How to apply for admissions & scholarships in Australia- Research Degree(MSc/PhD)Applicant Guide

                                         

How to apply for scholarships to study abroad guide: Masters/PhD Research Degree Programs in Australia

We receive this question frequently: "How can I apply for a scholarship to study in Australia or abroad?" The application process can be complex, particularly for research degree programs. However, it is easier to navigate if you know exactly what you are looking for and how to proceed.

Prior to beginning your application, it is important to have a clear understanding of the requirements necessary to attain the desired scholarships. ie the requirements, Ensure that you fulfil these prerequisites to become eligible for application. This will prevent any unnecessary waste of time on your end. 

Before submitting your application, make sure to review these important checklist items:

• Please ensure that you fulfil all the eligibility requirements for the scholarship.
• It's important to ensure that you retain as many referees as possible for recommendation letters.
• It is advisable to have some friends review your application before submitting it.
• Please ensure that all of your documents are prepared and ready for use. (See a list of expected documents at the end of the post)

If all the above steps have been met, you can then go ahead and start your application. Typically, when pursuing a graduate research scholarship, the application process is completed at the same time as applying for the corresponding course. The same application process is used for both admission and/or scholarship via the University's Online Application Portal. In some cases, there is an option to indicate the scholarship you are interested in while applying for your chosen course. In some instances, indicating your interest may not be necessary. If you are accepted to study at a particular university, you will automatically be considered for any applicable scholarships.

There are two major pathways for submitting applications for admissions and scholarships to study in Australia: You can either apply for admissions and scholarships via advertised projects or by developing your own research project and indicating interest in a scholarship. As we proceed, we will provide further details on the following.

• #1) So for example, after finding a scholarship online from a platform like ours: -a)Follow the link to visit the institution's website. Most often it's a general scholarship open to any course of interest across the University e.g. RTPS scholarships, -b)Identify a research course/program that you are interested in, -c) If you meet the eligibility requirements, contact a potential supervisor for supervision approval. If successful, you can apply for candidacy directly online on the University admission portal and will be automatically considered for the scholarship.
• #2) In another situation, it can be a project-specific scholarship, in this case, a) you must choose a project from a specific list of projects, b) Get in touch with the designated project supervisor to discuss the suitability of your application and the specific requirements of the project. c) Submit your candidature. 
• #3) Another major pathway: You can equally develop your own project and send an expression of interest to the University, the university in most cases would assist you to find a suitable supervisor, and if successful, you would be invited to submit an application for candidature.

Outlined below are five detailed steps to successfully apply for a scholarship to pursue a research degree program (Masters or PhD) in Australia. Note. This is a standard process not only in Australia but in Canada, the USA also in several European nations.

After you have identified a course of interest Eg Environmental Engineering(or a specific project)including the available scholarship, to apply, the first step is to :

1. Check to see that you meet the minimum entry requirements, then 
2. Contact potential supervisors for supervision approval, next
3. Submit an expression of interest
4. lodge your application 
5. Wait for the outcome. See these steps in detail below:

                         

Step 1- Check scholarship requirements (entry requirements). 

As mentioned above, To ensure success in your research degree scholarship application, it is vital to verify that you fulfil all the minimum entry requirements before submitting any application. This should be the very first step.  You are always free to contact the University for any enquiry on how to meet a certain requirement. If there are any available projects, please take some time to familiarize yourself with these projects and make note of the names of supervisors whose projects catch your interest. It's important to become familiar with their research and work because you'll need to locate a potential supervisor later on. Make sure to check other available scholarships also on the University website and the entry requirements

See General Masters/PhD research degree scholarship requirements here to study in Australia. The same criteria go for other Universities abroad

Step 2- Contact potential supervisors. 

To express your interest, you will need to reach out to potential supervisors and submit an expression of interest email(COLD EMAIL). Connecting with a potential supervisor is a separate process that you will need to undertake. You might be wondering what you will be discussing with him? You will have to discuss your research interest with him and see that he gives you the approval to continue with your application. Many universities in Australia and abroad require a prospective supervisor's approval of supervision before advancing your application to the next stage. It is essential to provide this proof of approval for a successful application. When providing evidence, it is typically sufficient to simply include the individual's name in your application form/EOI, or provide a screenshot of the email confirming their approval. The first key to scholarship success is obtaining approval from a potential supervisor.

Where do you find potential supervisors? Universities have staff websites where you can visit and identify potential supervisors in your area of interest. Finding the right researcher to become your supervisor is a very important part of your application. 

Prior to contacting a potential supervisor, it is crucial to conduct an in-depth review of their academic background to ascertain that they are a suitable match for your proposed research topic. This will enhance the probability of discovering the ideal supervisor that meets your requirements.

Supervisors may have a list of projects available. You can express your interest in any of the listed projects or propose your own project for consideration. Many PhD programs offer research projects.

If you are unable to find a potential supervisor, contact the Graduate Research School. They will send your EOI(Expression of Interest) to suitable supervisors who may be interested in your proposed project.

At this stage of your application, it is ideal to already have a developed research plan.

Read more here on how to contact potential supervisors when seeking for research degree studentship position. Included in the post are examples of effective cold email samples and valuable tips to improve your success rate in the process.

Step 3- Complete an EOI.

Once you have met the minimum entry requirements for the program and gained the approval of a potential supervisor, you can proceed to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).  Most Australian Universities, not all will ask to submit an EOI for a research degree program. This is also being done in most Canadian, American and European Universities. In some Universities, for your EOI  to be accepted, you must get in touch with a prospective supervisor would is ready to work with you and provide evidence of his approval. Usually in the form of a confirmation email. 

