Eligibility: Frequently asked questions

Potential applicants should familiarise themselves with all eligibility requirements detailed in the relevant scheme grant opportunity guidelines on GrantConnect, before submitting an application.

Cross-cutting

Which schemes are included in NHMRC’s cross-scheme eligibility capping framework?

The Investigator and Ideas Grant schemes are included in NHMRC’s cross-scheme capping framework. From the 2025 funding round, Synergy Grants are no longer relevant for NHMRC’s cross-scheme application and grant capping policies. This applies to all currently held Synergy Grants, and for all future Synergy Grant applications and grants. See the Synergy Grant guidelines for scheme-specific eligibility requirements.

How many applications can a Chief Investigator (CI) submit across the Investigator and Ideas Grant schemes in any given funding round?

CIs can submit a total of up to 2 applications across the Investigator and Ideas Grant schemes in any given funding round, depending on the number of Investigator and Ideas Grants they hold. This is because CIs are not allowed, in the same funding round, to apply for more grants than they would be eligible to hold.

The outcome of the application (for example, successful, unsuccessful, ineligible or withdrawn) does not impact on it counting towards the ‘up to’ 2 applications each CI is permitted per funding round. 

Eligibility for existing Investigator Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the Investigator’ Grant’s ‘actual’ end date of the held grant (in Sapphire) at time of applying for a new Investigator or Ideas Grant. This means that, where CIAs apply grant variations that extend the grant’s ‘actual’ end date in Sapphire (for example, defer grant start date, fully suspend the grant or extend the term of the grant pro-rata for career disruptions) their eligibility to reapply may be impacted. 

Eligibility for existing Ideas Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the ‘original’ end date of the held grant (contained in the Schedule to the Funding Agreement) irrespective of whether the Ideas Grant end date has been extended through a variation. CIs can hold a maximum of up to 2 Ideas Grants (1 if they hold an Investigator Grant).

See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas Grant guidelines, or
4.3.1 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

How many grants can a Chief Investigator hold concurrently from the Investigator and Ideas Grant schemes?

CIs can hold up to a maximum of 2 grants concurrently from the Investigator and Ideas Grant schemes. The ‘up to’ is in reference to the cross-scheme eligibility rule that an Investigator Grant CIA cannot apply for an Ideas Grant until the final year of their Investigator Grant (original end date). That is, if the applicant is successful in their Investigator Grant application first, they will only be able to hold 1 grant across the 2 schemes, until their Investigator Grant concludes.

See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas Grant guidelines, or
4.3.1 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

What happens if I submit more applications than I am eligible to apply for or hold?

The breaching application(s) is removed from further consideration for funding.

If any CI (CIA–CIJ) submits an Investigator or Ideas Grant application(s), in the same funding round, in excess of the maximum for which they are eligible to apply for or hold, the breaching application(s) (i.e. the last submitted) on which that CI is named may be ineligible and excluded from consideration, irrespective of:

• the scheme to which they have applied, and
• that CI’s position or role on the application.

See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas Grant guidelines, or
4.3.1 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

Can I modify my NHMRC grant application after the round has closed?

Once submitted to NHMRC, the application is considered final and no changes can be made.

A submitted Investigator Grant application that is withdrawn after the closing date for applications will continue to affect the eligibility of applications to the Ideas Grant scheme in the same funding round. Conversely, the removal of CIs from an Ideas Grant will continue to affect Investigator Grant eligibility.

See sections:
4 and 12.1 of the Investigator and Ideas Grant guidelines

I am a Chief Investigator on an Investigator and/or Ideas Grant that has extended its end date. Will this impact my eligibility to apply for grants?

Eligibility for existing Investigator Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the Investigator’ Grant’s ‘actual’ end date of the held grant (in Sapphire) at time of applying for a new Investigator or Ideas Grant. This means that, where CIAs apply grant variations that extend the grant’s ‘actual’ end date in Sapphire (for example, defer grant start date, fully suspend the grant or extend the term of the grant pro-rata for career disruptions) their eligibility to reapply may be impacted. 

Eligibility for existing Ideas Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the ‘original’ end date of the held grant (contained in the Schedule to the Funding Agreement) irrespective of whether the Ideas Grant end date has been extended through a variation.

Investigator Grants

How is eligibility determined to apply for, and hold an NHMRC Investigator Grant?

