The University of Melbourne, Australia has announced a partnership renewal with the China Scholarship Council for a combined investment of up to AUD$75 million.

Under this partnership, the China Scholarship Council and the University co-fund scholarships for top-ranking graduates from institutions in China wishing to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Melbourne and will support up to 180 candidates over the next four years.

University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell announced the agreement renewal while leading a University delegation in China.

The scholarship includes full PhD tuition fees for up to four years as well as airfares, health cover, visa application fees, and an allowance to cover living costs.

Jointly established in 2011 by the China Scholarship Council and the University of Melbourne, the partnership has offered scholarships to 215 candidates, with increasing demand since its inception. 

The recipients’ research projects to date have spanned diverse areas including drought response strategies, understanding immune responses to severe influenza disease and minimising the spread of antibiotic resistance in food.