Overseas Research Experience Scholarships (ORES)

ORES are awarded on a competitive basis to University of Melbourne confirmed PhD and other research doctorate students to travel overseas for a minimum of two months in order to:

  • obtain research experience as part of their graduate research degree training, and
  • consolidate research links with overseas universities and research institutions.

Students traveling to Universitas 21 institutions are strongly encouraged to apply.

Number

Each year approximately 50 ORES are awarded on a competitive basis.

Benefits

Each scholarship is worth up to $5,000.

Eligibility criteria

  1. The travel must be relevant and academically justifiable but not essential to the completion of the student's thesis (departments and faculties are responsible for the funding of research that is essential to the PhD or research doctorate).
  2. To be eligible for the ORES scheme, students must demonstrate that they have additional funds to support the trip. It is expected that the department and/or faculty will provide these funds.
  3. The scheme is available only to PhD or other research doctorate students who have confirmed candidature at the University of Melbourne at the application closing date and at the time of travel. Confirmed PhD candidature takes place between 6 and 12 months of full-time study via a Confirmation Report Form. Please contact your Faculty/Graduate School Graduate Research Contact if you are unsure about your confirmation status.

    If you are yet to be confirmed, please apply in a future round. Students undertaking research doctorate degrees which do not have a confirmation process should refer to point 14 below.

  4. The research project must be of high quality and:
    • form part of a recognised or developing collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the university or institution hosting the student
    • or
    • involve collaboration with a university with which the University has a formal exchange agreement (refer to the list of partner institutions) or
    • include travel to a Universitas 21 institution.

    The proposed overseas visit by the student should not form the sole basis of the collaboration unless the interaction is being carried out under the terms of a formal exchange agreement between the University and the overseas university, network, academic or Universitas 21 institution.

    Investigating post-doctoral opportunities is acceptable as an element of the proposed travel but not as the main purpose of the trip. Evidence of arrangements made to investigate post doctorate opportunities must be attached to the application.

  5. ORES applicants must be intending to spend a minimum of two months engaged in research overseas. Only if the student is traveling exclusively to a Universitas 21 institution will trips of a minimum of one month duration be considered.
  6. A supervisor acceptable to the Graduate Research Scholarships Committee (GRSC) must be available at the overseas university or institution for the duration of the proposed visit.
  7. Travel should occur in the ‘middle' (ie. between 12 and 36 months) of the research candidature. Travel after 36 months of candidature will need particular justification from the applicant's supervisor or head of department. Applications for travel beyond 42 months will not be considered.
  8. Applicants must obtain additional funds for this trip. It is expected that the applicant's supervisor, department and/or faculty will provide the additional funds.
  9. Applicants may not apply for an ORES and a Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship (MATS) for the same purpose.
  10. If the next ORES closing date falls during the applicant's trip or after the trip has occurred, an application can be considered, and an ORES awarded retrospectively, provided all eligibility requirements listed were met and the application and all required documents were submitted to Melbourne Scholarships before departure.
  11. If details of your trip change, you must advise Melbourne Scholarships for approval from the Graduate Research Scholarships Committee (GRSC).
  12. Part-time students are eligible to apply but must be enrolled full time while overseas.
  13. Before departure, applicants must have Study Away approved by their Faculty/Graduate School Graduate Research Contact. A Leave of Absence can not be used for an overseas study trip. Scholarships will only be awarded on the condition that evidence of approved OSL can be supplied.
  14. Students enrolled in research doctorate courses are eligible to apply if:
    • the course is awarded on the basis of a thesis rather than a body of substantial published work
    • they have been enrolled in the course for at least 12 months (full time equivalent), and
    • they submit with their ORES application a letter from their supervisor or their head of department that comments on their progress to date.

    Applicants are ineligible if they:

    • do not meet all of the eligibility requirements listed above
    • have completed more than 42 months of candidature
    • have previously received an ORES
    • are a masters by research student
    • are full-time or fractional full-time academic staff (including research fellows and assistants) at any university
    • submit a late or incomplete application, or
    • are a Cotutelle student whose home institution is in France.

    No exceptions will be made to the eligibility criteria.

Selection criteria

The Committee will only consider applicants who:

  • satisfy all of the eligibility requirements noted above, and
  • submit a complete application (ie. all sections of the application completed and all required documents provided by the closing date and prior to departure).

When awarding the ORES, the GRSC considers the strength of the entire application, including the:

  • statement of purpose and reasonableness of the budget
  • the strength of the existing or developing collaboration (applications can be used to initiate collaboration)
  • the expected benefit of the overseas study to the University and to the student, and
  • the quality of the research project.

