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.

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.

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 2021 should read the VU Research Fellowship Guidelines 2021 for more information regarding the VU Research Fellowships process.

Related

Applying for a 2021 Out of Cycle VU Research Fellowship

Applications for VU Research Fellowships in 2021 will open on Tuesday 16 March 2021 at 11am.

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 Out of Cycle Research Fellowship in 2021 must apply through this round. Research Fellowships are available from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021 and only open to College-based academics who did not apply in the main 2020 round for 2021.

Key dates

  • Standard round opens – Tuesday 16 March 2021 at 11am
  • Applications close – Sunday 11 April 2021 (midnight AEST)
  • Applicants and Colleges notified of final results – Friday 28 May 2021

Applications 

Applications must be made using the online form: https://vu.smartygrants.com.au/OOC21

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 Flagship Panel recommendations, Deputy Vice-Chancellor 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 (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.

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.