ARC National Interest Test (NIT)
Plain-English statement, required in every ARC grant application, explaining how the research could benefit Australia beyond academia. Still required for FT27, ITRP 2027 and DP28; the ARC will reconsider it as it designs the new schemes from 2027.
Scheme details
- Funding range
- Not a grant: a required part of each ARC application, with no funding of its own
- Career stage
- All career stages
- Scheme type
- Individual
- Eligibility
- Required in all ARC applications since 1 December 2022. The university's DVCR must certify that it answers the three questions in plain English for the public; without that the application cannot be submitted. The ARC publishes it for funded projects.
- Format & limits
- Up to 1,500 characters (about 200 words), one cohesive statement for the public covering the research gap for Australia, the benefits to Australians, and how outcomes will be promoted beyond academia. Avoid technical jargon.
- Deadline
- Open now Submitted with each ARC application · FT27 closes 6 November 2026 · DP28 opens 1 February 2027
View official scheme page
https://www.arc.gov.au/funding-research/national-interest-test-statement
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Last updated: 2026-09-24
Other Australia schemes
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The ARC's main grant for investigator-led research by individuals or teams, in every discipline except medical research. DP28 drops the EOI stage and allows each Chief Investigator one application. No later round is scheduled; the new Breakthrough scheme is expected in 2028.
ARC Future Fellowships
Four-year mid-career fellowship covering salary and up to $60,000 a year in project funding. FT27 may be the last round: the ARC's 2026 policy review ends salaried mid-career fellowships from 2027, and no FT28 round is scheduled.
ARC Linkage Projects
Research partnerships between universities and industry, government or community partners, who contribute cash and in-kind support. LP26 was a single round, and the ARC's new grants model replaces Linkage Projects.