Monash University Maxwell King PhD Scholarship 2027
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The Monash University Maxwell King PhD Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded doctoral award offering a living stipend of $53,608 per year (2026 rate), plus research and relocation allowances, to two outstanding PhD candidates each year — one in Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) and one in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Introduction
Named after a man who spent eight years shaping how Monash University trains its researchers, the Maxwell King PhD Scholarship (MKS) 2027 is one of Monash’s most prestigious doctoral awards. Professor Maxwell King served as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training) at Monash and played a key role in establishing the Monash Institute of Graduate Research and the modern Monash PhD. This scholarship was created in his honor to recognize outstanding PhD candidates across the university.
What makes the MKS distinctive is its structure: rather than awarding a large pool of scholarships, Monash offers just two per year — one for a candidate in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), and one for a candidate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). That makes it small in number but genuinely prestigious, since recipients are selected purely on academic excellence, research outputs, and prior research experience.
Open to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents, humanitarian visa holders, and — importantly — international students from any country, this guide covers everything you need to know about eligibility, funding, and how to apply for a Monash PhD supported by the Maxwell King Scholarship.
Quick Overview Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | Maxwell King PhD Scholarship (MKS) |
| Host Country | Australia |
| Host University | Monash University (Melbourne and other Monash campuses) |
| Degree Level | PhD (Doctoral Research) |
| Funded By | Monash University |
| Scholarship Type | Fully funded |
| Coverage | Living stipend ($53,608 p.a., 2026 rate), research allowance, relocation allowance (if eligible) |
| Eligible Applicants | Australian citizens, NZ citizens, Australian permanent residents, humanitarian visa holders, and international students from any country |
| Application Deadline | 31 October each year (this scholarship is awarded only in the 31 October round) |
| Study Mode | Full-time PhD, on campus at Monash |
| Duration | Standard Monash PhD duration (typically 3–4 years) |
| IELTS Required | Yes — Monash’s standard PhD English proficiency requirements apply (thresholds vary by faculty; commonly IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0, or higher for some faculties such as Arts, Business, and Economics) |
| Application Fee | None (scholarship consideration is automatic through your PhD application) |
About the Maxwell King PhD Scholarship
The Maxwell King PhD Scholarship was created to honor Professor Maxwell King, an Emeritus Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor who spent 35 years at Monash University and played a foundational role in shaping the university’s approach to research training. After retiring in December 2012, the university established this scholarship as a lasting tribute to his contribution, and it remains one of the more selective and prestigious doctoral awards Monash offers.
Unlike broader scholarship pools that might fund dozens or hundreds of PhD candidates each year, the MKS deliberately stays small — just two scholarships annually, split between HASS and STEM disciplines. This design means the award functions less like a general funding mechanism and more like a recognition of outstanding potential, awarded strictly on academic excellence, research outputs, and prior research experience, following Monash’s standard Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship terms and conditions.
Because the scholarship is awarded only in Monash’s 31 October scholarship round, but candidates from any of Monash’s four annual rounds in the same year can be automatically considered for nomination by their faculty, timing your application correctly matters — even if you apply earlier in the year, your file may still be forwarded for MKS consideration later.
Scholarship Benefits
The Maxwell King PhD Scholarship provides:
✔ Living allowance (stipend) — $53,608 per annum (2026 rate; the 2027 rate will be published closer to the relevant scholarship round), paid to help cover day-to-day living costs while you study
✔ Research allowance — additional funding to support research-related costs, such as materials, conference attendance, or fieldwork, consistent with standard Monash RTP scholarship terms
✔ Relocation allowance — available if eligible, to help offset the cost of moving to Melbourne (or another Monash campus) from interstate or overseas
✔ No separate scholarship application — eligible PhD applicants are automatically considered for all available graduate research scholarships, including the MKS, without needing to select it specifically
Because this scholarship follows standard RTP Scholarship Procedures, other typical inclusions like an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) allowance may also apply for eligible international recipients — check the RTP scholarship terms and conditions for the specific benefits attached to your award year.
Available Programs
The Maxwell King PhD Scholarship supports full-time PhD (Doctoral Research) candidates only, across two broad discipline groupings:
- Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) — one scholarship awarded per year
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) — one scholarship awarded per year
The scholarship is also available to students undertaking Joint Research Awards, provided Monash University is the home institution. There is no undergraduate, master’s, or postdoctoral track under this specific scholarship — it is exclusively for PhD candidates.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Maxwell King PhD Scholarship, you must be one of the following:
- An Australian citizen
- A New Zealand citizen
- An Australian permanent resident
- An Australian humanitarian visa holder
- An international student (open to applicants from any country)
In addition, you must:
- Have submitted a scholarship application in the current year
- Meet Monash’s competitive scholarship selection process requirements, based on academic excellence, research outputs, and prior research experience
- Meet Monash’s English language proficiency requirements for PhD admission (general requirement: IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL 79+ with specific section minimums; some faculties, such as Arts, Business, and Economics, require higher scores — IELTS 7.0 overall, no band below 6.5)
- Be enrolled in, or proposing to enroll in, a full-time PhD at Monash University
- If applying through a Joint Research Award, confirm that Monash is your home institution
There is no separate age limit or nationality restriction specified beyond the visa/citizenship categories listed above.
