Human Rights Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship

The University of Melbourne is inviting applications for its Human Rights Scholarship, supporting domestic and international students undertaking graduate research in Human Rights.

Opportunity Title: Human Rights Scholarship
Study Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Application Opening Date: 1 April 2026
Closing Date: 31 October 2026
Study Level: Graduate Research

Study Stage: Future Study
Eligible Students: Domestic and International Students
Duration: One or more years
Scholarship Value: 100% fee remission plus AUD $89,000–$155,000
Number of Scholarships: 4

The Human Rights Scholarship is offered by the University of Melbourne to domestic and international students commencing a graduate research degree and undertaking research in the field of Human Rights.

The scholarship supports high-achieving candidates whose research contributes to a deeper understanding of human rights and who demonstrate a commitment to the peaceful advancement of respect for human rights beyond academic studies.
Successful scholars receive substantial financial support, including a living allowance, full tuition fee offset and, where applicable, relocation assistance and Overseas Student Health Cover.

Benefits
Successful applicants may receive:

Living allowance: AUD $44,500 per year pro rata at the 2026 full-time study rate.
Master by Research: Living allowance for up to 2 years.
Doctoral degree: Living allowance for up to 3.5 years.
Tuition fees: Full fee offset for up to 2 years for a Master by Research and up to 4 years for a doctoral degree.
Relocation grant: AUD $2,000 for students relocating from another Australian state or territory outside Victoria.
International relocation grant: AUD $3,000 for students relocating from outside Australia.
Health cover: Single Membership Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for eligible international students who require a student visa.

Potential annual indexation: The living allowance may be indexed annually.
Leave provisions: The living allowance includes limited paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.
The total stated scholarship benefit is 100% fee remission and AUD $89,000–$155,000, depending on the study program and duration.

Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the Human Rights Scholarship, applicants must:

Have received an offer for a graduate research degree commencing in the year for which the scholarship is awarded.
Intend to undertake graduate research in the field of Human Rights.
Not have already completed a research qualification at the same or a higher level than the course for which the scholarship is sought.
Meet the applicable Graduate Research Scholarship requirements and conditions.
The scholarship is open to both domestic and international students.

Selection Criteria
Scholarships are awarded to the candidate or candidates ranked highest by the selection panel.

Selection takes into consideration:

The applicant’s scholarship application.
Demonstrated commitment to the peaceful advancement of respect for human rights.

The applicant’s course entry score.
Relevant voluntary work and/or professional experience.
The quality and relevance of the proposed human rights research.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit an online application and address their commitment to the peaceful advancement of respect for human rights beyond academic studies.

The application should explain how experiences such as voluntary work and/or employment demonstrate this commitment.

Applicants must also explain how their proposed research will advance their understanding of human rights and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the human rights field.

Application Process
Eligible candidates should complete the online scholarship application through the University of Melbourne’s scholarship application system.

Applicants should ensure that their graduate research degree application and scholarship application requirements are satisfied before the closing date.

Application deadline: 31 October 2026

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by email in February of the following year. Individual feedback and reasons for non-selection will not be provided.

Scholarship Conditions
The Human Rights Scholarship is subject to the Graduate Research Scholarship Terms & Conditions of the University of Melbourne.

Applicants are encouraged to review the applicable scholarship conditions and graduate research requirements before submitting an application.

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the University of Melbourne’s official scholarship portal. Apply here: University of Melbourne Human Rights Scholarship – Official Application Page
(https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/human-rights-scholarship?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Why Apply?
The Human Rights Scholarship provides an opportunity for outstanding graduate researchers to pursue advanced research in human rights while receiving substantial financial support.

With full tuition fee remission, a living allowance of AUD $44,500 per year, relocation support and health cover for eligible international students, the scholarship offers comprehensive support for candidates pursuing a research-based Master’s or Doctoral degree.

Only four scholarships are available, making a strong and well-prepared application particularly important