The Melbourne JD Scholarships
Each year, Melbourne Law School offers a range of scholarships that recognise outstanding academic achievement and provide financial assistance to future students who might otherwise be excluded due to disadvantaged circumstances.
Eligibility and how to apply
Most scholarships for students commencing the Melbourne JD do not require a separate application, with applicants being automatically considered based on their application for admission to the Melbourne JD.
All applicants must:
- Have been offered a place in the Melbourne JD to commence in the upcoming intake, and
- Meet the selection criteria of the scholarship.
Demonstrated financial need
Only applicants who have applied to the Melbourne JD under the disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances category of the Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM) scheme will automatically be considered for financial need scholarships.
Application-required scholarships
A select number of scholarships require a separate application. Reasons for non-selection and feedback on individual applications will not be provided.
Asia Leaders Scholarship
Applications are required for these scholarships:
The Melbourne JD Harold Ford Scholarship
International students interested in The Melbourne JD Harold Ford Scholarship must also complete a disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances – supplementary form (PDF) by 1 November prior to the year of commencement. As part of this form, applicants need to provide a statement explaining financial hardship they have experienced and a supporting statement from a relevant independent third party such as an accountant or financial counsellor, and any other supporting documentation that provides evidence of their financial need. This form and relevant documents must be submitted by the deadline to law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au.
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Value (AUD, approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and significant financial need. | $15,000* | |
| Argyle Scholarship in Law | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. Students must satisfy the eligibility criteria of rural or isolated area. | $5,000 |
| Brian John Shaw Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $24,000* |
| Cheryl Saunders Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and significant financial need. | $15,000* |
| Elizabeth Gray Scholarship | Open to students of Indigenous Australian or refugee background about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $15,000* |
| Gilbert + Tobin Scholarship | Open to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $10,000 |
| Melbourne Law School Charles Lim Capital Asia Leaders Scholarship | By application only. Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD who are citizens of the following countries/regions: Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mainland China, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. This scholarships is awarded on the basis of financial need along with evidence of actual and future leadership potential. | $75,000* |
| Melbourne Law School Shao Zili Asia Leaders Scholarship | By application only. Open to students who are citizens of Mainland China (Australian citizens or permanent residents - including dual nationals - are not eligible), this scholarships is awarded on the basis of financial need along with evidence of actual and future leadership potential and a commitment to the community and/or furthering relations between Australia and Asia. | $75,000* |
| Norma Jenkins Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $15,000* |
| Phillips Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $8,000 |
| Robert Richter Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $5,000 |
| The Alastair Nicholson Memorial Scholarship | Open to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $2,000 |
| The Beach-McGauran Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD who have completed a degree in Science (or other technical field), this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $10,000 |
| The Dean A Cinque Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $1,200 |
| The Donaghue-Evans Indigenous Scholarship | Open to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD or PhD at Melbourne Law School, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $15,000* |
| The Donaghue-Evans Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $15,000* |
| The John C Walker Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $2,000 |
| The Malcolm D H Smith Memorial Scholarship | By application only. Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD who have completed an undergraduate law degree or degree majoring in Asian studies at a tertiary institution in Australia or Asia, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and the applicant’s commitment to understanding one or more Asian societies. | $3,000 |
| The Melbourne JD Harold Ford Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. complete a disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances – supplementary form (PDF) by 1 November prior to the year of commencement.This form and relevant documents must be submitted by the deadline to law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au. | $15,000* |
| The Nathan and Pamela Jacobson Fund | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $15,000* |
| The Norman O'Bryan Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $15,000* |
| The W John Collins Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $5,000 |
| Zelman Cowen Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $5,000 |
* The total amount is divided into three equal amounts and paid in each year the student is enrolled (up to three years).
Melbourne Law School reserves the right to change the number of scholarships awarded, and the value of the award, without notice.
Outcomes
Applicants will be advised if they have been offered a scholarship when receiving their Notification of Outcome with Fee-Type, usually in late November. The offer will include information on payments.
Special Conditions
Scholarship recipients who:
- Withdraw from study before the end of their first semester of the Melbourne JD will be required to repay the scholarship in full.
- Elect to defer their enrolment in the Melbourne JD will forfeit the bursary or scholarship. The recipient will be reconsidered in the year prior to commencing the Melbourne JD.
- Withdraw from the Melbourne JD forfeit the uncredited balance of the bursary or scholarship.
Please note: bursaries or scholarships may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Dean if the recipient commits academic or general misconduct while a Melbourne JD student.
Additionally, recipients may be contacted by the Melbourne Law School Advancement team who will facilitate a meeting with the donor of the scholarship.
Additional Opportunities
Melbourne JD students may also be interested in additional opportunities including scholarships offered by the University and residential colleges, financial aid and government assistance.
Scholarships for current students
Melbourne Law School offers a range of scholarships and bursaries that recognise outstanding academic achievement and provide support to current students while studying the Melbourne JD.
Prizes
Melbourne Law School has a long-standing tradition of awarding prizes in recognition of students’ outstanding academic achievement.
Applications are currently closed
Eligibility and how to apply
Melbourne Law School Scholarships for current students are all awarded based on application.
All applicants must:
- Be a currently enrolled Melbourne JD student, and
- Meet the eligibility requirements of the scholarship.
Demonstrated financial need
Students who wish to be eligible for scholarships that consider financial need must submit the University of Melbourne’s Student Financial Assessment form for each round of scholarships for which they are applying.
