Melbourne Social Equity Institute PhD Scholarship Opportunities
Melbourne Social Equity Institute is seeking expressions of interest from candidates interested in undertaking doctoral research on social equity issues. Up to three Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships will be available for 2023.
Overview
For this open call opportunity, Melbourne Social Equity Institute is inviting interested candidates to develop and submit their own research project proposal on a social equity issue.
Projects which are closely aligned with the Institute’s research priority areas of Inclusive and Distributive Economies, Gender Equity and Health Equity will be highly regarded.
Reflecting the nature of social inequities, many of the Institute's research initiatives engage at the intersections of these priorities.
There may also be an opportunity to align proposed research projects with some of the Institute’s partnerships, including the Y Australia and Moving Feast.
Due to funding restrictions, this opportunity is open to domestic students only.
Targeted Scholarships Opportunities
In addition to these three scholarships, Melbourne Social Equity Institute is also accepting expressions of interest from candidates interested in a PhD scholarship aligned with the ARC linkage grant Activating Inclusive Employment under the supervision of Professor Jo Barraket and Professor Susan Ainsworth.
Further, the Institute, in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, is seeking expressions of interest for two scholarships to support one domestic and one international student through the Social Equity in Engineering and Information Technology Scholarship Program.
See all scholarships
Critical Dates
- Expressions of Interest Open – Thursday 1 June 2023
- Expressions of Interest Close – Friday 1 September 2023
- Shortlisted candidates required for interviews – week commencing Monday 11 September 2023
- Successful candidates submit full applications to the relevant Faculty by Friday 6 October 2023
Scholarship Benefits
The scholarship benefits include:
- Full exemption from payment of student fees at the University of Melbourne;
- A stipend of $34,400 per annum (2023 full-time rate, tax-free) for three years, with a possible extension to 3.5 years;
- Allowances as per the Graduate Research Scholarship Terms & Conditions.
Melbourne Social Equity Institute will also provide an additional $2000 per annum (a maximum of $6000 during candidature) in research support funds.
The successful candidate will also receive automatic entry into the Institute’s Doctoral Academy and/or interdisciplinary PhD Program in Migration, Statelessness and Refugee Studies.
Supervision
As part of the Expression of Interest process, candidates are asked to identify, and show evidence of in-principle agreement from, a proposed PhD supervisor at the University of Melbourne.
The University's Find an Expert site can assist in identifying suitable potential supervisors. If you are unable to identify a suitable and/or available supervisor, please contact social-equity@unimelb.edu.au and we will do our best to assist you.
Learn more about finding a supervisor
Eligibility
The scholarship is only available to Australian and New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents. Applicants must be eligible for acceptance by the University of Melbourne into a PhD program.
Please note that you will be enrolled through the faculty in which your principal supervisor is based and you should also check any specific faculty requirements.
These scholarships are intended for new applications. Students currently enrolled in PhD study at the University of Melbourne are not eligible to apply.
Applicants should have a strong research idea and agreement from a supervisor or team of supervisors to support the research.
Applicants should possess excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work independently as well as part of a team and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
People with lived experience of the area of disadvantage or inequity that they intend to research are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications
Please complete the Expression of Interest form and include the following:
- Curriculum Vitae (up to 2 pages);
- A brief research proposal (up to 4 pages). Outline preliminary ideas, key research questions, methodologies, relevant conceptual and theoretical approaches;
- Academic transcripts;
- Evidence of in-principle support from a proposed supervisor (e.g. copy of an email); and,
- If applicable, include Masters / Honours thesis examiners’ reports.
Following an initial short-listing, you may be invited to attend an interview during the week commencing Monday 11 September.
Selected candidates will then be invited to submit a full, formal application to the relevant faculty. Any decisions based on this Expression of Interest and subsequent interviews will be conditional on meeting all of the University’s eligibility requirements.
Melbourne Social Equity Institute reserves the right not to allocate any scholarships where, in its opinion, there are no expressions of interest of sufficient merit.
All Expressions of Interest must be received by 11.59pm AEST on Friday 1 September 2023. Please send your completed form to social-equity@unimelb.edu.au.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about this PhD scholarship opportunity or the Expression of Interest process please contact us at social-equity@unimelb.edu.au.