Grab this opportunity to study at the most prestigious university in Australia with the help of the Dennis McDermott Research Scholarships offered at the La Trobe University.

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters by research or Doctoral degree at La Trobe University.

La Trobe University is a leading Australian public research university, established in 1967 and headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. Known for its strong commitment to innovation, inclusion, and community engagement, La Trobe offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs across its metropolitan and regional campuses. The university is particularly recognized for its strengths in health sciences, education, and social sciences, as well as its focus on Indigenous knowledge and sustainability.

Application Deadline: 31 December 2025

Brief Description

• University or Organization: La Trobe University

• Department: All faculties (subject to supervision and resources)

• Course Level: Masters by research or Doctoral degree

• Award: $45,000 per annum (includes $35,000 RTP stipend + $10,000 top-up), plus research support and fee offset

• Access Mode: Online (application submission)

• Number of Awards: Limited (awarded to top-ranked applicants)

• Nationality: Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents

• The award can be taken in: Australia (Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Melbourne, Mildura, Shepparton campuses)

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: Australia (citizens and permanent residents only)

• Acceptable Course or Subjects: Available for any research subject offered by La Trobe University, subject to supervision availability.

• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin.

  • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

  • Meet the entry requirements for a Masters by research or Doctoral program.

  • Not hold another scholarship greater than 75% of the stipend rate.

  • For Doctoral applicants: hold a Masters by research or equivalent research output (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, thesis).

  • For Masters applicants: hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent qualification.

How to Apply

• Review the details on La Trobe’s How to Apply for Candidature page.

• Develop a research proposal or apply for an existing Graduate Research project.

• Identify and contact a suitable supervisor for in-principle agreement.

• 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 considerationIf 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.

Benefits

• RTP Stipend: $35,000 per annum (2025 rate).

• Top-up Scholarship: $10,000 per annum.

• Research Support Grant: Up to $3,000 per annum.

• RTP Fee Offset for tuition (up to 4 years for doctoral, 2 years for masters).

• RTP Allowance for relocation and thesis costs.

• Access to professional development programs and opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers at La Trobe University.

Apply Now