The selection process

Selection is undertaken by selection panel members known as reviewers. 

Reviewers are predominantly RACS committee members, special interest groups (such as societies) and may include invited non-RACS members. The make-up of each scholarship and grant's selection panel is outlined in their respective guidelines on their webpage.

Reviewers are assigned de-identified* applications in RACS Unlock and provided with the opportunity to declare a conflict of interest (in line with RACS conflict of interest policy (PDF 158.32KB)) - in which case the application is re-assigned.

The RACS Unlock reviewer dashboard displays the application and review form in split-screen mode. Reviewers read relevant parts of the application and complete the review form responding to the equally weighted criteria as outlined below.

For Research Scholarship applications:

Criteria 1: The activity or research project is relevant
Criteria 2: The activity or research proposal is viable
Criteria 3: The proposed outcomes are valid
Criteria 4: The activity or research project is likely to deliver benefits
Criteria 5: The application evidences the applicant's capability to succeed.

For Learning and Development Grant applications:

Criteria 1. Career and employment responses are relative to career stage
Criteria 2. The proposed activity supports skills development, learning and/or knowledge-sharing
Criteria 3. The proposed activity is relevant and viable 
Criteria 4. The proposed activity is likely to deliver benefits
Criteria 5. The application evidences the applicant's capability to succeed.

Scores are automatically tallied in RACS Unlock, following which applications for each scholarship and grant are ranked. Some Research Scholarships (but not all) short-list candidates to proceed to interview. Following the interview process, a final ranking process determines the allocation of scholarship offers to prospective recipients. 

* As part of the de-identification process to mitigate bias, the reviewer sees the career + employment form, individual grant forms and research activity proposal form. The eligibility/demographic form, program acknowledgment, upload tasks and endorser details are not visible to reviewers.

As stipulated in each guideline, most scholarships require short-listed applicants to participate in an online interview via Microsoft Teams with three to five selection panel members.

Interviews focus on the candidate's understanding of the proposed project or activity. Candidates are invited to talk to their project or activity for approximately seven minutes. The interview panel may then ask questions for approximately five minutes. Once the interview is concluded, panel members assess the candidate based on the interview selection criteria as below:

Criteria 1. The candidate clearly articulated the need their proposed project / activity will address
Criteria 2. The candidate displayed appropriate depth of knowledge relating to their proposed project / activity
Criteria 3. The candidate clearly articulated the proposed outcomes and benefits 

Some Research Scholarships require bio-summaries of research team members before the interview date. These will be requested by the scholarships and grants administrative team. Only the lead researcher will be required for interview.

Applications undergo compliance checking by the Scholarships and Grants Team prior to review to ensure de-identification and that all necessary forms and upload tasks are completed. Prior to awarding, highest ranked candidates are checked for sanctions, dismissals, complaints etc., which would preclude them from being awarded a scholarship or grant. 

Applicants are ranked based on their application or application plus interview score (from highest to lowest scores). The highest scoring applicant (or applicants if multiple awards are available) are awarded the scholarship or grant. If an applicant has applied for multiple grants or scholarships and is the highest ranked in more than one of these, they will be awarded the grant or scholarship of highest value. The Scholarship and Grant Committee (SGC) endorses selection before notifying partner committees of the successful applicants. 

All applicants are notified of the outcome of their application by email in late August or early September.

Successful applicants will receive an email of offer, with instructions to log-in to RACS Unlock to accept or decline the offer. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply to the program the following year.