Frequently asked questions

Prior to applying for a Fellowship, please refer to the 2026 Guidelines (PDF, 515KB) to confirm your eligibility. Applications must be made via the portal which opens on Tuesday 1 July 2025.

Applications open Tuesday 1 July 2025 and will close 11:55pm Sunday 10 August 2025 (AEST).

You can use our career interruptions calculator to determine if you are eligible to apply for this round. To request access to the career interruptions calculator, please email our team. You can also refer to the 'Eligibility' section of the 2026 Guidelines (PDF, 515KB) for more details.

To use the calculator:

Step 1:   Enter your PhD Award Conferral date as DD-MM-YYY

Step 2:   Enter the start and finish dates of your career interruption as DD-MM-YYYY

Step 3: Enter the time fraction that you were working at the time of your career interruption
(i.e. 1.0 for full time, 0.8 for 4 days a week etc.)

Step 4:   Select the reason for the interruption from the drop down provided

Your total effective days will automatically be calculated to determine your effective PhD Conferral date.  Your eligibility will be displayed as YES (you are eligible to apply) or NO (you are not eligible to apply).

Download the Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2026 guidelines

Yes, the online application form requires you to identify your preferred supervisor. Applicants are required to obtain a supervisor support statement confirming their agreement to host the fellowship and attach to the application. You should also work with this person to prepare your research project proposal, which is required as part of the application process.

Please refer to the contacts page for a list of faculties/schools/institutes/centres to assist you in identifying which area would align best with your research.

Please refer to the contacts page for a list of faculties/schools/institutes/centres to assist you in identifying a potential supervisor.

An Emeritus Professor or Honorary appointment is granted only to selected retiring academics. Staff supervision is a management responsibility and we would not expect an Honorary (or Emeritus Professor) to carry that responsibility. We therefore ask that the Emeritus Professor support you in a mentor capacity and an alternate, formal supervisor, be identified.

A Deakin supervisor is a requirement. A mentor from another Institution is permitted should your Deakin supervisor, and the area appointing you, be comfortable with this arrangement.

Yes, the online application form requires you to identify your preferred supervisor. Applicants are required to obtain a supervisor support statement confirming their agreement to host the fellowship and attach to the application.

You should also work with this person to prepare your research project proposal, which is required as part of the application process. Please refer to the contacts page for a list of faculties/schools/institutes/centres to assist you in identifying which area would align best with your research.

For the purpose of the Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2026 application, it is generally recommended that the principal supervisor be at least a Level D or above to enhance the competitiveness of the application. We are encouraging all applicants to liaise with their faculty/school/institute/centre via the contacts page to discuss further.

It is recommended a supervisor only supervise one successful Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellow at any one time, but this is not mandatory.  We are encourage all applicants to liaise with their faculty/school/institute/centre via the contacts page to discuss further.

It is recommended a supervisor only be nominated as a potential supervisor for one candidate per round but this is not mandatory. We are encouraging all applicants to liaise with their faculty/school/institute/centre via the contacts page to discuss further.

You can provide a Statutory Declaration outlining your non-academic employment as evidence. (This link is for a Victorian Statutory Declaration. Equivalent Statutory Declarations are also accepted as long as they are in English).

Yes, however you must attach a letter from your institution to the online application form confirming the expected date you will have qualified for the award of a PhD. This letter must be on an approved letterhead and signed by your head of department/professor. Please note that evidence must state you are in the process of having qualified, or being on track to qualify, for the award of PhD by no later than 31 December 2025.

As per the employment conditions stated in the 2026 Guidelines (PDF, 515KB):

All applicants must be able to commence the fellowship by 31 March 2026. If you are unable to commence by this date, the offer will be withdrawn and you will be encouraged to reapply the following year.

Please refer to the 'Assessment Criteria' section of the 2026 Guidelines (PDF, 515KB) which will provide further information. To discuss your particular proposal further we would encourage you to connect directly with the faculty or institute which best aligns with your research area.

Each successful applicant will be required to be physically located in Australia and based out of one of our campuses. Further discussions regarding the research proposal will need to be held with the local area that will be potentially hosting you, please refer to the contacts page.

Applicants are not required to gather any information that sit under 'Assessment Criteria 3 – Alignment and Research Environment'. Your preferred host environment is part of the assessments which the faculty/institute selection panel members will be scoring internally.

Referee reports will be requested for candidates who reach the informal offer stage. Nothing is required from you as part of the application process in regards to referees.

Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

The application process for the Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship is the same as the Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and the Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship.

The terms and duration of both fellowships differ – please refer to the 2026 Guidelines (PDF, 515KB) for further information. Applicants who are successful in obtaining an Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship will undertake their fellowship within health and medical areas of research strength, whereas applicants successful in obtaining an Deakin University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship may undertake their fellowship in any area of research strength at Deakin.

Successful applicants will be notified of which fellowship they have been successful for from mid-November 2025.

For further information relating to the Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship, please contact the Office of Faculty of Health.

If an individual holds multiple doctoral degrees, eligibility will be based on the first doctorate obtained.

Applicants can be Australian or non-Australian citizens. The appointment of fellows who do not hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency status will be subject to the recipient being granted an appropriate visa. Refer to 'Conditions of Award' in the 2026 Guidelines (PDF, 515KB).