Cultural Studies PhD research funding opportunities
Grants and funding are available from numerous sources on and off campus to help postgraduates meet the costs associated with their research. The most common sources are listed below.
These grants support specific parts of your postgraduate program, such as giving a conference paper or undertaking research or fieldwork overseas and include:
- School of Culture and Communication research funding
- Faculty of Arts travel and fieldwork funding for research students
- Melbourne Scholarships Office travelling scholarships
School of Culture and Communication research funding
The School allocates a portion of its research budget for postgraduate use, in addition to the funds that support the journal antiTHESIS, and school conferences. Guidelines for the disbursement of this budget are established by the Research and Research Training Committee and approved by the School Executive.
If you wish to apply for research funding to support a conference presentation or research travel for example, please refer to the guidelines which outline eligibility and application procedures.
- School of Culture and Communication research funding guidelines for Masters by research students
- School of Culture and Communication research funding guidelines for PhD students
Faculty of Arts travel and fieldwork funding for research students
The Faculty of Arts 'Travel and Fieldwork for Research Students' page outlines a number of scholarships and research funds that can assist with travel and fieldwork costs, including:
- TRIPS Scheme (Travel for Research in Postgraduate Study)
TRIPS offers assistance with accommodation and/or travel costs of PhD students in the Faculty of Arts undertaking research and/or presenting at a conference. Masters by research students may be funded to present a paper at a conference. - PhD Fieldwork Grant Scheme
The PhD Fieldwork Grant Scheme requires that you submit a proposed fieldwork program (not an application) to the department at the time of Confirmation of PhD Candidature, or, concurrently with an application for conversion from Master's to confirmed PhD candidature.
Note: You cannot apply for both TRIPS and Fieldwork funding to support the same research trip, but you can apply for both during your candidature. Most PhD students plan to combine RAGS, TRIPS and MATS funding (details below) to support a major research trip.
Notes on the TRIPS application process, from the Research Students Administrator:
Please submit your TRIPS applications to the Research Students Administrator, (like all other forms). You will notice on the cover sheet that Section B requires account information and a signature from the Head of School. It is the Research Students Administrator's job to complete this for you. You do not need to approach the Head of School yourself. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- STEP 1: Apply to the Research Students Administrator for RAGS money to provide the 'matching' funding for your TRIPS application (the minimum amount is $250). If you are successful, make sure that you complete a banking details form (available from Research Students Administrator).
- STEP 2: Before you complete your TRIPS application, and several weeks ahead of the deadline, complete your Leave to study away form and the accompanying Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) statement. Most students won't need to do any more than this. The 2D and 3D risk assessment forms are really for high-risk destinations and research.
Submit the Leave form to the Research Students Administrator once you and your supervisor have signed. The Research Students Administrator will get the Head of School to signoff; copy it for your file; and send it off to the Melbourne School of Graduate Research. A copy of the EHS form will also be kept in your file. After a week or so, you can go to Melbourne School of Graduate Research and get your stamped Enrolment record from them. - STEP 3: Bring the completed TRIPS application to the Research Students Administrator. Make sure it includes everything on the checklist. The Research Students Administrator will add the account number; get the Head of School's signature; copy it for your file; and send it to Arts Research and Postgraduate Studies.
Melbourne Scholarships Office travelling scholarships
Two of the most popular of Melbourne Scholarships Office travelling scholarships are:
- Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarships (MATS)
MATS provides competitive funding to facilitate overseas travel by PhD students. You need to be confirmed, and to be travelling for more than one reason (e.g. conference presentation AND research). - Postgraduate Overseas Research Experience Scholarships (PORES)
PORES is intended for PhD students to gain international experience - you need to be confirmed, and propose being attached to an overseas institution for a minimum of three months.
See Travelling scholarships on the Student Administration and Systems Postgraduate Scholarships website for a more extensive listing of scholarships.
Funding and scholarship opportunities
The following sources provide useful information and the latest news about sources of funding:
- Melbourne Scholarships Office for scholarships and grants administered by the University for both local and international students.
- Faculty of Arts Research and Postgraduate Studies offers a range of funding opportunities:
- Faculty Scholarships, Prizes & Awards for Research Students is guide to grants offered by the Faculty.
- Postgraduate Conference Assistance Scheme
- Publication Subsidy Grants
- The Melbourne Research Office has a great site which lists Funding Databases, including JASON (the online postgraduate scholarship database) and Philanthropy Australia's list. Be careful to check eligibility requirements, as this site is not only directed at students.
- Melbourne Research & Grants Bulletin is an email bulletin for Melbourne staff and students containing news on current research grant opportunities, as well as research grant seminars and workshops.
- Gradflash is an email circular, which advertise numerous matters of interest to postgraduate students. It also contains the latest information on upcoming grant offers.
Other 'one-off' grants become available from time to time. The School of Culture and Communication's Research Students Administrator informs current students of these opportunities via emails: