Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship

Future Fellowships reflect the Australian Government’s commitment to excellence in research by supporting excellent mid-career researchers to undertake high-quality research in areas of national and international benefit.

The objectives of the Future Fellowships scheme are to:

• support outstanding mid-career researchers, with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research, leadership, research training and mentoring

• support excellent basic and applied research by outstanding mid-career researchers to be recruited and retained by universities in continuing academic positions

• foster national and international research collaboration

• support excellent and innovative research that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge and represents value for money

• create new or advanced knowledge resulting from the outcomes of the research with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia, and enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

Applicants should carefully check the official FT27 guidelines before applying. 

• You should have a PhD or equivalent research higher degree.

• For FT27, the PhD award date must fall between March 1, 2012 and March 1, 2022, unless eligible career interruptions extend the period.

• You should demonstrate a strong record of research.

• You should show evidence of research leadership, training, supervision or mentoring appropriate to your Future Fellowship level.

• You should have the capacity to develop national and international research collaborations.

• You must apply through an eligible Australian administering organisation.

• A person nominated for a Future Fellowship on three previous occasions cannot submit another application during the eligible period.

The Future Fellowships scheme encourages applications from researchers working in areas of national priority.

Future Fellowships grants provide a salary awarded at one of 3 salary levels and up to $60,000 per annum in project funding, for a four-year duration.

Project funding may be used for:

• personnel, postdoctoral research associates and research assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants

• access to research and infrastructure facilities and technical workshop services

• essential field research

• expert third-party services

• equipment and consumables

• publication and dissemination of project research outputs and outreach activities

• specialised computer equipment and software

• travel costs essential to the project for up to $100,000 over the project activity period

• web hosting and development

• workshops, focus groups and conferences, and

• reasonable essential costs for researchers who are carers or who themselves require care.

To apply, eligible researchers should follow these steps:

1. 1

   Check the FT27 eligibility rules carefully.

2. 2

   Review your PhD award date and eligible career interruptions.

3. 3

   Identify a suitable research area that fits your expertise.

4. 4

   Find a suitable research environment at UQ for your proposed project.

5. 5

   Contact the relevant UQ faculty, school, or research institute about hosting your fellowship.

6. 6

   Discuss your research idea and career profile with the relevant UQ research team.

7. 7

   Submit the complete application