The University of St Andrews and Macquarie University are pleased to offer a scholarship funded by both institutions to support an exceptional student undertaking doctoral research. This scholarship supports research into how oyster reef structure influences biodiversity. The project focuses on understanding interstitial spacing to improve reef restoration designs and enhance ecological outcomes. This project aims to fill a critical knowledge gap regarding how interstitial spacing influences biodiversity of oyster reefs across biogeographical regions, informing reef restoration design to maximise ecological benefits. This project 'Optimising the design of oyster reef restoration projects for biodiversity outcomes' will be co-supervised by Professor Melanie Bishop and Dr Carmel McDougall.
Table of Content
Summary
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Benefits
- For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarships will comprise a full tuition fee award and an annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2025-2026, the stipend is £19,775 p.a., with an annual uplift published by the University each academic year.
- Macquarie will fund a living allowance scholarship per position at an annual rate of AUD39,700 (2026 rate, tax exempt), paid pro-rata while the student is in Australia. A tuition fee scholarship will be granted for the period of joint enrolment up to 42 months.
- Macquarie will also provide an airfare allowance for flights between the UK and Australia up to a maximum of $4,000 AUD to be arranged by the Graduate Research Academy.
- Up to three and a half years. The student will be expected to spend half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University.
Requirements
- Admission and scholarship criteria of both universities must be met.
- Year of entry: 2026-2027 academic year (St Andrews), 2026 academic year (Macquarie).
- Students will enrol at both institutions from the outset. In terms of their location for study, the entry point for students beginning at St Andrews is 27 September. If beginning at Macquarie, entry point is 1 October.
Applicants must not already
- hold a doctoral degree; or
- be matriculated for a doctoral degree at the University of St Andrews, Macquarie University, or another institution.
Selection Process
The participating schools at St Andrews and the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie in coordination with the academic supervisors will be expected to complete the selection process.
- The Global Office at St Andrews will work with the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie to arrange official notification of scholarship awards, invite scholarship awardees to formally apply for admission to both universities by mid-January 2026, and conclude contractual arrangements which must be in place prior to the start of the degree.
- Students who are nominated for the award will be asked to formally apply for the relevant PhD course code and Cotutelle/joint PhD scholarship through the MQ application portal.
Check also:
2025 Faculty of Engineering International Tuition Fee Research Scholarship at The University of Sydney Australia
Application Deadline
December 3, 2025How To Apply
Students are to submit their EOIs to the MQ and St Andrew’s supervisor and cc [email protected].
EOI documents to be submitted:
- CV including information about publications
- transcripts of most relevant or recent degrees
- information about thesis components (thesis mark, word count, weight or length in comparison to the degree overall)
- statement of suitability as a candidate for the project (max 500 words)
- indication that the student meets the English language requirements for entry into a PhD program at both universities, or willingness to obtain relevant English language proficiency test results.
For more information, kindly visit Macquarie University scholarship webpage.
