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Scholarships and financial support


A range of opportunities are available to assist you in meeting your study expenses. Current University funding opportunities can be found at the Research Support Office website.

Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA), and University of Sydney Postgraduate Awards (UPA)

Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) are scholarships awarded to students of exceptional research potential to undertake a higher degree by research at an Australian university. The scholarships are provided to assist with general living costs.

For more information including applications forms go to the scholarships website.

Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students

A list of scholarships available to fund the study of international research students can be found on the International Office website.

Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS)

PRSS is a scheme introduced by the University in 2001 to provide direct support for currently enrolled postgraduate research students.

Grants may be awarded for expenses relating to conferences, use of specialist facilities or learning specialist techniques, purchase of specialist books and periodicals, purchase of software etc.

Applications normally open in April each year subject to availability of funding. Please also refer to Grants-in-AID

Applications Closing Date: Closed

University of Sydney Grants-in-Aid

Grants-in-aid (GIA) are available to provide students with travel grants to support short-term periods of research overseas. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia. Most grants are open only to full-time students enrolled in a research degree, although some are offered to undergraduates. Individual grants vary in value and purpose with most approximately $1,800. Applications normally open in April. Please visit the Scholarships Office website

Sydney Law School Postgraduate Research Scholarships

Postgraduate research students may apply for a range of scholarship opportunities offered by the Law School. You may apply for more than one scholarship, however funding is limited and the successful applicant will be awarded one scholarship only. Scholarship value may vary subject to final funding allocation.

International applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship must submit their formal application for admission to the University to the International Office at least 6 months prior to the closing date. Scholarships are extremely competitive. Only applicants with an Honours 1 or equivalent degree and who have satisfied the Faculty’s English language requirements at the time of receiving an offer of admission are eligible to apply for a scholarship.

For Further Information: please contact Sue Ng, Postgraduate Team Leader, Sydney Law School.

Application opens in October 2013

The Cooke, Cooke, Coghlan, Godfrey and Littlejohn Scholarship

Background Information: The Cooke, Cooke, Coghlan, Godfrey and Littlejohn scholarship has been made available by the generosity of five benefactors of the Faculty. The scholarship is made possible by combining five separate bequests, all of which set the same terms and conditions.

Eligibility: The scholarship is available upon application to graduates in law of the University of Sydney who enrol full-time in a higher degree either within the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney or at another institution of similar standing, or to any graduate of any other university who enrols full-time in a higher degree in the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney. Preference will be given to candidates for a research degree.

Basis for Award: Academic merit and quality of the proposed program of research detailed in the application

Tenure: One year

Value: based on APA

Application opens in October 2013

John O’Brien Memorial Research Scholarship in Criminal Law and Criminology

Established in 2008 by a bequest to establish a memorial fund in perpetuity named the John O’Brien Memorial Fund. The purpose of the bequest is to provide scholarships in the University of Sydney Law School in particular for students in criminal law. The scholarship shall be awarded under the following conditions:

  1. The scholarship may be awarded at postgraduate levels for the study of criminal law or criminology and shall be tenable at the University of Sydney only.
  2. The scholarship shall be awarded on the basis of academic merit and appropriateness of the proposed program of research.
  3. A postgraduate scholarship may only be awarded to an applicant who is admitted to candidature for a higher degree by research in criminal law or criminology and who enrols accordingly.
  4. The scholarship will be valued at the same rate as the Australian Postgraduate Award. A relocation allowance, maintenance allowance and a thesis allowance are payable in line with Australian Postgraduate Award entitlements.
  5. The scholarship shall be tenable for up to two years for the Master of Criminology degree, or Master of Laws degree, and up to three years for a SJD or PhD degree, subject to satisfactory progress. In exceptional circumstances, a further extension of six months may be granted to PhD candidates. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the award will be deducted from the maximum period of tenure.
  6. The scholarship shall be awarded by the Faculty of Law on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Dean of the Faculty, the Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research), and members of the Committee for Postgraduate Research.

Tenure: Up to 2 years for Master's Degree and up to 3 years for Doctoral degrees


Application opens in October 2013

Longworth Scholarship

Background Information: Established in 1998 by a generous bequest of the late Barbara Irene Longworth, a graduate of the University, to assist an exemplary and needy law student to further his or her career in law.

Eligibility: Graduates in law enrolled in a postgraduate course or degree program at the Sydney Law School, with preference given to candidates wishing to undertake a full time research degree.

Basis for Award: Academic merit; character; financial need

Conditions: Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other scholarships or awards

Tenure: One year

Value: $11,000 subject to change

Application opens in October 2013

Reca Stone Scholarship in Legal Theory

Background Information: The Sydney Law School at the University of Sydney will offer scholarships to outstanding scholars who wish to pursue postgraduate study in law. The Sydney Law School offers the largest and most diverse postgraduate program of legal studies in Australia, including Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Juridical Studies, and Master of Laws as well as ten specialist Masters’ degree programs in: administrative law and policy; business law; criminology; environmental law; health law; international law; jurisprudence; labour law and relations; taxation; and international taxation.

Eligibility: The Reca Stone Scholarship in Legal Theory is available to one applicant, subject to the availability of funds, who enrols in a full-time postgraduate research program at the Sydney Law School, University of Sydney. The scholarship is offered to assist an exemplary and needy postgraduate research student working in the field of legal theory to further his or her research.

Criteria for the award of the scholarship: a) academic merit; b) research in the field of legal theory and c) financial need

Tenure: One year

Value: $10,000 subject to change

Application opens in October 2013

Ross Waite Parsons Scholarship

Background Information: Established 1970 by the Committee for Postgraduate Studies in the then Department of Law (now known as the Continuing Legal Education Committee).

Eligibility: Full time candidates for degree program leading to award of Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Juridical Studies, or one of the Research Master's degrees offered by the Sydney Law School.

Basis for Award: Academic merit and quality of proposed program of research as detailed in the application.

Conditions: Up to two scholarships may be offered each year, subject to availability of funds. Award holder may engage in a limited amount of paid employment consistent with APA terms and conditions.

Tenure: 1 year for Master's Degree and 2 years for Doctoral degrees

Value: Based on APA

Application opens in October 2013

Victoria Gollan Memorial Fund Scholarship

Background Information: Established in 1996 by donations made in memory of Victoria Jane Barclay Gollan. The purpose of the fund is to assist an Aboriginal student in the study of law at the University of Sydney.

Eligibility: Full time Aboriginal student enrolled in a Law degree at the University of Sydney. (Undergraduate or Postgraduate level)

Basis for Award: Academic merit and financial need.

Value of Award: $1,500

Application method: Applications open in October each year

For Further Information on the Victoria Gollan Memorial Fund Scholarship: please contact Peter Finneran, Marketing and Admissions Manager, Sydney Law School