Receive a fellowship to support your PhD studies worth over $200,000.
About the Fellowship
The McKinnon Walker Research Fellowship supports outstanding PhD candidates whose research will benefit Pacific Islander, Aboriginal, or Torres Strait Islander peoples. One fellowship is awarded each year.
If your research may benefit the health or education of Pacific Islander, Aboriginal, or Torres Strait Islander peoples or your research could be relevant to the laws or public policies that affects these communities, you may be eligible to receive the McKinnon Walker Research Fellowship.
Philanthropists, Suzanne Walker and Professor Ken McKinnon AO, a former Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wollongong, funded these fellowships to help develop excellent and enriched scholars who will benefit society outside their specific research discipline.
What the Fellowship offers
- Receive a fellowship to support your PhD studies worth over $200,000 total
- Stipend: $52,352 per year (maximum RTP rate) for 3.5 years
- Project funding: $20,000 total
- Tuition fee waiver: Up to 4 years
- Professional development: workshops, mentoring, and events to build your leadership skills
Who can apply
- Domestic and international students
- Current first-year PhD students or future PhD students
- Applicants from any of the following faculties:
- Business and Law
- Engineering and Information Sciences
- Science, Medicine and Health
- Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Selection criteria
You are more likely to be selected if you:
- Demonstrate academic excellence (e.g. high grades in Honours or research Masters)
- Can demonstrate significant research experience and leadership skills
- Propose a compelling, feasible project relevant to Pacific Islander, Aboriginal, or Torres Strait Islander communities;research should be relevant to the laws or public policies that affects these communities
Applicants from Pacific Islander, Aboriginal, or Torres Strait Islander communities are especially encouraged to apply.
Application process
How to apply
To express your interest, email graduate-research-school@uow.edu.au with:
- Academic transcripts
- CV (up to 4 pages, including research experience, such as publications)
- Proof of citizenship or residency (e.g., passport)
- 2-page summary of your proposed research project
This fellowship is funded by philanthropists Suzanne Walker and Professor Ken McKinnon AO, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, to support scholars making a positive impact beyond their research field.
Application closing date
10 July 2025
Contact information
Graduate Research School