FAQs for applicants

1.When can I apply for scholarship?

The majority of scholarships are awarded in the annual scholarship round which opens at the beginning of July each year. You can view the annual scholarship round closing dates on the key dates website.

Applications received at other times are considered on a case-by-case basis with scholarships awarded to high quality applicants. These include applicants from Australian institutions graduating in Trimester / Semester 1 who wish to commence in Trimester 2.

If you are applying for a scholarship outside of the annual round, as a guide you should apply at least 3 to 4 months prior to your intended commencement date. You can view the Trimester start dates and the research degree intake dates on the key dates website. Please note that as the majority of scholarships are awarded in the annual round, applicants are encouraged to apply in the annual round where possible.

You should discuss your application with your potential supervisors who will also be able to advise you on the appropriate time to lodge your scholarship application.

You should also check the scholarship website for other scholarships offered throughout the year.

2.If I am completing my current program at Griffith, when should I apply for scholarship?

If you are a Griffith student expecting to complete your current degree in Trimester 2 and you wish to commence a research program in Trimester 1 of the following year, you are advised to lodge your application by the annual scholarship round closing date, refer to the key dates website.

If you are a Griffith student expecting to complete your current degree in Trimester 1 and you wish to commence a research program in Trimester 2, you are advised to lodge your scholarship application by mid April.

3.Your website states that scholarships may be offered to high quality applicants on a case by case basis outside of the annual scholarship round. How is ‘high quality applicant’ defined?

Scholarship applications received outside of the annual scholarship round will be assessed against the criteria as set out in sections 6.3 and 6.4 of the Higher Degree Research Scholarship Policy. Applicants deemed to possess outstanding merit against this criteria may be offered a scholarship. The criteria include, for example, the grades that you achieved for your prior degree.

You should discuss your application with your proposed supervisor who will be able to advise you.

4.When will I know if my scholarship application has been successful and when can I start?

If you submit a scholarship application in the annual scholarship round you will be notified of the outcome in early December for commencement in Trimester 1 (research intake 1 or 2) of the following year.

If you submit a scholarship application from October to December whilst the University is in the process of assessing and awarding scholarships for the annual scholarship round your application will be reviewed once the round has concluded. We would expect scholarship applications submitted during this period to have an outcome communicated in February or March of the following year for commencement in research intake 2 or 3.

At all other times, applications are assessed on a continuous basis and complete applications usually take approximately six to eight weeks to be assessed for admission, and a further two to four weeks to be considered for scholarship. As a guide you should apply approximately 3 to 4 months before your intended commencement date to allow time for your application to be considered and for you to complete the acceptance of offer process prior to commencement. If you are offered a scholarship you will be able to commence in one of the next two research intakes in the calendar year.

Please refer to the key dates website for scholarship application outcome and commencement dates.

5.I have applied for a scholarship before but was unsuccessful, when can I apply again?

You can reapply in the next annual scholarship round. Please note that with effect from 3 October 2017, applicants may only apply a maximum of two times in a five year period for consideration in the scholarship ranking and selection process.

6.What happens if I apply outside of the annual scholarship round and I am not offered a scholarship at that time?

If you apply outside of the annual scholarship round but are not offered a scholarship at that time you may be issued a candidature only offer (i.e. admission with no scholarship) if you meet the requirements for admission to the degree.  You may also be asked if you wish to be considered in the next annual scholarship round if you meet the requirements for scholarship consideration, and if so we will roll your application over into the annual round.

Please note that if you apply outside of the annual scholarship round and your application does not meet the requirements for scholarship consideration, your scholarship application will be withdrawn and will count as one of your two application attempts in a five year period.

7.If I apply outside of the annual scholarship round, am not awarded a scholarship at that time and choose to have my application included in the next annual scholarship round, can I add additional information to my application?

Yes. New information that may strengthen your application (e.g. research publications) can be added to your application prior to the annual scholarship round closing date.

8.What scholarships are available?

Please refer to the scholarship website for a list of scholarships currently available.

9.Can I apply for a scholarship prior to completing my current qualification?

In most cases, your qualification must be complete at the time your application is lodged in order to be considered for scholarship as your grades achieved are an important criteria in the assessment of your application.

Exceptions to this are as follows:

• If you are applying in the annual scholarship round and will have your final grades for your qualification within two weeks of the application closing date, you can still apply if evidence of successful completion and final grade/s can be provided within this two week time frame.
• If you are completing your current qualification at Griffith you can apply prior to completion of your qualification. Your application will be assessed based on predicted grades as provided by your academic referees. Please note that a scholarship offer will not be issued until your final grades are known.

10.Do I need to meet the ELP requirements before applying for scholarship?

Yes. In order for your application to be considered for scholarship, you must be able to provide evidence of meeting the University’s English language proficiency (ELP) requirements.

• If you are applying in the annual scholarship round, you must provide evidence of meeting ELP requirements by the closing date for that round.
• If you applying outside of the annual scholarship round you must provide evidence of meeting ELP requirements when you lodge your application.

Applicants who do not provide ELP evidence will not go forward for scholarship consideration. Your scholarship application will be withdrawn and will count as one of your two scholarship application attempts in five years.

You can check the English language requirements for your research program on the University’s Degree and Career Finder

Please note that you may apply for admission only without providing evidence of meeting ELP. If you meet admission requirements you will be issued an admission offer subject to meeting ELP prior to enrolment.

11.What happens if I lodge a scholarship application without all of the required information?

If you lodge a scholarship application without all of the required information we will contact you via email to let you know what is outstanding. If you have not provided the information by the annual scholarship round closing date your application will be withdrawn and will count as one of your two scholarship application attempts in five years. Where possible you should not lodge a scholarship application until all of the required information and supporting documentation can be provided.