2026 Flinders University Wicked Problems Scholars - PhD Scholarship

Flinders University is committed to addressing the wicked problems and big issues of our time—complex, interconnected challenges that matter deeply to society and cannot be solved by single disciplines alone. That is why, through the Flinders Wicked Problems ReportTM, Flinders University has engaged with over 30,000 Australians to understand what matters most to them. Solving wicked problems will require a transdisciplinary and collaborative research approaches to generate impactful, solutions?focused outcomes. We are recruiting six PhD candidates to work as part of a cohort on this ambitious program, supported by access to the Wicked Problems dataset.

The Projects are:

• Table of Content
• About Flinders University
• Flinders University PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Flinders University PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for Flinders University PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Flinders University PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Flinders University PhD Scholarship

The scholarship includes:

• A stipend valued at $36,061 (tax free), indexed annually
• The scholarship will be awarded for 3.5 years
• The project includes an inbuilt internship
• International students are eligible to apply for this opportunity.

Requirements for Flinders University PhD Scholarship Qualification

To be eligible for the award of this scholarship a student must:

• Be an Australian citizen; or New Zealand citizen; or have been granted permanent resident status; or are international citizens; and
• meet PhD admission requirements including: have an Australian Honours degree Class 1 or 2A or equivalent qualification (at least AQF Level 8), including a research component of at least 6 months’ full-time study achieving Distinction (75%) OR including evidence of equivalent research experience, such as a substantial first-author refereed publication or track record as an investigator on a competitive grant; and
• be available to commence as a full-time PhD student at Flinders University in semester 2, 2026;
• Overseas students are eligible to apply, however, they may be required to pay international fees.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Those who apply for the scholarship opportunity that have not already applied for admission to a relevant HDR must also apply for admission. Instructions on how to apply for admission can be found here: https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/apply/apply-research-degree/how-to-apply?utm_source=ScholarshipTab

By lodging this separate application, applicants acknowledge:

• The ‘Supervisor confirmation’ must refer to the application for this scholarship
• The application for PhD admission will only be assessed where:
• The applicant is successful in being awarded the scholarship

Prior to submitting an application for the scholarship, prospective applicants must contact the supervisor of the specific project they are interested in (email addresses above) to discuss their interest in, and eligibility for, the opportunity. The Project lead may invite you to apply and request a copy of your CV together with a covering letter outlining your relevant qualifications, experience, research experience and reasons for applying for the scholarship. N.B. applications for a scholarship must be submitted directly to the relevant lead supervisor (via the supervisors email address above).

The successful candidate will ideally begin by 30th June 2026, subject to negotiation (and not later than 30th September 2026).

For more information, kindly visit Flinders University scholarship webpage.