What is an EOI? An Expression of Interest (EOI) is a preliminary application form that enables the University to determine the student's eligibility. This form is usually available on the research degree application website. You will have to download the form in most cases, fill it out and submit it to the Graduate Research School. Usually, Candidature Management Advisors will evaluate your EOI and may invite you to complete an application online if deemed eligible. If are applying for any specific University project of interest, you will have the opportunity to mention that here and the name of the supervisor.

An Expression of interest will usually demand a  short description of the student's proposed area of research and a summary of academic qualifications, including grades. 

 If your  (EOI) is successful, you will then be invited to submit a final application for the research degree program.

Some Universities, however, require applicants to first submit an EOI, and if deemed eligible for the program, they then send a request for you to find a supervisor in your area of research interest prior to beginning your application.

Step 4- Complete your application/Apply

Congratulations on the success of your EOI! Yeah! If your EOI  was successful, you have gotten approval from a supervisor who is eager to work with you, you will then be invited to complete your application online. During this process, you will need to prepare and submit the necessary materials:

• Draft a research proposal. 

As part of your research degree application, you will need to submit a research proposal. This document is crucial to your success and should be given significant attention. Crafting a strong proposal is essential as it indicates a well-defined vision of the research topic, which in turn establishes the framework for your project and thesis. Usually, there is a pre-existing template available that comes with clear instructions to be followed. This mostly covers a section in the EoI form.

If you have a project in mind, it's highly encouraged to draft a research proposal earlier before contacting a potential supervisor. Alternatively, if you are interested in applying for a University project, it is crucial to draft a research proposal that aligns with the goals of the project. Additionally, it is advisable to review the previous works of the potential supervisors to better understand their research focus.

When applying for scholarships or admission to study abroad, Research Proposals are crucial. It is important that your proposal outlines a research project with a clear objective that showcases your idea or research question in the relevant field. To create a successful proposal, you must possess Fundamental Research Skills and plan accordingly. Your proposal should establish the relevance of your idea, identify gaps in knowledge, and demonstrate how your research will fill those gaps

If you're applying for a scholarship and need to write a research proposal, I suggest taking the time to read up on some tips for making it captivating. Check out this resource for more information.

• Statement of purpose(SOP). 

Typically, an application website will provide a template for this purpose. However, in certain instances, you may need to download the form and fill it out manually, while in others, you can complete it directly online.

• Referee reports.

For research degree programs, it's typical for universities to suggest that you provide the names of two or three referees. It's important that you have maintained positive relationships with your former supervisors, whether they were academic or professional.

• Scholarships-indicate the specific scholarship you are applying for. 

While filling out the online application form, you will find the available scholarship sections, here identify the specific scholarship you are interested in. However, in most cases, once you receive an offer of candidature, you are automatically considered for available scholarships. There is no need for a separate application, as the process for graduate research scholarships is completed when you apply for your course. The application process for both admission and scholarship is simultaneous.

In addition to the above-mentioned research proposal and statement of purpose, below is a summary of other expected documents you should get ready for your application. 

Summary of expected documents to get ready for your application:

1. Academic curriculum vitae(CV)/Resume
2. academic transcript
3. Degree Certificate
4. English Language documents(For Non-native speakers)
5. Passport
6. References/Letters of Recommendations
7. Previous research program information

Step 5-Wait for the outcome and pray.

 Once all this is completed, you can then go ahead and submit your application and any other requested document. You will be advised on the outcome of your application usually via email. 

Once you have applied for the scholarship, you will be notified of its outcome. If your application is successful, you will be informed about the relevant scholarship you have been awarded. (If your scholarship application is unsuccessful, you may still be considered for the candidature offer only. You will need to look for other alternative sources to finance your study).

If successful, applicants have a limited period to either accept or decline an offer of candidature and/or scholarship, so as to commence their candidature.

How to accept your offer? To accept your offer and the scholarship, just follow the instructions in the email accompanying your offer.

Once you have indicated your acceptance of the offer, you will receive an acknowledgement email with further instructions about the commencement of your candidature. You will equally receive an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) for visa requirements. This is the document (CoE) you will use to apply for your visa

I have just provided you with a summary of the research degree application process. I hope you find this information helpful.

Some final advice: it's a good idea to apply for as many scholarships as you can. I lost count of how many schools I submitted scholarship applications to when I was applying to study abroad. Thankfully, I received offers from three different schools, which left me with the tough decision of choosing one. You can increase your chances of success by following this strategy. Wishing you the best of luck!

Also, check these 6 tips on how to be successful with your scholarship application

Other related links mentioned in this post you should equally check:

• How to apply successfully to Australian Scholarships 
• List of full funded Government/Institution sponsored scholarships in Australia(Undergrad/MSc/PhD/Short courses)
• 5 tips on how to secure Postgraduate admission in an Australian University 
• Best Assignment help experts
• Undergraduate Scholarships
• Fully Funded Masters Scholarships
• Fully Funded PhD. Scholarships
• Top Scholarships infos and guides 
• List of Australian Universities with no application fee
• Research Proposal Guide for Successful Admission/Scholarship applications
• General Research Degree Scholarship Requirements for Australian Universities
• General Undergraduate scholarship requirements to study abroad(Australia)
• General Coursework degree program scholarship requirements

Don't hesitate to leave a comment below, tell us about your experience in applying for a scholarship abroad, your difficulties, and how we can assist you if you need any help. 

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