Westpac Research Fellowships
Key dates for Westpac Research Fellowships 2025
- Proposals open with Westpac: 4 July 2024
- Online information session: 1.30pm, 16 July 2024 : Register here
- UQ NOI close: 5:00pm, 7 August 2024
- Full Applications due to the Research Office: 9 August 2024
- Full Applications close with Westpac: 28 August 2024 at 5:00pm
- University shortlisting: 15 September - 10 October 2024
- Westpac National Assessment Centre: 4 - 5 December 2024
- Anticipated announcement: Mid December 2024
Overview
The Westpac Research Fellowship offers early career researchers a unique opportunity to support their ground-breaking research, provide access to networks, open career pathways and global experiences. Successful Fellows will be undertaking research that can make a difference to Australia’s future in one of the Westpac Scholars Trust’s priority areas:
- Thriving Tech Sector
- Sustainable Futures
- Australia in Asia
- An Inclusive Country
Eligibility
- Applications are open to early carer researchers who completed their PhD 3-6 years ago, i.e. from January 2018 – December 2021 inclusive (unless exemption is granted), who are Australian citizens or permanent residents and can commence their Fellowship by 30 June 2025.
- Your proposed research must contribute to the future of Australia in one of the four priority areas listed above and must include international opportunities to expand your leadership skills and global networks (e.g. study tours for the purpose of research, conference or short course attendance, an internship, or volunteering).
- You must supply all documentation detailed in Section 7 of the Guidelines. This includes a Curriculum Vitae, Letter of Support from the DVCR, and Academic Reference, and a Personal Reference. Templates from Westpac are available under Key Documents below.
- Funding requests for medical research as defined in ARC Medical Research Policy will not be considered.
- Should your application progress to the final stage, you must attend the National Assessment Centre in person in Sydney on 4-5 December 2024. If your application is successful, you must also attend the Westpac Scholars’ Summit in Sydney on 7-8 April 2025. Costs of attendance (including travel) at both events will be covered by the Westpac Scholar’s Trust.
How to apply
Step 1: Westpac Scholars Trust's portal registration and scheme reading:
- The applicant will need an active account in Westpac's online system.
- Familiarise yourself with the key Westpac and UQ documentation (see links at the end of this page).
- Register for the Westpac online information session at 1:30pm, 16 July 2024.
Step 2: Completing the application
- Log into the system and complete the Application. You will be unable to submit until all attachments have been uploaded.
- Attend the Westpac online information session at 1:30pm, 16 July 2024. Register here
Step 3: RO internal review and feedback
- In advance of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and valid. Generate a whole-proposal PDF for your records.
- To initiate internal review, email your completed UQ Westpac 2024 Funding Application Certification/Cash Proforma (using template below), whole-proposal PDF, and the draft attachments, including CV and UQ Letter of Support, to RO at grants@research.uq.edu.au.
- Internal review by RO/feedback provided (compliance/eligibility/grantscraft).
Step 4: Final submission
- On receiving authorisation from RO, submit your application online in Westpac's online system.
Readership and researcher support
Before applying, we recommend you:
- Contact your faculty or institute research manager for advice on peer readership programs.
- Join the UQ R&I Mailer to stay up to date with round developments.
- Access the UQ R&I Grants Library, a helpful resource of past successful proposals.
- Watch the 2024 UQR&I NHMRC Development Grants information session
Key documents
- UQ Funding Application Certification (DOCX, 75 KB) (Updated July 2024)
- 2025 Westpac Research Fellowships Application Writing Guide (PDF, 174.6 KB) (Updated July 2024)
- 2025 Westpac Research Fellowships Letter of Support template (with UQ details) (DOCX, 55 KB) (Updated 19 July 2024)
- 2025 Westpac Research Fellowships Academic Reference template (DOCX, 48.4 KB) (Updated 19 July 2024)
- 2025 Westpac Research Fellowships Personal Reference template (DOCX, 47.8 KB) (Updated 19 July 2024)
- 2025 Westpac Research Fellowships Funding Guidelines (PDF, 288.2 KB)
Contact UQ R&I
Scheme grants@research.uq.edu.au
Round coordinator
Sarah Hickman
If you are applying through UQ but you are not a current UQ staff member, please contact the round coordinator to be added to the UQ R&I mailing list.