Elevate FAQs

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 2026. 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.  

I received a university letter of offer in 2025 but deferred my offer to commence in 2026, am I eligible to apply? 

Yes, if you are commencing a new degree in 2026 you are eligible for the Elevate program. 

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

Yes, granted you meet all the eligibility criteria. However you will need to re-apply to be considered for a second 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 life of the 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 30 January 2026 and must commence your degree by 31 July 2026 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. 

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

We support scholars to commence studies in Semester 2 in 2026. If selected for the Elevate Program commencing in 2026, 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 2026. 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. 

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 diversity 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?  

One Elevate scholarship can only fund one degree. Scholars can study double degrees; however, scholarship funding is provided for the maximum duration of a single eligible degree or the maximum duration of the scholarship, whichever is shortest.  

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. 

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 applications@atse.org.au or 02 6185 3240 no later than 5:00pm (AEST) on 28 August 2025.  

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 applications@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 the 2026 round.  

How will the applications be assessed? 

All applications will be assessed for eligibility, and those that are eligible will be assessed by an expert selection committee consisting of STEM leaders with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences who are representative of the STEM ecosystem. The panel will review the applicant’s deidentified responses to long response questions in the application form and how their discipline of study aligns to the priority disciplines for the applicant’s category.  

The selection committee will be responsible for selecting a cohort of successful applicants using a combination of weighted scores, diversity and inclusion considerations (across the cohort) and priority disciplines. 

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 28 August 2025. We recommend anyone seeking guidance or advice for their applications submit their questions in advance of the deadline. 

applications@atse.org.au