Monash University Maxwell King Scholarship 2026-2027 in Australia | How To Apply

The Monash University Maxwell King Scholarship 2026/2027 is currently open for applications, providing a annual stipend of $53,608 alongside research and relocation allowances to support doctoral researchers in Australia. The university awards this scholarship annually to two doctoral candidates in honour of Professor Maxwell King, a former Pro Vice-Chancellor who made significant contributions to advancing graduate research at the institution.

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The university awards the scholarship across two primary academic streams: one award supports candidates in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), while the other supports candidates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The selection committee automatically considers both domestic and international PhD applicants during the main selection cycle, which closes on 31 October 2026. Here is the breakdown of eligibility, funding coverage, required application files, and selection procedures.

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Monash University Maxwell King Scholarship Summary

Institutional Legacy and Award Allocation

The Maxwell King PhD Scholarship represents one of the highest individual postgraduate honors administered by Monash University. The award honors the academic contributions of Professor Maxwell King, who spearheaded graduate research development and institutional research governance during his tenure as Pro Vice-Chancellor.

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To ensure balanced support across diverse academic fields, Monash University awards two Maxwell King Scholarships per academic year:

• HASS Stream: One award dedicated to a doctoral candidate within Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences faculties.
• STEM Stream: One award dedicated to a doctoral candidate within Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Medicine faculties.

Candidates enrolled in Joint Research Awards where Monash University serves as the home institution are also eligible for nomination.

Financial Support Breakdown

Recipients of the Maxwell King Scholarship receive a financial package designed to support full-time research activities throughout their PhD tenure:

• Annual Living Stipend: A payment valued at $53,608 per year to assist with accommodation, food, utilities, and daily living costs.
• Research Allowance: Direct financial allocation to assist with academic expenses, specialized equipment, conference travel, and fieldwork activities necessary for project completion.
• Relocation Allowance: Financial support for eligible interstate or international scholars relocating to Victoria, Australia, to begin their doctoral degree.

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Applicant Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for consideration for the Maxwell King Scholarship (MKS) in the October 31 selection round, applicants must satisfy a distinct set of citizenship, academic, and institutional parameters:

• Citizenship and Legal Status: The scholarship is open globally without nationality restrictions. You must be an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa, or an international applicant from any foreign country.
• Enrolment and Degree Status: You must be applying for, holding a formal offer for, or currently enrolled in a full-time Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program at Monash University. Students undertaking Joint Research Awards where Monash University acts as the primary home institution are also eligible for nomination.
• Academic Entry Standards: Applicants must satisfy Monash’s minimum academic entry requirements, which typically require holding a bachelor’s degree with First Class Honors (H1) or an equivalent research-intensive master’s degree from a recognized institution.
• English Language Proficiency: You must fulfill Monash University’s English language standards prior to application review. You can satisfy this requirement by submitting certified test scores from an approved provider, such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic, provided you took the test within two years of your proposed start date. Alternatively, you may qualify through prior tertiary qualifications that an approved country taught and assessed entirely in English.
• Competitive Selection Metrics: Meeting the baseline entry standards does not guarantee scholarship consideration. Monash University evaluates candidates using its competitive selection criteria, which assess undergraduate and postgraduate academic performance, prior research training, published research outputs, and academic referee reports.

Required Application Portfolio & Documentation

All documentation must be uploaded in clear, certified format via the Monash Applicant Portal during your graduate research admission application:

• Faculty Invitation to Apply: New applicants must obtain an official Expression of Interest (EOI) approval or formal invitation to apply from the target academic faculty before launching an application in the portal.
• Official Academic Records: Complete, certified transcripts, grade conversion keys, and official degree certificates for all previous undergraduate and postgraduate tertiary programs. Overseas documents in languages other than English must include certified official English translations.
• Academic Curriculum Vitae (CV): A structured resume detailing academic background, previous research experience, employment history, academic honors, professional memberships, and technical competencies.
• Detailed Research Proposal: A structured project outline—typically 1,000 to 1,500 words depending on faculty specifications—defining the project title, research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, timeline, and alignment with the supervisor’s research unit.
• Record of Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Output: Copies or formal citations of published journal articles, peer-reviewed conference papers, academic book chapters, or major research reports. Inclusion of published research enhances competitive scoring.
• Confidential Academic References: Details of at least two academic referees who can independently evaluate your research capability, analytical skills, and academic performance. Referees are contacted directly through the portal system to submit confidential evaluation reports.
• Proof of English Proficiency: Official test report forms (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic) verifying compliance with departmental language thresholds, where applicable.

