The Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MBCRC) has announced a major boost to its PhD scholarships, making them among the most generous in Australia.
The MBCRC can offer base PhD scholarships of $60,000 per year, nearly double the national average, or top-up scholarship of up to $30,000 per year. On top of this, candidates can access operating funds of up to $20,000 to support research costs, industry placements, and conferences.
The move sets a new benchmark in Australia.
The MBCRC CEO, Daniel E. Abrahams, said “An Australian education will transform the lives of our graduates. Our graduates should not experience financial hardship. They work hard and deserve a living wage.”
“Building a new multibillion-dollar industry needs people who can concentrate fully on the job. Our scholarships now compete with graduate salaries.”, he said.
The increase is in response to Australia’s cost of living crisis that is pushing many students to the brink. Rising rents, soaring grocery prices, and stagnant scholarships have left many Higher Degree by Research (HDR) scholars struggling to make ends meet, and in some cases, abandoning study altogether.
The average PhD stipend in Australia sits at around $33,000 a year, tax-free. While this is higher than some government allowances, it remains well below the minimum full-time wage (around $49,000 before tax).
For students balancing long hours of research with financial hardship, the gap can be crippling. Surveys consistently show that many HDR candidates skip meals, take on excessive paid work, or rely on food banks to get by.
Dr Sarah Ugalde, the MBCRC Education & Communications Manager, said “People start a PhD to make a difference. We’re connecting Higher Degree candidates more closely with industry and giving them the support needed to succeed.”.
By 2031, the MBCRC plans to support 40 PhD students and 80 Masters/Honours students, all linked to industry-led projects.
Potential projects are diverse, ranging from developing marine-derived solutions for health and nutrition, creating new products and industries, through to industrial applications, such as fertilisers and sustainable building materials.
Scholarships are open to both domestic and international students at MBCRC Core Research Partners across Australia, including Charles Sturt University, Deakin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, University of South Australia, University of Sunshine Coast, University of Tasmania, and University of Queensland.
All existing MBCRC HDR candidates will transition to the new rates. At a time when many students are questioning whether they can afford to stay in research, the MBCRC model signals a shift: investing in people is essential to building industries of the future. Applications are now open – contact Sarah Ugalde for more information (sarah.ugalde@mbcrc.com).
