International students searching for a funded PhD in Food Science still have several genuine opportunities available in August and September 2026.
This guide covers active doctoral scholarships and funded research positions at the University of Pisa, University of Padua, Griffith University and RMIT University. Every opportunity has been checked against an official university webpage or call document.
Applicants should note that “funded” and “fully funded” are not always identical. Some positions clearly cover tuition and provide a living stipend, while others confirm only a stipend or require applicants to compete for a separate tuition scholarship.
Quick comparison
| University | Country | Research area | Funding | Deadline | Funding status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pisa | Italy | Mycotoxin control in cereals | €16,243 gross yearly | 10 August 2026 | Funded position |
| University of Padua | Italy | Dairy nutrition and precision livestock farming | €18,643 gross yearly | 26 August 2026 | Funded position |
| Griffith University | Australia | Marine Bacillus probiotics and multi-omics | AUD 60,000 yearly | 28 August 2026 | Stipend confirmed; tuition must be checked |
| RMIT University | Australia | Food Science PhD | Up to AUD 48,299 yearly under VCPS | 30 August 2026 EOI | Fully funded if scholarship is awarded |
1. University of Pisa Funded PhD Position
The University of Pisa is accepting applications for its PhD in Agriculture, Food and Environment for the 2026–2027 academic year.
The most relevant position for Food Science applicants is project SC_AGR05_B, titled:
Sustainable strategies for the containment of mycotoxins in cereals.
The official programme sheet confirms that there is one position with a doctoral grant for this research project. The project is suitable for applicants interested in food safety, cereal contamination, food microbiology, analytical chemistry, fungal toxins or sustainable methods for controlling mycotoxins.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by:
10 August 2026 at 1:00 p.m. CEST
The €30 application fee can be paid through PagoPA until 11:59 p.m. CEST on the same date. However, applicants should complete both the application and payment before the main submission deadline.
Funding
The scholarship provides:
- €16,243 gross per year
- Monthly grant payments
- Funding for the three-year PhD
- At least 10% of the annual grant as a research budget
- A 50% grant increase during approved research periods abroad
- Tuition-fee exemption
Students must pay an annual regional tax of €140. Airfare, visa expenses and accommodation are not listed as scholarship benefits.
Eligibility
Applicants must possess, or obtain by 31 October 2026:
- An Italian master’s degree, or
- An equivalent second-cycle foreign qualification
International applicants must provide sufficient documents for the selection committee to assess their foreign qualification. These may include degree certificates, transcripts, translations, a Diploma Supplement, a Declaration of Value or ENIC-NARIC documentation where available.
IELTS and selection
IELTS is not listed as a compulsory document for this specific position. However, the selection interview includes an assessment of English proficiency.
Applicants are evaluated through:
- Curriculum vitae and academic record
- Research experience and supporting achievements
- A remote interview
The required documents include a signed CV, master’s thesis abstract, academic grades, publications where available, conference certificates and evidence of previous scholarships or research grants.
Official application links
- University of Pisa Call B page
- Official Agriculture, Food and Environment programme sheet
- Full official Call B document
Verdict
Apply urgently.
This is a genuine funded PhD position, although the deadline is very close. It is particularly relevant to candidates with experience in Food Science, Food Biotechnology, food safety, microbiology or chromatographic food analysis.
2. University of Padua Animal and Food Science PhD
The University of Padua has opened an additional funded position under its PhD in Animal and Food Science.
The position is linked to the research topic:
Development of data-driven predictive models using precision livestock farming tools for the assessment of metabolic-nutritional status, welfare and resilience in dairy cows.
The official programme sheet confirms one externally funded scholarship, supported by TDM-Nutriservice.
Deadline
The application deadline is:
26 August 2026 at 1:00 p.m. CEST
Applicants requesting reference letters must submit their main application first. Referees may then submit their letters by 31 August 2026 at 1:00 p.m. CEST.
Funding
The scholarship provides:
- €18,643 gross per year
- Three years of doctoral funding
- A standard annual grant of €17,443
- An additional annual supplement of €1,200
- A 50% increase during authorised research periods abroad
The position begins on 1 November 2026. Housing, airfare and visa expenses are not specifically included in the published funding package.
Eligibility
The call is open to applicants of any nationality who hold:
- An Italian second-cycle degree, or
- An equivalent foreign academic qualification that provides access to doctoral study
Candidates who have not yet completed their degree may apply, provided they obtain the required qualification by 31 October 2026.
Required documents
Applicants must submit:
- Curriculum vitae using the programme’s template
- Master’s thesis or thesis-project summary
- Motivation letter
- Scientific publications, where available
- Up to two reference letters
- Passport or identity document
- Degree certificates and transcripts
- English or Italian translations for foreign documents where necessary
The application fee is €30 and is non-refundable.
IELTS and interview
A specific IELTS score is not listed as compulsory.
English proficiency is assessed during the oral examination, which may be completed in English or Italian. Remote interviews through Zoom are available for applicants who select that option in their application.
The examination may cover:
- Animal feeding and nutrition
- Dairy production
- Animal welfare
- Livestock production systems
- Food production and transformation
- Quality assessment of animal and plant food products
- The applicant’s previous research experience
Official application links
- University of Padua summer PhD call
- Official Animal and Food Science programme sheet
- Full official Padua call
Verdict
Apply only with a relevant research background.
The scholarship is genuine and funded, but the specific project is more closely related to dairy nutrition, animal science and predictive modelling than general food processing or plant-based Food Biotechnology.
3. Griffith University Marine Probiotics PhD Scholarship
Griffith University in Australia is seeking a PhD candidate for the project:
Mode of Action Studies of Marine Bacillus Probiotics Using Multi-omics Approaches.
The project is conducted in collaboration with Griffith University, Bioproton Pty Ltd and the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre.
It involves microbiology, probiotics, metabolomics, microbiome analysis, bioinformatics and systems biology. It may be suitable for candidates with qualifications in biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, food science, biological sciences or related fields.
Deadline
Expressions of interest close on:
28 August 2026 at 5:00 p.m. AEST
The selected candidate will later be invited to submit the formal PhD and scholarship application online.
Funding
The Marine Bioproducts CRC scholarship provides:
- AUD 60,000 per year
- Funding for up to 3.5 years
- Full-time doctoral support
- Continued funding subject to satisfactory academic progress and enrolment
This is a considerably higher stipend than many standard Australian research scholarships.
Important tuition warning
The project page confirms the AUD 60,000 stipend, but it does not explicitly state that international tuition fees or Overseas Student Health Cover are included.
International applicants should therefore ask the supervisor or Griffith Scholarships Office whether they will also receive:
- A Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship
- An international tuition-fee offset
- Overseas Student Health Cover
Until this is confirmed in writing, the opportunity should be described as a funded stipend scholarship, not automatically as a fully funded international scholarship.
International eligibility
The project accepts expressions of interest from:
- Domestic candidates
- International candidates already in Australia
- International applicants currently outside Australia
Offshore applicants are advised to consider whether they can manage travel expenses.
Application documents
Applicants must email:
- A statement explaining their suitability for the project
- Evidence of academic results
- Curriculum vitae
- Names and contact details of two referees
The initial application is sent to the project supervisor. A complete independent research proposal is not listed as part of the expression-of-interest stage.
Official link
Verdict
Apply, but confirm tuition coverage before accepting.
This is an excellent option for applicants with experience in probiotics, microbiology, fermentation, metabolomics, microbiome research or bioinformatics. However, international applicants should not assume that the AUD 60,000 stipend automatically includes tuition.
4. RMIT Research Scholarships for a PhD in Food Science
RMIT University is accepting applications for its 2027 central research scholarship round.
International applicants may apply for a PhD in Food Science, programme code DR232, and compete for an RMIT research scholarship.
Unlike the Pisa, Padua and Griffith opportunities, this is not one predefined scholarship attached to a specific Food Science project. Applicants must develop a research proposal, find an RMIT supervisor and compete through the university-wide scholarship selection process.
