelaide Scholarships and other major and supplementary awards. For applicants who hold a postgraduate qualification (or equivalent) the Undergraduate Score and the Postgraduate Score are used to formulate the ranking of each application in this pool. The Undergraduate Score is derived from the academic results from an applicant’s undergraduate degree. The Postgraduate score may be comprised of one or more of the following: Honours results, postgraduate research degree results, publications and significant relevant research experience.

  • International applicants

    International scholarship rounds

    The majority of Government and University funded scholarships are offered in the major round with a modest allocation of scholarships available in the mid-year round. All scholarships include tuition fees and a living allowance.

    The Australian Government and Research Training Program Scholarship Policy details the scope and provisions of the award. The terms and conditions of University awards are available at the links below.

      Major scholarships available Intake Open and closing dates Outcomes announced

    Mid-year round

    (not including recent
    University of Adelaide
    Students / recent graduates)
    Semester 2, 2023

    CLOSED

    April 2023
    Mid-year round
    * University of Adelaide
    Students / recent graduates only
    Semester 2, 2023 1 May 2023 - early June 2023 July 2023

    Major round

    (not including recent
    University of Adelaide
    Students / recent graduates)
    Semester 1, 2024

    OPENS 7 February 2023

    CLOSES 2 July 2023

    Mid-September 2023

    * A student is considered a 'recent graduate' if they have completed their University of Adelaide qualification within the last 2 years (4 semesters).

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    Selection guidelines

    You can be considered for international research scholarships once you meet all of the following criteria and your application is complete:

    • All qualifications have been satisfactorily completed (unless you are a currently enrolled student at the University of Adelaide). If you have a qualification in progress, you will not be eligible for consideration until you provide evidence of completion or, if you do not intend to complete, evidence of withdrawal.
    • Minimum English language proficiency requirements
    • Project approval where autonomous sanctions apply
  • FAQ

    Q. I am currently completing a Master of Philosophy, and wish to apply for PhD admission & scholarship in the competitive round. What is the deadline to submit my thesis? 
    A. 
    Domestic and onshore international applicants completing a Higher Degree by Research qualification in the semester of application at an Australian university (University of Adelaide only for international students) will only be eligible for consideration if they have submitted their thesis for examination by the scholarship closing date. Note: examination results must be provided within 3 months of the scholarship closing date.

    Q: What is an Australian Honours Degree?
    A: In Australia an Honours degree is generally a one year qualification taken after an undergraduate degree and involves further study in a particular discipline area. In some areas, Honours is available as part of the final year of a four year undergraduate degree. It is recognised as a prestigious qualification that further develops research, writing and organisational skills. It also demonstrates an ability to undertake high-level study. 

    Q: How will my overseas qualification(s) be assessed?
    A: All qualifications from overseas institutions will be assessed in comparison to the Australian Quality Framework (AQF).

    Q: My grades from the overseas institution I studied at do not compare with the Australian system. Will this be taken into consideration?
    A: Yes, your qualifications will be assessed and results will be scaled accordingly.

    Q: Will the publications and/or research experience I have gained since completing my qualification(s) add weight to my application?
    A: If you ensure that your publication(s) and/or relevant research experience is detailed in your application and uploaded resume, it will be considered. However, the Graduate Scholarships Committee will pay close attention to the quality of the journal in which the work is published as well as your contribution to the publication. Research outputs are usually assessed in light of the opportunities you might have had subsequent to your initial graduation.

    Q: What is the likelihood of winning an international scholarship for a graduate research degree?
    A: Each round we receive hundreds of applications for a small number of scholarships. The standard of applicants is always extremely high, and the selection process is very competitive. Applicants who rank highly typically have a completed Masters degree, which includes a significant research component and several quality international journal publications. In addition to formal qualifications, extensive relevant work and research experience is required. The few applicants who win a scholarship directly out of undergraduate studies have exceptional academic results, high quality international publications and outstanding references.

Prestigious scholarships

These generous, life-changing scholarships support postgraduate study at the world’s leading institutions, including the University of Adelaide.

For exceptional Australian scholars with a drive to make a difference, find out how these programs can support you to make a real impact on the world.

Find out more

Further enquiries

For more information, please ask a question.