Note: Applicants who have previously completed this form (within six (6) months) will have pre-populated information provided from their last submission but will still be required to re-submit the form to be considered in each scholarship round.
Application dates
A primary round of applications (Round 1) will be held at the beginning of Semester 1 each year (usually February/March).
If there are no eligible candidates for any given scholarship in Round 1, a scholarship may be offered in a second round of applications (Round 2) at the beginning of Semester 2 of the same year (usually July/August).
Application dates are announced in the Melbourne JD Newsletter and on the Melbourne JD Community (LMS).
Melbourne Law School reserves the right to withhold a scholarship from being awarded in either Round, as well as the number of scholarships awarded, and amount awarded, without notice. Reasons for non-selection and feedback on individual applications will not be provided.
General Scholarships
Current Melbourne JD students may apply for a variety of scholarships which are assessed against a range of selection criteria.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Total value | Application dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan-Johnston Memorial Scholarship | Open to current Melbourne JD students from rural or regional Australia with a permanent place of residence located 80 kilometres or more from the Melbourne General Post Office, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $2,000 - $3,000 | Closed |
| DLA Piper Geoff Masel Prize | Open to current Melbourne JD students, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of demonstrated academic achievement in the face of adversity. | $2,000 | Closed |
| Ian Malkin Internship Scholarship |
Open to current Melbourne Law School students, this scholarship is awarded to students undertaking an internship with not-for-profit organisations or government organisations on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Preference is given to students undertaking their internship for subject credit, through the Public Interest Law Initiative. | $1,500 | Closed |
| John G Chrisp Law Bursary | Open to current Melbourne JD students, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $500 | Closed |
| The Philip Solomon QC Scholarship | Open to current Melbourne JD students who have completed Evidence and Proof (LAWS50037) at the time of application, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and to students who have demonstrated a commitment to Mooting at Melbourne Law School. | $5,000 | Closed |
| The Victorian Bar Justice Kenneth Hayne Scholarship | Open to current Melbourne JD students, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need. | $5,000 | Closed |
| Valerie and Lawrence Kennedy Scholarship in Law | Open to current Melbourne JD students, this scholarship considers students classified as mature aged (23 years or older) at the time of application. | $2,000 - $4,000 | Closed |
MULSS Book Fairy
Students can seek financial assistance for the cost of textbooks via the MULSS Book Fairy program. Please refer to the MULSS Book Fairy for application information and to apply.
Mobility Scholarships
Melbourne Law School has limited funding available for those students who wish to undertake an international experience as a part of their degree.
Eligibility
The primary criterion for award of Melbourne Law School Mobility Funding is demonstrated financial need.
Only the following mobility opportunities are eligible for funding:
- Exchange
- Center for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS)
- Degree Partnerships
- International Subjects
- Economic and Business Law in Asia (LAWS90037)
- Global Lawyer (LAWS50071)
- Institutions in International Law (LAWS50045)
- Law and Legal Practice in Asia (LAWS90006)
- Accredited international internships.
Note: Students undertaking Independent Study Abroad opportunities are not eligible to apply for this funding.
Special Conditions
- Students applying for Mobility Scholarships must ensure:
- Travel is arranged within six (6) months of receiving the scholarship
- Travel is approved for credit at Melbourne Law School and reflected on the student’s study plan
- Travel is completed within 12 months of receiving the scholarship.
- Scholarships may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Dean if the recipient commits academic or general misconduct while a Melbourne JD student.
- Students can only receive Melbourne Law School Mobility Funding once during each University of Melbourne degree.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Total value | Application dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Myers Oxford Scholars Scholarship | Eligible students are automatically considered for this scholarship. Open to current Melbourne JD students participating in the degree partnership program at the University of Oxford, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit. | £20,000 | N/A |
| JAMAKAPE Foundation Scholarship | Open to domestic Australian Melbourne JD students and is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. Preference is given to students who have completed an undergraduate degree in the areas of Arts or Commerce at the University of Melbourne. | $5,000 | Closed |
| Melbourne Law School Mobility Scholarship | Open to current Melbourne JD students, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | At least $1,500 | Closed |
| Nicholas Grambas Travel Scholarship | Open to current Melbourne JD students, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $5,000 | Closed |
| The Supreme Court of Victoria - Trinity Hall Scholarship | Eligible students are automatically considered for this scholarship. Open to current Melbourne JD students participating in the degree partnership program or Melbourne Law School Bachelor of Laws (LLB) graduates, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | £10,000 | N/A |
Outcomes
Applicants will be advised if they have been offered a scholarship within eight weeks of application closing date. The offer will include information on when payments are due to occur.
Recipients may be contacted by the Melbourne Law School Advancement team who will facilitate a meeting with the donor of the scholarship.
Please note: bursaries or scholarships may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Dean if the recipient commits academic or general misconduct while a Melbourne JD student.
Additional Opportunities
Melbourne JD students may also be interested in additional opportunities including scholarships offered by the University and residential colleges, financial aid and government assistance.
Prizes
Melbourne Law School has a long-standing tradition of awarding prizes in recognition of students’ outstanding academic achievement.
Additional scholarships
- The University of Melbourne Scholarships
- Residential College Scholarships
- Future Generations Scholarship
- Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM) Bursary
Other financial assistance
Government assistance
- FEE-HELP
- HECS-HELP
- Centrelink
- Department of Justice and Community Safety Disability Scholarship Program
For Indigenous students
- Commonwealth Scholarships Programme
- Murrup Barak, Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development
- John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship