Fellowships and scholarships

Supporting researchers, writers, artists and PhD candidates to engage with our unique collections to create new and innovative works.

Explore opportunities

Alice Garner pulling out a book from the Library's hidden stacks

2023 National Library of Australia Fellow, Dr Alice Garner

National Library of Australia Fellowship

Residency and financial support for researchers at any career stage in a range of fields and disciplines.

Sam Wallman in the Special Collections Reading Room, leaning on a desk

Sam Wallman, 2023 Creative Arts Fellow supported by the Friends of the NLA.

Creative Arts Fellowship

For writers and artists to research and develop new artistic concepts, artworks or body of works inspired or informed by the collections.

2023 NLA Scholar Yvetter Grant sitting in Library reading room examining old dance photos

2023 National Library of Australia Scholar, Ms Yvette Grant

National Library of Australia Scholarship

Residences for PhD students from a range of backgrounds and topics.

Man with short black hair and black glasses in a short-sleeved checkered shirt smiling and sitting at a desk with a Chinese language newspaper on it
Asia Study Grants

Providing researchers and PhD students opportunities to research our Asian language and Asia-related collections. 

Our purpose

We support innovative research and artistic endeavours by helping researchers immerse themselves in our unique collections. Our programs aim to stimulate scholarly, literary, and artistic endeavours while fostering community engagement.

How you benefit

As a scholar or fellow, you will have time and space to explore our collections. You will also receive expert staff support, financial assistance, and have unique opportunities to share your work.

Who should apply

Our programs support researchers, artists, writers and PhD students across diverse disciplines, backgrounds, and career stages. We welcome applications from culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with a disability and First Nations people.

Latest news and blogs

Woman, Jacinta Mackay, sitting in front of a window looking into the Main Reading Room with a large globe on the other side

2024 National Library of Australia Scholar Jacinta Mackay

Bridging the gap between history and culturally safe nursing

Learn about Jacinta Mackay's NLA Scholarship research using the Bringing Them Home oral history recordings.

Dr Tets Kimura smiling and sitting at a table in the Special Collections Reading Room with material relating to Japanese fashion spread out in front of him

2023 National Library of Australia Fellow, Dr Tets Kimura

Japanese fashion: History, evolution, influences and meaning

Hear from Dr Tets Kimura about his research, his time at the Library and what he’s doing next.

Hand holding an old notebook with handwritten text. In the background is a stack of books and an old map.

Echoes of bushranging days, 1821, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2744957

Announcing the recipients of the 2025 National Library of Australia Fellowships, Scholarships and Asia Study Grants

Congratulations to the 23 recipients of National Library of Australia Fellowships, Scholarships, Creative Arts Fellowships and Asia Study Grants in 2025. 

Research presentations

A large book sitting propped open on a red piece of material. The left hand page shows text that reads '1. Exhibit me' and the right hand page shows a stamped black ink image.

Wendy Muche, Meatshop [detail], 1984, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2866647. Photograph courtesy of Dr Caren Florance.

Strange pages: Investigating artists' books with Dr Caren Florance

Dr Caren Florance presented a lecture on her 2024 National Library Fellowship research into artists' books (books made by artists as art).

Four men seated at a table and one man sitting behind them

Sir Percy Spender, Photograph from Box 13 of the Spender Papers, Papers of Sir Percy Spender, 1937-1978, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2759673

Australia's Journey with the World Bank with Dr Nicholas Ferns

Join Dr Nicholas Ferns as he presents a lecture on his 2024 National Library Fellowship research into the history of the relationship between Australia and the World Bank, with a particular focus on the connections between international finance and national development.

A crowd of people on a stage holding placards.

Sabine Friedrich, Performance of Worth Fighting For at 2024 National Folk Festival

Something Worth Fighting For: Aussie protest songs with John Shortis

John Shortis presented his 2024 National Folk Fellowship research into Australian protest songs.

 

NLA scholarships Madeleine Pugin

2023. Madeleine Pugin, National Library of Australia 2022 Scholarship recipient, standing behind the Boab100 work by artists from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts.

 

Support curious minds to create new knowledge

Our Fellowship and Scholarship programs enables outstanding academic researchers, younger scholars, and creative practitioners to immerse themselves in our unique collections.

These opportunities depend entirely on donors like you.

Find out more

 

More to explore

Two women standing behind a trolley with books on it in the Library stacks.

2022 Asia Study Grants recipients Ms Younghye Whitney and Dr Mei-Fen Kuo.

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