Grathelms Scholarship

For second year or honours year Bachelor of Fashion (Design) students with outstanding academic results, who can demonstrate circumstances which impact their study; worth $7,000.

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Applications now closed

This scholarship provides up to $7,000 for one year.

There is one scholarship for a second year Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (BP328) student and one scholarship for a Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) (BH127) student.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or a permanent humanitarian visa holder
  • be either:
  • be able to demonstrate circumstance/s which impact your ability to study such as:
    • receiving a government tested low income benefit or having a Centrelink Health Care Card
    • having a long-term medical condition or disability
    • experiencing personal/family/social difficulties
    • be from an interstate or rural/regional area and moving/moved to Melbourne to study at RMIT
    • have previously/are currently living in foster/kinship care or are a ward of the state
    • be from an under-represented background such as
      • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
      • were born overseas, are from a non-English background and recently migrated to Australia
      • current or former refugee
      • completed secondary school at a School Network Access Program school
  • be able to demonstrate your commitment and dedication to fashion 
  • be able to show a high level of engagement, progress and potential.

The scholarship will not only be awarded on your academic results but also your demonstrated potential for future practice.

The online application form will be made available here when applications open. 

Supporting documentation

Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide different types of evidence and material to support your scholarship application. Applications without supporting documents will not be considered.

Please visit Supporting Your Application for more information.

Find out more about applying for scholarships.

Applications for Semester 1, 2024 are now closed.

This scholarship will next be offered for Semester 1, 2025, with applications opening August 2024.

Applications are now closed. 

View the Coursework Scholarships Office’s terms and conditions (PDF, 698KB).

This scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from Neil McGrath and Ron Elms, designers and principals of Grathelms Couture, established in Melbourne in 1966.

Over many decades, Grathelms designed for many notable clients in both Australia and overseas. The Grathelms scholarship is given for one purpose – to foster and assist oncoming talent and to provide encouragement and reward.

Quotes from past recipients:

"Receiving the scholarship made me feel meaningful, in realising that someone believed in my creative and academic pursuits, I understood that my work was important and that I was on the right path to the future that I had always dreamed of. This encouragement gave me confidence to continue to pursue this path." - Bachelor of Fashion (Design) student

"The scholarship gave me so much freedom to establish my practice and studio with the required tools of my trade, and freedom to explore materials that I otherwise haven't had the opportunity to buy. Also especially this year when life has been in so much turmoil it gave me financial security to weather some of the more difficult and unstable times." - Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) student

Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.

Notice to applicants

The scholarship application process is highly competitive with a limited number of scholarships available. Unfortunately, not all eligible applicants will receive one.

Only successful candidates will be notified via email to their RMIT student account.

For information about other financial assistance available to RMIT students, please speak to one of our Student Welfare Advisors.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.