The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is offering several PhD scholarship opportunities for domestic and international students across a diverse range of research fields.
With multiple priority projects currently accepting applications, prospective researchers can pursue doctoral study in areas including marine science, biological sciences, Earth sciences, climate research, medical research, and artificial intelligence.
The available projects offer scholarship support of up to $60,000 per year, depending on the research project. Applications for the featured opportunities close on October 1, 2026, giving eligible candidates an opportunity to pursue advanced research at an Australian university.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Principal Supervisor before applying to discuss their suitability for the selected project.
University of Tasmania PhD Research Opportunities
The University of Tasmania provides a diverse range of higher degree research projects, with new opportunities added regularly. The university’s research-project platform allows prospective PhD candidates to search, filter, and sort available projects according to scholarship type, student type, degree, category, and research focus.
The featured priority projects have a closing date of October 1, 2026. Eligibility and selection requirements can vary between individual projects, so applicants should carefully review the specific project advertisement before submitting an application.
Featured Fully Funded PhD Projects
Several projects currently stand out because of their research focus and scholarship value.
Turning Scallop Waste into Wealth is a Biological Sciences project within the Marine and Antarctic research area. The research will investigate ways of developing novel bioproducts from scallop fishery waste, including tissue and shells. The project aims to reduce waste-disposal costs while creating value-added products for Tasmania’s scallop fishing industry.
The project offers a scholarship of up to $60,000 per year and is open to domestic and international students.
AI-Based Detection and Catch Validation of Sharks focuses on developing and validating AI computer-vision tools capable of identifying, measuring, and verifying shark catches from electronic-monitoring video. The research is intended to support accurate catch estimates, fisheries compliance, onboard processing, and sustainable fisheries management.
This PhD offers scholarship support of up to $48,071 per year and is open to domestic students.
Earth Sciences and Geophysics PhDs
Applicants interested in geology and geophysics can consider two priority projects examining Australia’s northwestern margin.
The Geological Record of Gondwana Breakup Along Australia’s Northwestern Margin will investigate the geological evolution of submarine plateaus off northwest Australia. Researchers will examine crustal character, age, and tectonic history to develop new insights into the breakup of Gondwana and the formation of modern Australia.
The scholarship provides up to $44,315 per year and is available to domestic and international students.
Another project, Geophysical Architecture and Geodynamic Evolution of Australia’s Northwest Margin, will use new geophysical data to investigate the deep crust underlying submarine plateaus and the seafloor beneath the Indian Ocean.
This project also offers up to $44,315 per year and welcomes domestic and international applicants.
Medical Research PhD Scholarships
The available projects also include doctoral opportunities in medical research.
Novel Gene Discovery for Childhood Cataract will use genome sequencing in families and gene editing in zebrafish to identify previously undiscovered genes associated with childhood cataract. The project addresses a significant cause of visual impairment in children.
The scholarship is worth up to $41,815 per year and is open to domestic and international students.
Another related project, Functional Assessment of Variants of Uncertain Significance in Genes That Cause Childhood Cataract, will develop and apply functional assays to investigate the biological effects of genetic variants associated with cataract.
It offers up to $41,815 per year and is also open to domestic and international students.
Climate and Antarctic Research Opportunities
Several priority projects focus on climate, Antarctica, and the Earth’s geological systems.
The Cook Glacier Region as a Window into Earth to Ice Interactions in East Antarctica project will investigate geothermal heat flow, lithosphere dynamics, and ice-sheet evolution using geological and geophysical data, plate reconstructions, and mantle-flow models.
The project offers up to $39,315 per year for domestic and international students.
The Precision Climate Tracking of the Earth’s Response to Emission Reductions project is funded by the Australian Research Council and addresses the challenge of tracking how the Earth responds to climate-change mitigation efforts. The scholarship is worth up to $39,315 per year and is open to domestic and international students.
The Detecting Outlet Glacier Process and Change Using Seismology and Combined Geophysical Approaches project will develop geophysical approaches for investigating Antarctic ice-sheet outlets, with an emphasis on field data collection and analysis. It also offers up to $39,315 per year and is available to domestic and international students.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility varies according to the individual PhD project. The university states that specific project eligibility and selection criteria are contained within each project advertisement.
The featured opportunities include projects open to both domestic and international students, while some are restricted to domestic applicants. Prospective candidates should therefore check the student-type classification and project-specific requirements before proceeding.
Candidates should also contact the Principal Supervisor of their preferred project to discuss their suitability before submitting an application.
How to Apply
Applicants should begin by browsing the University of Tasmania’s available research-degree projects and identifying a project that matches their academic background and research interests.
The application process should include reviewing the specific eligibility and selection criteria for the chosen project and contacting the listed Principal Supervisor to discuss suitability.
Candidates should then follow the university’s application instructions for the relevant research degree and scholarship opportunity.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the featured University of Tasmania priority projects is October 1, 2026.
Because applicants are advised to contact the Principal Supervisor before applying, prospective PhD candidates should begin the process early enough to allow time for discussion, preparation, and submission of the required application materials.
Why Consider the University of Tasmania?
These opportunities provide prospective doctoral researchers with access to a broad portfolio of research projects addressing issues in science, medicine, climate change, marine systems, artificial intelligence, geology, and Antarctica.
With scholarship values reaching up to $60,000 per year, the opportunities may be particularly attractive to researchers seeking funded PhD study in Australia. However, scholarship amounts and eligibility differ by project, so candidates should assess each opportunity individually.
