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
  • Rusk JD Scholarship

Scholarships

Scholarship EligibilityValue (AUD, approximate)
Alan Goldberg ScholarshipOpen 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. $30,000
Ashurst First Nations JD ScholarshipOpen to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances.$30,000
Brian John Shaw ScholarshipOpen 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 Westgarth Chambers Indigenous ScholarshipOpen to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. Not offered for 2024 intake.$30,000
Cybec Foundation Melbourne Law School Indigenous ScholarshipOpen to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances.$30,000
Crutchfield Family Juris Doctor ScholarshipOpen to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. Students must satisfy the eligibility criteria of rural or isolated area. Not offered for 2024 intake.$30,000
de Wijn JD Student ScholarshipOpen to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. $10,000
Elizabeth Gray ScholarshipOpen to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent or refugee background undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. Not offered for 2024 intake.$15,000
Frank and Nicole Azzopardi ScholarshipOpen to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor.$30,000
Gilbrak ScholarshipOpen to domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances.$10,000
Melbourne Law School Indigenous ScholarshipOpen to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD, and are experiencing disadvantaged circumstances.$15,000*
Merralls ScholarshipOpen to high-achieving domestic students of Indigenous Australian descent undertaking the Juris Doctor and experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. Not offered for 2024 intake.$30,000
MinterEllison Indigenous JD ScholarshipOpen to students of Indigenous Australian background about to commence the Melbourne JD, and are experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. Not offered for 2024 intake.$30,000
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. $8,000
Rusk JD ScholarshipOpen 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 ScholarshipOpen to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of both academic merit and financial need.$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. $3,000
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. $12,000
The Dean A Cinque Scholarship Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. $1,500
The Donovan-Johnston Memorial Scholarship – LawOpen 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 2024 intake.$5,000
The Hecht Trust Juris Doctor ScholarshipOpen to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need.$30,000*
The John C Walker Scholarship Open to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need. $5,000
The Malcolm D H Smith Memorial ScholarshipBy 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 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. $30,000*
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. $45,000
The W John Collins ScholarshipOpen to students about to commence the Melbourne JD, this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need.$30,000*
Whan Family Access ScholarshipOpen 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 Law School Supported Place

The Melbourne Law School Supported Place is awarded to select Australian fee students on admission to the JD. This is a subsidy that will provide a discount on fees – unlike a scholarship, there is no cash component.

Eligible applicants will be automatically considered for a Melbourne Law School Supported Place and will be notified if they have been awarded one after the selection round in November.

The subsidy will make the fees payable comparable to the contribution amount of a Commonwealth Supported Place.

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.

Find out more

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.

Previous prize recipients