Applications Open: Monash University – MSDI PhD Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded) | Australia

Monash University, through its prestigious Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI), invites domestic and international students to apply for fully funded PhD scholarships. These scholarships support impactful and interdisciplinary research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Whether you have your own research proposal or wish to join a supervisor-led PhD project, MSDI offers generous funding and a vibrant academic environment to help you tackle global sustainability challenges.

Degree Level

Monash University-MSDI Australia PhD Scholarships 2025 (Fully Funded) is available to undertake PhD level programs at Monash University.

Available Subjects

Invited PhD Research Projects at MSDI

Prospective PhD students may choose to apply for supervisor-developed PhD projects in 2025 across a variety of sustainability-focused fields, including:

1. Behavioral and Systemic Change – Exploring how behavioral science and systems thinking intersect in public policy.
2. Circular Economy Capabilities in Australia – Building the skills needed to support a circular economy transformation.
3. Post-Growth and Sustainable Wellbeing – Investigating how post-growth economics can reshape policy for better social and environmental outcomes.
4. Day-to-Day Life in Circular Economy Scenarios – Envisioning everyday life under high circularity assumptions.
5. Competency Frameworks for Sustainability Education – Examining the evolving skillsets needed for sustainability-focused learning.
6. Help-Seeking Behavior in Higher Education – Analyzing why students hesitate to seek help and how to improve support systems.
7. Behavioral Science in Teaching and Learning – Applying behavioral insights to classroom and learning environments.
8. Ethics and Behavioral Interventions – Mapping ethical frameworks that align with behavior change techniques.
9. Professional Education for Sustainable Development – Evaluating how executive education can build sustainability capacity in the private sector.
10. Health and Wellbeing in Informal Settlements – A field-based RCT measuring the impact of green infrastructure in Fiji and Indonesia.

11. Benefits

    Types of Scholarships Offered

    1. Monash University Graduate Scholarships – Awarded based on academic merit and research potential
    2. Research Training Program (RTP) – Funded by the Australian Government for eligible students
    3. MSDI-specific project scholarships – For select sustainability-focused PhD topics

    All scholarship applications are competitive and evaluated on the basis of prior research outputs, academic excellence, and alignment with the research goals of MSDI.

    Why Choose MSDI for Your PhD?

    1. Fully funded PhD scholarships available for high-achieving research candidates
    2. Access to leading interdisciplinary research teams and global collaboration networks
    3. Flexible research themes from behavior change to circular economy, health, and education
    4. Four scholarship rounds every year with competitive funding packages
    5. Automatic consideration for Monash and Australian Government RTP scholarships
    6. Support for both domestic and international students

    Eligible Nationalities

    Open to applicants of all nationalities.

    Eligibility Criteria

    1. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree of at least four years full‑time, typically with an honours year (First Class Honours or equivalent), or a Master’s degree.
    2. Admission to Monash’s graduate research degrees is required; applicants must meet standard PhD candidature criteria including academic transcripts, research proposal, and referee reports
    3. Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong academic performance, relevant research experience, and the ability to conduct independent research. This includes those applying with supervisor‑proposed projects or self‑proposed research topics .
    4. Scholarships are automatically considered for applicants who meet the above entry criteria; additional criteria like alignment with SDG‑focused research areas or invited MSDI projects may also apply .

    5. Application Procedure

       1. Review project listings and select your preferred PhD research area
       2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) or complete the full PhD application form
       3. Attach academic transcripts, research proposals, and referee contacts as per Monash guidelines
       4. MSDI encourages early contact and EOI submission for all interested candidates

       For any questions, you can email msdi-gr-enquiries@monash.edu or request a call back.

       Monash PhD scholarship application key dates in bullet format:

       Round 3 (International applicants)

       1. Applications open: 1 April
       2. Applications close: 31 August
       3. Enrolment period: January – June

       Round 4 (Domestic applicants)

       1. Applications open: 1 June
       2. Applications close: 31 October
       3. Enrolment period: January – June

       Let me know if you'd like these presented in a graphic or table format as well.

       Final Thoughts

       Monash Sustainable Development Institute is one of the leading global institutes dedicated to driving real-world sustainability solutions. This is your opportunity to join a world-class PhD program that combines academic excellence with measurable impact on environmental, economic, and social systems.

    6. 📢 Apply Now – Transform Your Future!

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