Ten New Scholarships For India’s Top Candidates

Ten top PhD scholars from India will be awarded AUD$90,000 each and additionally have their fees waived by approximately AUD$90,000 over a period of three years, at one of nine universities, in Victoria, Australia, beginning in 2013

 .The second year of the prestigious Victoria India Doctoral Scholarships (VIDS) Program was launched recently  by the State Government of Victoria and the Australia India Institute. 

 The program is one of a number of strategic engagement opportunities initiated by the Victorian Government to strengthen bilateral relationships between Victoria and India.The ten new scholarships, which will support living costs and education related travel, will extend over the duration of the students doctoral studies. 

Victoria’s universities have agreed to provide a full tuition fee waiver. Ms. Louise Asher, Victoria’s Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, launched the program at an event attended by Victoria’s Commissioner to India, Mr. Geoffrey Conaghan, Director of the Australia India Institute, Professor Amitabh Mattoo and Australia’s Consul-General for South India, David Holly. 

 The launch programme was held at Taj Connemara in Chennai.Speaking at the launch in Chennai, Mr Conaghan said the 2013 scholarship offer was one of the most lucrative available for Indian scholars: “This is a great opportunity for some of India's brightest and best researchers to pursue their PHD studies at Victoria's world renowned universities.”

 Professor Amitabh Mattoo spoke at launch that the “scholarships were a critical part of the Victorian Government’s strategy to build a strong bilateral partnership with India and congratulated the Victorian Government ".

Eminent universities would offer excellent doctoral opportunities across science, engineering, medicine, the social sciences and humanities, business studies, education and the arts.

Melbourne also ranks alongside Paris, London and Boston as the best student city, in the QS rankings which compare cities quality of life, quality of education liveability and access to employment. More information on the Victorian Government’s Victoria India Doctoral Scholarships Program click  www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/scholarships