Project Scholarships
Western Sydney University offers a range of project-based scholarships to support higher degree students in undertaking their research. Scholarships are available to support both current and new postgraduate research candidates. You may also be eligible for scholarships offered by other organisations.
If you are a currently enrolled Western Sydney University HDR candidate,please submit your scholarship enquiry here Enquiries about scholarships.
For new HDR Candidate, enquiries should be submitted here.
Apply Now
The following scholarships are now open for applications:
Economic Burden of Diabetes in Australia
Diabetes Australia will co-fund a PhD scholarship through its Diabetes Australia Shiela Woodcock Industry PhD scholarship initiative to support a program of research for a candidate to quantify the full direct and indirect economic costs of diabetes in Australia.
Ecology of the eastern horseshoe bat and its sensitivity to the impacts of fire
This project will investigate the ecology of the eastern horseshoe bat with respect to forest disturbance, especially fire and fragmentation. The study's objectives include describing the foraging activity, movement patterns and roosting behaviour of the eastern horseshoe bat in relation to environmental characteristics and specifically the impacts of fire. The project could also include relevant aspects of ecophysiology (e.g. torpor use) and genetic analysis of population structure.
Applications close 30 September 2025
Vocal mimicry in the tooth-billed bowerbird
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) at Western Sydney University is offering a research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate the vocal mimicry of the Tooth-Billed Bowerbird.
Applications close 30 September 2025
Trait-based mechanisms of plant-microbiome interaction to enhance abiotic stress
This PhD project investigates how plant-associated microbiomes interact with host traits to mediate resilience to these stressors.
Applications close 30 September 2025
Characterising metabolite-driven structuring of healthy soil microbiomes by mycorrhizal fungi
This project will investigate how ectomycorrhizal fungi promote tree establishment in plantations and revegetation projects by improving soil biotic health.
Applications close 31 August 2025
Decoding the spectral signatures of Australia's tree diversity and function
A PhD scholarship is available as part of an ARC-DECRA project on the diversity and functioning of Australia's trees and forests. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop their own research program on this topic. This could include investigating what governs the assembly of eucalypt forests across Australia, the drivers and consequences of eucalypt chemotypes, or how tree diversity may help buffer ecosystems as our climate warms.
Applications close 30 September 2025
Maximising vanilla production through increased understanding of physiology and biochemistry
This project aims to optimise vanilla cultivation in a dome using by investigating the environmental conditions to improve carbon assimilation.
Applications close 31 August 2025
Targeting Chloroplasts to Enhance Crop Salt Tolerance
This PhD project will be involve gene cloning and functional characterisation of water and ion transporter genes in crops.
Applications close 31 August 2025
Indigenous PhD Project - Understanding Indigenous/Pasifika LGBTIQ+ wellbeing and the role of rights-based
This project will family relationships, focusing on Queer Indigenous intersectional experiences, perspectives, practices, and understandings of wellbeing across complex environments. Applications close 31 May 2025
Anti-Racism, RESPECT, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voices
This project is a call for a future Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander scholar to commit to a post-graduate research project that will investigate and critique the development of a new anti-racism educational initiative Applications close 31 August 2025
Understanding Indigenous/Pasifika LGBTIQ+ wellbeing and the role of rights-based
This project will carry out independent research into family relationships, or other relevant related area as negotiated, focusing on Queer Indigenous/Pasifika intersectional experiences, perspectives, practices, and understandings of wellbeing. Applications close 31 August 2025
Addressing Healthcare Access and Equity for Priority Populations with Neurodevelopment Disorders
This project uses a strengths-based approach to address equity in healthcare access for children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders using a co-design approach with consumers and stakeholders.
Applications close 30 September 2025
Strong Feet, Healthy Hearts
The overarching goal of this project is to reduce incidence of cardiovascular morbidity, mortality and foot disease associated with PAD through Community-led co-design of culturally safe PAD education and screening program
Applications close 31 August 2025.
Benchmarking and Strategic Profiling Optimising performance and return-to-play
This PhD project aims to better understand how the neuromechanical system adapts throughout the performance timeline.
Applications close 31 August 2025
Understanding the mastery of multiple languages and dialects
The PhD candidate will conduct targeted experimental studies to test the projects computational model on multilingual speakers.
Applications close 31 August 2025
Walking my path: NSW Indigenous LGBTIQ+ peoples' experiences & aspirations
Applications are open to domestic candidates only. The successful candidate will contribute to the ARC Linkage Project ‘Walking my Path’, which explores the experiences of Indigenous gender and/or sexuality diverse peoples in New South Wales (NSW).
Applications close 31 May 2025
Herbal pharmacology research for type 1 diabetes
This project will explore novel natural ingredients from medicinal plants to slow down the progression of cognitive decline by addressing the trigger of it.
Applications close 31 August 2025
Mobile options:
