Research
La Trobe is one of Australia’s leading research universities, with a world-wide reputation for academic excellence and innovation. The University is a member of the Innovative Research Universities, Australia – a group which collectively attracts more than $340 million in funding per annum.
Research at La Trobe is judged on its capacity to contribute to national innovation, either:
- Being of the highest intellectual quality, judged by recognised national and international standards such as Excellence in Research for Australia, or
- Contributing directly to solving problems of interest and importance to the nation, judged by the demand for the research and the effectiveness of the solutions.
The University’s international and national performance is strong in both fundamental and applied research and is guided by core values of responsibility, relevance, critical inquiry, integrity, participation and excellence. Our research strategy encourages innovation, specialisation and collaboration.
We have world-class areas of research strength. In the Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) assessment of research strengths across the sector, La Trobe University was rated at or above world standard in 29 specific disciplines.
Our research strengths include Agribioscience and the Environment, Health and Society, Human Behaviour and Thought, Human Communication, Human Society and Organisation, Molecular Science and Studies of the Past. These strengths have been confirmed by the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) evaluation conducted across the sector in 2010. For example, La Trobe was the only university in Australia whose research output was rated well above world standard in the specific disciplines Biochemistry and Cell Biology and the discipline area of Biological Sciences was rated well above world standard overall. Condensed Matter Physics and Human Movement & Sports Science were also rated at well above world standard, with History and Archaeology and Language, Communication and Culture rating at above world standard.
We are committed to concentrating our research effort in areas that make a difference to our local communities and the world by addressing contemporary social and global issues. La Trobe is already extremely well placed in crucial areas such as biotechnology, agriculture, movement of people and cultures, water ecology and economics, and health issues related to the ageing of our population. The University participates in a number of collaborative research centres and joint ventures with other research organisations, industry and government bodies. Details of these activities may be found at: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/research/institutes
Support for our Research Students
Our commitment to higher degree students means that La Trobe provides you with access to world class research supervisors, extensive research programs and collaborations and excellent facilities and library services.
Our research programs are enhanced by cooperative agreements with over 80 universities around the world, many of which involve joint research activities. La Trobe University is also founder and member of the International Network of Universities (INU).
Many of our research students are eligible to apply for a La Trobe travel grant to conduct part of their research overseas.
La Trobe also offers an exceptional postgraduate staff to student ratio and aims to ensure our research students receive high quality supervision. Our academic staff are dedicated to assisting you begin and successfully complete your research program. We also run regular seminars to ensure you have the chance to share your research with other students.
We offer a safe and supportive environment for postgraduate study. This includes assistance with professional development and presentation skills, IT support, and a specialised Research Education and Development (RED) unit offering a number of skills development classes as well as practical information sessions for research higher degree students. Our library is widely regarded as one of the best university libraries in Australia. Depending on your field of research, purpose-built laboratories are also available.