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University of Melbourne

Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, teaching and engagement. Melbourne's teaching excellence has been rewarded two years in a row by grants from the Commonwealth Government's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund for Australian universities that demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning. Melbourne was also one of only three Australian universities to win ten citations-the maximum number of awards possible-under the Carrick Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. The citations recognise commitment by university staff who have shown outstanding leadership and innovation in teaching, and dedication and enthusiasm for student learning.

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• Scholarships

Graduate Research Scholarships

Scholarship

No application required. Check eligibility

Key scholarship details

Application status

Open for automatic consideration

Benefit amount

100% fee remission and up to $135,000

Eligible study level

Graduate research

Eligible student type

Domestic and international students

Eligible study stage

Future study, Current study

Benefit duration

One or more years

The Melbourne Research Scholarship and Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship are offered to high-achieving international and domestic students who are enrolling in a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne.

Stipend and fee offset scholarships

• Full fee offset for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to four years for students undertaking a doctoral degree.
• Living allowance of $37,000 per year pro rata (2024 full-time study rate) for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to 3.5 years for students undertaking a doctoral degree. The living allowance may be indexed annually and includes limited paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.
• Relocation grant of $2000 for students moving from States or Territories other than Victoria or $3000 for students moving from outside Australia.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership for international students who require a student visa to study in Australia

Fee offset scholarships

For further information, see Manage my scholarship .

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility.

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

• have applied for and meet the requirements for a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne, or
• be currently enrolled in a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne

Selection criteria

All domestic students who are offered admission to a Masters by Research or doctoral degree (PhD) at the University of Melbourne will receive a Research Training Program Scholarship (Fee Offset).

Graduate Research Scholarships that provide a stipend as well as fee offset are awarded to domestic and international students based on academic merit. Eligible applicants are scored and ranked according to their academic achievement of their last completed degree and their research potential in their field of study. Factors such as completion of a degree at the same level of the research course for which the scholarship is sought, relevant professional experience, refereed publications, specialist medical qualifications or composition of original music may be taken into consideration.

These scholarships are subject to the Graduate Research Scholarships Terms & Conditions (as amended).

Study level:

Student type:

Study stage type:

Need help understanding the process?

Application, how to apply.

If you are a new student and have applied for a graduate research course by the application closing date for that course, you will be automatically considered for the Graduate Research Scholarships. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within ten business days of having submitted your course application.

If you have accepted a graduate research course offer and deferred commencement in order to be reconsidered for a scholarship, you must submit an online application form by 31 October to be considered for a scholarship in the following year. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within ten business days of having submitted the online form.

If you are currently enrolled in a graduate research course for which you seek a scholarship, you must submit an online application form by 31 October to be considered for a scholarship in the following year. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within ten business days of having submitted the online form.

When will I know the outcome?

Domestic students will receive an offer for Research Training Program Scholarship (Fee Offset) as part of their course offer.

Offers for Graduate Research Scholarships that provide a stipend and fee offset are made separately but around the same time course offers are made.

Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS)

This scholarship is available to high-achieving domestic and international students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or doctoral degree.

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships

This scholarship is supported by the Australian Commonwealth Government and offered by the University of Melbourne to high-achieving domestic and international students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or Doctorate by Research degree. See also the University's RTP Scholarship Policy .

China Scholarship Council - University of Melbourne PhD Scholarship

This scholarship is provided by the China Scholarship Council and the University of Melbourne to promote international collaboration and is offered to citizens of the People's Republic of China wishing to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of Melbourne.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.

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Courses and career pathways.

Browse all undergraduate and graduate courses, study areas and career pathways on the Study website. Explore courses

Whatever your passion, you'll discover stimulating research opportunities at Australia's #1 ranked university. Research at Melbourne

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Find support, advice and what to expect living and studying as an international student at the University of Melbourne. Learn more

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• Doctor of Philosophy - Education

Doctor of Philosophy - Education (DR-PHILEDU)

Doctorate by Research Year: 2020 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

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About this course

• Entry and participation requirements
• Attributes, outcomes and skills
• Course structure

Coordinator

Associate Dean (Research Training)

Melbourne Graduate School of Education

Level 9, 100 Leicester Street

• Email: [email protected]

Future students:

Furhter information

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy signifies that the holder has undertaken a substantial piece of original research, which has been conducted and reported by the holder under proper academic supervision and in a research environment for a prescribed period.

The PhD thesis demonstrates authority in the candidate's field and shows evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields. It shows that the candidate has a thorough grasp of the appropriate methodological techniques and an awareness of their limitations. The thesis also makes a distinct contribution to knowledge. Its contribution to knowledge rests on originality of approach and / or interpretation of the findings and, in some cases, the discovery of new facts. The thesis demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context. It is a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research 'apprenticeship' is complete and the holder is admitted to the community of scholars in the discipline.

In scope, the PhD thesis differs from a research Masters thesis chiefly by its deeper and more comprehensive treatment of the chosen subject. It is written succinctly, in English, unless approval has been given for the thesis to be written in a language other than English. The normal length of a PhD thesis is 80,000 words, exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit.

Links to further information

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-philosophy-education

Last updated: 10 February 2024

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Study PhD's in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Melbourne at a glance.

