Fully Funded Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship At ACU 2026 -

About the Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship

The Australian Catholic University (ACU) invites outstanding international candidates to apply for the 2026 Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship, a fully funded opportunity designed to attract top-tier researchers from around the world. This competitive merit-based award is ideal for candidates passionate about conducting impactful research aligned with ACU’s strategic priorities.

If you’re an international student ready to embark on a research journey that fosters innovation, contributes to global knowledge, and transforms communities, this scholarship offers you financial security, mentorship, and institutional support for up to 3.5 years.

The ACU Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship is one of the most prestigious research awards offered by Australian Catholic University. The program is designed to support international doctoral candidates who exhibit exceptional academic achievements and propose research projects that align with the university’s mission, values, and areas of expertise.

Through this scholarship, ACU aims to cultivate a vibrant research culture that addresses critical societal challenges, contributes to social justice, and produces globally recognized outcomes. Recipients will become part of a diverse academic community dedicated to advancing knowledge across disciplines, from health sciences to theology and education.

Eligible Fields

Applicants must propose a research project that aligns with ACU’s academic faculties or research centers. Eligible fields include:

Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Law and Business
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
ACU Research Institutes and Centres, such as the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education (IPPE), the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research (MMIHR), and others

Proposals that resonate with ACU’s strategic research priorities or its emerging areas of research strength are strongly encouraged.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship, applicants must meet the following conditions:

Be classified as an international student (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen)
Be applying to commence a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Ministry at ACU in 2026
Must not already be receiving any other ACU-funded scholarship or tuition award
Submit a research proposal that is aligned with ACU’s strategic focus areas
Meet ACU’s admission requirements for postgraduate research, including academic qualifications and English language proficiency

The scholarship is highly competitive, and only a select number of applicants are awarded based on merit and research fit.

Selection Criteria

All applications are carefully reviewed and ranked by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise (ODVCRE) Scholarship Selection Committee. The selection is based on:

Academic merit: Strong academic record at the master’s or honours level
Research potential: Demonstrated capacity to undertake independent research
Alignment: Relevance of the research proposal to ACU’s strategic or emerging research areas
Impact: Potential societal, scholarly, or policy impact of the proposed research

Shortlisted candidates are selected from the highest-ranking applicants on the final merit list.

Eligible Countries

This scholarship is open to applicants from all countries, provided they meet ACU’s definition of an international student. That includes:

Citizens of any country outside Australia and New Zealand
Students who do not hold Australian permanent residency or dual citizenship with Australia

Required Documents

Candidates must submit a complete application to ACU’s research program by the deadline. Required components include:

A comprehensive research proposal
Academic transcripts and degree certificates
A detailed CV with research experience and publications (if any)
English language proficiency documentation (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL)
Contact details for referees or academic recommendation letters

Note: A separate scholarship application is not required. Eligible applicants will be automatically considered for the Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship upon submission of a complete research application.

Benefits of the ACU Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship

The scholarship offers one of the most generous funding packages for international doctoral candidates in Australia. Benefits include:

Annual Stipend: AUD $33,511 per year (2025 rate, indexed annually) to support living expenses, for up to 3.5 years
Tuition Fee Waiver: Full tuition coverage for the duration of the research program (up to 3.5 years)
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): One single OSHC policy for the duration of your student visa
Relocation Allowance: Up to AUD $2,000 to assist with costs related to relocating to Australia

This comprehensive support package is designed to ease the financial burden of international study while enabling scholars to focus entirely on their research.

How to Apply

To apply for the Vice Chancellor’s PhD Excellence Scholarship:

Visit ACU’s official research application portal
Complete the application for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Ministry program
Prepare and upload all required supporting documents
Submit your application before 11:59 PM AEST on 1 October 2025

There is no need to apply separately for the scholarship—you will be automatically considered when you apply to the relevant research program.