Research scholarships

The Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)

• Notre Dame Transformative Research HDR Scholarship

  The Notre Dame Transformative Research HDR Scholarships are designed to support the recruitment of outstanding Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates and contribute to building areas of research specialisation at Notre Dame, in alignment with the University’s Transformative Research Themes: Good Lives, Exceptional Care, and Strong Communities.

  Applicants who are successful in securing a Notre Dame Transformative Research HDR Scholarship through the University’s standard competitive process will receive a Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend, together with a $10,000 per year top-up from the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research.

  The Notre Dame Transformative Research HDR Scholarship (Ethics of AI) will support postgraduate research (PhD or MPhil) on the topic of AI ethics, broadly conceived. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly sophisticated and embedded in everyday life, careful moral reflection on its development, applications, and social impact is more important than ever.

  The Scholarship is based in the Centre for Tech and Human Futures, under the supervision of Associate Professor Victoria Lorrimar and Dr Tim Smartt. As part of this scholarship opportunity the successful applicant will also undertake a six-month long internship with a relevant industry partner during their doctoral candidacy. The University of Notre Dame Australia will work closely with the student and industry partner to design an internship project closely aligned to the specific topic of the doctoral research.

  Notre Dame Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR Scholarship

  The Notre Dame Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR Scholarship provides vital support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander higher degree research (HDR) students, helping to promote research excellence, and strengthen Indigenous participation and representation within the research community. To be eligible, applicants must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, satisfy the University's requirements for recognition of Indigenous status, and meet the eligibility criteria for admission to a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program. Applicants are assessed through the standard RTP stipend application and selection process as outlined. Successful Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants who are awarded an RTP Stipend Scholarship will receive an RTP Stipend and a top-up of 50K per annum for the duration of their RTP stipend scholarship, subject to the scholarship conditions.

  Ethics of AI 
  Possible research topics include:

  • Moral reflection on the implications of AI for individuals, societies, and the common good (e.g., how should AI be used in healthcare, law, education, or employment? What ethical risks arise in increasingly algorithm-driven societies? How might the use of large language models reshape traditional sources of meaning, such as work and human relationships?)
  • Ethical questions concerning AI systems themselves (e.g., what should be the goals of AI? Can AI systems be considered moral agents?)
  • Philosophical perspectives shaping the development, interpretation, and reception of AI in response to ethical questions (e.g., longtermism, transhumanism, posthumanism, and related intellectual traditions)

  The release of the latest social encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: Safeguarding the Human Person in an Age of Artificial Intelligence, underscores the pressing need for moral frameworks to guide the development of AI and emerging technologies. It signals the ongoing relevance of ethics, philosophy and theology as disciplines for engaging the critical issues of our time. We would also welcome proposals that specifically engage with ethical themes identified in the encyclical, or approach AI ethics in dialogue with Catholic moral thought.

  Application Process
  Applicants interested in this scholarship should follow the application process for the RTP Stipend Scholarship and submit an Expression of Interest, clearly indicating their interest in the Notre Dame Transformative Research HDR Scholarship (Ethics of AI). Before submitting an EoI, applicants must contact the proposed supervisory team to advise them of their interest in this scholarship and discuss their project proposal.

  Applicants interested in this scholarship should first contact the proposed supervisory team to discuss their project proposal. They should then follow the application process for the RTP Stipend Scholarship and submit an Expression of Interest, clearly indicating their interest in the Notre Dame Transformative Research HDR Scholarship (Ethics of AI).

  For enquiries related to the academic focus of the research, please contact cthf@nd.edu.au. For enquiries concerning eligibility and application process, please contact hdr@nd.edu.au.

• Other scholarships

  • Fulbright Scholarships

    The Fulbright Program is the flagship foreign exchange scholarship program of the United States of America, aimed at increasing binational collaboration, cultural understanding, and the exchange of ideas. Born in the aftermath of WWII, the program was proposed by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Since then the Fulbright Program has become the largest educational exchange program in the world, operating in over 160 countries and with an alumni network of over 370,000 former recipients (5,000 of them under the Australian-American program).

    Opportunities for Australian citizens:

    • Scholarships for Australian Citizens.
    • New Fulbright Scholarships.
    • How to Apply (for Australians).
    • Latest group of Australians awarded a Fulbright scholarship.

    Opportunities for U.S. American citizens:

    • Scholarships for U.S. Citizens.
    • How to Apply (for Americans).
    • Fulbright Specialist Program.
    • Latest group of Americans awarded a Fulbright scholarship.

    Applications are now closed. 

    Contact our Fulbright Advisers in your campus.

