Commencing Students
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
Domestic 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.
Applications are required for these scholarships:
- The Malcolm D H Smith Memorial Scholarship
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Value (AUD, approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Goldberg 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* |
| 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. | $30,000* |
| 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* |
| Corrs Chambers Westgarth Indigenous 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. | $30,000* |
| 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* |
| Gilbrak Scholarship | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. | $10,000 |
| Melbourne Law School Student Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $10,000 |
| Merralls Scholarship | Open to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD, and are experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. | $30,000* |
| MinterEllison Indigenous JD Scholarship | Open to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD, and are experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. | $30,000* |
| MLS Indigenous Student Scholarship | Open to enrolled Melbourne Juris Doctor Indigenous Australian students, who are experiencing immediate disadvantaged circumstances | $15,000* |
| Norma Jenkins Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $30,000* |
| Robert Richter 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 |
| Rusk JD Scholarship | Open to domestic students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $10,000 |
| Terry Murphy KC and Margaret Lodge Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. ** Not Offered for 2023** | $30,000* |
| 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 academic merit. The Committee may also consider the applicant's demonstrated commitment and contribution to the Indigenous community. | $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. | $10,500 |
| The Dean A Cinque Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $2000 |
| The Donovan-Johnston Memorial Scholarship | Open to a full-time residential student about to commence the Melbourne JD 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. | $5,000 |
| The John C Walker Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $4500 |
| The Malcolm D H Smith Memorial Scholarship | By application only. Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD who have completed either an undergraduate degree majoring in Asian studies at a tertiary institution in Australia or Asia, or an undergraduate law degree at a tertiary institution in Asia. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and the applicant’s commitment to understanding one or more Asian societies. The ability to speak an Asian language is desirable. | $5,000 |
| 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. | $30,000* |
| The Melbourne JD Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. ** Not Offered for 2023** | $30,000* |
| The Nathan and Pamela Jacobson Fund |
Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. ** Not Offered for 2023** | $15,000* |
| The Norman M. 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 Price Scholarship | 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 |
| The Valerie and Lawrence Kennedy Scholarship Fund | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship aims to support mature-age students. | $11,000 |
| The W John Collins Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. ** Not Offered for 2023** | $30,000* |
| Whan Family Access Scholarship | Open to domestic students about to commence the Melbourne Juris Doctor through the Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM) under the 'Disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances' category. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. | $10,000 |
| Zelman Cowen Scholarship | Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of Academic merit. | $5,000 |
* 3-year scholarship – The total amount will be paid in three equal installments and paid annually provided the student remains enrolled.
Melbourne Law School reserves the right to change the number of scholarships awarded, and the value of the award, without notice.
Outcomes
Domestic 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 anticipated payment dates.
Unless a scholarship is by application, only successful international applicants are advised in late November if they have been offered a scholarship.
Awards Terms and Conditions
Scholarship applicants and recipients are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Melbourne Law School Awards Terms and Conditions.
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.
Melbourne JD Bursary
The Melbourne JD Bursary is awarded to select Australian Fee-Paying students on admission to the JD. The Bursary provides a discount on fees – unlike a Scholarship, there is no cash component. Students who receive a Bursary are notified as part of their admission, with no application required. The Bursary discount is automatically applied to fees in Semester 1 each year across the three-year course. For students taking a leave of absence in Semester 1, the discount will be applied in their subsequent Semester 1 enrolment.
The value of the Bursary changes each year. Recipients are notified of the value as part of the admissions process. So, if you have received a Bursary, please refer to your admission letter for details on the value.
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.
See Current Student Scholarships
Prizes
Melbourne Law School has a long-standing tradition of awarding prizes in recognition of students’ outstanding academic achievement.