Commencing Students
Each year, Melbourne Law School offers a range of scholarships that recognise outstanding academic achievement and provide financial assistance to commencing students.
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.
Scholarships requiring a separate application
A small number of Melbourne JD scholarships require a separate application. Reasons for non-selection and feedback on individual applications will not be provided.
Applications are required for these scholarships:
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Value (AUD, approximate) | Student Type | Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Goldberg Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $15,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Argyle Scholarship in Law | Open to Domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. Students must satisfy the eligibility criteria for GAM rural or isolated area. Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Alastair Nicholson Memorial Scholarship | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing 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. | $3,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Ashurst First Nations JD Scholarship | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Beach-McGauran Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD. This scholarship is awarded to an applicant who has completed a tertiary degree in science or other technical field (including engineering), with consideration of both academic merit and financial need. | $13,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Brian John Shaw Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $45,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Cheryl Saunders Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $15,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Corrs Westgarth Chambers Indigenous Scholarship | Open to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Cybec Foundation Melbourne Law School Indigenous Scholarship | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Crutchfield Family Juris Doctor Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via GAM application). Students must also satisfy the eligibility criteria for GAM rural or isolated area. Not available in 2026. | $10,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Dean A Cinque Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $1,750 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| de Wijn JD Student Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $10,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Donovan-Johnston Memorial Scholarship – Law | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded to students from regional or remote areas of Australia who are residing at University accommodation. | $5,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants with a University Accommodation or University-affiliated College application) |
| Elizabeth Gray Scholarship | Open to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent or refugee background commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $15,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Frank and Nicole Azzopardi Scholarship | Open to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application) Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Gilbrak Bursary | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $10,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Hecht Trust Juris Doctor Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The John C Walker Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $6,500 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| John Middleton Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Malcolm D H Smith Memorial Scholarship | By application only. Open to all students commencing 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. | $6,500 | Domestic and International | By application |
| The Melbourne JD Harold Ford Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Melbourne Law School Indigenous Scholarship | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $15,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Merralls Scholarship | Open to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). Availability in 2026 TBC. | $36,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| MinterEllison Indigenous JD Scholarship | Open to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent commencing the Melbourne JD and experiencing disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Norma Jenkins Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Norman M. O'Bryan Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
(Major) | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need. (demonstrated via a GAM application). Students must also satisfy the eligibility criteria for GAM rural or isolated area. | $60,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Robert Richter Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). | $9,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Rusk JD Scholarship | By application only. Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application) and a demonstrated interest in and commitment to furthering mutual understanding and connections between Australia and the USA. Not available in 2026. | $10,000 | Domestic | By application |
| Terry Murphy KC and Margaret Lodge Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| The Valerie and Lawrence Kennedy Scholarship Fund | Open to mature-age domestic and international students (25 years or older) commencing the Melbourne JD. | $10,000 | Domestic and International | Automatic selection |
| The W John Collins Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $30,000* | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Whan Family Access Scholarship | Open to domestic students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need (demonstrated via a GAM application). Not available in 2026. | $10,000 | Domestic | Automatic selection (GAM applicants) |
| Zelman Cowen Scholarship | Open to domestic and international students commencing the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit. | $5,000 | Domestic and International | Automatic selection |
* 3-year scholarship – The total amount will be paid in three equal instalments and paid annually provided the recipient remains enrolled.
Melbourne Law School reserves the right to change the number of scholarships awarded, and the value of the award, without notice.
Outcomes
Melbourne JD applicants will be advised if they have been offered a scholarship following the Melbourne JD Selection Committee meeting in late October/early November. The scholarship offer letter will include information about anticipated payment dates.
Unless a scholarship is by application, only successful applicants are advised (usually by early 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.
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.