Federation University Fully Funded PhD Scholarship 2027 in Australia

Federation University Australia is funding a PhD scholarship position to research the oxidation behaviour of broken ore in underground copper mining, paying a $50,000 annual stipend plus tuition fees, for both domestic and international students. The project, based at Federation’s Ballarat campus in partnership with Harmony Gold’s CSA Mine, is open now; the deadline is August 31, 2026.

This is an industry-funded PhD scholarship, not a general university award — Federation University partners with mining companies to fund specific research projects that solve real operational problems, and this one is co-hosted with Harmony Gold’s CSA Mine, one of Australia’s largest underground copper mines You need a background in mining, geological, metallurgical, civil, or environmental engineering, or geology, and you must be eligible to enrol in a PhD full-time. Only one scholarship is available, so this guide walks through exactly who qualifies, what the funding covers, and the one step in the application process most candidates miss.

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Federation University Scholarship Summary

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The Supervisory Team

You’d be working under a three-person panel that bridges Federation University and the mine itself:

• Associate Professor Manoj Khandelwal — Program Coordinator of Mining Engineering at Federation University and an Australian Endeavour Fellow, with over two decades of research and teaching experience in mining geomechanics, rock blasting, and sustainable mining across Australia and India.
• Associate Professor Moshood Onifade — based at Federation’s Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, recognised for mining engineering research supported by the Coaltech Research Association of South Africa.
• Martinus Larsen — Mine Operations Controller Superintendent at Harmony CSA Mine in Cobar, with over a decade of experience in hard rock and coal mining, currently working on industry research into copper-bearing sulphide oxidation at the mine.

This mix means your research would be shaped by both academic supervision and direct input from the mine operator actually facing the problem you’re studying.

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What the Federation University PhD Scholarship Covers

The project is funded for three years, with a possible six-month extension if you apply for one:

• Stipend: $50,000 per year, paid tax-free in fortnightly instalments — $40,000 as the base Research Training Program stipend, plus a $10,000 top-up from Federation University
• Project support: $3,000 per year through the Research Training Program (RTP) allowance, to spend directly on your research
• Tuition fees: up to $32,000 covered — through the RTP fee-offset scholarship if you’re a domestic student, or through a tuition fee scholarship from the Graduate Research School if you’re international

Over the full three years, that stipend alone totals $150,000, before project support or tuition are factored in.

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Eligibility Criteria for the Federation University PhD Scholarship

You must:

• Be eligible for PhD entry at Federation University
• Be willing to study full-time
• Have a background in one of the following: mining engineering, geological engineering, geology, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, or environmental engineering

Experience with laboratory testing, geochemistry, mineralogy, data analysis, or mine operations is not required, but it strengthens your application. Both domestic and international students can apply — there’s no citizenship restriction on this project, which isn’t the case for every Federation University research scholarship.

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Step-by-Step Application Process for the Federation University PhD Scholarship

There’s one step here that isn’t optional in practice, even though it isn’t framed as a formal eligibility rule: you must contact Associate Professor Manoj Khandelwal before you submit an application. Skipping this and applying cold is the most common way qualified candidates undermine their own chances, since the supervisory team is assessing fit for a specific industry-partnered project, not screening a general applicant pool.

1. Email Associate Professor Manoj Khandelwal at [email protected] to discuss your background and fit for the project before you apply.
2. Confirm you meet Federation’s general PhD entry requirements, separate from this project’s specific background criteria.
3. Follow Federation University’s official research application instructions to submit your formal application.
4. Submit before August 31, 2026. Only one scholarship is available for this project, so there’s no rolling reconsideration once the position is filled.

Where to start: Contact Associate Professor Manoj Khandelwal, then follow Federation University’s application instructions when you’re ready to submit.

Application Deadline

Applications close August 31, 2026. There’s no indication of a rolling review before that date, and with only one scholarship attached to this specific project, applying early gives you more room to have the required conversation with Associate Professor Khandelwal before the window closes — that step alone can take time to schedule, so don’t leave it until the final days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Nigerian or other international students apply for this scholarship?

Yes. This scholarship is explicitly open to both domestic and international students, with a tuition fee scholarship available through the Graduate Research School specifically for international applicants, so nationality is not a barrier here.

Do I need mining industry experience to qualify?

No. You need an academic background in mining, geological, metallurgical, civil, or environmental engineering, or in geology. Experience with lab testing, geochemistry, mineralogy, or mine operations is helpful but not required to apply.

Is it really necessary to contact the supervisor before applying?

It isn’t stated as a formal disqualifying rule, but the official guidance is explicit that you should contact Associate Professor Manoj Khandelwal before submitting your application. Given only one scholarship is available for a specific industry-partnered project, skipping this conversation puts you at a real disadvantage.

How much is this scholarship actually worth?

The stipend alone is $50,000 per year for three years, totalling $150,000, plus $3,000 per year in project support and up to $32,000 in tuition fees covered. Together, this covers your living costs, research costs, and tuition for the full PhD.

Will I be based in Ballarat or at the mine site?

Federation University’s Ballarat campus hosts the degree, but the research itself involves underground sample collection at CSA Mine in Cobar, NSW, so expect fieldwork at the mine site alongside your university-based research and analysis.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Federation University website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Federation University Australia or Harmony Gold (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Official Application Portal