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Medical Scholarships

General information

Information about some of the established medical scholarship schemes offered by external funding bodies is provided below.

There are also many one-off scholarships in medical research that are offered throughout the year, often funded by research grants held by University of Sydney academic staff and linked to specific research projects. You can find details of these by subscribing to our Weekly Research Scholarships Email Bulletin, or by running keyword searches on our Research Scholarship Database (see our Current Research Scholarships page). You can also check the Sydney Medical School website for details of other scholarships offered directly by the Medical School and the Faculty of Health Sciences website for details of other scholarships offered directly by the Faculty .

Please note that applications for funding from external funding bodies require close attention to detail, and the Scholarships Office often provides specific application guidelines for applicants. Please ensure that you check these guidelines before starting your application and bear in mind that the Scholarships Office normally sets an earlier closing date than the funding body in order to check eligibility and secure signatures.

Funding Opportunities

More information

Alzheimer's Australia Dementia Research Foundation PhD Scholarships - CLOSED

Applications for 2013 closed on 31 October 2012.

The Alzheimer's Australia Dementia Scholarships are offered as a PhD scholarship to students undertaking a research PhD in an area relevant to an aspect of dementia. There are primary scholarships valued at $30,000 pa and top-up scholarships valued at $7,500 pa on offer.

To be eligible the applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia. Applicants who have been resident in Australia for at least two years and have evidence of eligibility and application for permanent residency may also be eligible for the AAR Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Dementia.

Arrow-Hawkesbury Canoe Classic PhD Scholarship - CLOSED

Applications closed on 15 March 2013.

The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation (Arrow) is offering a supplementary scholarship for students commencing an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or comparable competitive postgraduate scholarship in 2012. This biomedical research scholarship will be in the area of leukaemia and/or stem cell therapy.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or have Permanent Residency status.

Arthritis Australia Research Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Friday, 28 June 2013.

Arthritis Australia offers scholarships for young science and medical graduates to undertake thesis studies into arthritis and related disorders at recognized universities. These scholarships provide research training to doctorate or masters level and are designed to develop the intellectual and technical expertise required for a career involving laboratory and clinical investigation. Scholarships are intended, in general, to support basic and clinical research training within Australian research units and as a precursor to more advanced study in Australia and overseas.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.

For further information and application instructions, please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1287.

Asthma Foundation NSW Research PhD Scholarships - CLOSED

Applications for 2013 scholarships closed on 14 November 2012.

Competitive PhD Scholarships are available for university graduates to engage in research in an area relevant to asthma. Asthma Foundation NSW is particularly interested in supporting research relevant to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of asthma. Research focus could also include social policy research associated with social, emotional and financial aspects of the disease and of disadvantaged groups.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or hold Australian Permanent Resident status.

Asthma Foundation NSW Khancoban Travel Grant - CLOSED

Applications closed on 16 November 2012.

The Travel Grant is offered to support researchers working in any area of asthma research to travel to research institutions, scientific meetings or conferences to disseminate research findings, outline current research or expand their expertise in asthma research.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or hold Australian Permanent Residency.

The Australian Lung Foundation Grant-in-Aid for Lung Cancer Research - CLOSED

Applications closed on 19 November 2012.

The grant is designed to facilitate lung cancer research by suitably qualified medical and allied health practitioners (including Nursing). The research can relate to any aspect of lung cancer including the molecular basis of the disease, its diagnosis and treatment and the evaluation of palliative strategies in the advanced disease setting.

Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens/residents. Applicants must be a financial member of The Australian Lung Foundation.

Australian Pain Society and Australian Pain Relief Association PhD Scholarship - CLOSED

Applications closed on 29 March 2013.

The Australian Pain Society (APS) is a Multidisciplinary Society whose charter is to improve the education, research and development, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of pain. Australian Pain Relief Association (APRA) is a registered charity and works closely with the APS to support education and research in pain.