The ex-capital city of Australia, Melbourne, is now known as one of the world's best places to live and one of the biggest study abroad destinations globally. Universities in Melbourne will give you the complete study experience, having a word-class reputation for academic excellence, as well as first-rate student services. Come to Melbourne and feel empowered by the vibrant and diverse atmosphere of the Australian lifestyle!

• 4.3M Population
• 1501 - 2660 AUD /month Living Costs
• 12 Universities

Studying in Melbourne

The academic environment in Melbourne is well-known for a strong tradition of excellence in teaching, research training and community engagement. Melbourne’s world-leading universities and vocational schools are equipped with cutting-edge facilities, internationally experienced faculty, satisfying student services, and innovative interdisciplinary study programmes.

Courses offered by higher education institutions in Melbourne cover the whole spectrum of types of degrees and disciplines. From graduate and undergraduate certificates, college diplomas, Bachelors, Masters and research degrees, to part-time, online and distance studies. Double degrees are a popular choice among career-oriented students, providing more professional flexibility and opportunities.

International students can benefit from one-year foundation programmes. These are pre-university courses that train academic English and study skills, preparing students to meet the university’s entry requirements.

Career opportunities in Melbourne

Melbourne is an important financial hub, having a highly diversified economy with notable strengths in finance, manufacturing, research, IT, education, logistics, transportation and tourism. Some of Australia’s largest corporates are headquartered in Melbourne, as well as multinational companies worldwide.

Important employers for graduates in Melbourne include: KPMG, Deloitte, Accenture, IBM, Telstra, BHP Billiton (the world's largest mining company), Iveco, General Motors, Toyota, Nintendo, Adidas, Ernst & Young, McAfee, and more.

Melbourne city life

Melbourne has all the ingredients of a vibrant metropolis, from an international atmosphere full of diversity, with welcoming bars, restaurants and boutiques, to fantastic cultural events, festivities and street art, plus a hectic nightlife.

Melbournians also share a common appraisal for sports and they come together for major events, including AFL matches, cricket, soccer and the rugby codes, Australian Open tennis and Formula One racing.

Popular tourist attractions in Melbourne include: the Federation Square (with free or cheap entertainment), Queen Victoria Market (for groceries shopping), the Eureka Tower (has a viewing platform at the top of the 297th floor), Southgate (shopping centre), the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Zoo, the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, or the Royal Botanical Gardens, among others.

You can also visit museums like: the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the Ian Potter Centre or the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

In the weekend, you can check out the music scene in Brunswick, tour the Yarra Valley, see the penguins at Port Phillip Bay, swim with seahorses around the piers of the Mornington Peninsula, or meet up with your peers for a picnic on St. Kilda’s beach.

International atmosphere in Melbourne

In Melbourne, you will find an eclectic social environment, mixing many different cultures. Approximately 40% of Melbourne residents were born outside Australia. The majority was born in the UK, followed by communities of Indian, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek and New Zealanders expats. Every suburb in Melbourne is distinct and you can see the influence of each culture across the city.

Weather Melbourne

Melbourne has a reputation for fast changing weather. The city enjoys a temperate climate with warm to hot summers, mild springs and autumns, and cool to brisk winters. The average temperature in the summer (June-August) is 25°C (77°F), while in the winter (December-February) it drops to 14°C (57°F).

Universities in Melbourne

In a world of mass production, Australian Catholic University stands for meaningful education, rewarding research, and life-changing community engagement. 

EIT’s mission is to provide students throughout the world with measurable and significant productivity gains in their workplace through cutting-edge and applied engineering vocational and higher education. 

To compete on the world stage, you need a world-standard education. At the University of Melbourne, you’ll gain an internationally recognised degree that will open doors to an outstanding future. The University of Melbourne is a globally engaged, comprehensive, research-intensive university uniquely positioned to respond to the major social, economic and environmental challenges of our time.

For more than 100 years, Victoria University (VU) has offered accessible education to students in Melbourne’s west and beyond. Victoria University aims to continue creating positive outcomes for education, industry and our community into the future.

One of Australia's original tertiary institutions, RMIT University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education, applied research, and engagement with the needs of industry and the community.RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise offering undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational courses.

Monash is a modern, global, research-intensive university, delivering education and research excellence in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific. We’re making a positive impact on today's global challenges – whether that’s by mitigating climate change, easing geopolitical insecurity or fostering healthy communities.

CQUniversity Australia has been on a phenomenal trajectory in recent years and its remarkable growth in student numbers, new courses, new campuses, infrastructure and reputation has seen it emerge as one of Australia’s truly great universities.

We aim to provide a range of high-quality scholarly information resources and services to the Federation University community. In doing so, we recognise staff and students of the University are central to all that we do. 

Deakin University offers a personalised experience, enhanced by innovative digital engagement. We lead by creating opportunities to live and work in a connected, evolving world.   

La Trobe University is a university known for making a positive difference in the lives of our students, partners and communities. We will become an even more valued and relevant university because of the way we respond to their needs in this time of great local and national crisis.

Melbourne Business School is home to Australia's best MBA and business analytics degrees, as well as short courses for professionals and custom solutions for organisations.As Australia's leading provider of business education and insight, we also offer a range of other postgraduate degrees in management, economics, finance and entrepreneurship.

