The Space Environment Research Centre (SERC) has a strong focus on education and training and offers scholarships for postgraduate (HDR) students to work within a global centre of excellence in collaboration with leading universities, international companies and space agencies.
The SERC scholarship selection panel meets in February and July of each year to select the upcoming scholarship awardees. Start preparing your application now to be in the mix for next semester.
Study can be in a broad range of fields including:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Dynamic database management
- Engineering
- Adaptive optics
- Astrodynamics
- Atmospheric sciences
- Geodesy
- Geomatics
- Laser engineering
- Laser guide star adaptive optics
- Laser physics
- Satellite positioning
- Space sciences
- Space tracking
SERC accepts applications all year round and strongly encourages students to obtain an APA, URS or other primary scholarship, however this is not essential. SERC top-up scholarships cannot generally be held simultaneously with other top-up scholarships.
Selection criteria
Consideration of all candidates will be given based on:
- academic merit;
- relevance of studies to SERC objectives; and
- potential for long term contribution to research outcomes;
Priority is given to students with first class honours (or equivalent) from participating countries, currently Australia, Japan and the USA.
The applicant is or will be enrolled in academic studies at a reputable Australian University. In the case of an international applicant, the applicant is required to have a valid passport, appropriate visa and may not be from a country subject to Trade Controls.
- You are encouraged to read the definitive rules for this scholarship prior to application, in particular any specific eligibility conditions and check the FAQs if you have any questions.
Based at the Mt Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, SERC is overseeing four Research Programs whose main objectives include:
- promoting the advancement of the safety and security of Australia and the Australian public by addressing the challenges of space environment management which directly impact Australia’s economy and national security (including but not limited to space debris management, orbital science and technology, space asset management and protection, intelligence, border security and diplomacy;
- pursuing world class scientific research and training relevant to the field;
- increasing the skills of persons already working in the field and to training and equipping new postgraduate and other students with the skills and attributes to continue being productive in the field;
- promoting a managed and cooperative approach to scientific research and education so as to maximise the benefits to Australia and internationally from that scientific research and education.
Offering an attractive combination of university and industry based research, SERC will award:
- up to 24 postgraduate HDR supplementary (top-up) scholarships to the value of up to $12,000 each per annum, plus up to $3000 for research support, to high calibre students (2016 full time); and
- One full HDR scholarship to the value of $30,000 per annum (full time) plus up to $3000 for research support, to an exceptional student in space research and related fields from participating countries, currently Australia, Japan and the USA.
SERC accepts applications all year round and strongly encourages students to obtain an APA, URS or other primary scholarship, however this is not essential. SERC top-up scholarships cannot generally be held simultaneously with other top-up scholarships.
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.