Required Documents
Since scholarship consideration happens automatically through your PhD application, you’ll need the standard documents for Monash graduate research admission:
- Completed PhD application via the myApp portal
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates (bachelor’s and, where applicable, master’s level)
- Research proposal or statement of research interest
- CV/resume, highlighting research experience and any publications or research outputs
- English language proficiency test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or another accepted test)
- Passport copy (for international applicants)
- Contact details for academic referees
- Evidence of prior research experience, publications, or academic distinctions that strengthen your case for a highly competitive, merit-based award
Application Process
Step 1: Identify a Monash PhD program and, where relevant, a potential supervisor. Many Monash PhD applications benefit from securing supervisor interest before or during your application, depending on your faculty.
Step 2: Apply for PhD admission through the myApp portal. This single portal handles both your course admission and your graduate research scholarship applications — you do not need to apply separately for the Maxwell King Scholarship specifically.
Step 3: Complete your scholarship consideration as part of the same application. Eligible applicants are automatically considered for all available graduate research scholarships, including MKS, without selecting individual scholarships.
Step 4: Submit your application within one of Monash’s four annual scholarship rounds. While the MKS is awarded only in the 31 October round, eligible applicants from earlier rounds in the same year can still be automatically considered for nomination by their faculty.
Step 5: Ensure your English proficiency documentation meets your faculty’s specific threshold. Requirements vary — general Monash PhD applicants typically need IELTS 6.5, while some faculties (e.g., Arts, Business, Economics) require IELTS 7.0.
Step 6: Wait for faculty nomination and university-level review. Because the MKS is highly competitive, your academic record, research outputs, and prior research experience will be assessed against other strong applicants.
Step 7: Receive your scholarship outcome alongside your PhD admission decision. Successful candidates are notified following the relevant scholarship round’s review process.
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Rounds (general graduate research scholarships) | Four rounds run annually throughout the year |
| Maxwell King Scholarship Round | 31 October each year (MKS is awarded in this round only) |
| Eligible Applicants from Earlier Rounds | Automatically considered for MKS nomination by their faculty |
| PhD Start Date | Depends on individual offer and faculty intake schedule |
Because the Maxwell King Scholarship is tied specifically to the 31 October round, mark this date clearly if you want to maximize your chances of being considered, even though earlier-round applicants remain in the running through automatic faculty nomination.
Important Links
- Official Maxwell King PhD Scholarship page: monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/maxwell-king-phd-scholarship
- Monash Graduate Research Scholarships: http://monash.edu/graduate-research/study/scholarships
- Monash myApp Portal: http://monash.edu (search “myApp”)
- Monash Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship Terms: monash.edu (search “RTP Scholarship Procedures”)
- Graduate Research Admissions contact: mgro-apply@monash.edu / +61 3 9905 1538
Selection Process
- PhD application submission — you apply for your chosen Monash PhD program via myApp.
- Automatic scholarship consideration — your application is automatically assessed for all eligible graduate research scholarships, including MKS.
- Faculty nomination — if you’re eligible and outstanding, your faculty nominates you for consideration in the 31 October MKS round.
- University-level competitive review — candidates are compared on academic excellence, research outputs, and prior research experience, following standard RTP scholarship selection criteria.
- Final award decision — one HASS candidate and one STEM candidate are selected university-wide for the year.
How to Increase Your Chances for Maxwell King PhD Scholarship
- Build a strong record of research outputs before applying — publications, conference presentations, or significant research projects meaningfully strengthen your case
- Make sure your research proposal is sharp, specific, and clearly demonstrates originality and feasibility
- Secure a supervisor early, where your faculty’s process allows, since supervisor support can strengthen your overall application
- Confirm your English proficiency score meets your specific faculty’s threshold, not just the general Monash minimum
- Apply well ahead of the 31 October round if you want your application specifically reviewed in that cycle, since this is the only round in which the MKS itself is awarded
- Highlight any distinctions, honors, or academic awards from your prior degrees, since selection is explicitly merit-based
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to apply separately for the Maxwell King Scholarship — there is no separate scholarship form; consideration happens automatically through your PhD application
- Assuming any Monash scholarship round will result in MKS consideration — the scholarship itself is only awarded in the 31 October round
- Submitting a generic or underdeveloped research proposal for such a competitive, merit-based award
- Not confirming your faculty-specific English proficiency requirement, since thresholds vary (e.g., Arts, Business, and Economics require higher scores than the general minimum)
- Overlooking the value of prior research experience and outputs, which are explicitly part of the selection criteria
- Assuming this scholarship is open only to domestic students — it is open to eligible international students as well
Living in Melbourne, Australia
Monash University’s main campuses are based in and around Melbourne, one of the world’s most livable cities according to global rankings. The city offers an extensive public transport network, a wide variety of student accommodation, and a highly multicultural population, making it a comfortable base for international PhD students from virtually any background. Living costs are moderate to high compared to many parts of Asia or Africa, but the MKS stipend is designed to help offset day-to-day expenses during your studies.