Swinburne University of Technology has an international reputation for quality research that connects science and technology with business and the community. Our standing in prestigious world academic ranking lists reflects our commitment to high-quality teaching and research and graduate outcomes.

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• Research degrees
• Your research options

Supplementary PhD Programs

Give yourself an edge. Join a multidisciplinary PhD Program to enrich your graduate research experience. These programs are supplementary learning opportunities in addition to your core PhD studies. They provide the chance to work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge in your area of interest.

We currently offer a wide range of multidisciplinary programs with the details below. Each has a different focus, such as mental health, cancer, or infection and immunity. The programs feature a series of activities to enhance your learning experience. You can attend masterclasses, workshops and seminars, delivered by experts in your field. You will keep up to date with research findings and breakthrough discoveries. And you may have opportunities for mentoring and internships.

When you join a PhD Program, you’ll connect with graduate researchers from other disciplines. And you’ll engage with relevant external organisations. By participating, you’ll broaden your networks and improve your career prospects.

Please note, these programs run in addition to your PhD research . If you are looking for information about possible topics for your core PhD research, please explore the breadth of PhD research themes available.

Why join a PhD Program?

By joining a PhD Program, you will set yourself up for success. You'll have extra support and opportunities throughout your research degree. This will enable you to:

• Access a breadth of expertise from across the University
• Consider your research from the perspective of other disciplines
• Place your research in a broader multidisciplinary context
• Build multidisciplinary networks that lead to postdoctoral pathways
• Develop professional skills to enhance your career prospects
• Improve your research and communication skills to become an accomplished graduate researcher.

Are you eligible?

• To take part, you must be enrolled in a PhD at the University of Melbourne. Your thesis topic must relate to the PhD Program theme.
• When you join a PhD Program, you will remain enrolled in your current department.
• You can join a PhD Program at any time during your candidature. You will remain part of the program until you complete your doctoral studies.

Explore the individual PhD Programs

The Biomedical Engineering Innovation PhD Program is a multidisciplinary research training initiative. It is a supplementary learning opportunity that enriches the graduate research experience.

The program brings together people who work on research related to biomedical engineering, including:

• PhD students, supervisors and alumni from across the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct
• Industry and clinical partners.

The program is facilitated by:

• The Graeme Clark Institute
• The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

Find out more

The Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program complements your PhD studies. As a participant, you will join more than 200 graduate researchers at the Melbourne Children’s Campus . This campus is a fully integrated paediatric teaching hospital, University department and research institute. Our research streams include:

• Cell biology
• Clinical sciences
• Population health
• Infection and immunity.

We undertake multidisciplinary research in the following areas:

• Clinical trials
• Stem cell medicine
• Global health
• Life-course (longitudinal population) studies
• Health services research
• Digital health
• Data science.

The Comprehensive Cancer PhD Program provides specialist cancer research training and support for PhD candidates. It complements your core PhD activities.

The program provides a unique opportunity for PhD candidates researching cancer-related topics to work together. It attracts PhD candidates from a range of disciplines.

To be eligible, you must be enrolled as a PhD student in a partner organisation. Together, these organisations form the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) alliance . Through this program, you will experience clinical and research activities across the alliance.

Upon completion, you will be ready to conduct world-class cancer research. The program will also prepare you for a wide range of career options. It does this by broadening the scope of your research knowledge. And by providing professional development and career training programs.

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Program in Indigenous Settler Relations enhances the experience of Masters and PhD students by creating an enriching cohort experience. The program develops an intellectual community and facilitates opportunities for you to deepen your academic knowledge and skills.

The program is open to graduate researchers in any faculty. You must be undertaking graduate research related to Indigenous settler relations in Australia and the world.

As a participant, you will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge about infection and immunity. In this program, you will:

• Learn from global leaders in infection and immunity
• Access high-calibre scientists and facilities
• Work in an environment where discovery research meets diagnosis and surveillance
• Work with experts in infectious diseases, epidemiology, genomics and more.

The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity delivers this PhD Program. The institute is a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. You may join this program if you are:

• A graduate researcher at the Doherty Institute
• Enrolled in a PhD at the University of Melbourne.

The Doherty Institute is home to high-quality discovery research. It has large diagnostic operations in virology and bacteriology. So, the institute can provide vast research training opportunities in many areas, including:

• Epidemiology
• Clinical and translational research
• Infectious diseases surveillance
• Outbreak investigations.

As a program participant, you will access first-class research training in your primary discipline. And you can supplement this with extra workshops, seminars and potential internships. Our key partners in biopharmaceutical-linked industries provide these extra training opportunities. These connections will assist with future employment opportunities, beyond the pure research environment.

When you join the Medical Biology PhD Program, you will work with others who share a passion for research related to medical biology.

You will learn more about:

• Medical biology
• Research management
• Commercialisation of research
• Clinical translation.

The Medical Biology PhD Program is delivered by the Department of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne. When you join, you will undertake research training at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI).

