Compilation of 15 top fully funded PhD scholarships in Australia 2024-(Application tips/Procedures explained)

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Compilation of 15 best fully funded PhD scholarships in Australia 2024-25 (And some most-read application tips & procedures to help you succeed)

If you are a prospective PhD applicant with keen interest to study in Australia, you are in the right place and the right time. Applications are currently open for most research degree scholarship programs across Australia. Multiple fully funded research scholarships are flooded everywhere for all eligible international applicants interested to undertake research degree programs in Australia. It is one of the best times to apply for admissions and scholarships to study in Australia. Note that applications for research degree programs are accepted all year round in most Australian universities, if interested in a scholarship, you must make sure to apply before the scholarship deadline. Some scholarships are general, while others are project-specific, thus project-specific deadlines.

There are thousands of scholarships available for international students to study in Australia for the year 2024/25. This post will covers a compilation of the 15 best full funded PhD scholarships for international students to study in Australia in 2024. These are postgraduate scholarships for research degree programs.

If you are still wondering why you should study in Australia, here are a bunch of reasons why you should consider studying in Australia today "11 reasons why you should study in Australia"

Before looking at these scholarships let's put some things straight to enable you to succeed in your scholarship application. It is high time you stop searching and saving scholarship links and start submitting applications! (After these tips, are the list of scholarships)

Pro-scholarship tips: tips to successfully apply for scholarships

When applying for a scholarship to study abroad, especially a Research Degree PhD scholarship, there are a lot of things to consider and put in place first to be successful:

1. One of the first things to consider is the requirements for this scholarship. Always check the scholarship requirements before even thinking about applying for the scholarship. Don't just lodge your application immediately. Please check to make sure that you meet all the requirements. You can check the General scholarship requirements for PhD research degree programs in Australia if you don't know them yet!

Note that in most Universities in Australia, you will be requested to either contact a potential supervisor to discuss research interest before applying for a research degree program, or send an Expression of Interest(EOI) to the graduate research, which if they deem you qualified, you will be invited to submit a formal application. Some research schools can help circulate your EOI to potential supervisors in case you were unable to secure one. See details about these two application routes below

2. If you see that you meet the requirements, the next step is to contact potential supervisors. For research degree scholarships to study in Australia and most other countries abroad, the first key to success is to be able to get approval from a prospective supervisor or supervisors who are ready to supervise your work. Most scholarships in Australia for example will only accept your application in the first place if you are able to show evidence of supervision approval. So how do you contact a supervisor?

You should prepare a well-written email free of mistakes, stating your interest in line with that of your prospective supervisor, listing all your skills and qualifications, previous experience and background knowledge of the program you are going in for, attaching supporting documents etc...

Refer to this guide for full details on how to contact potential supervisors successfully. We say "successfully" here because only a few emails get back a reply for a reason. You should definitely make sure you are part of those people who can get a reply.

3. While making contact with the prospective supervisor, make sure to prepare a Research Proposal. For a research degree scholarship, applicants are expected to submit a written research proposal. I must overemphasize here that a written research proposal is the second key to a successful scholarship application.

See details here on how to write captivating research proposal proposals for scholarship and admission applications to study abroad, including some sample research proposals, examples and tips from Australian Universities

4. The next thing you should consider is getting your referees ready. Most scholarship applications require about 2 to 3 referees for recommendation letters. It is wise to get in touch with your previous supervisors, mentors, or boss etc.. earlier, for recommendation letters. Give them a date for your application and the various deadlines. In my case, I contacted my previous supervisors 5 months earlier before my application and almost every month I sent them a reminder. Make sure any other requested document is ready before you submit your application especial your statement of purpose (SOP) and certificates

In sum, these are steps to apply for a scholarship to study in Australia or abroad to be successful :

Identify your study interest
Search for a scholarship in that study area and complete an EOI
Contact potential supervisors
Prepare a captivating research proposal
Contact or look for referees
Ask your friends or colleagues to help review your application supporting documents such as a statement of purpose, research proposals etc...
Submit your application
Pray to God and wait for the outcome
And lastly don't stop searching for more scholarships while waiting for the outcome!

You can read here in detail on How to apply for scholarships- research degree Masters/PhD

Increase your chances of securing a scholarship by applying for more. As a personal experience, this is really good as it gives you more opportunities to secure a scholarship and even better one may be. I applied for scholarships all over. I ended up with a problem of choice between accepting a scholarship to study in Australia or New Zealand or South Korea. I ended up choosing Australia for sure as the benefits especially financial assistance were just so incomparable to these other two countries and above all, Australia is just the perfect place to be, an education dreamland for all.

Equally read these 6 tips On How To Apply Successfully For Australian Scholarships

Now let's look at a compilation of the 15 best university scholarships for international students you should be looking through to study in Australia. Please consider all of the above-mentioned tips while applying for your scholarships and you will be surprised with the outcome.

Compilation of 15 best fully funded PhD scholarships to study in Australia 2024

1. Higher Degree by Research Scholarships 2024/25 at Deakin University, Australia

This is a multiple fully funded PhD position for eligible international students to undertake research at Deakin University.

