Elevate FAQs

Eligibility

Are people who identify their gender as non-binary eligible to apply for the Elevate Program?

Yes. The Elevate program is open to anyone who identifies as a woman or as non-binary. While the term non-binary is regularly used to include all people who do not identify as a man or woman, ATSE acknowledges that this term may not describe your own gender identity, and therefore, you are welcome to nominate a different term. Please note that this information will not be shared with anyone outside ATSE, including assessors. Your answer to this question will only be used by ATSE to determine your eligibility for the program.

Am I eligible for the Elevate Program if I have already commenced my studies? 

No. The Elevate Program is only available to those who plan to commence a new course at an Australian university in 2025. If you are already studying, you are ineligible for your current degree. 

What are the visa eligibility requirements for Elevate scholars? 

To be considered for the Elevate Program, applicants will need to be enrolling at an Australian university as a domestic student for study based in Australia. Applicants must be entitled to stay in Australia, or enter and stay in Australia, without any limitation as to time. The only visas that allow applicants to enrol as a domestic student are Australian Permanent Resident visas, including humanitarian visas. 

If I have commenced my PhD, but have not yet completed my Confirmation of Candidature, am I eligible to apply?

No, only new enrolments are eligible for the Elevate program. You can apply in the future if you choose to undertake further studies.

I received a university letter of offer in 2024 but deferred my offer to commence in 2025, am I eligible to apply?

Yes, if you are commencing a new degree in 2025 you are eligible for the Elevate program.

> Looking to commence after 2025? Submit an expression of interest for more information on future scholarship rounds.

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Scholarships

I have received an Elevate scholarship in the past. Can I apply for another scholarship in a different category to support further study?

No, scholars who have received one Elevate scholarship are not eligible for a second Elevate scholarship.

How does the Elevate Scholarship interact with other scholarships, particularly the Research Training Program (RTP) for PhD students? 

Elevate scholars may hold more than one scholarship. It is the responsibility of an Elevate scholar to ensure that: they are eligible for any other scholarship they hold concurrently; and that the Elevate scholarship will not impact or contradict their eligibility for the second scholarship. Applicants with existing scholarships are advised to contact their university’s scholarship office to understand the implications of holding another scholarship in addition to the Elevate Scholarship.

How many scholarships are available?

The number of scholarships awarded each year may vary and is determined by ATSE in consultation with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Up to 500 scholarships across the three categories will be awarded over the six (6) years of the program (2023-28).  

> Looking to commence after 2025? Submit an expression of interest for more information on future scholarship rounds.

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Elevate program

If I am selected to participate in the Elevate program, am I able to defer the enrolment in my degree, and thus defer my place in Elevate?

Offers to participate in the Elevate program made in one calendar year are only valid for the following calendar year and cannot be deferred. You must confirm your acceptance into your degree by January 30, 2025 and must commence your degree by July 31, 2025 to be eligible for the Elevate program. Scholars who choose to not take up their scholarship can apply for an Elevate scholarship in a future year, however, a scholarship offer in one year does not guarantee a scholar will be found suitable in a subsequent year.

I understand that one of the program objectives is to support industry collaborations for the Postgraduate Research Scholarships? What does this look like in practice?

A major objective of the Elevate program is to foster links between academia and industry. Elevate has partnered with a variety of organisations; a complete list can be found here. This includes another of ATSE’s flagship STEM Careers programs, the Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS), which will expose Elevate scholars to industry and extend their professional network. There will also be opportunities for Elevate scholars to connect with a mentor from industry. The workshops provided as part of the Elevate program will assist scholars to develop skills in research translation, communication, engaging with industry, and protecting your intellectual property.

Do I need to commence in Semester 1 in 2025, or can I commence my studies later in the year? 

If selected for the Elevate Program commencing in 2025, scholars are required to provide proof of enrolment by 31 July 2025 Scholars are required to confirm the course in which they will be enrolling by 30 January 2025. Scholars are advised to liaise with their university as to the commencement timeframe for their chosen course of study. Elevate scholarships cannot be deferred to a future year.