When you join the Mental Health PhD Program, you’ll feel part of a community. You will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge about mental health. All graduate students from the University of Melbourne working in a mental Health related field are welcome to join any time. We have graduate researchers from a wide range of disciplines spread across at least 15 schools or departments at the University of Melbourne, including:

• Epidemiology and community mental health
• History and philosophy of psychiatry
• Psychiatric nursing
• Social work
• Linguistics

This interdisciplinary PhD program offers PhD candidates in mental health a unified research training experience. It is a joint initiative of the following schools and departments:

• School of Psychological Sciences
• Melbourne School for Population and Global Health,  Centre for Mental Health
• Department of Psychiatry
• The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Migration, Statelessness and Refugee Studies PhD Program is delivered by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the University of Melbourne.

You will work with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge in this area. You will engage with researchers from other disciplines across the University. And you will connect with relevant external organisations.

These connections will allow you to:

• Consider your research from the perspective of others
• Develop your research in reference to current real-world challenges
• Enhance your career prospects.

During the program, you will attend masterclasses, workshops and seminars. There will be a focus on ethics and research methods. And you will learn how to communicate your research to diverse audiences.

The Melbourne Neuroscience PhD Program brings together graduate researchers from across disciplines. These researchers share a passion for discovering knowledge in the area of neuroscience. When you join, you will access the best in neuroscience research from across the university.   This is a competitive program that complements your core PhD project. You will receive close mentoring from experts in the field of neuroscience. And you will benefit from a broad range of research initiatives.

The Melbourne Neuroscience PhD Program will help you to:

• Connect with other researchers from across the University
• Build relationships with relevant external organisations
• Develop your career path after graduation
• Consider your research topic from different perspectives
• Contribute to the discovery of new knowledge
• Expand your professional and personal networks
• Learn how to engage with industry.

All graduate students from the University of Melbourne working in a Neuroscience related field are welcome to join any time, even if it is not their primary discipline. We have graduate researchers from a wide range of disciplines spread over 20+ schools/departments at the University of Melbourne, including:

• Anatomy and Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medicine and Radiology
• School of Population and Global Health
• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Royal Melbourne hospital

The Population and Global Health Graduate Research Program provides an engaging and practical skills-based training environment and cohort experience for graduate researchers.

The program enables you to maximise the value of your graduate research experience. It also helps you to make informed choices about your future career path.

It will focus on:

• Public health
• Health policy
• Epidemiology and biostatistics.

First published on 22 February 2022.

Keep reading

Where your research can take you.

Your degree will prepare you for an academic career in research, but it can also lead to roles in the private sector, small business, government or not-for-profit organisations.

Explore research areas

Discover your graduate research options at the University of Melbourne.

International PhD opportunities

Discover the fully funded Joint PhD opportunities that are currently available with universities and research institutions around the world.

Get in touch to learn more about collaborating with the University of Melbourne.

• Faculty of Education
• Social Transformation and Education Research Hub

Academic Staff

Professor Julie McLeod

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Capability) University of Melbourne; Professor, Curriculum, Equity and Social Change, Melbourne Graduate School of Education.

Julie McLeod is Professor in Curriculum, Equity and Social Change at the Faculty of Education and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Capability) at The University of Melbourne.

Julie researches in the history and sociology of education, with a focus on youth, gender and social change. She was an editor of the journal Gender and Education (2011-2016). She held an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (2012-2016) and is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia.

Associate Professor Jessica Gerrard

Associate Professor

Jessica Gerrard researches the changing formations, and lived experiences, of social inequalities in relation to education, activism, work and unemployment. She works across the disciplines of sociology, history and policy studies with an interest in critical methodologies and theories.

Across her work, Jessica is interested in theorising the changing formations of ‘the public’, including its multiple and exclusionary forms. In the context of the so-called populist moment, a current interest is the social and institutional production of knowledge, authority and expertise, and the relationship of this to social inequalities. She has written two monographs- Precarious Enterprise on the Margins: Work, Poverty and Homelessness in the City (2017, Palgrave, Macmillan) and Radical Childhoods: Schooling and the Struggle for Social Change (2014, University of Manchester Press). She is currently Assistant Dean (Diversity & Inclusion) and the Faculty of Education. She is also Associate Editor for Critical Studies in Education and Editor of the Local/Global Issues in Education Routledge book series.

Jessica holds two Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects. First, she is co-leading an investigation of the shifting practices of public schooling, school governance and parental citizenship in disadvantaged contexts (with Glenn Savage). Second, she is researching community activism and education policy reform across Australia in the 1970s and 1980s (with Helen Proctor and Sue Goodwin).

Previously, Jessica was a McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne (2012-2015)

Dr. Ligia (Licho) López López

Senior lecturer

Ligia (Licho) López López is Caribbean, Queer, and of Abiayala. She lives as an uninvited person on Wurundjeri-Woiwurung Country. Licho’s scholarship moves through the geographies of continental Africa, Europe, the US, and Australia and is located at the intersection of curriculum studies, Indigenous and Black studies in education, and Afrodiasporas and youth studies in the digital. She is the author of The making of Indigeneity, curriculum history, and the limits of diversity (Routledge, 2018), and Indigenous futures and learnings taking place (with Gioconda Coello. Routledge, 2021) and Interrogating the relations between migration and education in the South: Migrating Americas (with Ivón Cepeda-Mayorga and María Emilia Tijoux, Routledge, 2022). Her work has also appeared in the The British Journal of Sociology, Race ethnicity and Education, and the Curriculum Inquiry among others.

