International PhD Scholarships

To be eligible for assessment you need to meet the following criteria:

Academic qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with Honours Class I (typically involving a substantial research project) or MPhil degree
• A coursework Master’s degree with a research component of at least 25 % of an academic year and an overall grade point average equivalent to ≥5.5 on a 7-point scale.

Unless you have completed a recent degree at an approved University where the degree was taught in English, you will need a demonstrated and assessed proficiency in English. Your test results will be no older than 1 August 2023. Minimum requirements are:

• IELTS (Academic module) Minimum overall score of 6.5 and score ≥6.0 in every sub-band; OR
• iTOEFL Minimum overall score of 87 and 21 in written, and 19 in each of reading, listening & speaking.

STEP 1

Ensure you meet the required eligibility criteria.

STEP 2

Check the student projects page and identify a project you are interested in and confirm that you meet any requirements for the project. Then contact the potential supervisor with your CV and academic transcripts and request an interview.

STEP 3

Complete an expression of interest form (EOI). Fill out one EOI per project. You cannot apply for more than three projects, and you must declare to supervisors that you are also applying for other projects.

Please provide these documents in English as part of your EOI application:

• Your academic transcript for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (you must also provide the official grading guides);
• Academic CV
• English Proficiency results (you must provide proof of the minimum requirements before 31 August 2025, this date is not negotiable)
• Contact three referees to provide a referee report. The reports can be submitted with your application or directly to Graduateeducation@qimrb.edu.au before the deadline of 24 August 2025. We will not contact your referees on your behalf. It is your responsibility to ensure your referee sends their report on time. Referee letters are not applicable.

STEP 4

Email each EOI application as a single pdf to graduateeducation@qimrb.edu.au. EOIs that do not follow these instructions or are incomplete will be disqualified. Each application must contain all supporting documents in English.

STEP 5

Wait for a response to your EOI.

Closing date for submitting a complete EOI application is midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on 24 August 2025. EOIs submitted after this date will be ineligible.

The QIMR Berghofer Higher Degrees Committee will review your application and will award a limited number of PhD Scholarships.

As a guide, your application is likely to take a minimum of four weeks to process and assess after the closing date.

1. You will receive a formal written offer of scholarship via email;
2. Submit a full admission application to QIMR Berghofer (by invitation only);
3. Immediately submit an admission application to your chosen university (if you have not done so already).