Asia Study Grants are open to researchers, including PhD candidates who:

• are residing in Australia
• are attached to an Australian academic institution
• have not received a Fellowship or Scholarship from the National Library in the past five years
• need access to the Library's Asian language or Asian-related collections that are not available online or in their own region or institution.

Researchers may be in the early or later stages of a project, and can explore the extent of the Library's collections or focus on specific materials. The grant may also be used to undertake preliminary investigations in developing a larger or related project that may assist in attracting further research funding or work.

Preference for all grants is given to applicants who would otherwise find it difficult to access the Library's collections.

Note: the Library will accept repeat applications but an Asia Study Grant can only be awarded once. Former recipients, however, are still eligible to apply for a National Library Fellowship. PhD students may also wish to consider applying for a National Library of Australia Scholarship.

Yes. The Fellowships, Scholarships and Grants are provided to enable you to have the time to undertake deep research into the Library’s collections.

Your application should demonstrate knowledge of the National Library’s collections that are relevant to your project. Before you begin your application, research the Library's collections to identify the primary collections and supplementary collections that you will access at the Library. This can be done using the Library catalogue. The Library’s Ask a Librarian service may also provide some guidance to finding material on the catalogue if required. While your list is unlikely to be definitive at this point in the project, applicants who do not show how the Library’s collections will support their proposed research will not be successful.

Your application should focus on how the Library's unique collections, accessible only on-site, can contribute to your project outcomes.  Applications listing collection items that are published works and held by multiple libraries across the country, or collection items that are digitised and readily available online, are not likely to be successful.

 Applicants should also demonstrate awareness of any access or rights issues that may apply to the selected special collection items.  Information about access conditions can be found in the catalogue record, and the Ask a Librarian service can be used if further assistance is required.

In selecting applicants, the assessment committee will consider the following criteria:

• the value and quality of the proposed research
• the relevance of the Library's collections to the research
• the value of the experience to the applicant's academic progress (for PhD or early career researchers), or to the development of future research
• protocols surrounding the use of Indigenous cultural material (if applicable)
• the capacity of the applicant to communicate their research to a wider audience (e.g., public talks, blogs etc).

Priority will be given to those with a demonstrated need to access the Library's Asian language collections and who do not have such collections in their own region or institution. This may include other special Asia-related collections, such as cartographic or manuscript materials using Asian languages.

Your application will need to include:

• a short, biographical statement.
• a CV (maximum two A4 pages)
• proposed start and end dates for your research at the National Library. Residencies may be scheduled between 13 January 2025 and 12 December 2025. Dates are indicative only and will be negotiated and confirmed with successful applicants. 
• a project proposal and expected outcomes
• a list of the collection materials you wish to access, provided in the format requested.
• contact details of referees preferably those that can speak to your area of research or creative practice and put the proposed project into context. Applicants are responsible for providing a copy of their application to their referees.  These can be downloaded or printed from SmartyGrants. Referees will be contacted by the Library after applications have been shortlisted.

If you are planning to use collection material  by or about Australian First Nations people, you should be familiar with the Library's ICIP Protocol. The AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research may also be useful. If relevant to your project, a letter of support providing evidence of appropriate permissions and support from First Nations organisations, communities and Elders would strengthen your application.

In your application, you should demonstrate awareness of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property and protocols. Information about access conditions can be found in the catalogue record, and the Ask a Librarian service can be used if further assistance is required.

You should only provide supporting material if it’s requested in the application form and is relevant to your project.

• If the project is in an early development or conceptual stage, examples of previous work that shows your ability to achieve your outcomes can be used.
• The application form limits individual file attachments to 25MB. Label attachments clearly, for example, ‘CV’ not ‘Document 1’.
• Upload audio and/or video files to a file streaming site such as Vimeo or YouTube. Do not use Dropbox.
• If you have a website or material online, provide the link to the material you want viewed. The relevant page/s must remain static until the assessment process is complete.
• Support material must be accessible to the assessors. We recommend you prepare and attach it in advance of the closing date.

• You must apply through SmartyGrants, via the ‘Apply now’ buttons on this page. We don’t accept hardcopy or offline applications.
• You can preview the form before starting an application. Once started, please save your form regularly. You can save and edit the application, but you can’t make changes after you’ve submitted.
• If you have difficult with SmartyGrants, contact us.

We handle your application and personal information as described in our privacy policy.

We don’t accept late applications or support material. Make sure you check the open and close dates for applications. You should allow for any time difference, and internet connection or submission issues.

National Library staff read and shortlist applications against the eligibility criterion. An independent assessment committee for each program is provided with the shortlisted applications as well as a complete list of all applications. Committee members can call into consideration applications that are not on the shortlist. Honorary Fellows are selected equally on merit. 

Applications to the NLA Fellowships and NLA Scholarships programs are assessed by members of the Library’s Fellowships Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC is comprised of the Library’s Director-General (or her delegate) and a representative from each of the following bodies:

• Academy of the Humanities.
• Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
• Asian Studies Association of Australia.
• Australian Academy of Science.
• Australian Society of Authors.
• Independent Scholars Association of Australia.
• National Library of Australia Council.
• National Library of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and Education Reference Group.

Applications for the Creative Arts Fellowships and Asia Study Grants are assessed by separate sub-committees, each chaired by a member of the FAC, and comprised of representatives from relevant academic or cultural organisations as well as a senior Library staff member. 

Priority will be given to applicants with a demonstrated need to access the Library's unique, rare or comprehensive collections and who do not have such collections in their own region or institution.Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Offer along with a Conditions of Appointment agreement that must be signed and returned. These documents outline the terms and conditions under which the Grant will proceed.

The Library will negotiate and confirm the residency dates with Grant recipients. The duration of the residency is expected to be four consecutive weeks, however we recognise that this may not always be possible. Successful applicants may negotiate to spread their residency over a maximum of two blocks of time, but no further financial support will be offered.

The timing of residencies may also be impacted by the Library's program of building activities. Access to some collections will be impacted at different times. To find out what collection are impacted and when, please see: Temporary changes to collection access.

Grant recipients will be required to:

• give a presentation to Library staff that highlights the work undertaken during the residency and research-in-progress
• acknowledge the support of the National Library and their Asia Study Grant donor in forums, presentations and publications resulting from the Fellowship
• assist the Library to promote the Asia Study Grant program through media and public communications, including through contributions to social media
• provide a report within one month of the agreed end date of their Grant outlining their experience, which will inform Council and the Fellowships Advisory Committee.

Recipients are encouraged to inform the Library of any research outcomes of the residency, and deposit material in the Library's collection if appropriate.