ARC Future Fellowship 2027 in Australia: Fully Funded Research Opportunity

The ARC Future Fellowship 2027 is a fully funded research fellowship in Australia awarded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) under its National Competitive Grants Program. Fellows are hosted by an eligible Australian administering organisation, such as the University of Melbourne, and the award supports mid-career researchers at fellowship level.

It is open to outstanding mid-career researchers across all fields, and the fellowship covers a four-year salary plus up to AUD $60,000 per year in project funding. Applications close on 6 November 2026. Read the sections below for eligibility, funding details and how to apply.

Successful ARC Future Fellows receive substantial financial support for their research appointment.

The ARC states that Future Fellowships provide:

• A four-year fellowship.
• A salary awarded at one of three salary levels.
• Up to AUD $60,000 per year in project funding.
• Funding that can support personnel and research assistants.
• Support for access to research facilities and infrastructure.
• Funding for essential field research.
• Equipment and consumables.
• Publication and research dissemination costs.
• Specialist computer equipment and software.
• Eligible research-related travel.
• Support for workshops, focus groups and conferences.
• Certain reasonable essential costs for researchers who are carers or require care.

The ARC describes the fellowship as a four-year funding arrangement. Project funding is intended for expenses directly related to the Future Fellow's research.

It is therefore more accurate to describe the opportunity as a fully funded research fellowship rather than a fully funded university scholarship.

The ARC Future Fellowship is a postdoctoral and mid-career research fellowship, rather than a bachelor's, master's or PhD scholarship.

Applicants are expected to have an established research career and demonstrate the research capability appropriate for a competitive ARC fellowship.

The fellowship supports researchers who are undertaking high-quality research and are capable of making significant contributions to their research field.

The ARC Future Fellowships scheme is not limited to one academic discipline.

Researchers can propose projects across eligible areas of research, provided their proposed research meets the relevant ARC requirements.

The scheme supports both basic and applied research and encourages research addressing significant problems or gaps in knowledge. The ARC also encourages applications from researchers working in areas of national priority.

Potential research areas can therefore span disciplines such as:

• Natural sciences
• Engineering and technology
• Environmental research
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Economics and policy
• Health-related research where eligible under ARC rules
• Indigenous research
• Education
• Information and computing
• Other ARC-eligible research disciplines

Applicants should always check the relevant 2027 ARC Grant Guidelines before developing their proposal because ARC eligibility rules and discipline requirements apply.

The ARC Future Fellowships scheme is administered in Australia and supports researchers through eligible Australian administering organisations.

It is not marketed as a general scholarship restricted to Australian citizens. Researchers from outside Australia may be considered where they satisfy the ARC's eligibility requirements and are supported by an eligible Australian administering organisation.

For applicants considering the University of Melbourne, the university's own research-funding and internal application requirements must also be satisfied.

Applicants should not assume that nationality alone determines eligibility. The official ARC Grant Guidelines for the 2027 round should be used to confirm the nationality, residency and employment requirements applicable to the specific application.

The ARC Future Fellowships are intended for outstanding mid-career researchers.

Applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements established by the ARC for the relevant Future Fellowships round.

Important considerations include:

• Having the appropriate research qualifications and career profile for a Future Fellowship.
• Demonstrating a strong record of research achievement.
• Demonstrating capacity for high-quality research.
• Demonstrating research leadership, training and mentoring capacity.
• Proposing research that is eligible under the ARC scheme.
• Applying through an eligible Australian administering organisation.
• Meeting ARC requirements concerning project limits, researcher eligibility and other applicable rules.

The ARC emphasizes that Future Fellowships are designed to support outstanding mid-career researchers and research that provides national and international benefit.

Because the 2027 Grant Guidelines are the controlling document for the FT27 round, applicants should check the official ARC documentation when it is released rather than relying on eligibility information copied from previous years.

The ARC Future Fellowship application process is competitive and is normally completed through Australia's research grant administration system.

For the 2027 round, the ARC Scheme Calendar currently lists the following timeline:

• Applications open: 23 September 2026
• Applications close: 6 November 2026
• Assessment period: 9 November 2026 to 28 May 2027
• Expected announcement period: 26 October to 9 November 2027

The ARC states that these dates are indicative and may be subject to change. The closing time listed by ARC is 5:00 PM Canberra time.

Applicants should generally:

1. Review the official ARC Future Fellowships information.
2. Check the 2027 Grant Guidelines and eligibility requirements.
3. Identify an eligible Australian administering organisation.
4. Discuss the proposed fellowship with the relevant university research office.
5. Develop a high-quality research proposal.
6. Prepare the required researcher and project information.
7. Submit the application through the ARC's Research Management System within the specified application period.
8. Complete any university-level internal requirements before the ARC deadline.

Researchers applying through the University of Melbourne should also follow any internal University of Melbourne research-funding procedures and deadlines.