Licho's current research, drawing from the histories of dispossession and Black and Brown rising, interrogates what the notion of what diversity does in the social world (diverse from what?). She investigates Bla(c)k and Brown youth affect as curricular trans-formation. At the moment she is playing with propositions drawing from global histories of maroonage as Black future making in the 21st century, and Afrodiasporic youth Black geographical formations in the digital space of Tik Tok and Instagram.

Associate Professor John Quay

Associate Professor in Physical Education

My research and teaching interests include outdoor education, environmental education, physical education, curriculum theory and philosophy of education. In this way I connect educational practice and theory. My focus is chiefly on existential understanding that draws humanist and post-humanist perspective together. I am an editor-in-chief for the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education and an editorial executive member of Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. My current leadership role in the Faculty of Education is as Associate Dean Learning and Teaching.

The best expression of my research projects is through my publications, visible through online profiles.

Dr Peter Woelert

Senior Lecturer

My research focuses on exploring governance and organizational dynamics in the contemporary university, under consideration of macro-level higher education policy trends and settings. I have researched and published on issues such as universities’ responses to national policy and funding changes, the politics of performance measurement, universities’ organizational autonomy, and the unintended effects of large-scale policy and governance reform on institutional diversity. More recently I have developed a growing research interest in novel forms and dynamics of bureaucratization within universities.

In addition to my role of Senior Lecturer I am responsible for the Faculty of Education's graduate research (GR) coursework programs in my role of GR coordinator.

Research projects

The 'new' bureaucracy at universities: Processes, technologies, and practices. MGSE Research Development Award (2019-2020).

Performance-based governance in Australian universities: A case of ‘coercive’ isomorphism? University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Award (2015-2017).

Postdoctoral Research Fellow on Knowledge building in schooling and higher education: Policy strategies and effects, ARC Discovery grant (DP110102466, CI: Prof. L. Yates) (2011-2014).

Dr Sophie Rudolph

Senior Lecturer in Education/DECRA Fellow

My research is interested in the central problem of settler colonial racial domination in Australian contexts in which First Nations people have never ceded sovereignty, and its connection to global European colonialism and capitalism. Through historical and sociological work I examine the impact and dynamics of racial domination on education and the possibilities for education to address racism and achieve racial justice. As a non-Indigenous, white, settler scholar I attempt to engage critically with these issues of power and inequality even as I work within settler colonial institutions and am implicated by settler racial dominance. My PhD research investigated Indigenous education policy, its historical echoes and its political effects. My current project examines the history and contemporary effects of school discipline.

I am not currently teaching but have had involvement in sociology of education, Indigenous education and research methodology subjects.

DECRA project: Examining the social, historical and political effects of school discipline.

Dr Aristidis (Harry) Galatis

Lecturer in Teacher Education

After completing a PhD in Philosophy (on moral logic) and a Graduate Diploma in Education, both from the University of Melbourne, my teaching and research interests have converged on philosophical community of inquiry (CPI) practices, Philosophy for/with Children programs and the recent introduction in the Australian and Victorian curriculums of the Capabilities (and which include Ethical, Critical and Creative Thinking, Intercultural and Personal and Social capabilities).

I have a particular interest in the identification, development, implementation and assessment of  the intellectual values that sit within Critical and Creative Thinking, like questioning and perspective-taking competency. I teach into a range of philosophy of education-focused subjects and have previously coordinated the University’s Master of Education (International Baccalaureate) Primary Years Program, the Master of Teaching (Primary) and the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) initial teacher training programs. I currently coordinate the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course and am on the Executive Committee of the Victorian Association of Philosophy in Schools (VAPS).

I am a current member of the Executive Committee of the Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools (VAPS), and Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s [VCAA’s] Critical and Creative Thinking Assessment Panelist.

VCAA Assessment Content Development Panel – Assessment Research Centre (ARC)

Assessment for Graduate Teachers (AfGT) Implementation & Improvement Committee 2021

Dr Chris McCaw

Lecturer in Education

Dr McCaw’s research focuses on the lives and work of teachers under conditions of social, technological and political change, drawing from resources in philosophy and social theory. His research interests include the nature of teaching and teacher professionalism, reflective and reflexive practice, the purposes of education, post-secularism in education, and questions of self, identity and agency. He has a specific interest in the integration of contemplative practices, such as mindfulness and yoga, into educational discourses and practices. Drawing from phenomenology, theories of social practice and contemplative philosophies, his doctoral work examined the role of contemplative practices in the lives and work of beginning teachers. Dr McCaw’s current research project explores the implications of ‘post-truth’ conditions for education, through the lenses of epistemic cognition and epistemic reflexivity. He conducts both qualitative, empirical studies as well as theoretical inquiries into the foundations of teaching and education. Chris has a background in secondary teaching, specialising in inquiry learning in the sciences, humanities and philosophy.

Dr McCaw teaches extensively into both coursework and professional practice aspects of the Master of Teaching program.

