Up to $90K ECEC PhD scholarship available: University of Melbourne

A scholarship of up to $90,000 is available for an appropriately qualified student to commence a full-time Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Research PhD in 2019 at the University of Melbourne’s ECEC Research Hub.

 

The opportunity

 

The PhD opportunity is part of a larger ECEC research program funded by the Leaper Foundation. The scholarship is equivalent to an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (stipend) and provides a living allowance of $30,000 per year (2018 full-time pro-rata rate) for a maximum of three years while undertaking the Doctoral research degree.

 

Applicants must be studying education, teaching and training, and be Australian citizens.

 

Eligible applicants should have successfully obtained an Honours or Masters Degree (or equivalent) and be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident. Applicants are required to meet the Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s requirements for Research Higher Degree candidature.

 

Only one scholarship will be awarded.

 

What is the ECEC Research Hub?

 

The University of Melbourne said that the ECEC Research Hub, which is part of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, strives to make a sustained impact upon the lives of young Australians by advancing the quality of early learning experiences for all children.  

 

The Hub’s research, teaching, and community engagement works to improve the learning and development outcomes of very young children and families in partnership with the early childhood sector, local communities, and especially for those growing up in disadvantaged circumstances.

 

A priority of the Research Hub is to translate research findings into real-life educational solutions for all young Australians to realise their potential.

 

The key priorities of the Research Hub’s work include:

 

1. Enabling teachers to provide high-quality ECEC programs and practices (the most direct route to improve learning experiences and development for children)
2. Partnering with education and community services to provide high-quality, place-based early childhood education programs to the most vulnerable young children and families
3. Building capacity in ECEC leadership through developing and testing professional learning models, coaching, and strategies that educational leaders employ to improve the quality of colleagues’ pedagogical practices within services.

 

How to apply

 

Applications are open now, and close on 31 January 2019.

 

To apply, submit a single PDF document including:

 

• Expression of Interest describing your research interest in completing a PhD in ECEC;
• Your CV;
• Academic transcripts from all prior study; and,
• Two academic references.

 

The PDF application should be submitted to Karen Stephenson at [email protected] before 31 January 2019.

 

For more information, visit the University of Melbourne website, or contact Associate Professor Patricia Eadie at [email protected] or on +61 3 90354503.