Deadlines
For international applicants:
- Expression of interest deadline: 30 August 2026
- Full application deadline: 30 September 2026
- Expected initial offers: From 23 November 2026
RMIT does not state a specific closing time or time zone on the scholarship schedule, so applicants should submit well before the stated date.
Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship funding
One of the strongest RMIT awards is the Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship.
The 2026 package included:
- AUD 48,299 annual stipend
- AUD 5,000 yearly research support allowance
- International tuition-fee scholarship
- Overseas Student Health Cover
- Relocation assistance of up to AUD 1,540
- Paid sick, maternity and parenting leave
- Funding for 3.5 years
RMIT states that the benefits currently displayed are based on the 2026 round. The exact 2027 stipend and benefits will be released later, so applicants should not present the 2026 amount as a confirmed 2027 rate.
RMIT offers only 10 Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships each year, making this award highly competitive. Other RMIT research stipends and tuition scholarships may also be awarded through the central round.
Eligibility
The strongest applicants normally hold or are completing:
- A Master by Research
- A coursework master’s with a substantial research component and excellent grades
- A first-class honours degree
- A four-year bachelor’s degree with an equivalent result of approximately 80% or above
Applicants without these qualifications may still be considered where they have strong publications or substantial research experience.
Supervisor requirement
Before submitting the expression of interest, applicants must identify a proposed RMIT supervisor.
An In-Principle Supervisor Supporting Statement signed by the applicant and proposed supervisor is mandatory. Applications without supervisor support will not be complete.
English-language requirement
For the PhD in Food Science, accepted minimum scores include:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: 79 overall, with the specified component scores
- PTE Academic: 58, with no communication score below 50
- Cambridge Advanced: 176, with no component below 169
Applicants may qualify through another recognised form of English-language evidence where permitted by RMIT.
Required documents
Applicants should prepare:
- Certified passport copy
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- Research proposal or project statement
- English-language evidence
- In-principle supervisor supporting statement
- Publications and research evidence
- Statement of Purpose where required for the applicant’s nationality
Official links
- RMIT research scholarship schedule
- Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship
- RMIT PhD in Food Science
- RMIT research application instructions
Verdict
Strong option, but begin by contacting a supervisor.
RMIT offers the longest application window among these four opportunities. It is also the most competitive and requires considerably more preparation because applicants need a research proposal and confirmed supervisor support.
Which opportunities are genuinely fully funded?
Clearly funded doctoral positions
The University of Pisa and University of Padua both clearly advertise one position with a doctoral scholarship. They provide annual stipends and tuition exemption, although they do not include airfare, accommodation or visa costs.
Potentially fully funded
RMIT’s Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship includes a stipend, tuition coverage and health insurance for international recipients. However, funding is not guaranteed simply because a student applies for the Food Science PhD.
Stipend confirmed but tuition unclear
Griffith University confirms an AUD 60,000 annual stipend. International tuition and health-insurance coverage are not explicitly confirmed on the project page and should be verified before the scholarship is described as fully funded.
Recommended application priority
Applicants should prioritize the opportunities according to their research background and preparation time:
- University of Pisa: Best urgent option for food safety, cereal science and mycotoxin research.
- Griffith University: Strong option for microbiology, biotechnology, probiotics and multi-omics.
- RMIT University: Strong general Food Science route for applicants who can quickly secure a supervisor.
- University of Padua: Best for applicants with animal nutrition, dairy science or livestock-data experience.
Final advice
These opportunities are genuine and active as of 6 August 2026, but applicants must distinguish between a funded project position and a competitive university scholarship.
Before submitting an application:
- Read the complete official call
- Confirm international eligibility
- Check whether tuition is covered
- Prepare certified academic documents
- Verify the exact deadline and time zone
- Contact the supervisor where required
- Never rely only on a third-party scholarship website
The University of Pisa has the earliest deadline, while RMIT offers the longest preparation period. Applicants with a Food Biotechnology background should give particular attention to Pisa, Griffith and RMIT, depending on their experience in food safety, probiotics, microbiology, analytical methods or food-processing research.
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