Educators, epistemic cognition and post-truth conditions (2021)

Contemplative practitioners, becoming-teachers (2015-2020)

Professor Marcia McKenzie

Professor Of Global Studies & International Education

Marcia McKenzie is Professor in Global Studies and International Education in the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne. Her research includes both theoretical and applied components at the intersections of comparative and international education, global education policy research, and climate and sustainability education, including in relation to policy mobility, place and land, affect, and other areas of social and geographic study.

She is Director of the $4.5M  Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Communication and Education (MECCE) Project and the  Sustainability and Education Policy Network  (SEPN), and is an inducted member of the  Royal Society of Canada’s  College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. She is co-author of  Place in Research: Theory, Methodology, and Methods  (Routledge, 2015) and  Critical Education and Sociomaterial Practice: Narration, Place, and the Social (Peter Lang, 2016), and co-editor of  Land Education: Rethinking Pedagogies of Place from Indigenous, Postcolonial, and Decolonizing Perspectives (Routledge, 2016) and  Fields of Green: Restorying Culture, Environment, and Education (Hampton, 2009); and co-edits the Palgrave book series  Studies in Education and the Environment.  She has recently authored or co-authored three global UNESCO reports, including  ‘Country progress on climate change education: A review of national submissions to the UNFCCC,’ and  ‘ESD and GCED up close: Cognitive, social and emotional and behavioral learning in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education from pre-primary to secondary education,’  and  ‘Learn for our planet: A global review of how environmental issues are integrated in education.’

Dr Maree Martinussen

McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Maree is a McKenzie Postdoctoral fellow working across sociology, identities studies, affect and emotion and critical studies of higher education. Her interests include diversity and inclusion and in/equities in higher education, particularly relating to social class and intersections with other gendered and racialised identities.

Maree is a co-ordinator of the Affect and Emotions Research Network and is an Associate Board member for Sociological Research Online.

Maree’s main research project investigates how social class identities are constructed by women enrolled in postgraduate studies, and their effects on student experience.

Dr Dianne Mulcahy

Senior lecturer in Education

A Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Dianne’s research and teaching interests concern pedagogy, education policy and materialist methodological approaches to research. Issues of difference, disadvantage and in/exclusions are at the heart of these interests and studied chiefly using the conceptual resources of affect and critical materialist theories. In the recent past, Dianne’s research has centred on pedagogic practice in learning environments within schools and museums. Presently, she is researching aspects of the ethics and politics of affect and their implications for pedagogy and professional practice. She is also undertaking research on citizenship and citizen subjectivity that takes the capacities of human and non-human entities such as climate and the environment into account, towards reconsideration of citizenship curriculum and normative approaches to citizenship education. Dianne publishes widely and reviews for leading education journals including Educational Philosophy and Theory, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, and Pedagogy, Culture & Society. Her recent scholarly works include: “Enacting affirmative ethics in education: A materialist/posthumanist framing”, “Pedagogic affect and its politics: Learning to affect and be affected in education” and “A politics of affect: Re/assembling relations of class and race at the museum”.

Affective encounters: Teaching and learning for schools and communities through museums and collections

Pedagogic practices in new generation learning environments in Victorian government schools

Strengthening standards of teaching through linking standards and teacher learning: The development of professional standards for teaching school geography

Dr Melitta Hogarth

Assistant Dean (Indigenous), Senior Research Fellow

Melitta Hogarth is a Kamilaroi woman who is the Assistant Dean (Indigenous) and a Senior Research Fellow whose research interests are in education, equity and social justice.  Her PhD titled “Addressing the rights of Indigenous peoples in education: A critical analysis of Indigenous education policy” was awarded the Ray Debus Doctoral Award for Research.

Dr Nicky Dulfer

Senior Lecturer in Education Policy, Academic Co-ordinator: Master of International Education: International Baccalaureate

Nicky Dulfer is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne who has over a decade’s experience undertaking research within the field of education. Her research covers several areas of expertise but the underpinning thread to all her research is access, equity, and inclusion. Since moving into an academic career, Nicky has published approximately 30 articles, reports and conference papers.  Her past research projects include both quantitative and qualitative studies which connect to three key themes. The first theme, post-compulsory educational provision has included research investigating high stakes assessment, post-compulsory educational provision, school based apprenticeships and careers education. The second theme of equity has involved research in low and high socio-economic classrooms looking at retention and engagement strategies, funding models and equity practices. The final strand of Nicky’s research focuses on pedagogy, and has comprised examining pedagogical practices, teacher efficacy, differentiation, engagement and retention in a range of secondary schools. Nicky’s current research focusses on differentiated instruction, professional learning communities, online learning, observation models, and approaches to classroom questioning.

Understanding Digital Inequality, Melbourne Social Equity Institute (MSEI)

Differentiation in Action in Diverse Environments, Victorian Department of Education and Training (VDET)

Teaching Academies of Professional Practice, (VDET)

Different Countries, different approaches to teaching and learning, Jeff Thompson Research Award (IBO)

Dr Rhonda Di Biase

Rhonda is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education. She has a background in school teaching in Melbourne and internationally across Asia.  Previously she worked at the Maldives National University through a post-tsunami aid project promoting learner-centred education. In 2014 undertook an Endeavour Executive Fellowship promoting local research in the Maldives. Drawing on these experiences her research interests include: pedagogical renewal focusing on active learning reform and education for sustainable development; teachers’ professional learning; and education reform with a particular interest in the needs of small island states.

