Scholarships
Melbourne Law School and the University of Melbourne offer a range of scholarships, prizes and awards to support Indigenous students.
Student scholarships for MLS Indigenous students
| Scholarship name | Applications open | Applications close | Total value | Areas of study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Helen and Bori Liberman Scholarship Awarded to a Melbourne JD student, this scholarship provides support for an Indigenous Australian students. | 30 Jun 2020 | 31 Jul 2020 | up to $5,000 | Law, legal studies and criminology |
Alastair Nicholson Memorial Scholarship This scholarship celebrates the Honourable Alastair Nicholson AO QC RFD and his distinguished career and commitment to social justice, including advancing the interests of Indigenous Australians. | Automatic consideration | up to $4,000 | Law, legal studies and criminology | |
Established thanks to the generous support of Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers. Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers is an independent Australian corporate law firm, serving corporates and governments throughout Australia, and around the world, on a broad range of legal issues. | Automatic consideration | up to $10,000 | Law, legal studies and criminology | |
Liz’s family, friends and colleagues have formed an endowment fund to provide ongoing support to students commencing the Melbourne JD from Indigenous Australian or refugee backgrounds, who are financially disadvantaged. The scholarship supports the recipient for 3 years. Liz played a key role in Legal Aid Victoria during the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s as a Commissioner and in the general law division, addressing issues of social justice and equity. | Automatic consideration | up to $15,000 | Law, legal studies and criminology | |
Corrs Chambers Westgarth Indigenous Scholarship This scholarship supports an Indigenous Australian graduate student who demonstrates the potential to be one of the commercial lawyers of tomorrow. The scholarship provides financial assistance to a student showing academic merit and financial need. | Automatic consideration | up to $22,500 | Law, legal studies and criminology |
Melbourne Law Masters Indigenous Bursary
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons admitted to any of our Melbourne Law Masters courses at Melbourne Law School will receive a bursary to cover approximately 75% of their course fees. If you are offered a place, the Academic Service Office will contact you with next steps to receive your bursary. For further information, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au.
PhD Scholarship for an Indigenous PhD Student
The recruitment, support and retention of Indigenous graduate researchers is a major goal of the University of Melbourne's Reconciliation Action Plan. Melbourne Law School is committed to fostering the next generation of Indigenous graduate researchers and has therefore dedicated one faculty PhD scholarship per year to support an Indigenous graduate researcher who is admitted to the PhD Program.
The recipient will also receive a top-up scholarship of $10,000 per annum (taking the recipient’s overall stipend to $41,200 per year pro rata over the 3.5 year duration of their scholarship).
Faculty Scholarship Benefits:
Stipend and fee offset
- 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 $31,200 per year pro rata (2020 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.
For further information, please contact law-research@unimelb.edu.au.
MLS Scholarships, Prizes and Awards
Find out more about the Scholarships, Prizes and Awards, previous prize recipients and MLS terms and conditions.
University of Melbourne scholarships for Indigenous students
| Scholarship name | Applications open | Applications close | Total value | Areas of study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This scholarship is available to talented students of Australian Indigenous descent. | Automatic consideration | 100% fee remission and up to $18,000 | All study areas | |
| This scholarship is named after former Chancellor Ms Fay Marles in recognition of her strong commitment to social justice and human rights, and offered to research students from Australian Indigenous descent or students who are experiencing compassionate or compelling circumstances. | 1 April | $60,000 - $100,000 | All study areas | |
| This scholarship was established with a donation from Isabella Ina Oldham and is offered to Indigenous Australian students. | 1 Jan | 8 March | up to $2,283 | All study areas |
| This bursary was established with a donation from Arno Herpe and is offered to students who are descendants from people indigenous to the South Pacific, including New Zealand and Australia. | 1 Jan | 8 March | up to $4,000 | All study areas |
| This bursary was established with a donation from various Rotary Clubs within District 9800, which covers part of the Melbourne Metropolitan area and reaching as far north as Echuca and is offered to Indigenous Australian students. | 1 Jan | 8 March | up to $3,467 | All study areas |
| This scholarship was established with a donation from Gweneth Wisewould and is offered to Indigenous Australian students. | 1 Jan | 8 March | up to $3,325 | All study area |
| This scholarship was established with a donation from Harold Allan Webster and is offered to Indigenous Australian students to assist with the cost of living and study. | 1 Jan | 8 March | up to $8,630 | All study areas |
| This scholarship was established with a donation from Sir Edward Woodward and Lady Lois Woodward and is offered to mature-age, female Indigenous Australian students. | 1 Jan | 8 March | up to $2,000 | All study areas |
The University of Melbourne Scholarships page
Find out more about scholarships, fellowships and eligibility
External scholarships
| Scholarship | Application round |
|---|---|
Australian-American Fulbright Commission The Australian-American Fulbright Commission, in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, invites applications for its Indigenous scholarships. These support Indigenous Australian scholars in undertaking a research or study programme in the US. The scholarships include living and dependent allowances, travel and tuition cover, and medical insurance of up to USD 100,000. University of Melbourne guidance Note: Submission Guidelines The Postgraduate webinar is designed for anyone seeking to complete one or two semesters at a U.S. university for credit towards their Australian Master's program, for research towards their PhD, or to complete a full U.S. Master's program. The Scholar webinar is for postdoctoral, professional, or senior academic candidates who are looking to undertake postdoc or visiting researcher programs, or training/professional development courses. | Applications close: 6 July 2021 |
The GO Foundation partners with the universities below to provide scholarships for Indigenous students. Applications for these scholarships are directly through our University partners. Please contact the Universities directly to discuss current availability. | |
John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship The John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an approved course of study that is a prerequisite to admission as a legal practitioner in any Australian jurisdiction at or through an Australian tertiary institution. | Applications for the 2020 round are closed. |