Thinking of a research degree in Australia without the crushing fees? The University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship is one of the biggest doors open to Nigerian postgraduate students. It wipes out your tuition and pays you a living stipend while you research. Here’s how it works and the deadlines you must watch.
What the scholarship gives you
This award is built for students entering a masters by research or a PhD at Melbourne. The package is serious, and it covers the three things that usually stop African students from studying abroad: fees, living costs and health cover.
- Full fee offset: 100% of your tuition is covered for the duration of your research degree.
- Living stipend: A$41,100 per year, paid pro rata, to help with rent, food and daily costs.
- Relocation grant: A$2,000 if you’re moving from within Australia, or A$3,000 if you’re relocating from outside the country.
- Health cover: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for international students who need a student visa.
The stipend being pro rata simply means it’s paid across the year in instalments, not as one lump sum. That steady flow is what makes living in Melbourne manageable.
How many awards are available
Melbourne offers around 600 of these scholarships each year across all its faculties. That sounds like plenty, but research applicants from around the world compete for them, so strong grades and a solid research proposal matter a great deal.
Who can apply
The scholarship is open to both domestic and international students, which includes Nigerians. You’ll need to be applying for, or already enrolled in, a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne. Your academic record, research potential and the fit between your project and a Melbourne supervisor all feed into the decision.
Because it rewards research ability, a clear proposal and a supervisor who’s willing to work with you can lift your chances well above the pack.
Automatic consideration, but not a guarantee
Here’s a point many applicants misread. When you apply for a graduate research course at Melbourne, you’re automatically considered for this scholarship. You don’t fill a separate scholarship form in most cases.
Automatic consideration is not the same as automatic selection. You still compete against every other applicant, and only the strongest get funded. So treat your course application, your grades and your research proposal as the real battleground.
The deadline depends on your faculty
This is the part that trips people up. There’s no single date for everyone. Each faculty sets its own closing date, so the deadline that matters is the one for the faculty you’re applying to. As at the time of writing, the dates vary a lot between faculties, for example:
- Engineering and Information Technology: an earlier closing date.
- Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences: a later one.
Do not assume your faculty shares these dates. Check the exact deadline for your specific course and faculty before you build your timeline, because missing it means waiting a whole round.
How to apply the smart way
Start by finding a research area and a potential supervisor at Melbourne, then prepare your course application with your transcripts, research proposal and references. Submit everything to your faculty before its deadline, and the scholarship consideration follows automatically.
If you’re still building your shortlist, our guide to fully funded scholarships for Nigerians covers more fully funded routes, and if research funding is your main interest, the DAAD scholarship for Nigerians is another strong option worth comparing.
Confirm everything on the official page
Scholarship amounts, award numbers and faculty deadlines can change year to year. Always confirm the current figures and dates on the official University of Melbourne scholarships page before you apply. Never pay an agent who claims to guarantee this award; genuine selection happens through your course application alone.
Quick answers on the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship
What does it cover? Full tuition offset, an A$41,100 yearly stipend paid pro rata, a relocation grant and OSHC health cover for eligible international students.
Is there a separate scholarship form? Usually no. Applying for a graduate research course puts you in automatic consideration.
What’s the deadline? It depends on your faculty. Each faculty sets its own closing date, as at the time of writing, so check your specific course and faculty on the official page.
How many awards are there? Around 600 each year across all faculties.
Reviewed by Miles Obi, Careers and Scholarships Editor at Jobviza.
Related guides
- Chevening Scholarship for Nigerians: 2027/28 Official Application Guide
- DAAD Scholarship for Nigerians: Official Application Guide
- Turkiye Burslari Scholarship: How Nigerians Can Apply
- Korean Government Scholarship (GKS): A Guide for Nigerians
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