NCGP Scheme Calendar

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced new rounds for 2026-27 in the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Scheme Calendar, providing indicative timings to support planning for applicants and research administrators.

The 2026-27 Scheme Calendar sets out the anticipated key timeframes for 3 upcoming NCGP scheme rounds:

  • Future Fellowships 2027
  • Industrial Transformation Research Hubs 2027
  • Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2027

The Scheme Calendar has been simplified. Additional key dates and timeframes for steps in the application and assessment processes are available on the individual scheme pages linked below.

The NCGP Policy Review Final Report remains under consideration by the Australian Government. As a result, existing programs and schemes are expected to evolve, with changes being progressively introduced to improve transparency, address research security, and align with national priorities. The ARC will provide notice of these changes to the research sector, including updated grant opportunity guidelines and documentation, as early as possible. 

Notes:

  1. All dates are indicative and may be subject to change. In the event of a change to the Scheme Calendar, the ARC will notify the sector.
  2. For all scheme rounds the closing time is 5:00 PM Canberra time on the dates provided. 
  3. For grant commencement and active project assessment dates, please refer to the webpage: Important Dates for ARC Grant Application Process.

NCGP Scheme Calendar 

Last updated 21 May 2026

Scheme Round Application Submissions Assessment Period Announcement*

2025–26

Industrial Transformation Research 

Program (IC26 & IH26)

17 September

to

26 November 2025

27 November 2025

to

26 March 2026

24 September

to

8 October 2026

Future Fellowships
(FT26)

24 September

to

5 November 2025

6 November 2025

to

24 April 2026

13 August

to

27 August 2026

Linkage Projects
(LP26)

14 January

to

18 March 2026

19 March

to

31 July 2026

9 December

to

23 December 2026

Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment 

and Facilities (LE27)

22 January

to

9 April 2026

10 April

to

14 August 2026

22 December 2026

to

13 January 2027

Discovery Early Career 

Researcher Award (DE27)

28 January

to

11 March 2026

12 March

to

31 July 2026

9 December

to

23 December 2026

Discovery Projects
(DP27)

DP27 EoI round was 

announced 25 February 2026.

2 March

to

22 April 2026

23 April

to

28 August 2026

14 January

to

28 January 2027

Australian Laureate Fellowships 

(FL27)

17 March

to

30 April 2026

1 May

to

2 September 2026

18 February

to

4 March 2027

Discovery Indigenous (IN27)

2 June

to

25 August 2026

26 August 2026

to

3 February 2027

23 June

to

7 July 2027

2026–27

Industrial Transformation 

Research Program 

(IC27 & IH27)

16 September

to

25 November 2026

26 November 2026

to

7 April 2027

31 August

to

14 September 2027
 

Future Fellowships
(FT27)

23 September

to

6 November 2026

9 November 2026

to

28 May 2027

26 October

to

9 November 2027

 *Due diligence and research security screening processes may extend finalisation of outcomes for some applications.