Collaborate with industry and prepare for your future
An Industry PhD Scholarship gives you the opportunity to undertake research in collaboration with an industry partner, providing practical experience while you complete your doctoral studies.
You will conduct relevant, impactful research that responds to industry needs, under the joint supervision of your host organisation and Griffith University.
An Industry PhD Scholarship will support you to become an adaptable and agile researcher with the knowledge and experience to succeed in a variety of roles and industries.
The minimum rate for a HDR living stipend scholarship is $34,752 (2025-indexed annually) per year, however, industry PhD scholarships are set at a higher rate of $50,000 (2024) per year for up to 3.5 years. This higher rate recognises the industry partner investment and co-collaboration of the project.
Funding models
At Griffith University, we have several options for Industry PhD Scholarships.
Co-funding project
Industry scholarships are a package totalling a minimum $50,000pa living stipend for the candidate.
| Model | Funding support from industry | Funding support from Griffith |
|---|---|---|
| Model A - co-funded |
Industry partner's invest $35,000 per year with a $15,000 per year top-up from Griffith, totalling a $50,000 per year living stipend. The minimum investment required from industry is $25,000 per year. However, lesser investment from industry may be approved for co-funding arrangements in certain circumstances
such as non-profit organisations to be reviewed case by case. Industry partner may also invest in the cost of tuition, where an international candidate is recruited | Griffith will match the funding to total a $50,000 per year living stipend, e.g. $15,000 per year to match a $35,000 per year industry investment. Griffith will provide a Research Training Program Domestic Fee Offset to domestic candidates to offset the cost of tuition for the duration of the program. Griffith may also provide a tuition fee scholarship to international candidates to cover the cost of tuition fees for up to 3.5 years, and visa length Overseas Student Health Cover, where this is not funded by the partner. |
Industry Employment
| Model | Funding support from industry | Funding support from Griffith |
|---|---|---|
| Model B - Industry employment | Where applicant is an employee of the industry partner, the employer will continue to pay their salary for the duration of their studies (minimum 3.5 years). | Either not applicable, or, depending on the project Griffith may provide project funding, funding to the employer, or other incentive may be awarded as a package with the industry funding. Griffith will provide a Research Training Program Domestic Fee Offset to domestic candidates to offset the cost of tuition for the duration of the program. Griffith may also provide a tuition fee scholarship to international candidates to cover the cost of tuition fees for up to 3.5 years, and visa length Overseas Student Health Cover, where this is not funded by the partner. |
Scholarship details
Candidates who undertake their doctoral studies in collaboration with an external organisation receive:
- access to industry facilities, technology and equipment
- access to industry expertise, real-world problems, information, and data for research application
- opportunity for professional development
- professional development opportunities
- potential future employment opportunities
- relevant organisation experience to suit your career aspirations
- opportunity for increased scholarship stipend.
There are several ways you can find an industry partner to collaborate with, such as:
- utilising your networks—contacting an industry partner and collaborate on a project idea together (this may be your employer who could support you during your studies)
- utilising the networks of your supervisor—working as a team to approach and collaborate on a project proposal for an industry partner
- applying to undertake a project through an advertised industry partnership (refer to the ‘How to apply’ tab).
Eligible industry partners
An industry partner/external organisation (also known as a research end-user) is any entity (nationally or globally) outside of and not owned by a university, such as:
- private enterprises, start-ups and businesses
- not-for-profit organisations and charities
- government (local, state and federal)—this includes entities such as CSIRO
- community groups and organisations.
Entities that are excluded from this definition are:
- other higher education providers
- organisations that are affiliates, controlled entities or subsidiaries (such as medical research institutes) of a higher education provider
- equivalents (nationally or globally) of the above exclusions.
An applicant for admission as a PhD candidate shall hold:
- A Bachelor degree with second-class honours (Division A); or
- A Masters degree incorporating a significant research component, from a recognised institution; deemed to be of a comparable standard; or
- A record of research, or a qualification granted by a professional or other body deemed to be of a comparable standard.
Candidates may also be enrolled on a full time or part time basis, and may be enrolled as a remote candidate within Australia as aligned with the project and industry location.
*If investment from industry is under $25,000 per year and a primarily Griffith funded stipend is required, applicants will be required to hold a Bachelor degree with first-class honours for scholarship consideration and must enrol full time.
Refer to the Equivalent qualifications for HDR program admission web page for information on qualifications that are accepted as being equivalent to an Australian Bachelor Honours Degree for admission or scholarship, as well as alternate pathways that are accepted.
The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background.
To be eligible for consideration for award of an industry PhD scholarship, applicants must have secured an industry partner/external organisation who has committed to provide the minimum required stipend funds/top-up, OR have been selected as the preferred candidate for an advertised industry project;
- propose to undertake a collaborative research project with the industry partner that includes a minimum of 60 days working with the partner (either remotely or in person) over the course of the program; and
- meet any other specific eligibility criteria for the scholarship, including the specified academic qualification criteria.
The Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUPRS) conditions of award will apply to scholarship funding provided by the University. The conditions will be amended to reflect the variations applicable to the awardee. A successful International applicant may also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUIPRS) to cover tuition fees.
A successful International applicant may also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUIPRS) to cover tuition fees.
Available opportunities are listed in the Research Scholarships Table. Please refer to each offering for entry requirements. Applicants are required to lodge an expression of interest and, if selected as the preferred candidate, will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship.
Or, if you have found an industry partner (for example your employer) with whom you wish to collaborate, please find a supervisor on Griffith Experts and pursue the organisation together. Griffith supervisors can find information on how to organise an industry doctoral project on the HDR Industry Engagement and Partnerships web page.
For enquiries related to setting up a research project and scholarship with an industry partner please contact your proposed supervisor. You can also contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School Partnerships: PhDPartnerships@griffith.edu.au
For enquiries related to the lodgement of an online application for admission and scholarship please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School Enquiries: hdr-enquiry@griffith.edu.au