International Fellows Award

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Building global partnerships for lasting impact

Adelaide University’s International Fellows Award is designed to bring some of the very best academic and research minds from around the globe to South Australia to work with our researchers and students on global challenges.

Connecting high-calibre, globally recognised researchers from top 100 ranked universities (or within top 100 ranked discipline areas) to the Adelaide University community, this program enriches our research, teaching and learning activities and promotes innovative, impactful partnerships. The program will foster long-term international collaborations aligned to Adelaide University’s Signature Research Themes, and increase international co-publications, joint research projects and global academic impact. 

For International Fellows, this program presents a unique opportunity to advance your research at Australia’s newest university — an institution dedicated to future-making research of scale and focus that transcends borders around the world. Home to more than 5,000 researchers pioneering some of the most important and powerful innovations and breakthroughs, Adelaide University’s research excellence and impact is fuelled by our unique locations, close campus–industry proximity, world-class research infrastructure, vibrant graduate researcher cohorts, outstanding research talent, and strategic alliances. 

The benefits for International Fellows extend beyond their research portfolio. The city of Adelaide was ranked the ninth most liveable city in the world in the 2025 Global Liveability Index, and is surrounded by picturesque coastlines, rolling hills and world-renowned vineyards.

Apply now

Applications are now open for the International Fellows Award. Click below to apply for this unique opportunity.

Submit your application

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Forge global connections

Step into a vibrant academic ecosystem at Adelaide University, a member of Australia’s Group of Eight. 

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Australia’s most connected university

Benefit from the strength of our 7,000+ industry and collaboration partnerships to unlock new opportunities and drive innovation and impact. 

World-class research meets world-class living

A unique opportunity to engage in world-class research in one of the most liveable cities in the world. 

Program details

  • Undertake collaborative research with Adelaide University academics.
  • Participate in community engagement, such as public lectures, masterclasses or seminars.
  • Interact with academics, researchers, HDR candidates and/or coursework students.

Applicants for Adelaide University’s International Fellows Award program must: 

  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of a country other than Australia (dual Australian citizenship is permitted if the researcher resides in a country other than Australia).  
  • Hold a salaried academic appointment of at least 0.5 FTE at an institution outside of Australia that is ranked in the top 100 (QS, THE, ARWU) or where the applicant's subject area is ranked in the top 100 globally. 
  • Be an internationally renowned researcher in their chosen field, with an excellent track record of scholarly achievements and impact. 
  • Have a minimum of eight years of relevant work experience since award of their PhD. 
  • Be employed in a research-only role, or a teaching and research role with a significant research element. 
  • Not have been employed by Adelaide University, the University of Adelaide or University of South Australia in the preceding 10 years. 
  • Provide an endorsement letter from the relevant Adelaide University Dean of School or Research Institute Director confirming their support for the application.

Twenty Fellowships will be awarded in the 2026 round. Each Fellowship will be eligible for an honorarium of up to AUD$20,000. This is to be provided to the host unit and can be used for the Fellow’s travel to Australia, accommodation in Adelaide, visitor visa application fees and other travel-related costs. 

Visits should ideally be between four and eight weeks.  Shorter Fellowships will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

While undertaking their Fellowship, each Fellow will be expected to engage in collaborative research with Adelaide University academics, participate in community outreach/speaking opportunities (for example, a public lecture, masterclasses etc.), agree to be profiled in relevant University communication materials, and engage with higher degree by research candidates and/or coursework students. 

A committee chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor International and External Engagement will rank applications against the following criteria:

  • International peer recognition and research impact, such as measures of research excellence and/or impact of research, recent ground-breaking research for discipline such as a book or article that has stimulated media attention.
  • Alignment of the proposed visit with Adelaide University’s strategic priorities and/or Signature Research Themes:
    • Creative & Cultural
    • Defence & National Security
    • Food, Agriculture & Wine
    • Personal & Societal Health
    • Sustainable Green Transition
  • Value to host College/School/Institute.
  • Engagement with Adelaide University community, including academics, researchers, and graduate research and coursework students.
  • Potential for ongoing collaboration.
  • Plans to deliver a public lecture, masterclass or seminar.

The  Foreign Compliance Review (FCR) is the University’s core mechanism for ensuring our international engagement is in line with Australia’s foreign compliance regimes, and the University’s interests. This includes inviting overseas individuals to visit the University.   

Please note that the Adelaide University host must complete an FCR as soon as they are aware they will be engaging in international activity (for example, as soon as an approach to an overseas based collaborator to apply for the International Fellows Award is made). 

Key dates

DateStage
20 October 2025Applications open
28 November 2025Applications close 23:59 ACDT
January 2026Announcement of Fellows

Further information

For more information about the International Fellows Award, please contact intfellowsaward@adelaide.edu.au.