Melbourne’s climate is temperate, with warm summers, cool winters, and weather that can shift throughout a single day — a detail international students often need to adjust to. The city has a strong research, biotech, and innovation ecosystem, giving Monash PhD candidates plenty of opportunities to network beyond their immediate department. Part-time work is available to eligible student visa holders, and Monash’s international student support services help with everything from visa questions to academic and wellbeing support throughout your candidature.
Visa Information
International students admitted to a Monash PhD program typically need a Student visa (subclass 500) to study in Australia. Once your PhD offer (and MKS scholarship, if awarded) is confirmed, Monash issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is required for your visa application. Processing times vary by country of application, and applicants should also budget for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which may be included as part of your scholarship package depending on the specific RTP terms that apply to your award. Student visa holders are generally permitted to work part-time during their studies, subject to current Australian visa work-hour rules.
Why Study in Australia (at Monash University)
- Access to a Group of Eight research-intensive university with strong global rankings across HASS and STEM disciplines
- A prestigious, highly selective scholarship honoring a figure who shaped Monash’s research training culture
- Melbourne’s reputation as one of the world’s most livable cities for students
- A funding package covering living costs, research needs, and relocation
- Strong pathways into Australia’s research, academic, and industry sectors after graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Maxwell King PhD Scholarship fully funded? Yes, it covers a living stipend ($53,608 p.a. at the 2026 rate), a research allowance, and a relocation allowance if eligible.
2. Who can apply? Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents, humanitarian visa holders, and international students from any country, applying for a full-time PhD at Monash.
3. Can European students apply? Yes, international applicants from any country, including Europe, are eligible.
4. Can African students apply? Yes, African applicants are eligible as international students.
5. Can Asian students apply? Yes, students from any Asian country can apply as international students.
6. Can Pakistani students apply? Yes, Pakistani applicants are eligible as international students.
7. Can Indian students apply? Yes, Indian applicants are eligible as international students.
8. Can Americans apply? Yes, applicants from the Americas are eligible as international students.
9. Is IELTS mandatory? Yes, Monash’s standard PhD English proficiency requirements apply — commonly IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), though some faculties require higher scores.
10. Can I apply without IELTS? If you meet an alternative accepted English proficiency test under Monash’s graduate research admission policy (such as TOEFL), you may still be eligible.
11. Is there an application fee? No separate application fee applies for the scholarship itself; standard course application requirements apply.
12. Can married students apply? Yes, marital status doesn’t affect eligibility.
13. Can I bring my family? Dependent visa arrangements follow standard Australian Student visa rules and are separate from this scholarship’s funding.
14. What academic standard is required? There’s no single published GPA cutoff; selection is based on academic excellence, research outputs, and prior research experience, assessed competitively.
15. Can I work while studying? Yes, Australian Student visa holders can generally work part-time during their studies, subject to current visa conditions.
16. How many students are selected? Only two scholarships are awarded per year — one in HASS and one in STEM.
17. Can I apply for multiple Monash PhD programs? You typically apply to one specific PhD program and faculty, though you can explore multiple programs before submitting your final application.
18. Is age important? No age restriction is stated for this scholarship.
19. What happens after selection? You’ll be notified of your PhD admission and scholarship outcome together, following your faculty’s nomination and the university-level review.
20. How competitive is this scholarship? Very competitive — with only two awards given university-wide each year, it’s one of Monash’s more selective doctoral scholarships.
21. Can I apply with a pending final-year result? This isn’t explicitly addressed for the MKS; general Monash PhD admission may allow conditional offers, so check directly with your faculty.
22. What expenses are not covered? Tuition fees for international students may still apply separately unless combined with a separate tuition-fee scholarship — the MKS itself focuses on stipend, research, and relocation support; check current RTP terms for full details.
23. Can I defer the scholarship? Deferral policies follow standard Monash RTP Scholarship Procedures; confirm directly with Graduate Research Admissions for your specific case.
24. Can I apply if I already hold another scholarship? Rules on combining Monash scholarships (see “Multiple Scholarships” policy) may apply; check current terms and conditions before assuming you can combine awards.
25. How will I know if I’m selected? You’ll be notified through the standard graduate research scholarship outcome process following the 31 October round.
Final Summary
The Monash University Maxwell King PhD Scholarship 2027 is a small but genuinely prestigious doctoral award — just two scholarships given university-wide each year, one in Humanities and Social Sciences and one in STEM. If you have a strong academic record, meaningful research experience, and are aiming for a competitive PhD scholarship at a top Australian university, this is worth pursuing. Remember: there’s no separate application form — simply apply for your Monash PhD through myApp, ensure your file is strong enough to be nominated by your faculty, and keep the 31 October scholarship round in mind as the key date for this specific award.
Disclaimer
Scholarship stipend rates, terms, and eligibility criteria may change year to year — the figures in this article reflect the most recently published (2026) rate at the time of writing. Applicants should always verify the latest details directly through Monash University’s official scholarships website before applying.