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.
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Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships
Aim and Benefits of Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships
- AResearch 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 $35,000 per annum (2025 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.
Requirements for Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships Qualification
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
- Meet the entrance requirements for the proposed course
- Not be receiving another scholarship greater than 75 per cent of the stipend rate for the same purpose
- Be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
- Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin
In selecting successful applicants, we prioritise applications from candidates who:
- Will be undertaking their research at a La Trobe University campus
- For doctoral research scholarships, have completed a Masters by Research or other significant body of research, such lead authorship of a research thesis or peer-reviewed publication, assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above
- For Masters by research scholarships, have attained the equivalent of a first-class honours degree at an Australian university or equivalent from a recognised overseas university
Application Deadline
December 31, 2025How to Apply
- Review details on?how to apply for candidature
- Develop a research proposal, or apply for a Graduate Research project (where available)
- Identify an appropriate supervisor via the La Trobe University website and contact them to indicate that you wish to be considered for this scholarship, or contact the pre-determined project supervisor to obtain their endorsement if applying for a graduate research project
- When you have received in-principle agreement for supervision, complete your application, when prompted select the scholarship "Graduate Research - Specialist Research Scholarship", and submit your completed application for consideration
- If you are already enrolled in a graduate research degree at La Trobe you can apply for scholarship only by starting a new application - select the 'next' button when prompted to select a course, and then select the "Graduate Research - Scholarship Only" option to apply for a scholarship only.
For more details, visit La Trobe University Scholarship webpage
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