The AHA Early Career Researcher Fellowship is an award to be offered annually (where feasible) to support career-building publication activities.
The $5,000 Fellowship is funded by donations to the AHA’s Public Fund, which supports the creation, publication, dissemination and discussion of historical literature in Australia.
The 2026 AHA Early Career Researcher Fellowship is supported by a generous donation to the AHA Public Fund by the History Teachers’ Association of NSW.
Important Dates
Applications open: 21 August 2025
Applications close: 19 September 2025
The successful applicant will be announced by the end of 2025.
Terms and Conditions
The AHA Early Career Researcher Fellowship is designed to provide financial support to those who have completed their doctorate but are yet to secure their first academic post (including post-doctoral fellowships) or relevant position in history elsewhere.
The Fellowship is an annual prize of $5,000, commencing in January of the year of the award, for a period of 12 months. It provides support for an early career researcher in undertaking career-building research and publication activities, such as the preparation of a book manuscript or the writing of articles and/or book chapters in the year of the fellowship. The fellowship can be used for living expenses, research costs towards a specific publication project and other costs associated with writing and publication.
The successful applicant will be required to submit a report (of up to 1,000 words) at the end of the Fellowship, outlining the research undertaken and any publications or outputs that resulted from the funding.
Any publications or outputs that result from the Fellowship must acknowledge the funding received from the AHA and be reported to the AHA.
The successful applicant will be required to write a 1,000-word article to be published in Teaching History, the journal of the HTANSW, or present to teachers at a professional learning event, regarding the work that emerges from this Fellowship.
Eligibility
Early career researchers up to five years following the conferral of their degree are eligible (taking into account career breaks such as parental or carer leave).
Australian citizens, permanent residents or applicants with a current and valid visa are eligible. The majority of the Fellowship year must be undertaken in Australia.
Applicants must be financial members of the AHA at the time of application.
Applicants cannot hold, or have previously held, either a continuing position or one with a contract longer than two years’ full-time equivalency.
Current members of the AHA Executive Committee and AHA Public Fund Committee are ineligible to apply for this award.
Past recipients cannot reapply.
Applications
Applicants must complete the application form and provide a two-page CV (noting any career breaks, such as parental leave, if applicable).
Applications must include a two-page summary of the Fellowship plan, including expected activities and budget, and intended publication outcomes.
Applicants should also attach written evidence of publishers’ or other sponsors’ willingness to support publication(s), if applicable.
Completed applications should be sent to the AHA Executive Officer by the application deadline.
Judging
Applications will be judged on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of applicant, subject to Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence
- Potential of proposed publication(s)/in terms of its scholarly originality and likely impact on historical scholarship.
- Feasibility of intended outcomes of Fellowship as specified by the applicant’s proposal, including the budget.
- The value of the award in supporting the applicant’s career advancement subject to ROPE
No feedback will be given on applications. Judges’ decisions are final.