Step-by-Step Selection and Nomination Architecture

The Maxwell King Scholarship follows a competitive, multi-tiered nomination process across Monash University’s central admissions and academic faculties:

Step 1: Course Application via the Monash Applicant Portal

• Register and log into the centralized Monash Applicant Portal (myApp).
• Submit a complete application for admission to an eligible full-time PhD programme. During the application process, make sure you indicate that you wish to be considered for graduate research scholarships by selecting the appropriate option on the application form.

Step 2: Integrated Automatic Consideration

• There is no separate application form specifically for the Maxwell King Scholarship.
• By opting in for scholarship consideration on your course application, you are automatically entered into the university’s central scholarship pool.

Step 3: Cumulative Pool Integration Across Rounds

• Although the Maxwell King Scholarship is awarded exclusively during the 31 October selection round, Monash University carries forward eligible candidates who submit course applications in earlier selection rounds (Rounds 1 through 4) within the same calendar year and automatically evaluates them alongside applicants in the 31 October round.

Step 4: Faculty Shortlisting and Discipline Allocation

• Following the October 31 closing date, academic faculties review top-ranked applicants in their respective discipline groups.
• The selection committee allocates the two available awards across two distinct academic streams:
  • Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS): One recipient nominated across HASS-aligned faculties.
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): One recipient nominated across STEM-aligned faculties.

Step 5: Final Award Allocation and Offer Notification

• Faculty nominations are submitted to the Monash Graduate Research Committee for central verification.
• Successful nominees receive formal scholarship offer letters via email from the Graduate Research Admissions team detailing the stipend breakdown, relocation allowances, and enrolment terms.

Application Timeline and Key Selection Dates

The Monash University Maxwell King Scholarship (MKS) operates on an annual evaluation schedule aligned with the university’s main graduate research scholarship rounds. Understanding key milestone dates helps applicants plan their submission and faculty outreach effectively:

• Pre-Application Phase (Year-Round): Reach out to prospective supervisors within your target Monash academic faculty and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to obtain a mandatory formal “Invitation to Apply”.
• General Application Rounds Integration (Rounds 1–4): Submit your online application for PhD course admission and scholarship consideration via the Monash Applicant Portal. All eligible applicants who submit their applications during any of the four standard scholarship rounds in the calendar year are automatically included in the main selection pool for consideration.
• Final Closing Date (October 31, 2026): All application files, academic transcripts, referee assessments, and faculty invitations must be fully submitted in the portal by October 31, 2026. Late submissions are not evaluated.
• Faculty Review and Shortlisting (November – December): Following the October 31 deadline, academic faculties assess top-ranked applicants in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) streams, submitting formal nominations to the central Graduate Research Committee.
• Outcome Notification (December–January): The Graduate Research Admissions Office notifies the successful applicants by email during this period. Official result letters and formal scholarship award offers are sent directly to the selected recipients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a separate application required for the Maxwell King Scholarship?

No. You do not need to submit a separate scholarship application. All eligible applicants who apply for an eligible full-time PhD programme at Monash University and indicate that they wish to be considered for graduate research scholarships are automatically assessed as part of the admissions process.

How many Maxwell King Scholarships are awarded each year?

Monash University awards two Maxwell King Scholarships annually—one for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) stream and one for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) stream.

Can international students apply for this award?

Yes. The scholarship is open to domestic candidates (Australian/New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, humanitarian visa holders) and international students from all countries.

What is the application deadline for the 2026/2027 intake?

Applications for the main selection round close on October 31, 2026.

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 Monash University website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Monash University.

Official Application Portal