International applications

Step 1. Choose your course

Choose the graduate research course you want to apply for. Options include:

• Doctor of Philosophy – Up to 4 years in duration, you will undertake original research on a specialised topic and produce a thesis of approximately 80 000 words. Some of our PhDs include taught subjects in the first year.
• Doctorate by Research – offering a coursework component in parallel with meetings with your research, giving high-level engagement with the key literature in your research area.
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) – an internationally recognised masters course by research that requires the completion of a thesis of 30 000–40 000 words.
• Masters by Research – different from the MPhil it offers a coursework component, along with a shorter thesis of about 30 000 words.

You can find these on graduate course pages. Also check out our University of Melbourne Research website for information on applications, funding opportunities and more.

Step 2. Check eligibility and fees

Eligibility

You need to meet minimum eligibility to apply for graduate research courses. This includes course requirements, English language requirements and meeting student visa conditions set by the Department of Home Affairs.

If you want to study for less than an academic year, you'll need to apply as an exchange or study abroad student through a separate application.

For more information on eligibility, see entry requirements

Fees

If eligible, you will automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship that provides a living allowance and/or tuition fee-remission scholarship. More than 300 of these scholarships are offered to international graduate researchers each year.

If you are unsuccessful for a tuition fee-remission scholarship, you'll enter as a full fee paying student.

Tuition fees are based on the course you take and your subject load. You can find estimates of fees on every course page. You'll also need to factor in other costs while at university, such as for social events, travel and accommodation.

There are other scholarships and bursaries that can help with tuition and the cost of living while you study.

To find out how tuition fees are calculated and ways to pay, see Fees & payments

Step 3: Prepare your documentation

At minimum, you will need to provide academic transcripts and a CV with your application. If you're currently studying, you'll also need to provide a transcript of your final results and evidence of completion as soon as they’re available.

Depending on the course, you may also have to provide a research proposal, folio of creative works, GRE or GMAT test result or writing sample.

If you don’t have verified digital copies of academic documents for prior or current studies and wish to obtain during your application, you can select Digitary VIA when requested during your submission. This includes English translated documents and can be fulfilled for both interim qualifications and completed qualifications.

Obtaining verified digital copies of academic documents can help fast-track your application and retained for use with other applications you wish to make. The Digitary VIA option includes a one-off charge.

Academic transcripts

If you're currently studying, you'll also need to provide a transcript of your final results and evidence of completion as soon as they’re available. Some graduate schools will consider applications at any time, others only assess applications at fixed times of the year.

Check the graduate course you're applying for to find out application due dates before submitting your application.

If you don’t have verified digital copies of academic documents for interim or complete qualifications, you can select Digitary VIA during the application submission to help fast-track your application. The Digitary VIA option includes a one-off charge.

Referees

You will also need to provide the name and contact details of two referees. If it is less than 5 years since you completed your last course, they should be academic referees. If it is more than 5 years since you completed your last course, they may be professional referees. Once you submit your application, your referees will be emailed a link to provide their reference online.

In the event your referee does not receive the email with the link, please check that you have entered their email address correctly and contact us through Stop 1 to confirm their details and that their form has been sent.

It is important that you contact your referees well before submitting an application. This ensures they expect the request for a reference. Some graduate schools will consider applications at any time, others assess applications at fixed times of the year only.

Publications

If you want to include in your application details of publications of which you are the author or co-author, please follow the following formatting conventions.

Relevant publications include refereed journal articles, refereed conference papers, book chapters or books that have been published or are forthcoming. Please present publications in the format below:

Begin with the most recent publication first:

• Journal articles: author(s), title of article, journal title and issue/number, year of publication, page references;
• Book chapters: author(s), chapter title, book editors, title of book, page references, place of publication, publisher and year of publication;
• Books: author(s), book title, place of publication, publisher and year of publication;
• Refereed conference papers: author(s), paper title, title of conference, date(s) of conference.

Do not include articles or other works which have not yet been accepted for publication.

Find a supervisor

Your graduate research study will be guided by an academic supervisor. This person will be an expert in the area you are proposing to study and will guide and support you through all of the stages of candidature and ensure that you have access to necessary resources and facilities to complete your research project.

For most courses and areas of study you will need to find an appropriate supervisor as part of your application process. If your course does require evidence of supervisor support at the time of application, you can either upload an email from them stating that they are providing in-principle support for your application or complete this form and upload it to your application after the supervisor has signed it. If you are unsure whether in-principle support is required, you will be able to see this once you start your online course application as there will be a link to the form.

The University's Find an Expert website is a useful place to start. Use the “Experts for Research Supervision” filter to find those who are registered to supervise.

Know the faculty

The faculty your supervisor belongs to will be the faculty your course of study is with. It is important you note the faculty (or graduate school) of your supervisor so you apply for the right study package. This information will be shown in their entry in the Find an Expert website.

Creative works

Please consult the entry requirements for the course you are applying for.

• Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
• Victorian College of the Arts

Step 4: Apply with Melbourne

Early application is recommended for graduate research courses, as you may be given an early offer by some schools. Late applications may also be accepted if places are available.

How to apply

1. If you're a current student at Melbourne, apply through your student account
2. If you're a new student, you can apply online. You'll need to provide a copy of your academic results as part of your application.
3. If you need help applying, you can find an overseas representative to help you with lodge an application, accept your offer and apply for a student visa (if admitted into the University). To find out about their costs and services, see Find an overseas representative.

Ensure you apply by the relevant deadline. Check the graduate course you're applying for to find out application due dates before submitting your application.

You can track your application by logging back into your student account, or online account where you applied, and viewing the status of your application.

Don't have your results yet?

You can still apply if you haven't received your final results. You'll need to submit your most recent results on application, and your final results when you receive them to be admitted into a graduate research course.

You can select Digitary VIA during the application submission to obtain verified digital copies of academic documents for interim qualifications, to help fast-track your application. The Digitary VIA option includes a one-off $USD199 charge.

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Step 5. Be assessed and wait for offers

After you submit your application, you'll receive a confirmation email with your unique student ID and application reference number. If anything is missing from your application, we'll email you.

Graduate schools may assess research applications in selection rounds on specific dates or continually throughout the year. Check the course website for more details on the application process for the research course you have chosen.

If you are selected for admission, we'll email you directly with an offer.

If the offer is conditional, you need to meet the offer conditions before accepting it. If you've been sent an unconditional offer, you can choose to accept it immediately.

To find out how to do this, see Offers and enrolments.

Step 6: Search for a scholarship

We have one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia to help with your tuition and living costs.

If eligible, you will automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship. Other scholarships are available by application.

These include:

• Endeavour Scholarships – competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships offered by the Australian government, providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia.
• Travelling scholarships – for students undertaking research at an overseas institution, such as the Rae and Edith Bennett Travelling Scholarship.
• Other grants and bursaries – some offered by faculties to reward you for academic achievement and to help with the general cost of living and tuition while studying at Melbourne.

To find out more about our graduate research scholarships and funding, see Research funding.

For all scholarships offered through Melbourne, see Melbourne Scholarships.

Step 7: Plan for accommodation

If you're planning to move to Melbourne for your studies, there are a range of student accommodation options you can choose from including residential colleges, student apartments, share houses, homestay, hostels and temporary accommodation.

To find out more, see Accommodation.