International Education Innovation Fund – ASEAN Research Collaboration Project

Please review the eligibility criteria carefully, as only those who meet the minimum requirements will be considered for the internship.

To be eligible for internship funding, applicants must: 

• Be a citizen and/or permanent resident of an ASEAN member state or Timor Leste
• Not be an Australian citizen and/or permanent resident
• Have completed a PhD degree or equivalent within the eight years prior to applying to participate in this project (i.e., PhD was conferred from October 2017 onwards)
• Be available to commence their proposed program in Australia after 2 February 2026 and complete the internship by 24 April 2026
• Provide a research proposal which falls under one of the eligible research focus areas
• Provide all relevant supporting documentation in English
• Obtain a placement offer from an approved host Australian research organisation (list provided in the IEIF – ASEAN Research Collaboration Project 2025 Guidelines (PDF 913 KB))
• Meet the eligibility requirements to apply for and hold the relevant visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs

• Brunei Darussalam
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• The Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Timor Leste 
• Viet Nam

• Agriculture and Food
• Resources and Energy
• Infrastructure
• The Green Economy
• Another priority area that will bolster Australia's competitiveness and drive commercialisation outcomes.

For any questions on eligibility, please contact ieif.asean@rmit.edu.au

We welcome eligible applicants to refer to the below process when applying for the program. 

Please review the International Education Innovation Fund (IEIF) – ASEAN Research Collaboration Project 2025 Guidelines (PDF 913 KB) for more specific instructions, including required application responses, visa information and how to certify documents as valid copies. This must be done for the proof of citizenship or permanent residency documents.

To be eligible, applicants must provide English translations of the required documentation if the original documents are not in English. Applicants will also need certification of documents that have been translated unless they are translated documents for evidence of community service or employment records.

1. Completed 2025 Application form (PDF 2.1 MB)
2. Completed 2025 Applicant Sponsor Nomination form (PDF 312 KB)
3. Copy of citizenship or permanent residency
4. Certified copy of a PhD Testamur/Conferral Letter/Certificate of Completion
5. Two Referee Reports
6. Evidence of support and language suitability from the host
7. Research CV and list of publications

Before submitting, please make sure to follow the format below when naming your documents.

We are here to help. If you have any questions, please contact our team at ieif.asean@rmit.edu.au

Please review the selection criteria carefully, as only applications that meet the minimum requirements will be considered for the internship.

The following are the selection criteria and their relative weighting:

• A record of high-level academic achievement and research experience in the applicant’s chosen field of study (30%)
• Well-defined research program and statement on how the research internship opportunity will benefit Australia and build the applicant’s potential to foster ongoing collaboration, cooperation and commercialisation opportunities between Australia and the home economy (40%)
• The extent of alignment between the applicant’s chosen field of study/research and priority sectors offering the greatest potential for shared commercial engagement opportunities for both Australia and the ASEAN region (20%)
• Statement on how the research internship opportunity would further the applicant’s academic and/or professional career (10%)

The strongest applications are clear, strategically aligned, and demonstrate academic excellence, a realistic research plan, benefits to both the applicant and the host, and potential for broader regional or commercial impact.

• Provide clear, purposeful, and well-structured responses throughout the application.
• Write for a non-expert audience. Avoid excessive technical jargon or specialist terminology that judges outside your field may not understand.

• Clearly explain why your chosen Australian host organisation is the best place for your research.
• Highlight the facilities, equipment, or expertise available in Australia that you cannot access in your home country.
• If you have previously studied or worked in Australia, show how this placement will provide new opportunities and connections beyond your existing networks.

• Judges assess your track record relative to the time since PhD conferral.
• A strong academic record may include publications, grants, awards, patents, and contributions to journals and conferences.
• Demonstrating academic excellence and a strong academic foundation is essential.

• Present a well-defined research program with clear, realistic goals achievable within the 3-month placement.
• Show strategic alignment with ASEAN-Australia priorities and priority sectors.
• Projects don’t need to be ready for market, but they should describe how they might lead to commercialisation opportunities in the home country and/or Australia.
• Applications are stronger if they show potential for industry engagement or a plan for a commercial pathway.

• Explain how the placement will benefit you as the applicant, and ideally, how it will also benefit the host researchers.
• Show how the internship contributes to your long-term goals.
• Highlight regional relevance – how the research will contribute to ASEAN and Australia’s shared priorities.

• For previous successful recipients reapplying:
  • Clearly state what was achieved in the first placement.
  • Explain how a second placement will extend outcomes further and provide additional benefits not yet realised.