Professor Hesham Metwalli Doctoral Scholarship for Prosperity

Professor Hesham Metwalli established this scholarship to support research in prosperity, a field that has profoundly impacted his life and the lives of those around him. Recognising the University of Newcastle’s strong commitment to driving positive change in communities and industries, he saw an opportunity to further this mission.
Through his professional links with global organisations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, as well as his leadership and research in higher education management, Professor Metwalli continues to advocate for prosperity research and the vital role universities and research centres play in advancing this work.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Newcastle, conducting research related to prosperity as defined by the Legatum Prosperity Index pillars: Economic Quality, Education, Enterprise Conditions, Governance, Health, Investment Environment, Living Conditions, Market Access and Infrastructure, Natural Environment, Protection of Freedoms, Safety and Security, and Social Capital.
• Be enrolled either full-time or part-time.
• Demonstrate high academic achievement and/or notable accomplishments to date.
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a full-fee-paying international student.
• Be permitted to hold another University of Newcastle donor-funded or sponsored scholarship concurrently.

Application Procedure

As part of the application process, applicants must submit:

1. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing academic and research achievements.

2. A written statement (maximum one A4 page, excluding documentary evidence) outlining:

• Research progress, plans, and aspirations.
• How the research aims to improve one or more of the areas related to prosperity as defined by the Legatum Prosperity Index pillars: Economic Quality, Education, Enterprise Conditions, Governance, Health, Investment Environment, Living Conditions, Market Access and Infrastructure, Natural Environment,

3. A supporting letter from the applicant’s supervisor. Applications that do not include all required documentation will not be considered. As part of your application, you will need to agree to the terms and conditions regarding privacy and collection of personal information set out in the Declaration and Authority at the start of your application.

Please send the email expressing interest to graduate-research@newcastle.edu.au by 5pm on 15 June 2025.