The School of Government and International Relations comprises nearly 30 academic staff with a breadth and depth of expertise. Our core research revolves around the areas of democracy, elections, and inclusion; public policy, indigenous politics, and institutional reform; gender, peace, and human rights; as well as politics and security in the Asia Pacific. This research program has been awarded consecutive ratings of “5” – the highest possible – in the three most recent Excellence in Research for Australia evaluations. Our staff are actively engaged with a wide range of external stakeholders in government, industry, and the media.

The School of Government and International Relations has cultivated a vibrant PhD program. Candidates enjoy access to scholarships, grants, and funding; professional development, experience, and training; as well as support and wellbeing services. Our graduates have gone on to become academics, civil servants, lawyers, political consultants, policy advisors, and research officers, amongst many other occupations.

This opportunity will be primarily based at Brisbane South (Nathan). As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations. Griffith University sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to join the project Resilient Elections project: How to Strengthen Our Democracies The project evaluates electoral resilience by investigating how threats affect three foundational dimensions of elections: participation, contestation, and organisation. It takes Australia, India, Indonesia, and the United States/Canada as in-depth case studies, and bolsters this with a large-N global analysis. It will thus provide new theoretical insights into electoral resilience and develop practical measures and strategies that can be implemented to strengthen elections and therefore democracy. This scholarship supports either a comparative research project on electoral resilience or the in-depth analysis of one of the case studies.

The selection of the applicant for the award of a Higher Degree Research Scholarship at Griffith University is based on academic merit and research background.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.  If you are an international applicant who is currently offshore, please consider the viability of travelling costs before submitting an expression of interest.
• Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree with honours equivalent to first-class honours, or a Master’s degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a Bachelor honours degree, or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment as specified on the Equivalent qualifications for HDR program admission. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program, refer here.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19 OR
3. A score of no less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only) OR
4. A minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency OR
5. An overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50 (applies to tests taken prior to 7 August 2025) OR
6. An overall score of 55 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 47 (applies to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025) OR
7. An overall score of 70 in the LanguageCert Academic OR
8. An overall score of 59 in the Michigan English Test (MET) .

About the scholarship
The 2026 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $35,656 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

EoI process
Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to [email protected], containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Brief research proposal, maximum 2 pages
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the ‘About you’ section
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Names and contact details of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Friday 27 March 2026 at 5pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

Further information

For project related enquiries please contact:
Professor Ferran Martinez i Coma
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]