About the Scholarships

Launched in 2021, the Social Equity in Engineering and Information Technology Scholarship Program aims to develop the cohort of future Australian research leaders in social equity by providing the selected scholars with access to resources and mentorship.

It provides selected researchers with the opportunity to undertake a PhD through the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Melbourne while receiving additional research, mentoring and training support through the Melbourne Social Equity Institute.

Established in 2012, the Melbourne Social Equity Institute is one of the University of Melbourne’s five interdisciplinary research institutes. It conducts and facilitates research that addresses the causes and consequences of social inequities and advances knowledge about effective ways to respond.

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants are asked to provide a brief proposal (up to four pages) for a research project that promotes social equity through engineering and information technology.

Projects which are closely aligned with the Institute’s current research priority areas will be highly regarded. The current priority areas are:

• Community-engaged and coproductive research (enabling theme)
• Digital access and equity (enabling theme )
• Gender equity
• Health equity
• Inclusive and distributive economies
• Migration and mobility

Reflecting the nature of social inequities, many of the Institute's research initiatives engage at the intersections of these priorities.

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship benefits include:

• Full exemption from payment of student fees at the University of Melbourne;
• A stipend of $37,000 per annum (2024 full-time rate, tax free), for 3.5 years;
• Allowances as per the Graduate Research Scholarship Terms & Conditions.

The 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 to the Institute’s Doctoral Academy.

Supervision

As part of the Expression of Interest process, candidates are asked to provide the name of a proposed PhD supervisor from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. This is to ensure the University of Melbourne has the capacity and expertise to support the proposed project.

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

Applicants should have a strong PhD research proposal and agreement from a supervisor or team of supervisors to support the research.

The scholarship is conditional upon acceptance into a PhD degree in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Melbourne.

• The University of Melbourne's entry requirements for domestic PhD students
• The University of Melbourne's entry requirements for international PhD students

Successful applicants must be available to commence their studies in 2025. Applicants should have completed tertiary studies that are at least equivalent to a 4-year honours degree at an Australian university with a minimum result equivalent to a first-class Honours (80%). However, for students from an underrepresented or disadvantaged background seeking access and equity considerations, a minimum result equivalent to a second-class Honours Division A (75%) will be accepted.

Applicants should possess excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural community skills, the ability to work independently as well as part of a team and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Applicants should have a strong research idea and agreement from a supervisor or team of supervisors to support the research.

People with lived experience of the area of disadvantage or inequity that they intend to research are strongly encouraged to apply.

These scholarships are intended for new applications. Students currently enrolled in PhD study at the University of Melbourne are not eligible to apply.

Applications

Please complete the Expression of Interest Form. Following an interview process, candidates who are selected will then be invited to apply in a competitive round through the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.

Download the EOI Form

All Expressions of Interest must be received by 5.00pm (AEST) on Monday 2 September 2024. Please send your completed form to social-equity@unimelb.edu.au.

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.

Further Enquiries

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Charlene Edwards, Executive Officer, Melbourne Social Equity Institute via charlene.edwards@unimelb.edu.au.

Past Recipients

The Social Equity in Engineering and Information Technology Scholarships were first awarded in 2021. To date, five graduate researchers have been accepted into the program.

• 
  Rashika Bahl

  Understanding migrants’ misinformation experiences

• 
  Maharti Triharta

  Investigation of sustainable female engineers’ career development: mitigating impacts of gender biological reproductive inequities

• 
  John Paul Cruz

  Accessibility in digital technologies: enhancing social equity

• 
  Kavitha Vipulananda

  Creating housing solutions for displaced populations

• 
  Guanyu Wang

  Digital journeys of international students from Asia: exploring their mental health information behaviours in diverse digital ecology