2026 PhD Scholarship Opportunity - 3Rivers Doctoral Network at Monash University

Applications are invited from outstanding domestic and international candidates for two fully funded practice-based PhD scholarships  within the Monash Informal Cities Lab and Transforming Cities Hub, based at the Faculty of Art Design and Architecture in Melbourne, Australia.

The 3Rivers Doctoral Network is an international, multidisciplinary cohort investigating how climate-resilient urban transformations can be enabled through science-based, collaborative and practice-oriented research. The program builds on nearly a decade of Living Lab interventions across Indonesia and Fiji through the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) and the Citarum Action Research Program (CARP).

Doctoral research will focus on climate adaptation and resilience across three rapidly urbanising river basins: Citarum River (Indonesia); Klang River (Malaysia); and a rapidly urbanising basin in India’s Greater Mumbai region (TBC). Supervision may involve collaboration across Monash campuses in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMay 26, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorMonash University
• City to studyVictoria
• School to studyMonash University
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Fully funded PhD (stipend and tuition, subject to eligibility)
• Access to established Living Lab sites and primary datasets
• Engagement with government, community and industry partners
• International exchange opportunities across Monash campuses
• Membership in a multidisciplinary doctoral cohort
• Training in translational and impact-oriented research

The successful candidates will join a collaborative research environment spanning design, planning, landscape architecture, engineering and ecological science.

Requirements

We welcome domestic and international applicants with a First-Class Honours or Master’s degree in a relevant field, including Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design or Planning. The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate strong analytical and research capability
• Demonstrate capability in design or creative-practice research
• Show interest in interdisciplinary and field-based research in the Asia-Pacific region
• Demonstrate initiative and ability to work independently and in teams
• Possess excellent written and oral English communication skills
• Demonstrate research ability through publications (desirable)

Applicants must meet Monash University PhD admission requirements. Scholarship holders must enrol full-time and on campus. Successful applicants are expected to commence by October 2026.

Details of eligibility requirements are available at: www.monash.edu/study/courses/find-a-course/2022/art,-design-and-architecture-1322

Selection Process

• Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Zoom in English.

Application Documents

• Evidence of academic qualifications (i.e. transcripts)
• Evidence of English-language proficiency (if applicable)
• Curriculum vitae (including publications)
• Portfolio
• Academic writing sample
• A research proposal (see guideline)

It is acceptable to use AI tools for editing and proofreading, with appropriate acknowledgement. For example: I used [ADD AI tool (ADD link if needed)] to [ADD how used] and [ADD number of iterations/drafts]. I modified the outputs in [ADD ways]. 

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• EOIs must be submitted as a single attachment to [email protected] with the subject: ‘3Rivers PhD scholarship’. EOIs must include Application Documents.

For more information, kindly visit the Monash University Scholarship webpage.