Particular attention is paid to the rationale and support the applicant's supervisor (or head of department or postgraduate coordinator) provides for the intended trip.

Applicants should note that selection for this award is competitive as the number of applications exceed the available funds. Submission of an application does not guarantee the award of a scholarship. Applicants are strongly encouraged to pursue alternative funding in the event their application is unsuccessful.

Application process

Applications must be lodged through the Student Portal. Login to your Student Portal and select the "Admin" tab. Select "Apply for a Scholarship" under the Scholarships heading then select "New Scholarship Application".

Submit a completed ORES application online and upload or submit in hard copy the budget proforma and all required documents by the closing date and before departure.

Applicants may access their application for reference through the Student Portal copies or print outs of your application cannot be made once the application has been submitted.

Checklist and required documents

Before submitting the application, please carefully check you have:

  1. Answered all the questions on the application. The application should be completed by the student in conjunction with their supervisor. The supervisor must ensure the criteria are met and that evidence of collaboration and funding is provided.
  2. Read the scholarship application declaration.
  3. Uploaded or provided hard copies of the following attachments. Please attach the Scholarship application coversheet and label each attachment as it appears below, including your name and student number:

    Attachment A: a detailed explanation of your trip that:

    • details the collaboration details as outlined in the ORES application, and
    • explains what you plan to achieve whilst overseas and how your proposed travel is relevant to your thesis but not essential to the completion of it.
    • You are required to submit evidence of your proposed travel.  Your itinerary must list the dates (or expected dates), places you will visit, and what you plan to do at each place, and
    • a list of the formal contacts/arrangements you have established or are establishing. You need to provide copies of relevant emails or documentation.

    Attachment B: a statement of expected benefit as outlined in the ORES application.

    Attachment C: a statement of support from your supervisor (or head of department or postgraduate co-ordinator) that:

    • supports the explanation of what you intend to achieve whilst overseas and explains how the travel is relevant to your thesis but not essential to the completion of it*
    • illustrates the expected benefit of the travel to yourself and the University
    • confirms that your budget costs are justified/reasonable, and
    • details the funds that your department/faculty will contribute to your trip (if another source is providing the required additional funds this statement should be provided by them).

    *If the intended travel will occur between 36 and 42 months (full-time equivalent) of your candidature this section of the department statement must justify the trip and clearly explain how travel undertaken so close to your submission date will add value to your thesis.

    This letter should be submitted in hard copy, on letterhead and signed by your supervisor, head of department or postgraduate coordinator.

    Attachment D: a completed budget proforma with specific and detailed expenses and funding information. Attach any evidence of in-kind contributions to the budget proforma.

Eligible costs for budget estimate

  • Airfare, train/bus fares to destination
  • Local travel at research/conference site
  • Visa fees and airport taxes
  • Accommodation
  • Conference fees
  • Per diem (living allowance). The per diem rate should include an estimate of expenses such as accommodation, meals and incidentals for the period you are travelling for research-released purposes. Please do not include any periods of personal travel in the Per Diem.
  • Other costs (eg. entrance fees or search fees)
  • ‘In-kind' contributions (eg. waiver of bench fees), and
  • Travel insurance. The University has in place a travel insurance policy covering all students who travel as part of their course, available to students at no cost when they register their travel the the Insurance Office. Students must complete the online Register your Travel Student form at least 7 days prior to departure. This is a separate step from the application to Study Away. Please note that strict conditions apply. University owned equipment (such as laptops) are already covered by separate insurance.

Attachment E: a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

It is the responsibility of the applicant's University of Melbourne department to ensure that they will have access to all the equipment (eg. laptops and other computers) required for their study overseas.

Reporting requirement

Within two weeks of the student returning to the University from overseas, the supervisor and the doctoral student must submit a written report on the visit to Melbourne Scholarships. The head of department must endorse the report. A suggested format for the report can be found here.

Closing date and timeline

There are two rounds each year. The closing dates are noted below.

Round 1 11.59 pm AEDT, 31 March
Round 2 11.59 pm AEST, 31 August


If a closing date falls on a weekend, you may submit your required documents the next working day but you must complete and submit your application online by 11.59 pm AEDT/AEST on the closing date).

Applications can only be considered if the applicant meets the eligibility requirements noted in these guidelines and has provided all of the required documentation by the closing date and prior to departure. Late or ineligible applications will not be considered and exceptions cannot be made to the closing date.

Application outcome

Applicants should receive notification by email of the success or otherwise of their application eight weeks after the closing date. Results will also be available on your Student Portal. Results will not be provided over the phone.

For further information

Please contact Melbourne Scholarships.