Pre-RHD Scholarships  

Program objectives

Pre-Research Higher Degree (RHD) Scholarships enable clinicians to further develop their research plan, methodology and supervision plans, with the goal of achieving enrolment in a Research Higher Degree (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Masters of Philosophy (MPhil)).

Pre-RHD Scholarship funding will be awarded to Metro North clinicians to undertake research planning activities as work toward a RHD. A maximum of $15,000 funding will be awarded per Scholarship and these funds will be provided to the relevant Business Area to enable the recipient to avail of protected research time. Scholarship recipients must:

• Commit unencumbered work-days to undertake work for a RHD.
• Submit and/or demonstrate significant progress towards an application for enrolment in a RHD by 31 December 2026.
• Undertake early work towards the program of research, which may include; a literature review, development of research questions, development of research methodology, attending research education, piloting data collection tools, preparing enrolment documentation etc. It may also include preparing ethics applications or grant applications if progress towards enrolment has already been made during the scholarship period.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a Metro North Pre-RHD Scholarship you must:

• be currently employed and remain employed as a clinician within Metro North Health for the duration of the scholarship period (applicants may not undertake a secondment during the Pre-RHD Scholarship period).
• be eligible to enrol in a RHD at the preferred university.
• be committed to submitting a RHD enrolment application (for MPhil or PhD) by 31 December 2026.
• have the support of your line manager to commit research days, unencumbered by usual work duties, between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

You are ineligible to apply if you:

• have received any funding (including grants, scholarships, fellowships) to support the nominated research or RHD research project.
• are already enrolled in a RHD.
• are currently temporarily or permanently in a research position that includes the expectation that the individual will undertake their own research as part of their role (as per the role description).
• have dedicated work time already allocated to RHD activities.