Industry engagement

An industry-sponsored scholarship is a type of research funding where an industry partner provides financial support for a doctoral student’s research. This arrangement typically includes:

• Funding: The industry partner contributes to the candidate’s stipend and/or research costs, often in collaboration with the university or a government body.
• Collaboration: The candidate works on a research project that aligns with the industry partner’s interests or challenges, often involving co-supervision or regular engagement with the industry partner organisation.
• Outcomes: The research is expected to deliver both academic contributions and practical, real-world impact for the sponsoring organisation.

Industry-sponsored scholarships are available in numerous forms. Explore the links below to find the right opportunity for you:

• Scholarships
• Scholarship-Supported Research Projects
• National Industry PhD Program
• CSIRO Industry PhD Program

An Associate Supervisor (End-user) is a specialist external to ACU who can provide expertise to your supervision and is expected to directly use or directly benefit from your research outcomes. They are not affiliated with a higher education provider or its subsidiaries (e.g., medical research institutes). Instead, they come from sectors like business, government, non-profits, or community organisations. They represent the "end-user" of the research—meaning they have a practical stake in the research outcomes and may apply the findings in real-world contexts.

An Associate Supervisor (End-user) supplements the supervision provided by the ACU Principal Supervisor and Co-Supervisor by bringing external expertise to your supervisory panel. The Principal Supervisor has primary responsibility for your candidature and will determine their involvement, however the role is likely to include some of the following activities:

• Mentorship: Mentoring you during your candidature and encouraging and supporting your career aspirations.
• Professional development: Assisting you in building capabilities that will enhance your career options.
• Networking: Providing you with end-user-linked experiences such as invitations to industry conferences and meetings, placements and networking opportunities.
• Resources: Assisting you in gaining access to research resources, facilities and/or equipment within an end-user’s organisation or community.

Learn more about End-user associate supervision

An industry PhD internship is a structured opportunity to apply your research skills in a real-world industry setting by collaborating with an industry partner on a research and development project.

An industry PhD internship typically involves:

• Co-designed research: The project is developed collaboratively with an industry partner, ensuring the research addresses practical, real-world challenges.
• Industry embedment: Candidates spend 3-months (60 full-time equivalent days) embedded within the partner organisation, working on aspects of their research or related projects.
• Supervision: Candidates are co-supervised by both academic and industry mentors, providing a blend of theoretical and applied guidance.
• Professional development: Many programs include training in communication, project management, and commercialisation to prepare candidates for careers beyond academia.

You will be paid a stipend of $9,900 during your internship.

ACU has engaged APR.Intern to manage its research internships. APR.Intern is a national research internship service provider that supports industry-funded internships across all sectors and disciplines.

You can learn more about APR.Intern and the internship process on the APR.Intern website.

Visit the APR.Intern website

Industry embedment is the integration of real-world industry experience into your research journey by collaborating with an industry partner for at least 60 full-time equivalent days of engagement in research and development activities related to your area of research. The embedment must take place during your candidature and be agreed in writing within 18 months of your PhD commencement (or 36 months for a part-time candidate).

Examples of activities that could take place during your embedment are:

• Site visits to participate in industry meetings.
• Utilising your industry partner’s facilities, equipment and other resources.
• Giving presentations on your research at industry events and meetings.
• Conducting data collection and analysis.
• Participating in industry networking activities.

An industry embedment arrangement can be established in various ways:

• You may be embedded in industry through an employment arrangement related to your PhD project.
• You could add an Associate Supervisor (End-user) to your supervisory panel and leverage that relationship.
• Your principal supervisor or co-supervisor may have industry connections to facilitate embedment.