The Victoria University Research Fellowship program was established to support, promote and progress outstanding, innovative and strategically aligned research. A VU Research Fellowship is recognition of a researcher’s capability and contribution to research at Victoria University

VU Research allocates and approves the University's resources for research and research training through the Research Fellowship program.

Research Fellowships are open to College-based teaching, and research and teaching focused academics to undertake research that aligns with University’s priority and accreditation fields of research. For more information on the University’s strategic alignment, check VU research focus areas & expertise.

To explore funding opportunities that can support the research costs associated with your Fellowship, use the Research Professional funding database to find a range of sponsors in Australia and overseas.

Education Research Top-up

VU RISE, through VU Research Fellowships 2023, is offering a top-up research allocation for research related to education. VU RISE is funded by the Victorian State Government as part of its Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF).

Top ups will be on top of any base research allocation (via the normal process), and up to an additional 0.2FTE in 2023, though normally not exceeding 0.1FTE for academics with a base research allocation.

Guidelines

The Education Research Top-up Guidelines provide detail on eligibility, selection criteria and process, and include a sample application form so you can prepare in advance.

Due Date

Applications for the Education Research Top-Up are due midnight Tuesday 20 September (two days after main round applications are due).

How to Apply

All applications for the top-up must be made via the online application form.

VU Research Fellowship 2023 main round applicants

Academics applying for a VU Research Fellowship in 2023 can only access the top-up application after submission of the main round fellowship application.

When you submit your main round form, notify [email protected] with your application ID. We will attach the application form to your original application.

Current multi-year VURFs

Email your intent to apply for the top-up to [email protected].

Research Services will attach an application form to your original application and return this to you for your completion.

Fellowships available & guidelines for applicants

There are three types of Research Fellowships available:

  • Priority Research Fellowship: for research and/or research training undertaken under the Priority and Emerging FoR codes that contribute to the University’s research focus areas
  • Accreditation Research Fellowship: for research and/or research training undertaken under Accreditation FoR codes that contribute to the University’s research focus areas
  • Research Training Supervision (only): for research training undertaken by academic staff who do not hold a Research Fellowship (Priority or Accreditation). This type includes, but is not restricted to the P18 Supervision.

Guidelines

Read the VU Research Fellowship Guidelines 2023 if you are an academic interested in having a VU Research Fellowship in 2023.

Related

Applying for a VU Research Fellowship

Applications for VU Research Fellowships in 2023 will open on Monday 8 August 2022 at 11am. This year’s round will be very similar to the main round in 2022, with the same allocations available (see Part J of the Guidelines for research allocations which can be requested).

Applicants should read the VU Research Fellowship Program Guidelines (see above) for complete details of the program.

All academics wishing to apply for a VU Research Fellowship in 2023 must apply through this round. Note that the Out-of-Cycle round in 2023 will not be open to academics who were not on Extended Leave in the two weeks from 15 August 2022.

Key dates

  • Standard round opens – Monday 8 August 2022 at 11am
  • Applications close – Sunday 18 September (midnight AEST)
  • Applicants and Colleges notified of final results – Friday 29 October 2022.

Applications

Applications must be made using the online application form.

Information session

An online information session will be held during the application round. This webpage will be updated when details are finalized, and it will be promoted in Global Emails.

MORA & VU Research Fellowships

A provisional track-record selection criterion score (worth 40% of the overall score for any application) will be calculated using MORA. The Institute Panels will adjust this score in light of performance in 2020 (which is outside the MORA data collection period), and factors affecting research career opportunity.

The following table shows the provisional track record score for a number of MORA scores. (Provisional track record scores are interpolated from these MORA data points.)

MORA

Provisional track record score

0

0.00

1

0.28

2

1.18

3

2.70

4

4.58

5

6.46

6

8.03

7

9.12

8

9.72

9

9.96

10

10.00

 

Appeals process for VU Research Fellowship applicants

The appeals process is designed to ensure that Research Fellowship applications have been assessed in accordance with the procedures in the fellowship guidelines.

VU Research will only consider appeals against administrative process issues and not against Institute Panel recommendations, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact) decisions, any rankings or comments.

Read the research appeals guidelines and then use the appeals form to make an appeal.

Appeals are due within 14 days of applicants receiving notification by email, including details of the appeal process.

Supervision of higher degrees by research (HDR) students

Research Training Supervision allocations are calculated for 2023 based on HDR supervision data available in October 2022. Actual supervision loads in 2022 are reconciled with this data for the 2024 VU Research Fellowships supervision data downloaded 3 times per year.

Research Training Supervision (only) fellowships are allocated automatically based on HDR supervision arrangements, based on arrangements approved by the Office for Research Training, Quality and Integrity.  

Research Training supervision and associated allocations are available live in the University Measure of Research Activity (MORA) system. 

Final VU Research Fellowship Allocations

Final VURF FTE Allocations for 2023 will be include the following components, rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.1FTE:

  • Base research allocation
  • HDR supervision time (based on data in October 2022)
  • Externally funded research time (based on data in October 2022)
  • Additional allocations for Bridging Support, Internships, Embedded Research
  • Rounding adjustment from 2022.

The final allocation is fixed for the whole of 2023, with adjustment only made for changes in externally funded research time (which is on top of any other research FTE allocation).

Externally funded research projects

Externally funded research projects are handled through the VU Research office. Externally funded research time is in addition to other research allocations.

Research time (FTE) spent on research that has been secured and financed through external funding schemes, grants or research contracts is automatically allocated to researchers, based on the VU cover sheet and costing tool used when the funding was secured.

College deans are formally notified of externally funded FTE allocations four times per year to assist in planning and organisational capacities.

For more information regarding institutional support for researchers intending to apply for external funding, please visit grants and funding.