Research scholarships
Applications for the 2023 Research activities are now closed.
Opportunities as listed below were on offer for 2023 activity.
Research scholarships offer recipients the opportunity to pursue a major research project over a period ranging from one to three years.
They are usually undertaken through an approved research institute in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, are paid as a stipend via the institute on behalf of RACS and may include departmental maintenance.
Before applying for research scholarships, please read:
- about the program
- program conditions and recipient obligations
- conditions specific to each opportunity as stated on its webpage
Please click on the title of each 2023 opportunity below to link to further information, including a link to the application form.
For queries, please email scholarships@surgeons.org
Opportunities offered for 2023 activity - Fellows only
John Mitchell Crouch Fellowship
Purpose: Supports a Fellow who is making an outstanding contribution to the advancement of surgery or to fundamental scientific research.
Value: $170,000
Who can apply? RACS Fellows (Fellowship within 17* years)
Due to Covid, the eligibility for having obtained FRACS has been extended from 15 years to 17 years.
Opportunities offered for 2023 - Fellows, Trainee and non RACS Members
Education research scholarships
Ian and Ruth Gough Surgical Education Scholarship
Purpose: Supports the recipient to become an expert surgical educator.
Value: $23,000
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees. SET applicants are ineligible for this scholarship.
Surgical Education Research Fellowship (Canada)
Purpose: Supports a Fellow to undertake the Master of Health Professions Education Program at the faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Canada.
Value: $77,000 per annum. This sum may be used to fund travel, accommodation and living expenses. Tuition and related expenses are funded additionally by Queen's University.
Tenure: Up to two years
Who can apply? RACS Fellows
Higher degree research scholarships
Aotearoa New Zealand Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a higher-degree research project (Aotearoa New Zealand).
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees (Aotearoa New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, residing in NZ). Applicants must be enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree.
Eric Bishop Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a higher-degree medical research project.
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree.
Francis & Phyllis Thornell-Shore Medical Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports surgeons and Trainees who wish to take time away from clinical positions to undertake a research project with a focus on medical research
Value: $45,000 stipend + $5,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs, SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree such as a Masters, PhD or the equivalent
Foundation for Surgery Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a higher-degree research project.
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree.
Professor Philip Walker Vascular Surgery Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports higher-degree vascular surgery research.
Value: $24,000
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees, enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree with research related to vascular surgery.
Roy and Marjory Edwards Research Scholarship
Purpose:To support medical research conducted at a South Australian university
Value (per annum):$42,000 stipend + $3,000 departmental maintenance
Tenure: Up to three years
Who can apply?RACS Fellows, SIMGs, SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree such as a Masters, PhD or the equivalent at a South Australian university.
Reg Worcester Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a higher-degree research project, preferably relevant to the surgical care of patients.
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees, enrolled (or intend to enrol) in a higher degree.
Richard Jepson Research Scholarship
Purpose: Support Trainees to undertake research as part of a higher degree.Value: $60,000 stipend + $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree such as a Masters, PhD or the equivalent
Sir Roy McCaughey Surgical Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a PhD research project in New South Wales.
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance (per annum)
Tenure: Up to three years
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a PhD undertaking research in NSW.
Surgical Ethics Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports research about, and public awareness of, ethical issues confronting surgery.
Value: $60,000 stipend + $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs, SET Trainees and non-RACS members enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree such as a Masters, PhD or equivalent, with the research topic relevant to ethical issues confronting surgery
WG Norman Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports trauma-focused research to be in undertaken in South Australia
Value: $60,000 stipend + $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees enrolled (or intending to enrol) in a higher degree such as a Masters, PhD or the equivalent
Research scholarships
Academy of Surgical Educators Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports research into the efficacy of existing surgical education or innovation of new surgical education practices.
Value: $10,000
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs, SET Trainees.
Brendan Dooley and Gordon Trinca Trauma Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports research into the prevention and treatment of trauma injuries.
Value: $15,000
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs, SET Trainees and medical scientists who have not previously received this scholarship.
Evidence Guidance Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a surgeon, Trainee or junior doctor who wishes to take time away from their clinical position to participate in a Systematic Review research under the supervision of a clinical supervisor and a systematic review expert.
Value: AUD $66,000 stipend of which AUD $33,000 is co-funded by SAGES (per annum)
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs, SET Trainees, Australian-based junior doctors and internationally-based SAGES members
Tenure: Two years
Herbert and Gloria Kees Scholarship
Purpose: Supports the advancement of surgical research, technologies, techniques and treatments.
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? Early-career RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees.
MAIC-RACS Trauma Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a research project in the area of epidemiology, prevention, protection, rehabilitation and immediate or definitive management in trauma.
Value: $60,000 stipend plus $6,000 departmental maintenance
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees.
Margorie Hooper Scholarship
Purpose: Supports overseas travel to learn a new surgical skill of benefit to South Australia, or interstate postgraduate studies.
Value: $90,000 plus $10,000 accommodation and travel expenses.
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees who reside permanently in South Australia. SET applicants are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Lumley Surgical Research Scholarship
Purpose: Enable RACS Fellows and Trainees to spend a year undertaking research in the United Kingdom.
Value: $66,000 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance
Who can apply?: RACS Fellows and SET Trainees. SIMGs and SET applicants are not eligible to apply.
Small Project Grant
Purpose: Supports a small clinical or research project, or an equipment purchase to carry out a research project.
Value: $10,000 each (up to five grants)
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees. Previous recipients can receive this grant up to four times.
Tour de Cure Cancer Research Scholarship
Purpose: Supports a cancer research project in Australia.
Value: $125,000 total made up of $112,500 stipend and $12,500 departmental maintenance (of which $25,000 is co-funded from recipient's research department made up of $22,500 stipend and $2,500 departmental maintenance.)
Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SIMGs and SET Trainees. SET applicants are ineligible for this scholarship.