Thank you for your interest in the Centre for Australia-India Relations' (the Centre) Maitri (“friendship” in Sanskrit) Scholarships and Fellowships Grant Programs. The Centre will deliver the two programs to deepen our education, economic and strategic policy links. Please refer to the Maitri Scholarships and Fellowships Programs Grant Guidelines 2025-26 when completing your application. Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and your activity is an eligible one. If you have any questions, please email maitrischolars@dfat.gov.au prior to the advertised closing date.
Funding will be provided under the two programs:
1. Maitri Scholarships Program
The Maitri Scholarships Program will support high-performing Indian scholars to complete postgraduate Higher Degree by Research (HDR) –Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies in STEM-related fields at universities across Australia that align to priorities outlined in A New Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India:
- Clean Energy
- Agribusiness
- Technology and IT
- Resources and METS
- Defence Industries
- Space
- Health
Applications that facilitate the scholar's participation with a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and/or a National Industry PhD Program and/or initiative or industry related program with similar objectives during the grant activity may be considered favourably, as per the Assessment criteria in Section 6.
The Maitri Scholarships Program objectives are:
- support the commercialisation of research cooperation between Australia and India for mutual benefit
- improve research knowledge at Australian education institutions in fields aligned to A New Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India
- promote Australia’s high-quality education and bolster Australia’s reputation as a destination of choice for top Indian students
- develop deep and long-lasting people-to-people and institutional links between Australia and India
The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:
- increased economic cooperation and growth between Australia and India from the commercialisation of research
- greater awareness of the value the Indian diaspora can bring to the bilateral relationship between Australia and India, and
- stronger connections between Australia and India in STEM-related fields
- deeper knowledge base for industry to progress priorities outlined in A New Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India.
Successful Maitri Scholars will join the alumni community and share their experiences, promote the program and continue to develop knowledge of and professional links with Australia (including the Indian diaspora community).
2. Maitri Fellowships Program
The Maitri Fellowships Program will fund Australian Think Tanks with experience in the Australia-India bilateral relationship to engage a Fellow to work on geostrategic or geoeconomics policy issues.
Funding will be provided under three streams:
- Inward Fellowship up to 12 months for Indian Research Fellows, Senior Research Fellows, Associate Professors or Principal Research Fellows (experience equivalent to Levels B to D to come to Australia
- Outward Fellowship up to 12 months for Australian Research Fellows, Senior Research Fellows, Associate Professors or Principal Research Fellows (experience equivalent to Levels B to D) to go to India
- Two-way Fellowship up to 2 years for an Australian and Indian Fellow to collaborate in a Research exchange through their respective Australian and Indian Think Tanks.
All Maitri Fellows will join a Fellowship community, managed by the Centre, to promote the program, manage media engagement and continue to develop knowledge of and professional links with Australia including the Indian diaspora community.
The Maitri Fellowships Program objectives are:
- promote mature policy dialogue and public discourse on contemporary India by elevating research and policy discussion on Australia-India matters
- enhance Australia and India’s cooperation, networking and cultural connections through research academics and institutions, and
- generate research collaboration and foster innovative thinking that can inform Government policy development.
The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:
- greater coverage of Australian and Indian perspectives in each other’s mainstream media and policy communities, and
- more informed public debate and community sentiment about both countries and the relationship.
We administer the programs according to the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 (CGRPs). Note: the academic levels for research staff in Australia are outlined in the Higher Education Industry-Academic Staff-Award 2020.
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We wish you well with your application.
The Maitri Scholarships and Fellowships Grant Program Team
Centre for Australia-India Relations
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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