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Status: Closed

Find out information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the ARC Future Fellowships scheme.

Aim

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 enhances the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

A Future Fellowship may be requested and/or awarded at one of three salary levels and salary-related (on-cost) funding, and will be funded for four years on a full-time basis.

An Administering Organisation may be awarded up to $60,000 of non-salary funding per annum which may be used for personnel, equipment, consumables, travel, and field research directly related to the Future Fellow's research.

Funding for a 2026 Future Fellowship project will commence effective 1 July 2026, unless other arrangements are approved by the ARC.

Changes to Eligibility for DVCR Co-Funding

Eligibility for the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme is contingent upon on-time submission of grant applications by the date you select for your compliance and eligibility check in the booking calendar. Many applications for external funding require cash and in-kind contributions from the host institution in order to be considered for funding. In most cases, researchers request cash contributions, such as project support funds, funding for research associates, scholarships and major equipment, from the DVCR via the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme to support their external funding applications.

To be eligible to request this DVCR Co-Funding, grant applications must be submitted internally, via Pure, by your compliance and eligibility check date.

  • Applications must be submitted to the Research Services Grant Development Team by your compliance and eligibility check date.
  • View further information on deadlines, processes and FAQs.
  • Applications that do not have a Pure record and/or do not have all the appropriate approvals in Pure (Head of Department [HoD] and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation [DDRI]) will not be submitted to the external funding body.
Eligibility criteria for the 2026 Future Fellowship scheme:
  • The PhD award date must be on or between 1 March 2011 and 1 March 2021. If a candidate's PhD was awarded earlier than this, they must complete an Eligibility exemption request form to check their eligibility.
  • Candidates can only apply 3 times in the period in which they are eligible.
  • An individual must not be nominated for more than one Future Fellowship in a grant opportunity.
  • A previous recipient of a Future Fellowship is not eligible to apply for another Future Fellowship.
  • At least 80% of your time must be dedicated to the Future Fellowship research.
  • You must spend at least 50% of your time during the completion of the Future Fellowship in Australia.
  • Candidates must adhere to the ARC project limits.
  • Your project must be eligible according to the ARC Medical Research Policy.
For funding commencing in 2026:
  • ARC Grant Guidelines released: Thursday 8 August 2024
  • Macquarie University EOI open: Friday 21 March 2025
  • Macquarie University EOI deadline: 12 pm (AEST) Thursday 27 August 2025
  • ARC opening date in RMS: Wednesday 24 September 2025
  • Strategic review (optional): 7 to 10 October 2025, select your date and time in this booking calendar
  • MQ request not to assess deadline: Wednesday 15 October 2025
  • Compliance and eligibility check (mandatory): 20 to 23 October 2025, select your date and time in this booking calendar
  • ARC request not to assess close: Wednesday 22 October 2025
  • Research Services submission to ARC: Wednesday 5 November 2025
  • Rejoinder period: 12 to 25 February 2025
  • Outcomes expected: 6 to 17 July 2025
For funding commencing in 2025:
  • Outcomes expected: 8 to 21 July 2025

ARC dates are indicative and are subject to change
Future Fellowship Expression of Interest (EOI) for funding commencing in 2026
  • Future Fellowship EOI form for funding commencing in 2026
  • Due by 12pm (AEST) Wednesday 27 August 2025
  • Submit your EOI via email to grant.development@mq.edu.au
  • EOIs will be assessed within faculties and those deemed competitive will advance to the full application stage
  • Applicants who are not currently on a continuing appointment at Macquarie University may be required to sit for an interview. In the Faculty of Science and Engineering, all external applicants and internal applicants on fixed-term contracts, will need to sit for an interview as part of the EOI process. Such applicants will proceed to the full application stage should their interview be successful and their EOI be approved.
Webinar for funding commencing in 2025
Future Fellowship Information for funding commencing in 2025
ARC information
Macquarie resources