Victoria Research Lab
NICTA offers scholarships for exceptional PhD students working in ICT-related disciplines such as information systems, electrical engineering and computer science at a number of Victorian universities.
Scholarships are currently available for students at the University of Melbourne, the University of Ballarat, Monash University, RMIT University, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology who are undertaking research projects in NICTA's research areas.
NICTA Victoria Research Laboratory's main research activities are in:
- Bioinformatics & computational genomics
- Optimisation & constraint programming
- Control & signal processing for large scale system control
- Text & database mining
- Optical networks
- Micro & nano-electronics
- Control & signal processing for imaging
Students who are working in other ICT areas may still be eligible for scholarships and are encouraged to apply.
Many students on NICTA scholarships are members of teams working closely with industry partners on real-world problems. For example, our computational genomics students work with biomedical research institutions like the Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Centre and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to develop new tools for use in cancer detection and treatment.
There are opportunities for students to develop professional skills and to be part of entrepreneurial activities. In 2011, NICTA spun out a company Nitero, to commercialise a 60 GHz CMOS microchip. Development of this chip was largely based on student work and a number of these students are now working with the new company.
About the scholarship
Scholarships are available as full, partial and top-up living stipends for up to four years of study. Full stipends are paid at the same rate as Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) while top-ups are currently set at $7,000 per annum.
Scholarships are available for both Australian and international students. At some universities, international students who are awarded a full NICTA scholarship may also receive a university-funded fee exemption.
Students who are already enrolled or who have applied for a PhD candidature place are eligible to apply.
Students must be studying full-time, be enrolled in a PhD or a Masters leading to PhD and the research project must be in an area that NICTA is active in.
Students are expected to contribute to the Lab's activities in all areas and are given opportunities to be involved in enrichment, outreach and education activities. The Lab runs a number of events such as the Big Picture Seminar Series and the Meet the Founder Series that students are encouraged to be involved in.
Scholarship Conditions
The full terms and conditions of the NICTA scholarships for study at Victorian universities are available here.
The main conditions to be aware of are:
- Students must enrol full time in a PhD or a Masters leading to PhD program of study at one of the Victorian universities named above;
- Students must apply for any government or university funded full-stipend scholarships that they are eligible for;
- Students must undertake a research project that is aligned with NICTA's research activities;
- Students must abide by the candidature rules for their university and maintain satisfactory progress;
- Students must assign the intellectual property developed as part of their research to NICTA;
- Students must undertake technical and professional activities as part of their candidature.
Applying for a NICTA Scholarship
Before applying for a NICTA Scholarship you must have applied for a PhD candidature place at your chosen university or already be enrolled.
Instructions on how to apply for a PhD candidature place can be found at:
Swinburne University of Technology
All questions relating to applying for the PhD place must be sent to the university.
Once you have an application number for your candidature (or a student number is you are already enrolled) you can complete the NICTA Scholarship application form which is available below.
If you are eligible to apply for other government or university funded scholarships (eg. APA, IPRS) you should apply for these before completing your application for a NICTA Scholarship.
Submit your completed NICTA Scholarship application and a copy of your academic transcript to vrlschols@lists.nicta.com.au.
Applications for NICTA scholarships can be submitted at any time but universities may have closing dates for candidature applications and there will be closing dates for government and university funded scholarship applications.
Applications to commence early in the new year should be submitted by 31st October.
Download NICTA VRL Enhanced PhD Scholarship Application Form