Research-focus outlines for research degrees

Explore our diverse range of research-focus outlines, designed to showcase VU’s areas of research expertise. 

Aligning your application with one of these outlines can strengthen your chances of being accepted into a research program and increase your eligibility for a scholarship.

If you’re applying for a Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship to support your PhD studies, you must review the available research-focus outlines and select one that closely matches your research interests and experience.

Explore our research outlines

School girls with VR equipment on
Innovating education & future-proofing Australia's workforce
Explore the research-focus outlines related to curriculum and pedagogy; education systems; information systems; psychology; public health; specialist studies in education; and strategy, management and organisational behaviour.
Three players in the VU Vultures womens basketball team smile at the camera, courtside at UniSport Nationals 2024
Sport for performance, community participation & healthy living
Explore the research-focus outlines related to sports science and exercise; sport history, culture and sociology; and medical physiology.
Health & wellbeing solutions
Explore research outlines related to AI developments in health; biochemistry and cell biology; biomedical engineering; clinical sciences; health services and systems; medical physiology; neurosciences; nutrition and dietitics; nursing; public health; psychology; sports science and exercise; and strategy, management and organisational behaviour.
Dr Mario Peucker with community members
Transforming communities through policy, practice & governance
Explore the research-focus outlines related to accounting; artificial intelligence; criminology; economics; education policy; history; informaition systems; psychology; sociology; and strategy, management and organisational behaviour.
Smart, sustainable & liveable cities
Explore research outlines related to accounting; Artificial Intelligence; building; built environment and design; engineering; food sciences; and transportation, logistics and supply chain.
'By community, for community’ First Nations Knowledge
Explore research-focus outlines related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history; and social and personality psychology.

How to apply for a Research Stipend Scholarship

Applications for Research Period 1 2026 are now open.

  1. Select your research-focus outline (RFO)
  2. Contact the listed principal supervisor of your selected RFO to discuss your interest in and suitability for the research topic
  3. Read the Application Guide for Graduate Research Stipend Scholarships (see following)
  4. Refer to the Apply for Graduate Research page and follow the steps outlined to submit your application
  5. Use the RFO number, supervisory panel, Institute, course code and Field of Research (FoR) code from your selected RFO to assist you with your application

Please ensure you include all required documentation for admission and scholarship with your application.

Applications closing dates: 

  • international applications close: 14 September 2025 (11:59pm AEST)
  • domestic applications close: 28 September 2025 (11:59pm AEST)