The applications for these scholarships are open all year round to students from a broad range of backgrounds across a number of research areas of interest. Other benefits include living stipends and health cover etc... ReadMore

2. University of Sydney International Scholarships 2024/25

The University of Sydney International Strategic Scholarship offers multiple fully funded PhD positions for eligible international students to undertake research at the University of Sydney Australia in 2024

International students can apply for these scholarships all year round. The scholarship is open to a broad range of backgrounds across several areas of research. Benefits equally include living stipends and health cover etc...ReadMore

3.Research Training Program International (RTPi) Scholarships 2024-2025 University of South Australia

The Research Training Program International (RTPi) is fully funded scholarship program sponsored by the Australian government and awarded to international students based on merit and research potential. These scholarships provide stipend allowances, and tuition fees cover for a specific duration of the degree program. The scholarships are open all year round, deadline is mostly project-specific. Readmore

4. University of Queensland Graduate Scholarships(UQGSS)

You should equally make sure to check the University of Queensland Graduate Scholarships(UQGSS). These are fully funded scholarship offers for research degree international students. The number of offers varies and applications are open all year round, in all fields of study. Readmore

5. University of New South Wales International Research Scholarships

The University of New South Wales International Research Scholarships are one of the best sponsorship programs to study in Australia. Though competitive, the financial support and benefits are just so amazing. Plus there is no applications available. ReadMore

6. Earmarked scholarships scheme to support Category 1 project grants

Apply for the University of Queensland Earmarked Scholarships Scheme 2024/25. The Earmarked scholarships are funded by the Australian Government to assist eligible PhD students with their living costs and tuition fees. Applications are open in rounds. The application for these scholarships are open in rounds all year through. There are main 4 rounds that match with the University of Queensland's academic year for research students(research quarters (RQ)), applicants must apply at least 12 weeks before the commencement date of each Research Quarter.ReadMore

7. The University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA) 2024 at the University of New South Wales

Apply for the University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA)2024 at the University of New South Wales, Australia. Multiple fully funded postgraduate research scholarships are available to all eligible international students. The scholarships are open within several fields of study. Applications are accepted all year through in 3 rounds. ReadMore

8. Australian Government Research Training Program scholarships at the University of Sydney

This is another fully funded research scholarship you should definitely take a look at. There are multiple fully-funded PhD scholarships open at the University of Sydney Australia for high-achieving international students with strong research potential. The positions are open to multiple fields of study. Application Deadline: Open all year round. ReadMore

9.Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarships 2024(Fully funded MSc/PhD positions)

The Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarships(GUPRS) are open for all eligible international students to undertake Masters or PhD research degree programs in any field of choice across the University. The scholarship covers full tuition fees for PhD research applicants for up to 3 years and Masters research for up to 2 years. Additionally, the scholarships provide Overseas Student Health Cover(OSHC) for the applicant and any dependant/s for the scholarship duration. See the scholarship overview below for other benefits. The scholarships are open in rounds all year through. ReadMore

10. Charles Darwin HDR scholarships for International Students 2024/25 intake, Multiple fully funded MSc and PhD scholarship positions

These scholarships are highly recommended for applicants looking for opportunities to study in Wollongong. The CDU offers a range of graduate research scholarships and awards to high-achieving international applicants to undertake a higher degree by research studies in different faculties. This is open for all international students interested in undertaking research in this institute. All countries are eligible and the scholarship comes with other financial benefits apart from the tuition fees offsets. Deadline: 12 April 2024. ReadMore

11. UNE Australian Government RTP International Stipend Scholarship(Fully funded MSC/PhD positions) 2024/25

Multiple fully funded postgraduate research scholarships within any field of choice. Application Deadline: Open in rounds. ReadMore

12. UNE International Postgraduate Research Award (IPRA) 2024/25- (Multiple fully funded MSc/PhD positions)

Also apply for the UNE International Postgraduate Research Award (IPRA) 2024/25, multiple fully funded postgraduate research scholarship positions open within any field of study. Application Deadlines: in rounds. ReadMore

13. International Research Tuition Scholarships (IRTS) 2024 at the University of South Australia.

The scholarship application is always open ie all year round. So you can take your time, compile all your documents, contact prospective supervisors asking for positions, prepare research proposals, contact previous supervisors asking for recommendations etc...ReadMore

14. Fully Funded MSc and PhD scholarships, James Cook University Australia

Applications are currently welcome for James Cook University Higher Degree Research(HDR) Scholarships 2025. There are two types of scholarships open for international students, apply before 31 August 2024. Read More

15. University of Sydney RTPS scholarships

The Australian Government RTP Scholarships at the University of Sydney will support successful recipients with full tuition support, living expenses, and other financial details to make life more comfortable in Australia-funded master research and PhD positions within a range of study fields. Applications are accepted all year through in rounds. ReadMore

If finding a course to study in Australia is your problem, see our Step by step guide on how to find a course and apply for admissions to study at an Australian University. To succeed with your admissions see some tips on how to easily secure admissions into Australian universities.

Take note that some universities offer their scholarship application separate from admission while many others do a joint application. Universities doing a joint application process(admission and scholarship joint) will automatically grant you a scholarship once you have been offered a place to study at that University. There is no scholarship application in this case as it comes with your offer to study at that University. This is the case with most research degree programs in Australia.

Universities with no joint application process on the other hand will want you to secure admission into the university first before applying for the scholarship ie separately. Whatever is the case, this is always specified in the scholarship document.

Go ahead and apply for a scholarship to study in Australia today!! Good luck!!

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