PhD Scholarships in Social Epidemiology


The Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne invites applications to undertake a PhD part of a major new research initiative – Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health (CRE-DH) – funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

About the CRE-DH

The first research centre of its kind internationally, the CRE-DH will generate the evidence required for policy reform to improve the health of Australians with disabilities. The CRE-DH involves leading researchers from across Australia and internationally with expertise in epidemiology, health economics, health and social policy, psychology, psychiatry, public administration and public health and the CRE-DH will develop future research leaders in disability and health.

The CRE-DH has four work programs:

  1. Mapping inequities in social, economic and health outcomes between people with and without disabilities
  2. Identification of the social determinants of health of people with disabilities
  3. Health economic modelling of health and social polices
  4. Policy research to identify the key emerging issues in health and social policy related to people with disabilities
The PhD scholarships (Social Epidemiology)

Two scholarships are available to conduct research focusing on the social determinants of the health of people with disability. In this program, you will use cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets to assess the importance of housing, employment, education, and discrimination on the health of people with disability. The research will inform policy changes to reduce disadvantage and improve the health of people with disability.

The project would suit candidates with a background in quantitative social sciences, epidemiology or statistics.

Scholarship applicants must be eligible for acceptance by the University of Melbourne into a PhD programme.

  • The PhD eligibility process must have commenced at the time of submitting the scholarship application.
  • The scholarships will be offered to successful applicants, conditional upon acceptance into a PhD programme.
  • Applicants must have an Honours 1, Honours 1 equivalence, or have completed a degree in a relevant discipline and have an outstanding record of professional or research achievements since graduation.
  • Each scholarship is worth up to $26,916 per annum for full time students (2017 pro-rata rate), and is available for three years.
  • For exceptional candidates, top up funds may be available. Some funds will be available to support research and professional development.

People with lived experience of disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Please send your CV, a copy of your academic record and a 1-2 page outline of your research skills, experience and understanding of disability-related issues, and a summary of your goals for a PhD.  If you are not a current student at the University of Melbourne and would like information about how to apply to become a PhD candidate at the University, please visit the Future Students website.

Further enquiries

If you have any questions about the PhD Program or the application process, please contact Professor Anne Kavanagh Email: a.kavanagh@unimelb.edu.au or +61 3 8344 0717

Closing date: Friday 29 September 2017



Share the opportunity