Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships
Background
The Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships will be awarded annually to Indigenous students of exceptional research promise to undertake a higher degree by research at La Trobe University. It 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.
Up to three 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. It 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 aligned to La Trobe’s areas of research strength, subject to the availability of supervision and research resources. Applicants may wish to apply for an advertised research project or develop their own research proposal. Successful applicants should be available to commence their degree between 1 July and 30 November at a La Trobe University campus.
Applicants must be an Australian citizen or Australian Permanent Resident.
Benefits of the scholarship
- 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 $28,854 per annum (2022 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.
Are you eligible to apply?
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
- 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
How to apply
- Review details on how to apply for candidature
- Develop a research proposal or apply to undertake one of the projects currently advertised
- Identify and contact a project supervisor to obtain their endorsement of your application. If you have developed a project proposal then identify an appropriate supervisor via the La Trobe University website and contact them to indicate that you wish to be considered for this scholarship
When you have received in-principle agreement for supervision, complete your application for admission into your desired research degree, indicate you wish to be considered for this scholarship on the application and submit to the La Trobe Graduate Research School (admissions.grs@latrobe.edu.au) by 30 April 2022.
If you are already enrolled in a graduate research degree at La Trobe and wish to apply, please get in touch with GRSScholarships@latrobe.edu.au and we will advise you what is required.
Who to contact for further information
Graduate Research School, GRSScholarships@latrobe.edu.au