Manchester – Melbourne Call for Jointly Awarded/Dual PhD Projects

Overview

The University of Melbourne (Melbourne) and the University of Manchester (Manchester) support research collaboration and the development of globally-engaged researchers through the Melbourne and Manchester Graduate Research Group. Established in 2019, annual calls for joint PhD project proposals have so far provided funding for 32 supervisory teams and 44 candidates across the humanities and sciences. Jointly awarded/dual PhD programs provide candidates with access to complementary facilities, expertise and field environments, a global perspective, and an international fluency that will enable future developments in their field and provide a pool of talented employees for global academia and industry.

Melbourne and Manchester are again calling for project proposals to establish pairs of jointly awarded/dual PhD research projects. Each successful team of collaborating Primary Investigators (PIs) will receive funding for two jointly awarded/dual PhD candidates, one based in Manchester and one based in Melbourne. Funding for each candidate will include tuition fees, a full living stipend allowance, research training support, health insurance and travel allowance.

Project proposals are open to all research areas, particularly those that are of mutual strength for Manchester and Melbourne.

At the end of the successful completion of the program, each candidate will be eligible to receive a PhD, recognised by two testamurs, one from Melbourne and one from Manchester, stating the joint nature of the award and name of the partner institution.

This call for joint PhD project proposals is open to applications from academic supervisors only. If you are a prospective candidate interested in applying for a joint PhD, please refer to the information available here.

Eligibility

This call for project proposals is open to a supervisory team of at least two Principal Investigators (PIs), one from Manchester and one from Melbourne. The PIs must have capacity to supervise two PhD candidates. Each PI must meet the supervisor eligibility criteria set by their own institution and each PI is responsible for checking their own eligibility.

Melbourne

Melbourne academics must be registered to supervise as per the Supervisor Eligibility and Registration Policy. Primary supervisors should be employed at UoM beyond the envisaged submission date of their PhD candidates (2027). If their employment contract does not extend beyond the submission date, then alternative arrangements must be in place, by either having:

1. A named co-supervisor at Melbourne beyond the envisaged submission date of their PhD candidates (2027); or
2. A letter of support from the respective Head of Department/Head of School detailing the arrangements in place to ensure continuity of supervision.

For more information, including forms for supervisor registration, please consult the information for supervisors section on the Graduate Research Hub.

Honorary employees whose primary academic affiliation is the University of Melbourne are eligible to lead an application as a PI if they are a registered Principal Supervisor at Melbourne, and either:

1. Their primary employer has entered into a written agreement for this call to fund the Melbourne cash component of the collaborative activity; or
2. They participate at their own expense if they are otherwise unaffiliated (for example, they hold an emeritus position).

Manchester

The supervisory team must meet Manchester’s criteria as set out in the University's Policy on Supervision for Postgraduate Research Degrees.

Additional notes for all applicants

Proposals that involve Early Career Researchers (ECRs) as either Principal Investigators or co-investigators are strongly encouraged. An ECR is defined at both Manchester and Melbourne as a researcher within 10 years of their PhD conferral, excluding periods of career interruptions.

Previous recipients may not currently reapply to the scheme but may participate in projects as a co-investigator.

Additional colleagues (including other partners in Australia, the UK or internationally) that are not affiliated with Melbourne or Manchester are not eligible to apply as primary supervisors, although they can participate in co- supervision of joint PhDs.

Adherence to respective equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies are a core feature of this program to ensure that all participants can do their best work, thrive and succeed. Applicant teams should consider how they can take meaningful steps in their future collaborations to foster an environment that values, supports and respects a diverse range of views, knowledge and experiences. Applicants should consider EDI as it applies to gender, indigenous peoples, disabilities, career stages and sectors.

Applications that do not satisfy these criteria will not be eligible.

How to apply

1. Review the guidelines

   Please review the guidelines before the submission.

2. Complete and submit the application

   A single, jointly-prepared application in English must be submitted via SmartyGrants by Thursday 13 October 2022 12AM Midnight BST(Manchester)/ Friday 14 October 2022 10AM AEDT(Melbourne). Applications should be written in English and for an audience proficient, but not expert.

   All Melbourne PIs must ensure that the Head of Department/School and Associate Dean (Graduate Research) endorsement is attached to the application using the approval forms provided on the Researcher Development Schemes website. Melbourne applicants who hold an Honorary position must also complete the Honorary declaration form.

   If the application involves a PI from Melbourne's Faculty of Arts, the approval forms must be provided in addition to the supporting statement on how the candidates will be the Faculty’s PhD coursework requirement.

Supporting documents

- Melbourne-Manchester joint call guidelines 2022/2023

- Melbourne-Manchester SmartyGrants application form 2022

- HoD and Associate Dean (Graduate Research) approval forms

-Honorary declaration form

Contacts