> Looking to commence after 2025? Submit an expression of interest for more information on future scholarship rounds.

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Study choice

Can I receive an Elevate scholarship to study medicine, psychology, pharmacy or nursing?

Students planning to undertake degrees administered by non-STEM faculties, such as in a Faculty of Arts, or who are planning to undertake a degree that qualifies an individual for a specific occupation, e.g. medicine, psychology, nursing, speech pathology, etc. are not eligible to apply for the program. A list of ineligible degrees can be found in the Elevate: Boosting women in STEM program guidelines.

If I am undertaking a double degree, and one degree is not a STEM discipline, am I eligible for the Elevate program? 

Provided one degree is an eligible STEM degree, applicants who are planning to undertake double degrees are eligible to apply. Scholarship funding will be provided for a maximum of three years (full-time), even if the double degree extends beyond this period. It is expected that the Elevate scholar is enrolled and completing STEM courses throughout the duration of their scholarship. If a scholar defers and does not resume their eligible STEM degree, the Elevate Scholarship will be terminated.

I am planning to undertake a single-year Honours degree. Am I eligible for the Elevate program? 

Single-year Honours degrees are eligible, provided it is a new enrolment and not a continuation of your Bachelor degree. Please note however, depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant and their reasons for applying, single-year Honours degrees may be deprioritised by assessors.

Is an industry connection within the proposed research project necessary to be awarded a scholarship? 

In line with the objectives of the Elevate program, the assessment panel for the postgraduate research scholarship applications will prioritise students whose research is an industry collaboration or has links with industry, particularly in the categories of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, digital futures, energy resources and renewables, health technology, minerals and mining equipment, technology and services, and water resources. However, applications from all eligible STEM disciplines are welcome. In your application, we ask that where possible you outline any potential translational or commercialisation opportunities that may arise from your project. Please include details of any collaborations your research group has or intends to foster, e.g. your laboratory or supervisor is funded by industry through an ARC Linkage grant.

For a Leadership Scholarship, what is considered eligible under ‘higher degree to improve business acumen’? 

A higher degree to improve business acumen is any postgraduate degree that improves your knowledge and skills of business, including business planning, operations, finance, and strategy. This may be to improve your understanding of risks and opportunities, improving efficiency at your job or solving complex problems. This may include, but is not limited to, degrees administered by the business, commerce, economics or law faculties of your chosen university, such as a Master of Business Administration.

> Looking to commence after 2025? Submit an expression of interest for more information on future scholarship rounds.

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Application process

I have started my application but now wish to change the category in which I am applying. How do I do this?

ATSE is happy to assist you with changing your scholarship category in your application. Please contact ATSE via email elevate@atse.org.au or 02 6185 3240 no later than 5:00pm (AEST) on 29 August 2024. 

Can I upload additional documents to support my application?

Additional documentation to support your application is not required, nor expected. However, we appreciate that there may be information you wish to advise ATSE of to support you. You are welcome to provide this information in an email elevate@atse.org.au. Please note this additional information will not be provided to the selection panel and will not be assessed as part of your application.

I applied previously; do I need to submit a new application?

If you have applied for the Elevate program previously, you will need to create a new application to apply for 2025 commencement. Applications will not be rolled over to the next round.

How will the applications be assessed?

ATSE has taken an intersectional and inclusive approach to building three expert selection committees, one for each scholarship category. Panels comprise a diverse group of people, with representatives from various sectors (higher education/academia, industry, government and non-profit organisations), with diversity in disciplines, background and lived experience, and from different career stages.

I have a question that has not been answered in the Elevate Program Guidelines or FAQs, who can I talk to? 

Please direct any questions during the application period to ATSE and we will endeavour to respond to all questions within three working days. ATSE will not respond to enquiries submitted after 5:00pm (AEST) on 29 August 2024. We recommend anyone seeking guidance or advice for their applications submit their questions in advance of the deadline.

> Looking to commence after 2025? Submit an expression of interest for more information on future scholarship rounds.

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