The NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships scheme funds successful applicants to attain a research based postgraduate degree (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Research Masters Degree).

The provisional funding allocation for the Postgraduate Scholarships 2025 scheme is $10 million. NHMRC's Research Committee annually reviews and recommends indicative budget amounts to be awarded across individual funding schemes.

Scholarship Categories

There are two scholarship categories which the applicant must choose from. The requirements for each category are listed below:

Priority Scholarship

The Priority Scholarship is provided to:

• graduates holding an MBBS, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) or similar degree. Medical and dental professionals must be registered to practise in Australia at the time of application, with no conditions or suspensions attached to the registration that prevent them from practising. Administering Institutions must retain the evidence of an applicant's registration to practise in Australia, and provide such evidence to NHMRC, if requested.  Or
• nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, pharmacy and other allied health graduates. Allied health professionals must be registered to practise in Australia at the time of application, with no conditions or suspensions attached to the registration that prevent them from practising. Administering Institutions must retain the evidence of an applicant's registration to practise in Australia, and provide such evidence to NHMRC, if requested. For allied health professions who do not require registration, Administering Institutions must retain evidence of the applicant's authority to practise in Australia at the time of application, and provide such evidence to NHMRC, if requested. OR
• graduates undertaking a combined MBBS/PhD program.

Standard Scholarship

The Standard Stipend is provided to non-allied health and non-medical/dental graduates. Applicants in this category must have achieved their most recent academic qualification at least five years before 31 December in the year of application, only if applying under the Clinical Medicine and Science Research or Dora Lush Basic Science Research Streams. This policy does not apply to those applying under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research and Public Health and Health Services Research Streams.

Eligibility criteria

Applications will only be accepted from NHMRC Administering Institutions. A list of NHMRC Administering Institutions is available on the NHMRC website.

Chief Investigators. At the time of acceptance and for the duration of a grant the CIA must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia. The CIA must also be based in Australia for at least 80% of the funding period.

Research Streams

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research
• Clinical Medicine and Science Research
• Dora Lush Basic Science Research
• Public Health and Health Services Research

• Phone: 1800 500 983
• Email: help@nhmrc.gov.au