PhD Scholarship – new in 2026
Thyne Reid Foundation
Playford Trust
The Playford Trust, in partnership with the Thyne Reid Foundation, is offering a new PhD scholarship commencing in 2026, intended to supplement an existing Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship (RTPS) or similar institutional PhD stipend scholarship.
The scholarship, valued at $26,250, would be in an area of strategic importance to South Australia, particularly agriculture, aquaculture and food production, but not limited to this sector. Any outstanding scholar seeking to pursue research in any of the Trust’s six areas of strategic and economic importance to South Australia can be considered as a possible recipient of a Playford Trust/Thyne Reid Foundation Scholarship. These areas are:
• Agriculture, aquaculture and food production
• Advanced manufacturing and new technologies
• Space and defence technologies
• Resources, energy and sustainability
• Water, energy and climate change
• Health sciences and enabling technologies
The scholarship is paid at the rate of $7,500 per annum for three and a half years. The Trust will accept an application for an extension of time, subject to satisfactory progress and appropriate support from the university and the PhD supervisor. However, approval of an extension is not automatic.
All students applying for a Playford Trust PhD scholarship are required to have been awarded a Federal Research Training Program scholarship.
Students must be commencing their PhD in the year the scholarship is awarded or have commenced their PhD no earlier than August of the preceding year.
Selection Criteria
The Playford Trust will consider nominations from students studying at one of the two South Australian public universities. The Playford Trust in consultation with the Thyne Reid Foundation will make the final selection based on the following selection criteria:
Applicants must be:
- ready to commence a PhD with the Adelaide University or Flinders University in one of the Trust’s priority areas.
- primarily supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship (RTPS) or similar institutional PhD stipend scholarship. A copy of the letter of confirmation is required by the Trust before the scholarship can be awarded
- an Australian citizen or a holder of a permanent resident visa, and resident in South Australia
- intending to spend a significant part of their career in South Australia, or be likely to provide a benefit to the State
- a high achiever, with an excellent undergraduate academic record
- of good character. Preference will be given to students who display leadership potential.
It is essential that the applicant’s supervisor or an academic referee (e.g. dean of school/faculty, or lecturer) provides a supporting comment about the student’s achievements, character and leadership potential.
Disclosure of any other awards or scholarships held by the student is required as part of the application process.