The Maxwell King Scholarship (MKS) at Monash University is one of Australia’s most prestigious and competitive fully funded PhD scholarships — named in honour of Professor Maxwell King, whose extraordinary contributions to graduate research at Monash University spanned over eight years as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training). This distinguished award reflects Monash’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of world-class researchers across both STEM and Humanities disciplines.
For students actively searching for fully funded PhD scholarships in Australia 2027, graduate research stipend scholarships at Australian universities, or competitive doctoral funding for international and domestic students, the Maxwell King Scholarship offers exceptional financial support at one of Australia’s highest-ranked research universities. With a total scholarship value of $53,608 per annum at the 2027 rate, this award is among the highest-value annual PhD stipend scholarships available in Australia — covering living costs, research expenses, and relocation support for eligible candidates.
What makes this scholarship particularly notable is its accessibility — it is open to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, humanitarian visa holders, and international students alike, making it one of the few truly inclusive PhD funding opportunities at an Australian Group of Eight university.
Maxwell King Scholarship 2027 – Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | Maxwell King Scholarship (MKS) |
| Host University | Monash University, Australia |
| Degree Level | PhD (Graduate Research) |
| Total Annual Value | $53,608 per annum |
| Number Offered | 2 per year |
| Disciplines | HASS (1 scholarship) + STEM (1 scholarship) |
| Application Deadline | 31 October each year |
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Scholarship Benefits
The Monash University Maxwell King Scholarship provides one of the most comprehensive PhD financial support packages in Australia, covering the three most critical cost categories for doctoral students:
Living Allowance (Stipend): A generous annual stipend of $53,608 to comfortably cover living costs while studying at a Monash campus in Australia — one of the highest PhD living allowances at an Australian university
Research Allowance: Dedicated funding to support your doctoral research activities, fieldwork, conference attendance, and academic development throughout your PhD
Relocation Allowance: Available for eligible candidates who need to relocate to take up the scholarship — reducing the financial barrier for interstate and international students moving to study at Monash
This combination makes the Maxwell King Scholarship one of the best-value fully funded PhD scholarships in Australia for both domestic and international research students.
While the scholarship covers a massive living allowance, international applicants should note they will still need to manage their Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and Australian student visa application requirements upon acceptance.
Two Scholarships Offered Per Year
One of the unique features of the Maxwell King Scholarship is its deliberate dual-discipline structure — ensuring outstanding researchers from across the full academic spectrum are recognized:
- One scholarship awarded annually in Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) disciplines
- One scholarship awarded annually in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines
This structure makes the MKS one of the few prestigious named doctoral scholarships in Australia that equally values HASS and STEM research excellence — a significant point of difference for students from non-STEM backgrounds searching for fully funded humanities PhD scholarships in Australia.
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Eligibility Criteria
The Maxwell King Scholarship at Monash University is open to a broader pool of applicants than many comparable Australian PhD scholarships for international students. To be eligible 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 enrolled or applying to enrol at Monash University
In addition, all applicants must:
Have submitted a scholarship application in the current application year
Meet Monash University’s competitive scholarship selection process requirements
Meet Monash’s English language proficiency requirements for admission to graduate research programs
The scholarship is also available to students undertaking Joint Research Awards where Monash University is the home institution — further broadening eligibility for collaborative doctoral researchers.
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Selection Criteria
Monash University’s graduate research scholarships are among the most competitive PhD awards in Australia. The Maxwell King Scholarship is awarded based on:
- Academic excellence — demonstrated through your academic record and GPA
- Research outputs — published papers, conference presentations, or other research contributions
- Prior research experience — laboratory work, fieldwork, thesis projects, or professional research roles
The standard RTP Scholarship terms and conditions as outlined in Monash’s RTP Scholarship Procedures apply, with the specific eligibility exceptions noted above. Applicants with strong research track records and clear doctoral research proposals are best positioned to compete for this highly prestigious named PhD scholarship in Australia.
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How to Apply for the Maxwell King Scholarship 2027
Applying for this competitive fully funded PhD scholarship at Monash University is straightforward — there is no separate scholarship application required:
Submit your graduate research course application through the myApp Portal at Monash University — scholarship and course applications are submitted simultaneously
If you are already enrolled at Monash, use the same myApp Portal to submit your scholarship application
You do not need to select specific scholarships — all eligible applicants are automatically considered for all available graduate research scholarships including the Maxwell King Scholarship
Ensure you apply in the 31 October scholarship round — this prestigious scholarship is awarded exclusively in the October round each year
Eligible applicants from Rounds 1 through 4 of the same year will automatically be considered for nomination by the relevant faculty
The simplicity of this automatic consideration process means that any eligible PhD applicant at Monash University who applies before 31 October is automatically in contention for one of the two most prestigious named doctoral scholarships in Australia.
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