The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

How to apply for a PhD (clinician)

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute offers postgraduate training as the Department of Medical Biology of the University of Melbourne.

PhD applicants are expected to apply for external funding to support their study. In some circumstances, the institute may have initial funding to cover any gap in scholarship start dates.

The first step is to determine if the work of the institute meets your interests:

• Browse the available institute PhD research projects available
• Read widely about the institute, including our research divisions, areas of research focus and disease research
• If possible, attend the institute’s Open Day, which is normally held in September each year, or the clinician PhD Opportunities Forum, which is held biannually, normally in May.

Local students (Australian and New Zealand citizens)

1. When you have identified an area or project of interest, contact a laboratory head who might be a prospective PhD supervisors at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute to discuss potential projects and to reach agreement on a project.
2. Complete a paper-based University of Melbourne RHD application form for admission and scholarship. As part of this process, you will need to have agreed a potential research project with your supervisor.

Scholarships

Local (Australian and New Zealand citizens) students need to first obtain a ‘provisional offer’ from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and then be successful in attaining one of the following scholarships from the University of Melbourne:

• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
• University of Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS)
• University of Melbourne Prestigious Scholarship
• WEHI Medical Postgraduate Scholarship

Applicants must complete and submit an online application via SCHOLS to the Melbourne Scholarships Office usually by 31 October each year with all the required documents.

PhD scholarships for local students are also available from:

• National Health and Medical Research Council – including NHMRC Postgraduate Research Scholarships, NHMRC Medical and Dental Postgraduate Research Scholarships and NHMRC Gustav Nossal Scholarship
• Leukaemia Foundation of Australia
• Cancer Council Victoria

The application deadline for scholarships is August for NHMRC, October for Leukaemia Foundation of Australia and November for Cancer Council Victoria in the year prior.

Closing date for scholarship applications: 31 October 2012.

International students

1. Contact prospective PhD supervisors at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute to discuss potential projects and to reach agreement on a project
2. Complete a paper-based University of Melbourne RHD application form for admission and scholarship. As part of this process, you will need to have agreed a potential research project with your supervisor.

Scholarships

International students need to first obtain a ‘provisional offer’ from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute AND an ‘unconditional offer’ from the University of Melbourne, and then be successful in attaining one the following scholarships combinations from the University of Melbourne:

• Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) (covers tuition fees and provides stipend)
  OR
• Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship (MIFRS) (covers tuition fees) AND Melbourne International Research Scholarship (MIRS) (provides stipend)

Closing date for scholarship applications: 31 August 2012.

Contact for more information:

Dr Keely Bumsted O'Brien
Scientific Education Officer
T: +61 3 9345 2984
E: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)