Applying for a grant?
The Australian Research Council (ARC) does not provide funding to individual researchers, all funding applications must be submitted through the Research Office in an Eligible Organisation (usually an Australian university).
Where can researchers find information?
Researchers seeking ARC support will find information here about schemes funded under the National Competitive Grants Program. In most cases, researchers prepare an application for funding that is submitted to the ARC through the Research Office in an Eligible Organisation (usually an Australian university).
Applicants must be familiar with the Grant Guidelines (known as Funding Rules under the ARC Act 2001) for the ARC scheme under which they are applying for funding. The Grant Guidelines govern the application and selection processes.
Most ARC applications require a form to be completed using the ARC online application system. The Grant Guidelines set out closing dates and rules for submitting eligible applications.
ARC funding is provided to organisations, not individual researchers. The Grant Agreement (known as the Funding Agreement under the ARC Act 2001) or Conditions of Grant is the Agreement between the ARC and university. Applicants are advised to be familiar with the Grant Agreement. For example, the ARC Grant Agreement requires that any ARC contribution to research and other activities be appropriately acknowledged. Other information with which applicants should be familiar follows grouped in the order of process:
Finding grant opportunities
For information about when grants are advertised and where to find them, please look at the ARC Grants Calendar. All grants are advertised through the Government Grant Connect service and key dates are published in the Grants Calendar. Application documents for ARC schemes are only available on GrantConnect.
- Grants Calendar
- GrantConnect – the Australian Government’s grant information system
- Grant Guidelines
- Discovery Program Grant Guidelines
- Linkage Program Grant Guidelines
- Research Management System (RMS) Information
- Grant Agreements
Preparing an application
When preparing an application those applying need to consider the eligibility of applicants to apply, referring closely to the relevant Grant Guidelines. A National Interest Test (NIT) statement is required for all Australian Research Council grant applications. Further information about aspects of preparing an application can be found as follows:
- Eligibility matters
- Articulating National Interest in Grant Applications
- Codes and Guidelines
- Classification Codes [FOR, RFCD, SEO and ANZSIC Codes]
- Salaries and stipends
- Science and Research Priorities
- Research Security
- Request Not to Assess
- Rejoinders
Announcement of funding
On the completion of the assessment process and after consideration by the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC), the outcomes of each round are publicly announced. Information on outcomes is published on the RMS Funding Announcements webpage.
Managing the Grant
After the outcomes are announced the Grant is administered through the Research Office of the institution and the Post Award Team at the ARC. Post Award can help successful applicants with all aspects of grant administration and reporting. The following links provide useful information about post award in addition refer to information on the Managing your grant webpage.
- Grant Payments
- Manage your grant
- Industrial Transformation Research Program Reporting
- Project Start Date Information
- Variation to a Funding Agreement
Information about other grants administered by the ARC
Visit the Research Grants Services website if you would like further information on the National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants (NISDRG) / National Intelligence Discovery Grants (NIDG) Program or Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Programs.
Help with Industrial Collaboration
The Tips and Tricks for industry collaboration webinar was recorded to assist all Researchers and Research Office staff on engaging with industry collaboration during the application process.