Indigenous Students and Graduate Research Degrees
About Graduate Research Degrees
Melbourne Law School is committed to providing outstanding research training for our PhD and MPhil students. You would be part of a vibrant community of researchers here at the law school and across the university. All full-time students are entitled to a desk and computer facilities usually in close proximity to their supervisors.
GRD programs
At MLS we provide a three year Research Support Program, which assists students to develop the high level skills needed to complete an outstanding thesis. We also run a Milestone Presentation Day and two colloquia a year, providing students with a chance to present their research to a group of academics and fellow students and to receive detailed questioning on their work.

Indigenous PhD Scholarships at the Melbourne Law School
Melbourne Law School is committed to supporting and celebrating Indigenous graduate researchers. MLS has dedicated one Faculty PhD Scholarship per year to support an Indigenous graduate researcher who is admitted to the PhD Program.
The Melbourne Law School is offering a generous scholarship package to support Indigenous graduate researchers, including an annual stipend of $54,600 tax free for full-time students, plus an additional $4,000 per year as in-kind support (research costs, travel, etc.)
For further information, please contact Warwick Padgham, Program Manager – Indigenous Law and Justice Hub. Or if you’d like to know more about Indigenous research at MLS, or to speak to someone about your project, please contact Kirsty Gover or Eddie Cubillo.
Financial support
MLS provide up to $7,500 in research funds over the life of a PhD (and up to $4,000 for an MPhil) to enable students to present their work at conferences in Australia and internationally, translate critical texts, receive language training, and conduct empirical work.
Learn more about our PhD and MPhil programs
Faculty PhD Scholarship Benefits
The following benefits are available to students enrolled in the GRD programs:
- Full fee offset for up to two years for students undertaking a Masters by Research (MPhil) degree or up to four years for students undertaking a doctoral degree (PhD).
- Living allowance of $31,200 per year pro rata (2022 full-time study rate) for up to two years for students undertaking a MPhil degree or up to 3.5 years for students undertaking a PhD. 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.

Professional Opportunities and external funding
Professional development, scholarship and funding opportunities for Indigenous law students.