Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship

Empowering Women to Make a Real Impact in the World

La Trobe University proudly honours the humanitarian and social justice achievements of international icon Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) through the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship. This prestigious initiative reflects La Trobe’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and global impact by supporting Indian women to pursue life-changing research opportunities. The scholarship is presented in collaboration with La Trobe’s long-standing partnership with the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

Scholarship Status

Applications for the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship are currently closed.

Since its launch, the scholarship has been awarded to two exceptional Indian women:

• Gopika Kottantharayil Bhasi (2020), from Kerala, is conducting research in Professor Travis Beddoe’s laboratory at AgriBio. Her project focuses on developing rapid, field-deployable diagnostic tests for honeybee viruses, aiming to protect bee populations from colony collapse and support global food security. Gopika’s background includes research on captive Asian elephants and gut microbiota, and she is passionate about disease diagnostics, epidemiology, and animal welfare.
• Sumaira Khan (2024), from New Delhi, is undertaking research to identify ways to improve healthcare for South Asian migrant women in Australia, who face an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes. Her study seeks to understand the social, cultural, and systemic factors that shape and constrain the ability to practice self-care. The research aims to inform the design of more equitable and accessible healthcare programs in both Australia and India.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:

• Be an aspiring female Indian citizen, primarily residing in India.
• Hold a Master’s by research degree in a relevant discipline, completed within the past 10 years, and assessed as equivalent to a La Trobe University Master’s by research degree with a minimum standard of 70 or above.
• Demonstrate a strong desire to undertake one of La Trobe’s designated PhD research projects.

Preference is given to applicants who have not previously studied outside India at a university level.

Scholarship Benefits

Valued at over AUD $225,000, each scholarship includes:

• a Full-Fee Research Scholarship for four years to undertake a PhD at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
• a La Trobe University Graduate Research Scholarship for three and a half years, valued at $32,500 AUD per annum (2022 rate), to support living costs.
• a visa-length Overseas Student Health Cover with Medibank for a single person.
• visa application costs for a single person.

Recipients are supported by world-leading researchers at a university ranked in the top 1% globally*, with access to cutting-edge facilities and a vibrant research community.

A partnership with purpose

The Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship was announced in August 2019 during Shah Rukh Khan’s visit to La Trobe University, where he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of his philanthropic work, including his efforts through the Meer Foundation to support survivors of acid attacks and promote women’s empowerment.

Shah Rukh Khan’s philanthropic leadership reflects La Trobe's values of inclusiveness, equity and social justice. Our scholarship with the Indian icon continues our five-decade history of engagement with Indian culture – from academic programs to study tours, research partnerships and student exchanges.

While the scholarship is not currently accepting applications, La Trobe University remains committed to supporting women in research and continuing its meaningful partnership with Shah Rukh Khan and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. This initiative continues to inspire and empower Indian women to pursue transformative education and making a real impact to global challenges.

Have a question? We can help!

_{*Times Higher Education (THE), 2020, World University Rankings 2020; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 2019, Ranking Web of Universities}