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FAQ: International Scholarship Program

The Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub’s International Scholarship Program is an initiative of the Australian Government to support Australian researchers in travelling to like-minded countries to collaborate with international research organisations on critical minerals.

Australian citizens and permanent residents over 18 involved in critical minerals research and development. This may include being either:

  • A researcher of a research agency or university, or
  • Enrolled in a PhD degree or in other relevant post-graduate studies, or
  • Involved in relevant policy and/or regulation, or
  • Involved in other relevant educational/science activities

Research priorities for collaboration are:

Research priorities
Exploration/ Discovery
  • Understanding of critical mineral geology with a view to accelerating discovery of quality resources
  • Understanding critical mineral geology with a view to economic extraction of previously identified reserves or resources
  • Mine waste and tailing characterisation
Upstream / Mining
  • High efficiency beneficiation
  • “Smart Mining” for selective ore extraction
  • Primary extractive metallurgy
  • Management of dispersed and sub-scale ore deposits
Midstream processing
  • Separations
  • Refining & purification
  • Metallisation
  • Production of manufacturing precursor materials
  • Recovery of co-products and by-products
  • Economic analysis of co-product extraction from ores, wastes, and recycled materials
Downstream Manufacturing
  • Optimising (modelling) degree of processing vs potential markets
  • Understanding and validating product purity (analytical)
Recycling
  • End of life waste – recovery of CMs
Supply Chain analysis
Minerals economics
Circular Economy
ESG
  • Physical stocks and flows analysis
  • Supply chain scenario planning
  • Building circular principles into CM policy
  • Cross-jurisdiction policy analysis

Proposed activities are not restricted to the following list, but must be related to the Australian Critical Minerals list.  However, preference will be given to topics associated with the following priority minerals/materials which present imminent opportunities for Australia:

  • Antimony
  • Cobalt
  • Gallium
  • Germanium
  • Graphite
  • High Purity Alumina
  • High Purity Silica and Quartz, and Silicon
  • Vanadium

If you are unsure if your proposal meets these criteria, you may email us at criticalmineralshub@csiro.au.

  • The value of the scholarship may be up to AU$10,000 per month for a maximum period of six months (1-3 months preferred).
  • Funding for economy class airfares, reasonable accommodation, transportation and expenses.

First, you must complete the online application form.

You'll need to provide details about your research experience, proposed project and international host institution(s).

All travel must be undertaken between 1 June 2025 and 1 May 2026. Trips reports must be provided to the Hub before 15 May 2026.

Please, contact us at criticalmineralshub@csiro.au.