The Human Rights Scholarship is awarded to applicants wishing to undertake graduate research studies at the University in the human rights field and who are able to demonstrate their commitment to the peaceful advancement of respect for human rights.

Number

Each year the University of Melbourne offers 2 HRSs to applicants wishing to undertake a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne.

Benefits & conditions

Human Rights Scholarship benefits include:

* a living allowance of $26,000 per annum (2010 rate)
* a Relocation Grant of $2,000 awarded to students who are moving from interstate in order to study at the University of Melbourne or $3,000 awarded to those who are moving from overseas
* a Thesis Allowance of up to $420 (2010 rate) for masters by research and up to $840 (2010 rate) for PhD and other doctorate by research candidates, and
* Paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.

Fees

Please note that the HRS does not cover international graduate research degree course fees.

Local graduate research degree HRS recipients are not charged course fees as they are allocated a Research Training Scheme (RTS) place. RTS places exempt students from the Higher Education Contribution (HECS) Scheme. Time limits and other conditions apply to RTS places. For further information please contact the Melbourne School of Graduate Research (PhD, MSc, MPhil, MIS and MOptom students) or your faculty office (all other students).

Eligibility criteria

1. Applicants for the HRS must be able to demonstrate that their commitment to the peaceful advancement of respect for human rights extends beyond their academic studies (such as voluntary work and/or work experience).

2. A high H2A (ie. 78-79% and above) is the minimum grade average usually required to be competitive for an HRS.

3. Applicants must have applied for, or be currently enrolled in, a graduate research degree in the human rights field at the University of Melbourne.

4. International students must have an unconditional course offer at the University of Melbourne for the course for which they seek the support of a HRS. See below for local and international HRS application procedures.

5. Applicants seeking a HRS to undertake a graduate research degree must normally meet the academic requirements that apply to the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS). Click here for further details about APA/MRS Eligibility.

6. HRSs are not awarded to applicants who:

* cannot provide evidence that their demonstrated commitment to human rights extends beyond their academic studies
* have already completed a course deemed to be at the same, or higher, level for which they are seeking scholarship support
* as a result of previous candidature and/or prior scholarship, have a maximum tenure of less than 12 months
* have previously received an MRS, FMS or PES, or
* have already been awarded or later receive another equivalent award, scholarship or salary for the studies for which they seek a HRS. An “equivalent” award is regarded as one greater than 75% of the base HRS rate (75% of the base 2010 HRS rate = $19,500).

Selection criteria

Selection of the HRS is based on four main criteria: area of study, evidence of commitment to human rights over a period of time, academic merit and strength of supporting documentation.

Application Deadline 31 October 2010