La Trobe University 2025 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.

• Table of Content
• About La Trobe University
• Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships
• Aim and Benefits of Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships
• Requirements for Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About La Trobe University

La Trobe has been one of Australia's pioneering universities for more than 50 years. Discover our unique history, including our motto and coat of arms. In 1967, 552 students enrolled at La Trobe University, the third university to open in Victoria, which has grown to accommodate more than 36,000 students, with over 7,000 international students from 110 countries. We now have a network of campuses, with over 28,000 students at our Melbourne Campus and over 7,500 at our campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, Melbourne City (Collins Street), Shepparton and Sydney.... continue reading

Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships

Aim and Benefits of Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships

• 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 $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

How to Apply

For more details, visit La Trobe University Scholarship webpage