PhD scholarship in ARC Discovery Project Making histories: Young people as visual historians of changing cities

PhD scholarship in ARC Discovery Project Making histories: Young people as visual historians of changing cities

This PhD scholarship is attached to an Australian Research Council Discovery project that examines young people's agency as historians of urban change in Melbourne and Geelong.

We are seeking applicants with a background in historical studies, including public history, urban history, applied history, museum and archival studies, community history, history education, decolonial studies or critical Indigenous Studies to undertake a PhD project focused on marginalised or underrepresented histories. We are particularly interested in projects that explore histories of urban change and representations of diverse communities in Melbourne. The PhD project will involve engagement with key partners such as museums, archives and galleries, and diverse community groups in Melbourne. This PhD will lay a historical foundation for the ARC project and provide context to the work of youth historians. This opportunity is open to only Australian applicants.

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A stipend of $36,245 per annum pro rata (full-time study). This amount is subject to indexation annually.

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To be considered for the PhD Scholarship, applicants must hold or be currently completing: 

a Master by research;a Master by coursework with a significant research component graded as high distinction, or equivalent; an Honours degree achieving first class honours; a 4-year bachelor's degree achieving a GPA of 4 or equivalent (80% or above).

If you do not hold one of the above qualifications, you will only be considered for a scholarship if you have previous publications or significant research experience.

All other applicants will be considered ineligible.

Applicants must also meet the HDR eligibility criteria as described on Research Stipend Scholarships page

07/03/2026

Before applying for the scholarship, contact Associate Professor David Rousell to establish if your research is aligned.

All applicants should email the following to A/Professor Rousell:

  1. 1 page cover letter detailing the reason for your interest in the topic, and reason for your interest in undertaking a PhD on the topic.
  2. Your Curriculum Vitae, and 
  3. A two-page research proposal The research proposal is a key part of the application process where applicants must demonstrate the value of their research and their suitability for scholarship selection. 

Your proposal should be divided under the following headings:

  1. Title and topic 
  2. Research questions you plan to investigate in the context of existing research/literature in the area
  3. Significance and impact of the research 
  4. Methodology/research tasks required to undertake the research 
  5. Relevance to the ARC project

Expertise or experience in interdisciplinary research, decolonial theory, and qualitative research methods is preferred.  The successful candidate will work with a team of youth researchers, experienced academics, and industry partners. The candidate will also participate in RMIT's Design and Social Context HDR conference to achieve their PhD milestones and engage with a thriving, creative community of higher education students and academics. This scholarship opportunity will close upon approval of a successful application.

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