Fully Funded University of Melbourne Scholarship 2026 – Benefits & How to Apply
✅ What kind of scholarships are available
At the University of Melbourne, there are many types of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate study — including for domestic and international students. (Scholarships)
Here are some examples:
- Undergraduate International Scholarships
The “Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship” gives a 25% tuition fee remission for eligible international students enrolling in a bachelor’s degree. (Scholarships) - Research-level Scholarships (Masters by Research / PhD)
The university lists “Postgraduate Research Scholarships … 2026” which are described as fully funded (tuition-waiver, living allowance, relocation grant) for research masters and doctoral studies. (Elvoyager) - Specialised scholarships by institute/faculty
For example the Melbourne Social Equity Institute at the university offers “Social Equity in Engineering and Information Technology PhD Scholarship Opportunities 2026” with full fee exemption + stipend. (Melbourne Social Equity Institute)
🎯 Who is eligible
Eligibility depends on the specific scholarship, but general criteria include:
- For undergraduate international scholarships: You must apply for a bachelor degree, be from eligible countries (often those with lower GDP), and meet academic entry requirements. (Scholarships)
- For research (Masters/PhD) scholarships: You must apply to a research program, have supervisor support, meet high academic standard (e.g., honours or equivalent) and be able to commence in 2026. For example, the social equity scholarship requires a first-class honours result or equivalent (80%+), or 75% in some equity circumstances. (Melbourne Social Equity Institute)
- Some scholarships are for domestic students only (Australian citizens/permanent residents), while others are open to both domestic & international. Always check the specific listing. (Melbourne Social Equity Institute)
📅 Important deadlines & timeline
- For research scholarships: One listing states that applications (Expression of Interest) open 19 August 2025 and close 12 pm midday AEDT Monday 20 October 2025 for commencement in 2026. (Melbourne Social Equity Institute)
- For undergraduate international scholarships: The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship is “open for automatic consideration” when you apply for admission for the award year. (Scholarships)
- For research scholarships a deadline of 31 October 2025 is quoted for some “fully funded” 2026 scholarships. (eduhub21.com)
- Since “2026” intake may have rounds, you need to check for your field/level and ensure you apply ahead of the closing date.
📝 How to apply
Here’s a general step-by-step:
- Choose the program you want to study at the University of Melbourne (undergraduate, master’s, PhD) for 2026.
- Check the scholarship list on the university’s site (“Find a scholarship” page) to find ones you are eligible for. (Scholarships)
- For scholarships that require a separate application, gather required documents (transcripts, CV, research proposal, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, proof of nationality, etc.).
- Ensure you apply for admission to the program first (if required), sometimes before or alongside your scholarship application. For research scholarships, often you apply for admission + scholarship at once. (admission.ac)
- Submit your scholarship application by the deadline. For some scholarships you are automatically considered by applying for admission (so no separate scholarship form needed) – check the listing. (Reddit)
- Wait for the outcome. If successful, you’ll receive the scholarship offer and then you can enrol in the program for 2026 and complete other formalities (visa for international students, relocation etc).
⚠️ Things to watch out for & note
- “Fully funded” for research scholarships often means full tuition + living allowance + relocation grant. But always check the exact coverage. For example: some listings mention living allowance and OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) for international students. (cekrel)
- Some scholarships are only partial (e.g., 25% tuition remission) or only for certain countries. For example undergraduate international scholarship gives 25% fee remission, not full cost. (Scholarships)
- International scholarship competition is high. One quick look at forum comments suggests that “fully funded” research scholarships are rare and very competitive. (Reddit)
- For international students, you need to factor in additional costs (living cost in Melbourne, visa, travel) even if the scholarship covers tuition.
- Check if your program is eligible: some scholarships might exclude coursework master’s degrees or professional degrees.
- Deadlines are strict – missing them usually means you are not considered. Also check if the scholarship requires you to hold an unconditional offer before applying.
- Sometimes you also need to secure a supervisor (for PhD) before applying, as part of your application. (Melbourne Social Equity Institute)
🏁 My takeaway
If you’re aiming to study at the University of Melbourne in 2026, there are strong scholarship options — both undergraduate and research level. For international students, especially at research level, “fully funded” scholarships covering tuition + stipend are possible. But you’ll need excellent academic performance, strong application materials, and to apply early. For undergraduate international scholarships, the awards may be partial but still significant.
If I had to highlight one: The research scholarships (Masters by Research / PhD) with full fee waiver + living allowance + relocation support are among the strongest available at Melbourne for 2026. The undergraduate international scholarship is a good option but is more limited (25% fee remission).