    For further information please visit www.fulbright.org.au

    This grant requires internal clearance via the University Staff Research Grant Preliminary Clearance Form process before submission. Please contact the University Research Office now to express your interest to apply and for support in developing your application:

    Research Office Dr Qian Garrett Tel: 02 8204 4242 Email: qian.garrett@nd.edu.au

  • Australian Government Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships

    The Australia Awards–Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are the Australian Government’s competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia.

    The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships build Australia’s reputation for excellence in the provision of education and research, support the internationalisation of the Australian higher education and research sectors and offer high-achieving Australians opportunities to increase their knowledge and expertise in their field.

    For further information please visit Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships.

  • The Rhodes Scholarship

    The purpose of this postgraduate Scholarship is to enable exceptional all-round students to study at the University of Oxford. Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship program. In Australia, one scholar is selected per state, with three additional scholars selected nationwide per year.

    For further information and for application details about the program, please visit the Rhodes Trust website or call Ms Carolyn Lonie on (08) 9433 0667 or email carolyn.lonie@nd.edu.au.

  • The Frank Downing Scholarship (Fremantle, Broome)

    The purpose of this Scholarship is to assist students with costs associated with a Master's degrees (except MBA) at Cambridge and is only available to applicants who are Australian citizens and have either graduated from a Western Australian university OR were born in Western Australia.

    For further information and for application details about the program, please visit the Cambridge Australia Scholarships website or call Ms Carolyn Lonie on (08) 9433 0667 or email carolyn.lonie@nd.edu.au.

  • The RG Menzies Scholarship

    The purpose of this Scholarship is to enable postgraduate study at Harvard University. Candidates for the Scholarship are Australian citizens whose primary objective, after completing their studies at Harvard, is to make a significant contribution to Australia's development.

    For further information and for application details about the program, please visit the Australian National University website or call Ms Carolyn Lonie on (08) 9433 0667 or email carolyn.lonie@nd.edu.au.

  • The Keiran McNamara World Heritage PhD Top-Up Scholarship

    The purpose of this Scholarship is to encourage and assist an eligible PhD student to undertake research at one of the five Western Australian universities. The scholarship aims to further knowledge and expertise relevant to the conservation and management of the natural values of World Heritage areas in Western Australia by attracting the next generation of outstanding intellects to this State.

    For further information and for application details please visit the University of Western Australia website.

  • The Forrest Research Foundation PhD Scholarship

    The Forrest Research Foundation is offering up to 9 prestigious three-year PhD scholarships to outstanding researchers from around the world to conduct paradigm-shifting research at any of Western Australia's five universities.

    These generous scholarships provide all tuition fees, a stipend and accommodation at Forrest Hall in a luxury self-contained studio apartment; all valued at over AU$270,000. Within Forrest Hall, you will live amongst other scholars in a vibrant and inspiring research environment.

    Who can apply?

    Open to candidates of any nationality, working on any subject. You will require an outstanding academic track record (minimum GPA of 3.8/4.0), be a creative thinker, excellent communicator, passionate researcher and wish to join this elite group of exceptional Forrest Scholars. We are driven by excellence, inclusivity and innovation.

    For more information visit Forrest Research.

  • International Fee Remission Research Scholarships (IFRRS)

    The University offers the IFRRS through a competitive process.

    Eligibility

    IFRRS is only offered for an International student. Please refer to the Policy: International Fee Remission Research Scholarships.

    Application closing date:

    The application for Semester 1, 2027 is now open and will close on 28 Aug 2026.

    If you are applying for admissions and the IFRRS, you must go through the Expression of Interest (EoI) process, be invited to apply, and lodge an admission application by this date. If you are a current Notre Dame HDR student, please see under “Current students”.

    Selection process

    The application is assessed competitively, based on the quality of the applicant (such as academic performance/evidence of research capability/relevant professional experience/quality of research project, alignment with the University Research Plan and Transformative Research Themes, Quality of the supervisory team, such as a record of successful supervision, supervisory load and complementary expertise. All scholarship applications will go through the UNDA selection process, and the applicants will be advised of the outcome.

    Prospective students

    Please indicate “Yes” to “Are you interested in applying for a scholarship?” on your Expression of Interest Form, and the application will be automatically considered for IFRRS and RTP stipend. If “Yes” was not selected but you wish to be considered for a scholarship, please contact Research Office for assistance.

    Current students

    Please complete the relevant IFRRS Form International and submit it to the Research Office by the Scholarship application closing date. You are requested to provide your progress for confirmation of candidature and progress review. Please attach these documents to your application. If you are unable to attach these, please provide the reason.

    Please contact Research Office.

  • The Capstone Editing Carer’s Travel Grant for Academic Women
  • The Capstone Editing Conference Travel Grant for Postgraduate Research Students

  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR-students

  • The Charlie Perkins Scholarships