The University of Melbourne is Australia’s top-ranked university and consistently places among the leading thirty universities in the world. For Nigerian students looking to study in Australia, Melbourne offers some of the most accessible and well-structured scholarship opportunities available at any top-tier institution globally. What makes Melbourne particularly attractive is that its two most important scholarship programmes — the Graduate Research Scholarship and the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship — do not require a separate application. You are automatically considered when you apply for admission. This guide covers both programmes in detail, explaining who qualifies, what each scholarship covers, and how Nigerian students can put themselves in the best position to receive one.
The University of Melbourne is located in Victoria, Australia’s second-largest city, and is home to over 50,000 students from more than 130 countries. It is a member of the Group of Eight, Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, and its degrees are recognised and respected by employers and institutions worldwide. International tuition fees at Melbourne range from approximately AUD 40,000 to AUD 75,000 per year depending on the programme, making scholarship support highly significant for Nigerian students. The university awards approximately 710 scholarships annually across its undergraduate and graduate research programmes, giving Nigerian applicants a realistic pathway to study at one of the world’s best universities with substantial financial support.
Scholarship Option 1 — Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship
The Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship — which combines the Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) and the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship — is the flagship award for international postgraduate students at the University of Melbourne. It is fully funded, open to Nigerian citizens, and requires no separate application. Approximately 600 Graduate Research Scholarships are awarded each year across Master’s by Research and doctoral (PhD) programmes.
Who can apply:
- You are applying for or have been offered admission to a Master’s by Research or doctoral (PhD) degree at the University of Melbourne
- You are an international student — Nigerian citizens are fully eligible
- You have a strong academic record — eligible applicants are scored and ranked according to their academic achievement in their most recently completed degree and their demonstrated research potential
- There is no separate nationality restriction — the scholarship is open to all countries
What it covers:
- Full tuition fee offset for up to two years for Master’s by Research students, or up to four years for doctoral students — you pay zero tuition
- A fortnightly living allowance stipend of AUD $39,500 per year pro rata at the 2026 full-time study rate — paid for up to two years for Master’s by Research students and up to 3.5 years for doctoral students
- A one-off relocation grant of AUD $3,000 for international students relocating from outside Australia
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) single membership for international students who require a student visa to study in Australia
- Limited paid sick leave, maternity leave, and parenting leave included within the living allowance terms
The total value of the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship can reach up to AUD $135,000 depending on the level and duration of study — making it one of the most generous research scholarships available at any Australian university. The AUD $39,500 annual stipend is sufficient to cover rent, food, transport, and daily living costs in Melbourne comfortably, particularly when combined with university accommodation options.
Scholarship Option 2 — Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship
The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship is designed for high-achieving students from developing countries who are enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Melbourne. It targets students from countries where international educational opportunities are limited by financial disadvantage — and Nigeria qualifies under this criterion.
Who can apply:
- You are a citizen of a country with a Gross Domestic Product per capita of USD $10,000 or less based on World Bank data — Nigeria qualifies under this threshold
- You have applied for and meet the entry requirements for an overseas fee place in a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Melbourne
- You have completed your secondary school education outside Australia, or a foundation programme in Australia
- You have not previously undertaken tertiary studies — this is a first undergraduate degree scholarship
- You demonstrate strong academic achievement at the secondary school level
What it covers:
- A 25% tuition fee remission for the full duration of your Bachelor’s degree programme
- Approximately 110 scholarships are awarded each year under this programme
Note that the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship is a partial scholarship — it reduces your tuition by 25% for the full duration of your degree, which is a significant saving over three to four years, but it does not cover the remaining tuition, accommodation, or living expenses. Nigerian undergraduate applicants should plan to combine this scholarship with other funding sources such as the Australia Awards Scholarship or personal savings.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Apply for admission to the University of Melbourne. Both scholarships begin with your admission application. For the Graduate Research Scholarship, apply for a Master’s by Research or doctoral degree through the University of Melbourne’s graduate research admissions portal. For the undergraduate scholarship, apply for a Bachelor’s degree through the university’s undergraduate admissions system. Choose your programme carefully — your academic background must align strongly with your chosen degree.
Step 2: No separate scholarship application is needed. This is the most important thing to understand about both Melbourne scholarships — there is no separate scholarship form to fill out. Once you apply for admission and meet the eligibility criteria, you are automatically considered for the relevant scholarship. For the Graduate Research Scholarship, eligible applicants are scored and ranked based on their academic achievement and research potential at the time of admission processing.
Step 3: Strengthen your research profile for the Graduate Research Scholarship. Since the Graduate Research Scholarship is awarded on academic merit and research potential, Nigerian applicants should ensure their application clearly demonstrates their research experience, publications if any, conference presentations, strong academic results, and the quality of their research proposal. A well-written research proposal that aligns with the expertise of a potential supervisor at Melbourne is a significant advantage.
Step 4: Contact a potential supervisor before applying for research degrees. For the Graduate Research Scholarship specifically, it is strongly advisable to identify and contact a potential academic supervisor at the University of Melbourne before submitting your application. A supervisor who is aware of your work and supportive of your research proposal can significantly strengthen your chances of both admission and scholarship consideration.
Step 5: Prepare your supporting documents for admission. Standard documents required for admission include your academic transcripts and degree certificates, proof of English language proficiency (IELTS or equivalent), a research proposal for graduate research applicants, referee reports from academic supervisors, and a statement of purpose. Ensure all documents are complete and accurate before submitting — incomplete applications delay the admission and scholarship consideration process.
Step 6: Submit your admission application before the closing date. For the Graduate Research Scholarship, applications for 2027 commencement must be submitted by 31 October 2026. For the undergraduate scholarship, the admission deadline is 31 May 2026 for a Semester 2 July intake, or 31 October 2026 for a Semester 1 February/March intake. Check the University of Melbourne’s official scholarships website for the most current deadlines.
Deadline Information
The Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship considers all eligible applications submitted before each intake’s admission closing date. For the 2027 intake, the deadline is 31 October 2026. For the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship, the deadline depends on your intended intake — 31 May 2026 for a July 2026 start, or 31 October 2026 for a February/March 2027 start. Both scholarships are awarded automatically upon meeting eligibility criteria, so the key action is submitting a strong, complete admission application well before the relevant deadline.
Moreschooling will publish updates on the University of Melbourne scholarship deadlines as each new cycle opens. Bookmark this page and visit scholarships.unimelb.edu.au for the most current and complete information on all available awards.