Grants Calendar

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has released the 2025-26 National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Scheme Calendar, providing indicative timings to support planning for participants and research administrators.

The 2025-26 Scheme calendar sets out the anticipated key timeframes for seven existing NCGP schemes: 

• Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
• Future Fellowships
• Discovery Projects
• Linkage Projects
• Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
• Industrial Transformation Training Centres
• Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities

Beyond completion of the current scheme rounds, eight existing NCGP schemes will be paused pending the finalisation of the NCGP Policy Review:

• Australian Laureate Fellowships
• Industry Laureate Fellowships
• Mid-Career Industry Fellowships
• Early-Career Industry Fellowships
• Discovery Indigenous (to be replaced by a proposed new scheme targeted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers in 2026-27)

3-year cycle:

• Centres of Excellence 

Occasional:

• Special Research Initiative
• Learned Academies Special Projects

For grant commencement and active project assessment dates, please refer to the webpage Important Dates for ARC Grant Application Process.

Note:

1. In the event of a change to the scheme calendar, the ARC will provide as much notice as possible.

2. For all schemes the closing time for Requests Not to Assess, Applications Close and Rejoinders is 5:00pm Canberra time on the dates provided.

NCGP Scheme Calendar 2024-25

NCGP Scheme Calendar 2025-26

The National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) is currently undergoing a comprehensive review. As a result, existing programs and schemes are expected to evolve, with changes being progressively introduced to improve transparency, security, and alignment with national priorities.  

For information on the review, see:

• Update on the future of ARC funded research