Receive a fellowship to support your PhD studies worth over $200,000.
About the Fellowship
The McKinnon-Walker Research Fellowships were established in 2024 through a $5M gift from philanthropist Suzanne Walker and the late Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon AO, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong. The Fellowships honour their shared commitment to education, scholarship and service and support scholars whose work and actions benefit the wider community.
The Fellowship supports outstanding PhD candidates whose research may benefit Pacific Islander, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples, including through improvements in health, education, law or public policy. In addition to academic excellence, applicants should demonstrate leadership, service and a commitment to contributing beyond their research discipline. Two Fellowships will be awarded for 2027 commencement.
Professor Ken McKinnon’s Legacy
Professor Ken McKinnon AO served as the second Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong from 1981 to 1995 and played a key role in its growth as a university. Through this Fellowship, his legacy continues by supporting scholars who combine academic excellence with service, leadership and a commitment to their communities.
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, Faculty of Arts, Society and Business
Student type: Domestic students, International students
Student status: Current student in first year of study, Future Students
Scholarship amount
- Total value: over $200,000
- Stipend: $55,537 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
Application process
How to apply:
UOW only accepts PhD applications from applicants who have a confirmed supervisor.
New applicants (commencing in 2027)
Step 1: Apply for HDR admission (by 31 October 2026)
- Check the entry requirements, including English language requirements, on the Doctor of Philosophy course page.
- Contact a potential supervisor and confirm their support. See UOW Scholars.
- Submit a full PhD application through the UOW HDR application portal by 31 October 2026, including your 3-4 page research proposal.
- State in your application that you wish to be considered for the McKinnon-Walker Fellowship.
Step 2: Apply for the Fellowship (closes 31 October 2026)
Applications for the Fellowship must be made directly to the Graduate Research School.
Combine the documents below into a single PDF and email it to graduate-research-school@uow.edu.au by 31 October 2026.
- A copy of your CV (up to 4 pages, including research experience and outputs)
- A 1-page statement outlining your leadership, service and community contributions
- A 1-page statement explaining which Pacific Islander, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities your research will benefit, how it will benefit them, and how you will involve those communities in the research
- An email from your supervisor supporting your application
Current first-year UOW PhD candidates
You do not need to reapply for admission. Complete Step 2 only and email your application as a single PDF to graduate-research-school@uow.edu.au by 31 October 2026.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants will be assessed on:
- Academic excellence and research achievement
- Quality, feasibility and potential impact of the proposed research
- Relevance of the research to Pacific Islander, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Demonstrated leadership, initiative and capacity to lead change
- Demonstrated commitment to service, community engagement, mentoring, advocacy or other contributions beyond academic achievement
Applicants from Pacific Islander, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application closing date
31 October 2026: for HDR admission (new applicants) and Fellowship application
Contact information
Graduate Research School