Future Fellowships 2027 – Australia: Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply

The Future Fellowships 2027 (FT27) is a competitive Australian research fellowship supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (ARC). It is designed for outstanding mid-career researchers who want to undertake high-quality research with national and international benefits.

The 2027 round is scheduled to open on 23 September 2026 and close on 6 November 2026. Successful fellows receive a four-year fellowship, including a salary and research project funding of up to AUD 60,000 per year.

Important: Future Fellowships is not a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD scholarship. It is intended for eligible mid-career researchers and is administered through an Australian university or other eligible administering organisation.

Opportunity Overview

Detail	Information
Fellowship	ARC Future Fellowships 2027 (FT27)
Host Country	Australia
Funding Organisation	Australian Research Council (ARC)
Host Institution	Eligible Australian universities/research organisations
Applicant Level	Mid-career researchers
Duration	4 years
Research Areas	Research areas supported under the ARC scheme
Salary	Future Fellow salary, including 30% on-costs
Project Funding	Up to AUD 60,000 per year
Application Opens	23 September 2026
Application Deadline	6 November 2026
Application System	ARC Research Management System (RMS)

The ARC has confirmed the FT27 round and announced that applications are scheduled to run from 23 September to 6 November 2026. The ARC’s scheme calendar states that the closing time is 5:00 PM Canberra time on the closing date.

What Is Future Fellowships 2027?

Future Fellowships is part of the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Program. The scheme aims to support outstanding mid-career researchers who have demonstrated research capability, leadership, research training and mentoring experience.

The fellowship also helps Australian universities recruit and retain strong researchers in continuing academic positions. Another objective is to encourage national and international research collaboration and support innovative research that can provide economic, social, environmental, commercial or cultural benefits to Australia.

The ARC describes Future Fellowships as a four-year fellowship supporting outstanding mid-career researchers undertaking high-quality research of national and international benefit.

Benefits and Funding

The Future Fellowships package is designed to support both the researcher and the proposed research project.

Main benefits

• Four-year fellowship
• Future Fellow salary support
• Salary includes 30% on-costs
• Up to AUD 60,000 per year in project funding
• Support for research personnel and HDR students
• Funding for eligible equipment and consumables
• Support for eligible field research
• Funding for project-related travel
• Support for other eligible research costs

The ARC states that project funding may be used for personnel, HDR student support, equipment and maintenance, consumables, field research and other project-specific expenses. The University of Melbourne’s FT27 guidance also states that project travel has a AUD 100,000 total project limit, excluding fieldwork-related travel.

The exact salary level depends on the fellowship salary level awarded. Applicants should consult the final FT27 Grant Opportunity Guidelines once released rather than relying on older salary figures.

What the fellowship does not mean

Future Fellowships should not be described as a general student scholarship covering tuition, accommodation and personal living expenses. The primary funding is a research fellowship salary plus project funding.

Eligibility Requirements

Future Fellowships is intended for outstanding mid-career researchers, rather than students beginning a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree.

The ARC has confirmed that the FT27 eligibility settings are unchanged from previous rounds, including the maximum number of submissions. However, some detailed FT27 documentation is scheduled to be released when the scheme opens on 23 September 2026.

Applicants should therefore check the final ARC Grant Opportunity Guidelines before submitting an application.

Key eligibility considerations

Applicants should generally expect to demonstrate:

• A strong record of research achievement
• Capacity for high-quality research
• Research leadership and potential
• Research training or mentoring capability
• Eligibility under the FT27 career-stage and PhD-date rules
• Support from an eligible administering organisation
• Compliance with ARC project and application limits
• A research proposal that meets the scheme objectives

The University of Melbourne currently identifies 1 March 2012 as the anticipated FT27 PhD eligibility reference date for applicants who may need a career-interruption exemption, but this remains TBC pending the final ARC guidelines. Applicants whose PhD was awarded before the anticipated date may need to complete an Eligibility Exemption Request if they have allowable career interruptions.

Important submission limit

Candidates may be nominated for Future Fellowships a maximum of three times during the period in which they are eligible. The ARC has confirmed that this three-submission cap remains for FT27.

Eligible Research Areas

Future Fellowships supports research across areas covered by the ARC’s Discovery Program rather than being restricted to one academic subject.

Depending on the final scheme requirements and research proposal, applicants may work in areas such as:

• Science
• Engineering
• Technology
• Environmental research
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Economics and related fields
• Other eligible ARC research areas

Applicants should not assume that every proposed project is automatically eligible. The final FT27 Grant Opportunity Guidelines and relevant ARC policies should be checked before submission.

National Interest Test

The National Interest Test (NIT) is an important part of ARC funding applications.

The NIT is intended to explain the potential benefits of the proposed research to the Australian public. It should go beyond explaining the academic value of the project.

Applicants should address:

1. What the research project is about and what gap it addresses for Australia.
2. How the research could benefit Australians economically, socially, environmentally, commercially or culturally.
3. How the research outcomes could be communicated, translated, used or adopted beyond academia.

The University of Melbourne states that a final NIT Statement must be entered into RMS and certified through the university’s research process before submission.

Required Documents

The exact FT27 document requirements should be checked against the final ARC instructions when they are released.

