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Westpac Research Fellowships

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Key dates for Westpac Research Fellowships 2027

  • Applications open: 25 June 2026
  • Westpac online information session: Recorded Session 12pm, 9 July 2026.
  • Complete DRAFT EOI Application due to the UQ Research Office: 9 July 2026
  • Eligibility Exemption Requests due to the Research Office: 9 July 2026
  • UQ NOI close: 15 July 2026 
  • Westpace EOI close: 23 July 2026
  • Full Application Shortlisting: 11 August 2026
  • Full Application due to the UQ Research Office: 26 August 2026
  • Full Applications close with Westpac: 9 September 2026
  • University shortlisting: 14 September  - 12 October 2026
  • Westpac National Assessment Centre: 23-24 November 2026
  • Anticipated announcement: Mid December 2026

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 create positive change in Australia in one of the Westpac Scholars Trust’s priority areas:

  • Sustainable Futures
  • Asia-Pacific Leadership
  • Connected and Stronger Society
  • Innovation for Impact

Eligibility

  • Applications are open to early carer researchers who completed their PhD between January 2020 – December 2023 inclusive (unless DVCRI exemption is granted), who are Australian citizens or permanent residents and can commence their Fellowship by 30 June 2027.
  • Your proposed research must contribute to the future of Australia in one of the Trusts’ priority areas listed above and must be able to demonstrate impact and world-class research excellence.
  • Matching cash contribution from your Faculty, Institute, School or Centre. 
  • You must supply all documentation detailed in Section 7 of the Guidelines. This includes a Curriculum Vitae at EOI stage; a Letter of Support from the DVCR, an Academic Reference, and a Personal Reference, if invited to the full application stage. Templates from Westpac will be updated in the Key Documents section once available.
  • 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 23-24 November 2026. If your application is successful, you must also attend the Westpac Scholars’ Summit in Sydney in late April 2027. Costs of attendance (including travel) at both events is covered by the Westpac Scholar’s Trust.

Eligibility Exemption

If your PhD was awarded before 1 January 2020, you may be considered for an exemption to this eligibility criteria. An Eligibility Exemption will be provided up to a maximum of four years for the following career interruptions:

  • Caring responsibilities
  • Disability
  • Disaster management and recovery (e.g. affected by bushfires, floods)
  • Limited or no access to facilities and resources, e.g. through workplace interruptions.
  • Medical conditions
  • Parental leave
  • Non-research positions, not concurrent with research employment

To request an exemption, please complete the WRF 2027 Eligibility Exemption Calculator (template below) and forward this with relevant interruption specific evidence to grants@research.uq.edu.au by the due date listed above.

UQ Cash Contribution

To be eligible to apply, UQ must provide cash contributions for the successful candidates. Westpac provides funding of $430,000 towards salary and oncosts for three years. UQ must provide:

  • Salary gap: Any gap between the Westpac funding and the actual UQ salary level (including salary on-costs) will need to be provided by the Faculty/Institute/School/Centre. UQ Central cash is not available for the salary gap.
  • Project costs: UQ Central cash will match the cash amount provided by the Faculty/Institute/School/Centre for project costs, up to a maximum match of $25,000 per annum for 3 years.
  • Professional Development Funds: UQ is required to contribute $30,000 over the life of the project to support leadership development for the Fellow (e.g., through conferences, travel, and courses). This is pre-approved fully from Central funds for a successful Fellow.

The Faculty/Institute/School/Centre contribution needs to be confirmed via the UQ 2027 Westpac Research Fellowship Funding Application Certification/Cash Proforma (template below) before the UQ Letter of Support will be signed.

How to apply

Step 1: Westpac Scholars Trust's portal registration and scheme reading:

  • The applicant will need an active account in Westpac's SmartyGrant system.
  • Familiarise yourself with the key Westpac and UQ documentation (see links at the end of this page).
  • Watch the Westpac online information session here.

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.

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 review and feedback.
  • To initiate internal review, email your completed UQ Westpac 2027 Funding Application Certification/Cash Proforma (using template below), whole-proposal PDF, and the draft attachments, including your CV, to the UQ Research Office at grants@research.uq.edu.au.
  • Internal review by RO/feedback provided (compliance/eligibility/grantscraft) depending on submission timeline.

Step 4: Final submission

Readership and researcher support

Key documents

Contact UQ R&I

Round coordinator
Olivia Ong

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.