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Support our research

Breaking new ground

When you donate through the University of Newcastle, you are helping fuel a unique climate of innovation—where students, researchers, faculty and industry partners collaborate to break new ground.

Thanks to our generous supporters, innovative partners and committed staff, we continue to build our global reputation for delivering world-class research and innovation.

Our researchers drive discoveries that challenge conventional thinking and change lives. 95% of our research is now rated ‘at or above world standard’ by the 2018 Excellence in Research Australia evaluation of research quality in Universities administered by the Australian Research Council.

Your generosity could inspire new ideas and new discoveries; help treat diabetes, tackle pollution, solve climate change, design life-changing software, find new ways to assist Indigenous communities…

Philanthropic support for research also enables us to apply for additional Australian Government funding through research block grants.

With our commitment to solving the world’s greatest problems and a proven track record of innovation, we can bring new solutions into the world together.

Make a Gift Help us make a difference

Ways to support research

Research and Discovery Fund

The University has a dedicated Research and Discovery fund to support research activities in many ways. Your donation may support PhD Top-up Scholarships, early career fellowships, research equipment or conference and travel scholarships.

Donations of $2 or more to the Research and Discovery Fund are tax deductible.

Give to the Research and Discovery Fund

Research projects and areas

You can support an area of research that holds special meaning for you or aligns with your passions and your vision of a better world. This could be a research area of health, environment, technology, engineering, education, humanities, creative industries, business or law.

Give to support an area of research

PhD Scholarships

Every year we receive a large number of applications for PhD Scholarships. Unfortunately, the Government and the University can only fund a number of scholarships each year. This means that many potential research students are unable to start their chosen research. Scholarships are paid to our research students as a living allowance stipend over 3.5 years, giving them the security they need to cover living expenses, while they concentrate fully on their research and the next new breakthrough.

Find out more about PhD Scholarships

PhD Top-up Scholarships

Attracting top research students to the Hunter can be a challenge, especially in a competitive environment where other universities are actively recruiting promising research students. The standard research scholarship stipend pays research students approximately $29,000 a year, which can be difficult to live on. To make things easier, PhD Top-up scholarships can be offered to top research students as an incentive to stay and continue their work at the University of Newcastle. It also means they can cut back on their other (out of business-hours) paid work commitments to concentrate entirely on their research.

Find out more about Top-up Scholarships

Research positions

You can accelerate the progress of research by supporting a research position at the University of Newcastle.

Postdoctoral fellowships

Your donation can support the work of an early- or mid-career researcher investigating an area that aligns with your passions. Your donation will support them in progressing their research and you will be supporting them through the crucial formative stage of their career. You will also be helping the University to retain their expertise, knowledge and skills within our community.

Senior research positions

Your donation can support a senior researcher who leads in their field of research. Through your generosity, you will be directly supporting this leading innovator to advance their area of research, and also augmenting the research outcomes of those around them.

Research Chairs are held by professors who play an important role as a mentor and leader, driving the development of excellent research and evidence-based translational practice and policy across the University. In doing so, they also attract quality undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff to the institution.

Of these, the University has appointed a number of Global Innovation Chairs, recognised leaders in fields of global significance.

The University does not apply administrative fees to donations, except where required by law or where specified by the terms of the donation. Fundraising costs are absorbed by the University, allowing 100% of your donation to be applied according to your intent as a supporter.

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.