Applicants should prepare early for documents and information such as:

• Updated academic and research profile
• Research outputs
• Research proposal and application sections
• National Interest Test statement
• Administering Organisation Letter of Support
• Research budget and justification
• Career-interruption information, if applicable
• Information required in the ARC RMS profile
• Other documents specified in the final Instructions to Applicants

Research outputs must be available in the applicant’s ARC Research Management System (RMS) profile before they can be selected for the application.

How to Apply

The application process is different from a normal university scholarship application because Future Fellowships applications are managed through the ARC and an administering organisation.

Step 1: Identify an eligible administering organisation

Researchers should first work with an eligible Australian university or research organisation that can administer the fellowship.

Step 2: Submit a Notice of Intent

The University of Melbourne asks prospective applicants to complete a Cayuse Notice of Intent (NOI) early in the process.

For Melbourne applicants, the NOI is used to provide research administration staff with applicant and proposal information.

Step 3: Update your RMS profile

Create or update your profile in the ARC Research Management System (RMS) and make sure your research information and outputs are accurate.

Step 4: Review the FT27 guidelines

Read the final ARC Grant Opportunity Guidelines and Instructions to Applicants after their release. The University of Melbourne states that FT27 ARC documents are expected to be released on 23 September 2026.

Step 5: Prepare the research application

Develop the research proposal, research impact information, NIT statement, budget and other required components.

Step 6: Obtain organisational support

Applicants must work with their department, faculty and administering organisation on the required C2 Administering Organisation Letter of Support.

Step 7: Complete internal review

At the University of Melbourne, applicants are expected to have their application ready for MRE review by 10:00 AM on 6 October 2026. The university is also offering an ExpERT panel review for FT27 applicants.

Step 8: Submit the final application

The University of Melbourne’s internal final submission deadline is 10:00 AM on 30 October 2026. The university then conducts final checks and submits eligible applications to the ARC.

The ARC’s external deadline for FT27 applications is 6 November 2026, with the ARC scheme calendar indicating a 5:00 PM Canberra-time closing time.

Application Deadline

The Future Fellowships 2027 application period is scheduled to open on 23 September 2026 and close on 6 November 2026.

The ARC’s official scheme calendar lists the application period as 23 September–6 November 2026. Dates are subject to change, so applicants should check the ARC website and final grant documentation before submitting.

For applicants applying through the University of Melbourne, the internal university deadline is earlier: 30 October 2026 at 10:00 AM.

Important Tips for Applicants

Start before the application opens

Although the ARC application opens on 23 September, researchers should not wait until that date to begin preparing their proposal, research outputs and institutional support.

Focus on research capability

The assessment gives the greatest weighting to Investigator/Capability at 50%, followed by Project Quality and Innovation at 25%, Benefit at 15%, and Feasibility and Strategic Alignment at 10%.

This means the applicant’s research record and capability are especially important.

Make the national benefit clear

A technically strong research project should also explain why its outcomes matter to Australia. The NIT should be written for a general public audience rather than only for academic specialists.

Check your project limits

ARC rules can limit the number of projects in which a named participant can be concurrently funded. Applicants should review their current ARC projects before finalising an application.

Do not rely on old FT26 information

The ARC has announced the FT27 round, but some detailed documents will only be released with the scheme opening. Applicants should use the FT27 documents when available rather than copying eligibility details from older rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Future Fellowships 2027 fully funded?

Future Fellowships provides a fellowship salary and project funding. It should not be described as a conventional student scholarship covering tuition and accommodation.

Who can apply for Future Fellowships?

The scheme is intended for outstanding mid-career researchers who meet the ARC’s eligibility requirements. It is not designed for undergraduate or ordinary taught master’s students.

Can international researchers apply?

The fellowship is designed to support researchers who are recruited and retained by eligible Australian universities or research organisations. Applicants should discuss eligibility and institutional support with a prospective Australian administering organisation.

Can PhD students apply?

Future Fellowships is not a PhD scholarship. It is intended for eligible mid-career researchers, with specific PhD-date and career-stage requirements.

What is the Future Fellowships 2027 deadline?

The ARC has scheduled FT27 applications from 23 September to 6 November 2026. The ARC scheme calendar gives a 5:00 PM Canberra-time closing time on 6 November.

How much funding is available?

The scheme provides a Future Fellow salary and up to AUD 60,000 per year in non-salary project funding.

How many times can a researcher apply?

Candidates may be nominated for Future Fellowships up to three times during their eligibility period.

When will the detailed FT27 guidelines be available?

The University of Melbourne states that the ARC’s FT27 documents are expected to be released on 23 September 2026, when the round opens.

Final Thoughts

Future Fellowships 2027 is a major Australian research opportunity for established mid-career researchers with strong research records and ambitious projects. The fellowship provides four years of support through a research salary and project funding.

Researchers interested in FT27 should begin preparation early, identify an eligible Australian administering organisation, update their ARC RMS profile and carefully review the final guidelines when they are released.

Because some FT27 eligibility details remain subject to the final ARC documentation, applicants should always confirm their individual eligibility with the ARC or their university research office before submitting.

Official Application

The official Future Fellowships information is provided by the Australian Research Council. Applicants should use the ARC’s official Future Fellowships page and RMS for the final application process.

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• Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship 2026 — useful for students considering research master’s and PhD opportunities.
• Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUIPRS) — relevant for international research-degree applicants.
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