The award is to enable full time research leading to a Doctor of Philosophy or equivalent, at any recognised Australian University. The funded project can be related to any aspect of the mechanisms, diagnosis or treatment of acute or chronic pain.

The applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and the applicant and his/her supervisor must be members of the APS.

Australian Rotary Health Funding Partner Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Friday, 28 June 2013.

Applicants must be eligible to undertake study at an appropriate University or Research Institute in Australia. Applicants must be about to commence a PhD, or be in the first year of a PhD at a University or research institute in Australia.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or Australian Permanent Residents and not be under bond to any foreign government. Applicants enrolled in a combined research/coursework degree are not eligible to apply.

Further information can be found at http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1266.

Australian Rotary Health Ian Scott Scholarships - OPEN

The Ian Scott Scholarship is available to postgraduate students who are undertaking full-time research for a PhD in an area of research relevant to mental health.

Applicants must be eligible to undertake study at an appropriate University or Research Institute in Australia.

Applicants must be about to commence a PhD, or be in the first year of a PhD at a University or research institute in Australia. (Please note: the Scholarship tenure will be reduced by any periods of study undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship.) Applicants must enrol as full-time students to receive the Scholarship and must not receive any additional scholarship.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or Australian Permanent Residents and not be under bond to any foreign government. Applicants enrolled in a combined research/coursework degree are not eligible to apply

Further information can be found at http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1286.

The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Research Scholarship - CLOSED

Applications for 2013 scholarships closed on 21 September 2012.

The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand invites applications for research scholarships which are intended to enable CSANZ Members to undertake a period of training in research under the full-time supervision of a nominated responsible investigator. Scholarships are awarded for research into cardiovascular disease and related disorders.

Applicants must be a Member of the CSANZ and a permanent resident in Australia or New Zealand.

Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS) - Postgraduate Medical Research Scholarships - Interdisciplinary Sleep Health Research for 2013 - CLOSED

Applications closed on 31 October 2012.

The NHMRC Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS) is based at a network of hospitals and research institutes in Sydney and funded by the NHMRC for five years to support clinical research training and research translation in the fields of interdisciplinary sleep medicine. Fields of research broadly encompass metabolic health and sleep disorders; neurobehavioural and neurobiological interactions with sleep health; increasing effectiveness of treatments for sleep disorders, and new biomarkers of sleep health.

PhD scholarships are for research that will be supervised or co-supervised by the CIRUS investigators at the participating institutions.

Please note that these scholarships are for a maximum of 1 year only, as the NHMRC funding support for CIRUS will end on 31 December 2013.

Endocrine Society of Australia (ESA) Members Research Higher Degree Scholarship - CLOSED

Applications closed on 31 October 2012.

The purpose of the Scholarship is for research in any area of endocrinology. The research must be conducted in Australia.

The principal supervisor of the research higher degree (RHD) student must be a member of the ESA (i.e. Fellows and Members). The principal supervisor can only submit one PhD or MD application per year. RHD students can have either a clinical or basic science qualification and be eligible for entry into a PhD or MD program. Awardees must join ESA when accepting the award.

The Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation Research Scholarships - CLOSED

Applications for 2013 closed on 31 August 2012.

Applications are invited for Research Scholarships in Otorhinolaryngology or the related fields of biomedical science to commence in 2013.

Scholarships will be for a period of up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress, and are tenable in Australian or New Zealand institutions. Individuals who are either medically qualified or science graduates, and who are, or will be, enrolled for a higher university degree, are eligible to apply.

Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Postgraduate Clinical Research Scholarship and Postgraduate Medical Research Scholarship - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Friday, 23 August 2013

GESA Postgraduate Biomedical Research Scholarship
This scholarship is to support a science graduate within 5 years of completion of undergraduate study, wishing to gain full-time research training in basic sciences related to gastroenterology and hepatology, leading to a degree of PhD.

GESA Postgraduate Clinical Research Scholarship
This scholarship is to support a medical or science graduate, wishing to gain full-time training in methodology pertinent to any aspect of clinical research related to gastroenterology or hepatology disorders, while enrolled for a research Masters or PhD.

