Under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, the Minister or the ARC Board, depending on scheme, must not approve for funding any application that fails to meet the eligibility criteria set out in the relevant Grant Guidelines of each scheme. All applications are assessed against these eligibility requirements. The ARC may deem ineligible any application that does not comply. Applicants are responsible for reading and complying with the guidelines of the scheme they are applying to. Please refer to the relevant Grant Guidelines for each scheme. Researcher Roles Eligibility for a Chief Investigator (CI) or Partner Investigator (PI) role is determined by your employment status, not by level of involvement or full-time equivalent (FTE) on the project. Chief Investigators CIs must: Check the number of grants they currently hold (including with other Eligible Organisations) against the NCGP project limits, in accordance with the relevant Grant Guidelines for each scheme. Reside predominantly in Australia for the duration of the project. Partner Investigators PIs must: Not meet the eligibility requirements of a CI under the relevant scheme’s Grant Guidelines. if they wish to apply as a PI. Secure cash, or in-kind contribution or other resources from their own organisation for the project. Director Roles Some schemes require a Director, who must meet CI eligibility plus along with additional requirements, e.g., employed by the Administering Organisation for the project’s duration of the project, and responsibility for strategic direction and management of the project. Please refer to the relevant schemes Grant Guidelines for further information. PhD requirements Where a PhD is required, eligibility is based on the date of the conferral, not thesis submission or acceptance. Exemptions or significant career interruptions may apply. Researchers should consult the relevant scheme Grant Guidelines for further details. Fellowships and Awards An ARC Fellow or Award recipient cannot hold more than one ARC Fellowship or Award at the same time. Concurrent fellowships from other Commonwealth agencies are also not permitted. Please note that some schemes have restrictions on the number of times an individual researcher can apply. Project and Application Limits Each NCGP scheme has defined project limits, which help the applicant to determine whether a researcher is eligible to be named on a grant. Project limits are designed to ensure that named participants in ARC-funded research projects have the capacity to undertake their proposed and active project(s). It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine if applying for, or holding, a project will affect an individual researcher’s eligibility for other ARC grant opportunities. Participants should refer to Grant Guidelines and Grant Agreements for the relevant scheme project limits. There are no application or project limits for named participants on a Special Research Initiative grant. Organisational eligibility An application may only be submitted by an Eligible Organisation listed in the relevant Grant Guidelines of each scheme. A list of institutions that are considered Eligible Organisations under the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) can be found at the link below: Eligible organisations Type of Eligible Organisation The Eligible Organisation that submits the application will be the Administering Organisation and all other Eligible Organisations listed on the application will be Other Eligible Organisations or Collaborating Organisations, depending on the scheme. Partner Organisations Partner Organisation are national or international organisations (other than Eligible Organisations) that contribute cash and/or in-kind support to the project. For schemes that include Partner Organisations, the organisations need to consider if they meet the eligibility requirements under the relevant Grant Guidelines of each scheme. Incomplete or Misleading Information Providing false and/or misleading information to the Commonwealth is a serious offence. The ARC may recommend incomplete, inaccurate or false/misleading applications not be approved. Examples of misleading information include falsifying research records, plagiarism and misrepresenting qualifications. Medical Research Applications will be deemed ineligible for funding under the following schemes if they are primarily or substantially aimed at understanding or treating human disease or health conditions: Discovery Projects Discovery Indigenous Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Australian Laureate Fellowships Future Fellowships Linkage Projects Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Centres of Excellence Definition of Medical Research can be found on the ARC website and within the Grant Guidelines of the relevant schemes. The ARC’s Medical Research Advisory Group (MRAG) provides additional technical advice regarding medical eligibility for selected applications to the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Eligibility Committee. For more information, see: Medical Research Advisory Group Frequently Asked Questions. Experimental Development From 1 July 2024, ARC scheme documentation reflects the exclusion of experimental development, in line with amendments to the ARC Act 2001. The ARC Experimental Development Policy (Policy Statement on Experimental Development) outlines the ARC’s approach to experimental development. Submission of applications Administering Organisations must submit applications through the ARC Research Management System (RMS) unless otherwise advised by the ARC. RMS is a web-based system used to prepare and submit applications, assessments and rejoinders. All applications must meet the format and content requirements, including certification, as set out in the RMS form and the Instructions to Applicants. All applications must meet the format and content requirements, including certification, as set out in the RMS form and the Instructions to Applicants. All applications must be submitted by the scheme deadline advertised on the ARC Funding Calendar page. Additions, deletions and modifications will not be accepted after submission, unless invited by the ARC. Eligibility Matters for Research Grants Services clients The ARC provides grants administration services through Research Grants Services (RGS) to other Australian Government entities managing grant programs focused on the university and research sector. Eligibility processes for RGS-managed grants may differ from those under the ARC’s NCGP. Refer to the RGS website for further details. National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants