Cécile Parrish Memorial Scholarship (2 Positions)

Job No.: 696784

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $42,606 AUD per annum 2026 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/scholarships/scholarship-policy-and-procedures.  A tuition fee scholarship and Single Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) will be provided for a successful international awardee.

The Opportunity

This scholarship is endowed by the Cécile Parrish Memorial Fund, established by the trustees of the late Renee Parrish of Singapore in commemoration of her daughter Cécile, a one-time member of staff of the then Department of English, Monash University. The Fund is administered by Monash University and provides scholarships specifically for the critical study of literature. The scholarship will enable a PhD scholar to pursue a full-time program of specialist research in Literary Studies or Creative Writing.

We are seeking enthusiastic and committed graduate research students to undertake doctoral research. The Selection Panel is keen to receive proposals across all areas of Literary Studies and Creative Writing, but the following is an indicative list of our current supervisory capacity:

• Contemporary literature and cultural industries
• Literature and gender/sexuality studies
• Literary theory
• 18th and 19th C literary studies
• Anglophone engagement with Asia and especially China
• Indigenous literatures and narrative practices
• Postcolonial and Decolonial literatures
• Medical and health humanities
• Pathography and representations of illness
• Modernisms
• Climate change and the Anthropocene
• Irish studies
• Children’s and YA literature
• Digital literary studies
• Shakespeare, including the texts as works of performance

Monash University is the largest university in Australia and regularly ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide. Monash has six globally networked campuses and international alliances in Europe and Asia. The successful applicant will be based at the Clayton campus in Melbourne. At Clayton, they will study with leading scholars, whose international research standing in Literary Studies is reflected in the program having received the maximum score of 5 (“well above world standard”) in the most recent Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) exercise.

Candidate Requirements

The successful candidate will have a background in the discipline of Literary Studies or Creative Writing and be of outstanding merit. In its assessment, the selection committee will prioritise applicants who hold an Australian (or equivalent international) Honours or Masters degree in a relevant field, with a significant research component and with first-class Honours/H1 awarded.

Details of eligibility requirements, including English-language proficiency skills, to undertake a PhD in the Faculty of Arts are available at arts.monash.edu/graduate-research/application-process.  Applicants should ensure they familiarise themselves with these requirements before deciding whether they should apply.

Scholarship holders must be enrolled full-time and on campus. Please note: applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered.

The successful applicant will be expected to enrol by 1 December 2026.  However, there may be some flexibility as to the date of commencement.

Enquiries

You are required to discuss your research proposal with Professor Claire Colebrook, Email: claire.colebrook@monash.edu before you submit an application.

How to Apply

Applications shall comprise:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability
• A brief Research Proposal that fits within the broad project aims and objectives, and demonstrates some understanding of the area of research
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any published works, conference presentations and relevant work experience
• A full statement of academic records, degree certificates and official grading system (if available), supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• English language proficiency test results (if applicable)
• Names and contact details of 2 academic referees

Once you have discussed your proposal with Professor Claire Colebrook, please submit your application via My.App and upload all supporting documentation in pdf format:

• Select Admission Only as the Application Type
• Select ‘Yes’ to indicate that you are applying for a scholarship for this research and enter “Cecile Parrish Memorial Scholarship” as the scholarship name under Research Program Funding of the application
• Select Professor Claire Colebrook as the proposed main supervisor (final supervision arrangements to be confirmed upon appointment).

 Applications Close: Sunday 23 August 2026, 11:55pm AEST