La Trobe University - Bayreuth University Joint PhD Program Scholarships

Applications for this scholarship are now open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents . The application deadline is 30 October 2021.

Students undertaking the joint PhD program will be enrolled in a PhD at both institutions. Your supervisory team will comprise of academic staff from both institutions who will provide support and guidance throughout your research. As a student enrolled at both La Trobe and Bayreuth, you will have access to services and support provided by both institutions, including a range of professional and personal development programs.

You will begin your studies at La Trobe University where you will spend the majority of your time, but with an expectation that you will spend typically 12 months at Bayreuth University. Travel to and study at the host institution will be subject to the usual immigration requirements.

The joint PhD includes a tailored program of progress monitoring to fulfil the requirements of both institutions. All candidates will write and submit a thesis for defence by oral examination. On successful completion of the program requirements, you will be awarded a PhD jointly by both institutions.

The successful applicant must be available to commence their degree between 1 February and 30 June 2022, at a La Trobe University campus, and willing to spend typically 12 months based in Bayreuth, Germany.

Available projects

There are two joint PhD scholarship available to applicants, competitively awarded and selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the selected project. Please contact the lead supervisor listed for each project for more information.

Sport integrity: A study of organisational tolerance and consumer perceptions

Lead Supervisor: Geoff Dickson

Sport organisations are increasingly oriented towards establishing, preserving, and enhancing their integrity. Discussions of sport integrity typically include words like honesty, trust, values, ethics, morals, beliefs, respect, and fairness. Integrity breaches include match-fixing, results manipulation, (illegal) gambling, doping, corruption, poor governance, athlete activism, discrimination, and racism. This research will explore: 1) organisational tolerance and capacity to prevent integrity breaches; 2) determinants and consequences of non-fan, fan, and player attitudes towards integrity-breaches. The studies will likely use both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse primary and secondary data. The scholarship is located at La Trobe’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact.

Addressing the footwear needs of female runners through the use of immersive technology: Implications of biomechanically-driven design on injury prevention, health, and wellbeing

Lead Supervisor: Rodrigo Bini

This project involves three elements: The first to use wearable tracking devices and immersive technology - virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality - to visualise runners’ biomechanics in real time, enabling both researchers and the runners themselves to identify potential problems that might ultimately result in injury. Second, to employ these immersive visualisation techniques to better understand the biomechanics of female runners and to develop shoes that better meet their specific needs. Finally, to study the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of using these shoes on female runners’ injury risk, health, and wellbeing.

Benefits of the scholarship

• a stipend for up to three and a half (3.5) years, with a value of $28,597 per annum (2021 rate)
• a Research Training Program - Fees Offset scholarship covering tuition fees for up to four (4) years.
• a travel allowance to assist with travel between Melbourne and Bayreuth and personal expenses while resident in Germany
• an allowance to relocate to Melbourne to commence the degree and publication/thesis allowance or RTP allowance
• opportunities to work with outstanding researchers at La Trobe and Bayreuth universities, and have access to our suite of professional development programs.