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Key dates for ARC Centres of Excellence 2026

Internal (UQ) EOI process

  • Internal (UQ) Expression of Interest (EOI) process opens: 19 June 2023
  • Internal (UQ) EOI process Stage 1 closes: 23 October 2023
  • Internal (UQ) EOI process Stage 2 closes: 15 March 2024
  • Internal (UQ) NOI process for externally led applications closes: 15 March 2024

*NOTE: the following dates are indicative only and may be subject to change

ARC EOI process

  • ARC information session for UQ teams: TBA
  • Release of Funding Rules: August 2024
  • ARC EOIs open in Research Management System (RMS): 13 August 2024
  • Requests Not to Assess due to UQ Research and Innovation (UQ R&I): 30 August 2024
  • ARC EOIs due to UQ R&I: TBA
  • ARC EOIs close with ARC: 18 September 2024
  • EOI Rejoinder period: 6 to 19 November 2024*
  • EOI Rejoinders due to UQ R&I: TBA

ARC Full application process

  • Full applications open in RMS: Anticipated 29 January 2025*
  • Full applications due to UQ R&I: TBA
  • Full applications close with ARC: 20 March 2025*
  • Rejoinder period: 8 May 2025 to 21 May 2025*
  • Rejoinders due to UQ R&I: TBA
  • Interview notification: TBA
  • Interviews: TBA
  • Anticipated announcement: 6 November 2025*

Overview

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence (CE26) scheme aims to fund highly innovative and potentially transformational research leading to international standing and a significant advancement of capabilities and knowledge. The Centres will link existing Australian research strengths and build critical mass with new capacity for interdisciplinary, collaborative approaches to address the most challenging and significant research problems.

How to apply

Internal Expression of Interest process

As per previous rounds, UQ will use a mandatory Internal Expression of Interest (EOI) process to determine its applicant field and to ensure that the University’s proposals are closely aligned with the requirements of the CE26 scheme. The research office is available to support development at the UQ EOI stage; we strongly recommend that any group considering a UQ led Centre of Excellence reach out to the research office in advance of completing the EOI.

UQ lead EOIs must be submitted via the online form during the EOI period 

EOIs include:

  • Administrative Information
  • Centre Research Program (uploads):

-   4 page Research Program
-   1 page Centre Director Suitability Statement
-   2 page Centre Director CV
-   1 page Key Investigators
- Brief Statement of Support from the Executive Dean/Associate Dean Research/Institute Director/Institute Deputy Director of the Host Faculty/Institute, and acknowledgement from Head of Department (i.e. Head of School) if different from supporting statement provider.

  • CI/PI list
  • Additional organisations
  • Questions for the UQ Strategy Panel

A sample UQ EOI and templates of uploads are available below. 

For UQ researchers intending to submit an externally-led application to CE26, please submit a Notice of Intent.

ARC Expression of Interest Process

Following notification of formal approval under the University’s EOI process, UQ applicants will proceed to prepare an ARC proposal, as follows:
 

Step 1. RMS updates and scheme reading

  • Update your full profile in RMS ‘Person Profile’. If any team members are new to RMS and need a login/password, start early.
  • Familiarise yourself with the key ARC and UQ documentation.

Step 2. Completing the application

Step 3. UQ R&I internal review and feedback

  • Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and valid, generate a whole Proposal PDF for your records and select 'Submit to Research Office' in RMS to submit the application.
  • To initiate review, email your completed Funding Coversheet to UQ R&I.
  • If lodging a Request Not to Assess, complete the form in RMS by the internal closing date.
  • Also provide completed UQ Certification Proformas.
  • Internal review by UQ R&I/feedback provided (compliance/eligibility/grantsmanship).

Step 4. Final submission

  • Final submission by UQ R&I to the ARC.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

Key documents

ARC

The guidelines for CE26 are not expected to be released until 2024. Interested applicants can view the previous CE23 ARC EOI guidelines on grantconnect.

Additional ARC documents

UQ Documents

Rejoinders and rebuttal

The assessment comments provided by external assessors may be made available to applicants by the ARC, and applicants may be given the opportunity to submit a Rejoinder.

UQ R&I works closely with individual applicants in submitting Centres of Excellence rejoinders and for this reason does not provide institution-wide workshops or seminars. 

Detailed information on the rejoinder process (including instructions for accessing assessment reports and submitting rejoinders) is available from the ARC website. The UQ R&I internal deadline for rejoinders will be shown in the Key Dates section, once the round opens.

Contact UQ R&I

Scheme queries

RMS queries

Round coordinator
Dr Emma Livingstone
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.