International research projects

Quality Education: initiatives to improve teaching and learning in low and middle-income countries (Philanthropic funding, 2021)

Investigating sustainable education reform in a Small Island Developing State (MGSE Early Career Researcher Grant, 2017)

Promoting Education for Sustainable Development in the Maldives (Special Study Program - Short, 2019)

Locally based research projects

A study of the effectiveness of a University of Melbourne summer school outreach program (Researcher Development Award, 2021)

Investigating how international students’ conceptions of teaching and learning develop through a Master of Teaching program (MGSE Seed Funding grant, 2017)

Dr John Doolah

Lecturer in Indigenous Education

Maiem (hello), I am a Torres Strait Islander of Erubam le (Erub person) and Meriam le (Mer person) heritage. I belong to the sager people of Mer. My Mer nosik (clan) division, is Samsep-Meriam.

My teaching background is in course development, course coordination and lecturing local, national, and international students in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies courses. In my current position at the University of the Faculty of Education I lecture and coordinate Indigenous Education undergraduate and the Master of Teaching First Nations Education courses.

My overall research interest is in the impact of colonisation on Indigenous Australians. I have researched the migration of Torres Strait Islanders from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) to Keo Deudai (mainland Australia), with the application of the Indigenous research paradigm, ‘consisting of Indigenous ontology, epistemology, methodology, and axiology’. My PhD thesis is titled: “Stories behind the Torres Strait Islander Migration Myth: the journey of the sap/bethey.” The sap/bethey (driftwood) is one of my lubabat (totem). I am in the insider researcher position, taking on the characteristics of the sap/bethey, I am a traveller. The story of the sap/bethey is about travelling away from home (Zenadth Kes) to the land of the ‘Ladaigal’ (Aboriginal) people.

Dr Bonita Marie Cabiles

Bonita Cabiles is a lecturer at the Faculty of Education. Her research has focused on schooling, specifically in the primary setting, looking at curriculum and pedagogy by engaging with historical and sociological perspectives. She has engaged with Bourdieusian sociology and qualitative research approaches in her more recent work. She is interested in exploring educational practices, as well as the practice of educational research, to examine issues of disadvantage and social justice. Her work endeavours to attend to the intersections of theory, methodology, and practice to understand how issues of inclusion, participation, and diversity manifest and are addressed in schooling.

Bonita’s doctoral thesis examined the dynamics around student participation in the context of cultural and linguistic diversity. Her thesis entitled, ‘Participation and cultural and linguistic diversity: An in-depth qualitative inquiry of an Australian primary classroom’ was awarded the Penny McKay Award for most outstanding thesis.

Bonita teaches in the Master of Teaching and Master of Education programs. She coordinates the subject, Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms (DIC) for the primary, and early childhood and primary student cohorts. She is also coordinating the Engaging and Assessing Learners 1 (E&AL1) subject for the primary cohort.

Prior to joining academia, Bonita worked as a teacher and development worker. She has taught in her home country, the Philippines, and in Indonesia. Working in/with non-governmental organisations, she has contributed to educational assistance and curriculum reform projects for under-resourced and minoritised communities in the Philippines.

Melbourne Research Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded)

Pursue your studies in Australia. Good news! Applications for Melbourne Research Scholarships are currently open. In this article we will explain in detail about this scholarships, its benefits and step by step application process.

Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) 2025-2026 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. Approximately 350 scholarships are available for Masters and doctoral research studies. This scholarship offers living allowance of $37,000 per year, Full fee offset, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership, Relocation grant and many other benefits.

The University of Melbourne is a government institute that contributes to society in a number of ways, including science, learning and teaching, and engagement. It’s consistently ranked among the leading universities in the world, with international rankings of world universities placing it as number 1 in Australia and number 31 in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021).

Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS) are open to international students from all over the world who want to pursue postgraduate studies at The University of Melbourne, Australia. These scholarships provide a stipend, as well as fee offset and are awarded for a number of courses offered by different Melbourne Schools. Eligible applicants are scored and ranked according to their academic achievement of their last completed degree and their research potential in their field of study.

Also check  Fully Funded Orange Knowledge Programme and avail the opportunity to study in Netherlands.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study:  Masters / PhD
• Institution(s):  The University of Melbourne
• Study in:  Australia
• Program Period: — 2 years for students undertaking a Master by research degree. — 4 years for students undertaking a Doctoral degree.
• Deadline:  Varies as per  selected course

Courses Offered

You can check the courses offered by following schools:

• Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.
• Melbourne Business School.
• Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
• Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
• Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
• Melbourne Dental School.
• Melbourne Law School.
• Melbourne School of Design.
• Melbourne Medical School.
• Melbourne School of Engineering.
• Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.
• Melbourne School of Health Sciences.
• Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences.
• Online Graduate Courses.
• Office for Environmental Programs.
• School of Biomedical Sciences.
• The Faculty of Science.
• School of Melbourne Custom Programs.
• Victorian College of the Arts.

For more information on courses click  here .

