Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships

The Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships will be awarded to Indigenous students of exceptional research promise to undertake a higher degree by research at La Trobe University. The scholarship was established to celebrate the life of Professor Dennis McDermott, La Trobe’s inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous). Professor McDermott was a Koori man from north-western New South Wales. He was a psychologist, academic and poet, during his career writing and teaching extensively in the fields of health and Indigenous education. Within his short tenure at La Trobe, Professor McDermott had a huge impact on the University. His call to “decolonise the academy” will resonate at La Trobe for years to come and the work that he began to foster Indigenous knowledge and values in the academy will continue.

Scholarships will be awarded to the top-ranked applicants of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin to undertake a doctoral research or Masters by research degree at La Trobe. The scholarship is awarded in conjunction with a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, which provides an RTP Stipend, RTP Offset to cover tuition fees and an RTP Allowance.

These scholarships are available to undertake a Masters by research or doctoral research project on any topic, subject to the availability of supervision and research resources. Applicants may develop their own research proposal, or apply for a Graduate Research PhD project where available.

Applicants must be an Australian citizen or Australian Permanent Resident.

• a Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend for up to three and a half (3.5) years for a doctoral degree or 22 months for a Masters by research degree, with a value of $33,500 per annum (2023 rate)
• a special top-up stipend of $10,000 per annum for three years and six months full-time study for a doctoral degree or for 22 months full-time study for a Masters by research degree
• a research support grant of up to $3,000 per annum, for three years full-time study for a doctoral degree or for 18 months full-time study for a Masters by research degree, to assist with costs such as laboratory consumables, fieldwork and attendance at conferences
• a Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset scholarship for up to four years for a doctoral degree or two years for a Masters by research.
• a Research Training Program (RTP) Allowance to support relocation and production of the thesis
• opportunities to work with La Trobe’s outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development programs.

In selecting successful applicants, we prioritise applications from candidates who: