The Victoria University Research Fellowship program was established to support, promote and progress outstanding, innovative and strategically aligned research.

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 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.

The 2019 Research Fellowship Selection Report provides details of the 2019 round and results.

Fellowships available

There are three types of Research Fellowships available:

  • Priority Research Fellowship: for research and/or research training undertaken under the Priority 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

All academics interested in having VU Research Fellowship in 2020 should read the Research Fellowship Guidelines 2020 for more information regarding the VU Research Fellowships process.

Related

Current VU Research Fellows 2019

This year, researchers with current 2019 VU Research Fellowships (priority or accreditation) are eligible to maintain, reduce or increase their current allocations effective from 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2020.

For researchers maintaining or reducing their current VURF allocations, simply:

  1. Complete and submit the ‘VURF Continuations for 2020’ form by logging into the SmartyGrants portal and completing the form by 17 October 2019. (See below for instructions). Notification of the final decision will be by 1 November 2019.
  2. Create a new Victoria University Researcher Profile by 31 December 2019.

Eligibility

For those wishing to increase their current VU Research Fellowship allocations, additional criteria must be met: 

  1. You must have a current research allocation of less than 0.3 FTE
  2. The maximum additional allocation will be 0.1 FTE

Selection criteria

Selection criteria for current VU Research Fellows seeking to increase their research allocation will be:

  • Substantially Increased Track Record and Capacity (80%)
  • Strategic alignment of proposed additional research (20%)

Process

For researchers to increase their current VURF allocations, simply:

  1. Complete and submit the ‘VURF Continuations for 2020’ form through the SmartyGrants portal by 17 October 2019. (See below for instructions)*.
  2. Create a new Victoria University Researcher Profile by 31 December 2019

*Your application will be reviewed by the VU Research Fellowship Panel for a final decision to be made by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). Applicants will be notified of the decision by 20 November 2019.

SmartyGrants form for current VU Research Fellows

To complete the VURF Continuations for 2020 form:

  1. Go to https://vu.smartygrants.com.au
  2. Log in (at top of screen)
  3. Select ‘My Submissions’ (at top of screen)
  4. Select the VURF Continuations for 2020 form and complete it

New applications for 2020 VU Research Fellowships

College-based academic staff who do not have a current VU Research Fellowship (Priority or Accreditation) in 2019 can apply for a VU Research Fellowship in 2020.

Applicants seeking to apply for a priority or accreditation VU Research Fellowship will be required to submit the ‘2020 VURF for New Applicants’ form at https://vu.smartygrants.com.au/VURF2020 between 17 September 2019 to 17 October 2019.

Applicants will be notified of the outcomes by 20 November 2019.

All VU Research Fellows in 2020 will be required to complete a new Victoria University Researcher Profile by 31 December 2019.

Out of Cycle Round for 2020 VU Research Fellowships

College-based academic staff can apply for a VU Research Fellowship in 2020, including during an Out-of-Cycle round in 2020 in these circumstances:

  • you do not have a current VU Research Fellowship (Priority or Accreditation) in 2019
  • you are on Extended Leave covering 3 October – 17 October 2019.

See Key Dates for the dates of Out-of-Cycle rounds and periods of time covered by the VU Research Fellowship awarded during each of these rounds.

VU Research Fellowships for 2021 & beyond

In order to improve VU Research Fellows’ opportunity to plan their research and teaching with their Dean for the following year, a new cycle for applying for VU Research Fellowships will be launched in 2020 for allocations commencing in 2021.

These changes will result in an application cycle that requires applications to be submitted in March/April of each year with decisions regarding Fellowships for the following academic year finalised by June.  Further details about the VU Research Fellowship opportunity for 2021 will be made available prior to the main round opening in March/April. 

Key dates for VU Research Fellowships 2020

Note that the 2020 2nd and 3rd Out-of-Cycle Rounds are for allocations for part of 2020 and the whole of 2021.

Round

Open

Close

Decision

VURF period

2019 Standard Round

16/9/2019

16/10/2019

1/11/2019**

20/11/2019

1/1/2020 – 31/12/2020

2020 1st Out of Cycle Round*

20/1/2020

10/2/2020

3/3/2020

1/1/2020 – 31/12/2020

 

2020 2nd Out of Cycle Round*

13/3/2020

15/4/2020

18/5/2020

1/1/2021 – 31/12/2021

 

1/4/2020 – 31/12/2021

2020 3rd Out of Cycle Round*

15/6/2020

12/7/2020

27/7/2020

1/7/2020 – 31/12/2021

* Indicative dates only. All indicative dates are subject to change, to ensure alignment with Teaching Blocks in 2020

** VURFs in 2019 seeking to roll-over or reduce their research will receive formal notification by 1 November 2019. Those seeking to increase their allocation or applying for a new VU Research Fellowship will receive notification on 20 November 2019.

Key dates for VU Research Fellowships in 2021

2020 Round

Open

Close

Decision

VURF period

 Standard Round*

13/3/2020

15/4/2020

18/5/2020

1/1/2021 – 31/12/2021

2nd Out of Cycle Round*

13/3/2020

15/4/2020

18/5/2020

1/4/2020 – 31/12/2021

3rd Out of Cycle Round*

15/6/2020

12/7/2020

27/7/2020

1/7/2020 – 31/12/2021

* Indicative dates only. All indicative dates are subject to change, to ensure alignment with Teaching Blocks in 2020

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 outlined in the Fellowship Guidelines

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

Before making an appeal, applicants should read the Research Appeals Guidelines.

In order to make an appeal, the Appeal Form must be used.

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

Research Training allocations for College-based academic Staff in 2019 will be notified through the University’s Measure of Research Activity (MORA) System.

College Deans are formally notified of Research Training allocations four times per year.

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.

Researchtime (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 Coversheet 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 & Funding.