UTS offers internal opportunities to researchers to develop their capacity for forward thinking research and innovative partnerships.
Diversity and inclusion
UTS Disability Access and Inclusion Fund
Applications closed 7 April 2026.
The UTS Disability Access and Inclusion Fund is an internal initiative developed to support UTS researchers in enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of their research practices, projects and outputs for people with disabilities.
Learn more about the UTS Disability Access and Inclusion Fund in Staff Connect. Apply via the Qualtrics UTS Disability Access and Inclusion Fund Application Form.
UTS Jenny Edwards Research Fellowship
Applications open August-September each year.
The UTS Jenny Edwards Research Fellowship assists academic researchers with a strong research track record, whose careers have been significantly interrupted or delayed by carer responsibilities, to focus intensively on their research.
While caring responsibilities are most often associated with women, there are also men who carry significant and sustained caring responsibilities. Both men and women who have had periods of significant interruption to their research careers due to caring responsibilities are strongly encouraged to consider applying.
Learn more about the Jenny Edwards Research Fellowship in Staff Connect.
Research Equity & Access Career Help (REACH) Grants Scheme
Applications open year round.
The REACH scheme provides funding for early- and mid-career researchers who have been impacted by equity considerations that have limited their capacity to develop their research careers. Such considerations include (but are not limited to) periods of parental leave, impacts of disability or long-term health conditions, and primary carer responsibilities. Researchers can access up to $2,500 annually to support their professional development and up to $10,000 for project funding.
Learn more about Research Equity & Access Career Help (REACH) Grants in Staff Connect.
Collaboration support
UTS Collaboration Scheme
Applications open November-February each year.
The Collaboration Scheme’s purpose is to enhance opportunities for cross-disciplinary research and collaboration, including through partnerships between researchers within and outside of UTS leading to future applications for external funding (such as through ARC schemes, Category 2 grants etc.) and/or clearly defined research outputs.
Learn more about the UTS Collaboration Scheme.
Research to Impact (R2I) program
Research changes the world when it reaches the people, partners and communities who can put it to use. That's the idea at the heart of Research to Impact (R2I, a university-wide initiative to support and accelerate research translation in all its forms, giving our staff the time, funding, tools, training and networks they need to move their work beyond publication and into practice - whether through startups, industry partnership, policy reform, professional and clinical practice, or community collaboration.
R2I Teaching Release
Applications open 2 November 2026 and close 28 November 2026
The R2I Teaching Release Scheme provides focused time to enable UTS academics to work on advancing a defined research translation opportunity with high potential for external engagement and impact. Funding will cover the actual cost of a replacement teaching resource for any one semester.
Learn more about R2I Teaching Release
R2I Validate
Applications open 26 October 2026 and close 20 November 2026
The R2I Validate scheme is created to provide targeted support to strengthen UTS’s research translation pipeline by enabling focused capacity around a defined research translation opportunity. It is intended to enable UTS researchers to collaborate with the UTS Rapido team for physical, software, and UX prototyping services to refine, test, or demonstrate research translation potential.
Learn more about R2I Validate
Distilling Research Impact
Applications open March-April each year.
The Distilling Research Impact initiative is an internal scheme for UTS researchers to demonstrate the measurable impact resulting from the adoption of their research. Successful applicants will be granted support towards the development of case study, which may be used for increased media attention, promotions, attracting engaged end-user communities for future projects and any future grants.
Learn more about Distilling Research Impact.
UTS Research Translation Competition
Applications closed 20 May 2026.
The UTS Research Translation Competition (RTC) provides a pathway for novel research to be translated into impact. Selected teams will participate in workshops covering IP basics, value propositions, business models, and pitch preparation, and will then present their translation plan to a venture capital firm with the chance to win a cash prize to realise their developed plan alongside UTS.
Learn more about the UTS Research Translation Competition Funding.
UTS Strategic Research Accelerator Program
Applications open Monday 7 September and close Friday 30 October 2026.
Established to help advance strategically significant areas of research on the national and international stage furthering the goals and outcomes of UTS2027, this specialised funding is offered to a small number of UTS researchers to fast-track their projects. The program offers support for 2 or 3 full-time postdoctoral researchers to work with a group of UTS academic staff for up to 2 years to create critical mass and accelerate a program of research.
Learn more about the Strategic Research Accelerator.
Awards and fellowships
UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence
Applications open Monday 15 June and close Friday 24 July 2026.
The UTS Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Research Excellence were established in 2010 to recognise the outstanding contribution UTS staff make towards helping shape the world we live in. The Research Awards recognise and celebrate the excellence in research, support and impact happening across our campus and in the wider community.
Learn more about the UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence.
UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellowships
Applications close 23 June 2026.
The UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellowships develop research, teaching and learning, management and communication skills to shape the next generation of academic leaders at UTS. Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early career researchers who wish to develop their research, teaching and learning, management and communication skills to become the next generation of academic leaders.
Learn more about the UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellowships.
UTS Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellowships
Applications close 23 June 2026.
The UTS Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early career researchers having real impact on society, environment and industry to benefit the community and deliver practical solutions to current national and international challenges.
Learn more about the Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellowships.
International funding
UTS Global Strategic Partnerships Seed Funding Scheme
The UTS Global Strategic Partnerships Seed Funding Scheme strengthens international research engagement by supporting collaborative projects between UTS academics and their counterparts at UTS’s strategic partner universities, in categories different to travel.
Learn more about UTS Key Technology Partnerships Seed Funding.
For HDR Students
The UTS Graduate Research School offers a number of funding opportunities including UTS PhD Stipends
the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Fund and a Thesis Completion Equity Grant. Learn more.
Need help?
For further information and guidance about internal schemes, contact the Research Grants Team.