Eligibility to apply for, and hold, an Investigator Grant is based on the number of Ideas Grants held, as well as whether the CI already holds an Investigator Grant, and whether that Investigator Grant will be finished or in its final year, on 1 January of the year the new Investigator Grant is scheduled to commence.

Eligibility for existing Investigator Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the Investigator’ Grant’s ‘actual’ end date of the held grant (in Sapphire) at time of applying for a new Investigator or Ideas Grant. This means that, where CIAs apply grant variations that extend the grant’s ‘actual’ end date in Sapphire (for example, defer grant start date, fully suspend the grant or extend the term of the grant pro-rata for career disruptions) their eligibility to reapply may be impacted. 

Eligibility for existing Ideas Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the ‘original’ end date of the held grant (contained in the Schedule to the Funding Agreement) irrespective of whether the Ideas Grant end date has been extended through a variation.

Detailed information on how eligibility for an Investigator Grant is affected by a CI’s grant applications and/or currently held grants is available at Appendix E of the grant guidelines and the Eligibility Tool.

See section:
4.3.1 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

Am I eligible to receive an Investigator Grant and a salary if I hold a non-NHMRC grant?

This depends on whether the applicant’s non-NHMRC grant includes ‘salary support’, and on the size of that salary.

The term 'non-NHMRC grant' covers competitive funding received from any source other than NHMRC (including MRFF).

For the purposes of the non-NHMRC grants policy, ‘salary support’ means any salary from a non-NHMRC grant(s) that totals greater than 20% of the value of the awarded Investigator Grant salary, for the overlapping period.

CIAs with non-NHMRC grants that provide salary(ies) with a total value less than or equal to 20% of the value of the awarded Investigator Grant salary can retain both/all salaries.

See section:
4.3.4 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

When is the PhD census date for the Investigator Grant scheme?

The Investigator Grant PhD census date is the application close date.

See section:
4.4 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

Can I apply for an Investigator Grant before I know the outcome of my Ideas Grant application from the previous funding round?

Yes, however:

If an Investigator Grant applicant is a CI (CIA–CIJ) on an Ideas Grant application(s) from the previous round, and are subsequently offered an Ideas Grant(s) to the maximum of NHMRC grants that they are eligible to hold, the Investigator Grant will not be eligible for NHMRC funding and will be removed from consideration, irrespective of whether the Ideas Grant(s) is accepted.

See section:
4.3.1 of the Investigator Grant guidelines

Ideas Grants

What is the maximum number of Ideas Grants a given Chief Investigator (CI) can hold?

CIs can hold up to a maximum of 2 Ideas Grants concurrently, subject to whether they already hold an Investigator Grant.

See section:
4.2.1 of the Ideas Grant guidelines

How is eligibility determined to apply for, and hold an NHMRC Ideas Grant? 

Eligibility for existing Ideas Grant holders to apply for and/or hold an Investigator or Ideas Grant is based upon the ‘original’ end date of the held grant (contained in the Schedule to the Funding Agreement) irrespective of whether the Ideas Grant end date has been extended through a variation.

Synergy Grants

How many Chief Investigators (CIs) are allowed on an NHMRC Synergy Grant application?

A Synergy Grant application requires a minimum of 4 CIs. The maximum number of CIs allowed on a Synergy Grant application is 10.

See section:
4.1.1 of the Synergy Grant guidelines

How many NHMRC Synergy Grant applications is a Chief Investigator allowed in any given funding round?

CIs can submit a maximum of one (1) Synergy Grant application in a grant opportunity, subject to other Synergy Grants held. CIs cannot apply for a new Synergy Grant until their held grant will cease (based on ‘original’ end date) prior to the scheduled start date for new grant (for example, a CI whose held Synergy Grant has an original end date of 31 December 2027, can apply for a 2027 Synergy Grant where funding is due to commence 1 January 2028). 

See section:
4.1.2 of the Synergy Grant guidelines 

What is the maximum number of Synergy Grants a given Chief Investigator (CI) can hold?

CIs can hold a maximum of one (1) Synergy Grant concurrently.

See section:
4.2.2 of the Synergy Grant guidelines

How is eligibility determined to apply for, and hold an NHMRC Synergy Grant? 

Eligibility for existing Synergy Grant holders to apply for and/or hold a Synergy Grant is based upon the ‘original’ end date of the held grant (contained in the Schedule to the Funding Agreement) irrespective of whether the Synergy Grant end date has been extended through a variation.