David Aitchison from the county of Middlesex England, bequeathed a sum of money to the University of Melbourne to establish two scholarships, the 'Aitchison Scholarship' and the 'Aitchison Travelling Scholarship'. These scholarships were to be offered annually 'to undergraduate students who have completed not less than one year of a degree course and who have demonstrated academic ability and who are in need of financial assistance.'