Funding opportunities

MGSE funding submission essentials

This process is in response to both the MGSE Submissions Policy and the MGSE Grants Notice of Intent (NOI) Policy. It applies to both lead proposals (submitted via University) and non-lead proposals (submitted through other institutions).

It's essential to notify the MERI Grants team of your intent to apply for any funding opportunity, as all funding proposals (internal and external) need to be endorsed by the Dean, as Head of Department.

As all applications require several internal approvals, MERI sets its own close dates in advance of both the funding body (for submissions direct to sponsor), as well as the Research, Innovation, and Commercialisation (RIC) closing dates. This allows time to process your application before it is formally submitted.

If you're not sure you can make the MERI close date, email the Grants team with your intent to apply.

Email the Grants team

  • Opportunities closing soon

    Indigenous Knowledge Institute seed funding

    Deadline to contact the Grants team: Wednesday 4 November.

    The Indigenous Knowledge Institute invites proposals for innovative and interdisciplinary research projects with a focus on Indigenous knowledges. All University of Melbourne researchers are eligible to apply for this seed funding opportunity for projects up to a maximum of $20,000. Proposals will be assessed against five selection criteria:

    • advances research in Indigenous knowledges
    • commitment to partnership
    • feasibility and impact
    • interdisciplinarity, and
    • early career researcher development.

    Applications close Wednesday 11 November.

    You can find more information or make an enquiry with the Indigenous Knowledge Institute.

    Email the Grants team to apply


    DECRA and Future Fellowship applications extended

    Deadline to contact the Grants team: Wednesday 18 November

    The Australian Research Council (ARC) has extended the application time frames for DECRA and Future Fellowship applications, to take into account the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more on the ARC website.

    Applications close Wednesday 25 November.

    Email the Grants team to apply


    The Laura Bassi Scholarship

    The Laura Bassi Scholarship, which awards a total of $8,000 thrice per annum, was established by Editing Press in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed. The scholarships are open to every discipline and the next round of funding will be awarded in December 2020.

    All currently enrolled master’s and doctoral candidates are eligible to apply, as are academics in the first five years of their employment. Applicants are required to submit a completed application form along with their CV through the application portal by the relevant deadline. Further details, previous winners, and the application portal can be found on the Editing Press website.

    Application deadline: 25 November 2020
    Outcomes announced: 20 December 2020

    Visit the website

  • Learning & Teaching Initiative (LTI ) Grants

    Applications close at 5pm Wednesday 25 November

    Based on the success across the University of the Improving Online Learning Quality category in the previous LTI round, this new round is seeking applications in the same category for subjects delivering in the first half year of 2021.

    As in the previous round, applicants are asked to commit to improving online learning quality by incorporating five of ten online initiatives into their subject. Information on these ten initiatives can be found on the Implementing online learning quality page.

    $5,000 incentive funding is provided for these projects. The funding is transferred to the project lead’s nominated account following the submission of an implementation report due by Week 6 of Semester 1, 2021. This funding can be used for teaching support or any activity which supports the academic in their role that allows them to successfully complete the project.

    The Application Guidelines are available on the Learning and Teaching Initiatives page, including a link to the application form.

    Please note that the form, as usual, includes this question:
    Have relevant Heads of Department/School confirmed that the subject coordinator(s) will have the time and basic resources required to complete this project within the context of their existing responsibilities?

    This question requires that you write a short statement to this effect and email it to the Associate Dean Learning & Teaching with a copy of your application to jquay@unimelb.edu.au. This is to assist in creating an MGSE record of who is applying. A confirmation email will be sent to you.

    Applications will close at 5pm Monday 25 November and will be awarded by Friday 18 December.

  • Jack Keating Fund Scholarship

    The Jack Keating Fund Scholarship is currently open until Tuesday 9 February 2021. This scholarship is awarded in the memory of Professor Jack Keating, who was a specialist in post compulsory education and training, most noted for his contribution to education policy and debates. This scholarship is open to current or prospective research students of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education who are pursuing policy research in the field of education where the research is likely to impact on greater equality of opportunity and education outcomes and the advancement of social justice. It is valued up to $8500 for one year. Please share these details if your graduate researcher would benefit from this scholarship.

    Please visit the scholarship website for more information including the application requirements and eligibility.

  • ARC Discovery Indigenous 2022: Applications open soon

    The Discovery Indigenous scheme provides funding to Administering Organisations to support research programs led by an Indigenous Australian researcher and to build the research capacity of higher degree research and early career researchers. The scheme provides $30,000-$500,000 funding per annum for three years. Project costs can be used for a variety of purposes. As indicated in the key dates below, applications open on Wednesday 25 November.

    Key dates for Discovery Indigenous 2022

    • Release of Grant Guidelines: 8 October 2019
    • Applications Open: 25 November 2020
    • Request Not to Assess Close: 3 March 2021
    • Applications Close: 17 March 2021
    • Rejoinders: 17 June 2021 to 30 June 2021
    • Anticipated announcement: Fourth Quarter 2021

    Email the Grants team to apply

  • ARC Discovery Projects 2022: Applications open soon

    The ARC Discovery Projects support fundamental research conducted by both individuals and teams. The scheme provides $30,000-$500,000 funding per annum for projects of two to five years duration. Project costs can be used for a variety of purposes. As indicated in the key dates below, applications open on Wednesday 11 November.

    Key dates for Discovery Projects 2022

    • Release of Grant Guidelines: 8 October 2019
    • Applications Open: 11 November 2020
    • Request Not to Assess Close: 10 February 2021
    • Applications Close: 24 February 2021
    • Rejoinders: 8 June 2021 to 22 June 2021
    • Anticipated announcement: Fourth Quarter 2021

    Email the Grants team to apply

  • Reminders

    ARC Linkage Projects

    Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 3

    • Submit review ready application to MERI: 26 October 2020
      Submit review ready application to RIC: 2 November 2020
      Request not to Assess due to RIC: 15 November 2020
      Request not to Assess Close: 17 November 2020
    • Final Application due to MERI: 17 November 2020
      Final Application due to RIC: 24 November 2020
      Final Applications due to ARC: 1 December 2020

    If you are contemplating submitting an application in round 3, you must email the Grants team as soon as possible.

  • Ongoing opportunities

    The Ford Foundation - Challenging Inequality

    Expressions of Interest are open on an ongoing basis

    The Ford Foundation is a prestigious United States funder that has fellowship and project opportunities available in the broad thematic area of Challenging Inequality. Having a United States partner would improve the competitiveness of your application.


    The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    Applications are open on an ongoing basis

    The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has a grants database with fellowship and project opportunities that includes Higher Education in the Humanities, Arts and Cultural Heritage, Diversity, Scholarly Communications, and International Higher Education. Having a United States partner would improve the competitiveness of your application.


    The Economic and Research Council

    Applications are open on an ongoing basis

    The Economic and Social Research Council has called for proposals for a range of project ideas and specific grant opportunities. Having a United Kingdom partner would improve the competitiveness of your application.

    Email the Grants team to apply