Clinical research is defined broadly as research predominantly involving human subjects. It may involve clinical or physiological studies of patients or volunteers, studies based on diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, clinical epidemiology, population studies, observational studies, clinical practice, treatment trials or evaluation of medical technology. There may be a component of laboratory studies, but applications for predominately laboratory-based work should be directed to the other awards offered by the Society.

Applicants must be an Australian citizen or hold Australian permanent residency. Applicants must be a current financial member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, defined as “confirmed as a financial member of the society for at least one year prior to applying for the scholarship”. The proposed supervisor is required to be a current financial member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia at the time of submission of the application.

For further information please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1289.

Haemophilia Foundation Australia Research Scholarship - CLOSED

Applications closed on 31 August 2012.

A funding round for grants for medical, scientific or social research which will improve outcomes for people with haemophilia, von Willebrand disorder or related inherited bleeding disorders, and/or medically acquired blood borne viruses is now open.

Applicants must be Australian residents.

Heart Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Friday, 21 June 2013.

The Heart Foundation offers Health Professional and Australian Indigenous scholarships.

The Health Professional Scholarship encourages health professionals to undertake a PhD in an area of cardiovascular research and actively apply evidence-based practice in order to develop the skills required to translate and implement research evidence into practice. It will also help them become more competitive for subsequent PhD awards.

The Australian Indigenous Scholarship is designed to encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to undertake a PhD or Masters (by research) in cardiovascular research.

For further information and submission instructions on the Health Professional Scholarship, please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1283. For the Australian Indigenous Scholarship please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1282.

Heart Foundation Collaboration and Exchange Award - CLOSED

Applications for 2013 Round 1 are closed. Round 1 is for travel between 1 July and 31 December 2013.

Applicants must hold a current Heart Foundation Scholarship. NHMRC/HF co-funded scholars are not eligible to apply.

The awards are offered to encourage Heart Foundation scholars to visit research facilities (overseas or in Australia) in order to develop collaborations, exchange knowledge, develop skills and encourage innovation. The award is valued at up to $5,000. Applicants may only receive one award per lifetime.

See the Heart Foundation website for more information.

Please contact for submission instructions.

Heart Foundation Summer Scholarships - CLOSED

Applications for these scholarships closed on 14 September 2012.

The National Heart Foundation of Australia offers Summer Scholarships to provide undergraduates the opportunity to participate in supervised Biomedical, Clinical or Public Health research projects which are broadly related to cardiovascular function and disease, during the summer vacation at an Australian University or Institution.

These scholarships are open to Australian citizens on permanent residents and applicants must be based in Australia. Usually applicants will have completed at least two years of their undergraduate course.

Postgraduate students, honours students, and students undertaking a second degree are not eligible to apply for these scholarships. Applicants who have also previously held a Heart Foundation Summer Scholarship are not eligible to apply.

Kidney Health Australia Medical and Science Research Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the funding body, with a copy sent to the Scholarships Office, by 31 August 2013.

Kidney Health Australia provides scholarships for individuals wishing to study full time for postgraduate research degrees, by undertaking research into the causes, prevention and treatment of disorders of the kidney.

The funding is awarded annually for the duration of the Award ( up to 2 years for Masters or up to 3 years for PhD) but funding in 2nd and 3rd year is contingent on Kidney Health Australia receiving evidence that an applicant has also applied to other granting bodies (e.g. NHMRC) for support of those years.

Further information can be found at http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/admin/scholarships/1290.

Leukaemia Foundation PhD Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Friday, 6 September 2013.

The Leukaemia Foundation's 'Vision to Cure' is actively realised in their National Research Program (NRP). The NRP seeks to foster innovative research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.

Applications are invited from Australian citizens and permanent residents.

For further information and submission instructions, please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1284.

The Menzies Foundation Allied Health Sciences Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Friday, 21 June 2013.

The Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation offers one or more research scholarships for postgraduate research in one of the allied health sciences. The purpose of the scholarship is to try to improve the health of Australians by supporting an outstanding applicant from one of the non-medical allied health disciplines whose research is likely to fall outside the conventional areas of medical research. Preferred fields of research include clinical psychology, nutrition, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology. Projects in laboratory science will not be supported.

Applicants must be Australian citizens of at least 5 years standing at the time of application.

Further information and application instructions can be found at http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1271.

Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australian PhD Scholarship MND Top-Up Grant - CLOSED

Expressions of Interest closed on 28 September 2012.

One 3-year PhD top-up grant will be offered for a PhD student who has been awarded a University PhD scholarship for biomedical or public health research in motor neurone disease.

There is a two stage process for applications, with expressions of interest due 28 September 2012, and a then final application due 17 December 2012 if the applicant is awarded a University PhD scholarship.

Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Postgraduate Scholarships - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by 30 July 2013.

Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) offers postgraduate scholarships for full time study for a PhD in an Australian university or institution. The research proposed must be focused on improving the understanding of the biomedical causes of MS or improving the ongoing management of MS.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or hold Australian permanent residency, or have applied for permanent residency.

Further information can be found at http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/admin/scholarships/1288.

Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Vacation Scholarships - CLOSED

Applications closed on 3 August 2012.

These scholarships are granted to undergraduate students who plan to undertake up to 10 week research project in MS during Semester break. Scholarships will be granted for up to $10,000. All applicants must be undergraduates at an Australian university or medical institute.

Muscular Dystrophy NSW: Postgraduate Scholarship for Research into Neuromuscular Disorders - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Wednesday, 3 July 2013.

A full-time postgraduate scholarship is available for a suitably qualified candidate in a relevant discipline to undertake research studies leading to a PhD. The Sue Connor Scholarship (for commencement in 2014) is available to a scholar who wishes to undertake a PhD degree in the field of research into neuromuscular conditions. Proposals for research may be from any relevant discipline, as long as the proposed research has a demonstrable current or future benefit to those living with neuromuscular conditions, and aligns with MDNSW’s strategic directions.

Applicants must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen and reside in Australia throughout the funding period. Applicants who have applied for permanent resident status may apply, however a scholarship cannot commence until permanent residency has been granted.

For further information and submission instructions please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1281.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Scholarships - OPEN

Applications for 2014 are now open. Draft applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Wednesday, 12 June 2013 for review.

Categories of Award

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Postgraduate Scholarships
  • Clinical Research Postgraduate Scholarship
  • Dora Lush Biomedical Research Scholarships
  • Public Health and Health Services Research Postgraduate Scholarships
  • Part-Time Research Postgraduate Scholarships

Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens. Persons who have applied for but not yet been granted Australian permanent residency may apply, however permanent residency must be obtained prior to commencement of the scholarship.

Scholarships Office guidelines and instructions for University of Sydney applicants are linked to below. It is essential to read these documents in conjunction with the NHMRC's Funding Rules and Advice and Instructions to Applicants and details of the NHMRC PGS Co-Funded Organisations.

Please do not start your application until you have reviewed the information provided in the University of Sydney guidelines and the NHRMC documents.

Information Documents

Northcott Disability Services Research Fund PhD Scholarship - CLOSED

The applications closed on 14 September 2012.

Northcott Disability Services provides support to 10,000 people with a broad range of disabilities, their families, and carers across NSW and the ACT by offering a variety of services to promote a genuinely inclusive society. The PhD scholarship is available to a scholar who wishes to complete research in the disability sector

Ovarian Cancer Australia Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme - CLOSED

Applications for 2013 closed on 3 August 2012.

Ovarian Cancer Australia is the peak organisation for ovarian cancer in Australia and the country's only national organisation dedicated to raising awareness of ovarian cancer, delivering support to women and their families affected by the disease, and funding the best ovarian cancer research.

Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme is open to all science graduates nationally who aim to undertake further studies in ovarian cancer research. Candidates must have an honours degree or equivalent research experience. The applicant must be an Australian citizen or hold permanent residency in Australia and must be based in Australia for the duration of the grant. Applicants must be undertaking a PhD.

Sidney Myer Health Scholarship - CLOSED

Applications for 2012 closed on 17 October 2011.

These scholarships are offered every 3 years, and will not be available again until late 2014.

The aim of these Scholarships is to enhance the career development of allied and Public Health, medical, bio-medical science and nursing professionals and address community and population health issues in local and regional communities across Australia over the period of three years.

The Scholarships are for high calibre students enrolled in a PhD degree at an Australian university or research institute for the purpose of working on a research project which is directly relevant to the aims and objectives of the Sidney Myer Health Scholarship.

Applicants must have successfully completed, at a minimum, a Bachelor Degree with Honours, or Masters Degree in a relevant allied and Public Health, medical, bio-medical science or nursing course at an accredited tertiary institution. The Selection Committee will award Scholarships to students commencing their PhD studies in 2012, rather than those in later years of their doctorate studies.

Sydney Catalyst PhD and Top-Up Research Scholar Awards for 2012 - CLOSED

Applications closed on 20 January 2012.

Sydney Catalyst is a Translational Cancer Research Centre established with core funding from the Cancer Institute NSW and based at the University of Sydney. It brings together teams of clinicians and researchers from more than 20 member organisations across NSW with the purpose of facilitating the rapid translation of scientific discoveries into clinical policy and practice to improve patient outcomes.

Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens, or permanent residents of Australia.

The Wenkart Foundation Grants - OPEN

Applications must be submitted to the Scholarships Office by Monday, 24 June 2013.

These grants are for research in clinical, biomedical and health related sciences. The funding will depend on the expenses of the project, and grants are made for periods of up to two years.

Applicants must be full-time students and Australian permanent residents or undergraduates educated in Australia and intending to reside in Australia. Please note that these grants are generally not awarded to applicants over 30 years of age.

For further information and application instructions, please see http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1277.

More Information

Other Medical Scholarships

If you are applying for a scholarship which is not listed on this webpage or in the research scholarships database, and the application form requires the signature of the Head of Administering Institution (or Nominee) or similar, you will need to submit the application via the Scholarships Office. Please contact our Office as soon as possible to arrange the submission, as we will need to check through the application prior to signing. Do not leave it until the day before applications are due at the funding body!

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Successful Applicants

Postgraduate research scholarship stipends will usually need to be paid to the student via the University as the administering institution. The Scholarships Office organises and manages the payment of scholarship stipends through the fortnightly scholarships payroll.

If you have submitted your application via the Scholarships Office, the funding body will normally also notify the Scholarships Office of your result if your application is successful. You should however, still contact the Scholarships Office once you have received your offer from the funding body. In some cases (such as the NHMRC) the funding body will notify the Scholarships Office of the results, and the Scholarships Office will then contact you to advise you of your result.

If your application did not require the signature of the Head of Administering Institution (or Nominee) and was submitted by you directly to the funding body, you will need to forward a copy of all correspondence, including a copy of your application, to the Scholarships Office, if your application is successful. The Scholarships Office will review the correspondence from the funding body and check your enrolment status. If there are no problems, the Scholarships Office will then prepare an offer letter and associated forms for you, and set up an account for the scholarship.

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Ethics requirements

Many medical funding bodies require evidence that ethics approvals are in place before they will pay the scholarship funds to the University. If you are required to submit evidence of ethics approval, the Scholarships Office will state this in your offer letter. Please make sure that you read this carefully to see what documents you must submit.

In the case of human ethics a hospital/area health service HREC approval must also be ratified by the University HREC when a student is involved as a researcher (see http://sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/human/external_approval.shtml for more information).

In the case of animal ethics, if the approval is obtained from another institution, documentation must be submitted to the University's Office of Ethics Administration if a student is involved as a researcher (see http://sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/animal/external.shtml for more information.

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