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Scholarship Coverage

Melbourne Research Scholarships provide the recipient with following benefits:

Stipend and fee offset scholarships

• Full fee offset for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to four years for students undertaking a doctoral degree.
• Living allowance of $37,000 per year (2024 full-time study rate) for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research degree or up to 3.5 years for students undertaking a doctoral degree. The living allowance may be indexed annually and includes limited paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.
• Relocation grant of $2000 for students moving from States or Territories other than Victoria or $3000 for students moving from outside Australia.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Membership for international students who require a student visa to study in Australia

Fee offset scholarships

Also apply for  Harvard University MBA Scholarship and get financial aid amounting to US$95,000 towards tuition fees.

Eligibility Criteria for Melbourne Research Scholarships

To be eligible for Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS), applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Required Language:  English
• Eligible Countries:  All World Countries
• You must have applied for and meet the entry requirements for a Master by research or Doctoral degree at the University of Melbourne.
• You must be currently enrolled in a research degree at the University of Melbourne.

How to Apply for Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS)?

Please follow below steps to avail Melbourne Research Scholarships:

• If you are a new student and have  applied for a graduate research course  by the application closing date for that course, you will be automatically considered for the Graduate Research Scholarships. You will receive a notification that a scholarship application has been added to your record within seven days of having submitted your course application.
• If you already have received an offer for a graduate research course and deferred commencement of your course to the following year, or you are currently enrolled in a graduate research course for which you seek a scholarship, you will need to submit an  online application form .

To know more about Melbourne Research Scholarships (MRS), please visit official website:

Official Website

Related Scholarships:   

• Scholarships in Australia

Personalise your experience

Graduate Research

Doctor of Philosophy - Science

• Arrow-right #1 University in Australia
• Course code: DR-PHILSCI

How to apply

The University of Melbourne offers two graduate research programs: the Doctor of Philosophy (Science) and the Master of Philosophy (Science) . We recommend that you familiarise yourself with both these programs before deciding on the one most suitable for you.

When you have completed or are close to completing the prerequisite studies, please follow the steps below.

Step 1 – Check your eligibility

The entry requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) are the same. Check our entry requirements to confirm that you are eligible.

Please also check that you meet the University’s English Language requirements . We can assess your application even if you do not yet meet the English requirements, however, any course or scholarship offer will be issued conditional on meeting our English language requirements before enrolment.

Step 2 – Find a prospective supervisor

Before you apply, you must have the written support of an academic supervisor. You can search for potential supervisors by exploring the University’s Find an Expert directory or the Faculty of Science Research Prospectus . You can also browse the Faculty of Science School websites, which outline their research areas, themes and staff contacts:

• Ecosystem Sciences
• BioSciences
• Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics

When contacting a potential supervisor, you should include the following documents and information:

• Copies of all higher education transcripts, including a grading scale
• A current CV/resume outlining any experience relevant to your proposed field of research, including work experience and prior research output
• A brief summary of your intended area of research, or a research proposal.

Step 3 – Check the scholarship deadlines

Applications for admission to one of our graduate research programs may be submitted at any time in the year. However, to be considered for one of the faculty's  Graduate Research Scholarships you are required to submit a complete application before one of the deadlines of our scholarship rounds. If you intend on applying for a course offer to then apply for a scholarship from a sponsor external to the Faculty of Science, such as an external government scholarship, you will not be considered for a faculty Graduate Research Scholarship and you will instead receive an outcome to your application outside of the below listed timelines.

*Please note that if you do not submit your application with all relevant documentation before this date your application will not be considered in the respective round.

Step 4 – Prepare your documentation

To ensure your application is assessed without delay, please provide the following documentation in your online application:

• Evidence of supervisor endorsement
• Copies of all higher education transcripts, completion statements and grading schemes
• Copies of, or links to, any prior research publications
• Evidence of having met the University's English language requirements
• The names and contact information of academic and/or employer referees.

If you completed a masters degree with an ungraded thesis, please also provide a copy of your thesis and any examiner reports (if available).

When you submit your application, your referees will be emailed a link to access the Graduate Research Referee tool and you will be notified when they submit their reference. It is important that you contact your referees before submitting your application to ensure that they will expect the request for a reference from the University of Melbourne.

Please ensure that your academic referees are able to comment on your most recent, relevant study.

Step 5 – Submit an application

Submit an online application by selecting the link at the top or bottom of this page.

Domestic applicants include all Australian citizens or permanent residents, holders of a permanent Australian humanitarian visa and New Zealand citizens. If you do not fall into one of these categories, you will need to apply as an international applicant.

To apply you will need to search using the course code 'DR-PHILSCI'. Please also note the following:

• International applicants select ‘PG Overseas Fee Paying’
• Domestic applicants select  ‘RTP / RTS / CTS’
• Attendance mode: select 'On Campus'
• Study mode: select 'Standard'.

Once you've submitted your application, you will receive an email stating that your application has been received. If your application is incomplete, you will receive an email requesting additional documents. Assessment of your application will only commence once you have provided all required documents.

Step 6 – Wait for the outcome

If you have submitted a complete application before the closing dates for any round, you will receive an outcome by the relevant date outlined above. We would encourage you to remain in contact with your supervisor while you wait for an application outcome.

Please note, if you have submitted your application but would like to provide additional documents, you can email them to [email protected] .