Cancer Council is the largest not-for-profit funder of cancer research in Victoria. We are offering studentships to undergraduate biomedical, medical, and basic science students (who have not yet completed their final year) to work on Victorian cancer research projects during the summer period to stimulate interest in cancer research in Victoria.
Key dates
Applications open: 11/08/2025
Applications close: 9/09/2025
Notification of outcome: November/October
Available funding
Up to 10 studentships are available, for a maximum of $3,000 per studentship ($500/week) across max. 30 working days (6 weeks). The studentship must occur during the summer break.
Application and assessment process
Students are required to independently secure a placement within a cancer research program at a Victorian university, clinical setting, or research institution. These placements can span across biomedical, clinical, behavioural, and allied health domains.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to explore current cancer research initiatives by reviewing the list of researchers funded by Cancer Council Victoria or seeking guidance from their university’s faculty or research administration office.
Once a suitable placement has been identified, applicants should contact the researcher directly to confirm their willingness to supervise the proposed project
Applications are assessed against the selection criteria outlined below.
- Criterion 1 - Quality of the research project - The project is related to cancer research and there is scope for a student to support the project.
- Criterion 2 - Research career development - The potential to support the student’s interest in cancer research
- Criterion 3 - Student’s academic achievements -The student’s potential to work in cancer research, as demonstrated by strong academic achievements
Further details about how to apply and how applications are assessed will be shared in the grant guidelines when the grant opens.
Eligibility
Biomedical and basic science undergraduate students enrolled at any Victorian university who have not yet completed their final year are eligible to apply.
International students may apply, but must have a student visa that allows limited work to be undertaken. Students may submit one application for consideration per round (year).
More information about eligibility will be provided in the grant guidelines when the grant opens.
Further information
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Alternatively, please contact:
Research Governance Unit
grants@cancervic.org.au
Complaints
Cancer Council supports advances in cancer research through its Extramural Research Grants Program which comprises several grant schemes, including this grant scheme. Each scheme is connected to a grant assessment committee, comprising independent medical and research experts and may include people affected by cancer. Committee members are from Victoria and interstate.
The Assessment Committee reviews, assesses, and recommends applications for funding. This involves an independent, peer-review process with a rigorous conflict of interest process. The process is overseen by Cancer Council’s Research Governance and Business Operations unit. Final award decisions are made by Cancer Council per its delegations of authority requirements.
When responding to complaints, Cancer Council will always act in good faith and will be transparent, responsive, and fair. Complaints handling is confidential and has no bearing on an applicant’s or institution’s future eligibility or success with Cancer Council’s research grant program.
Complaints are processed, responded to, reviewed, and reported in accordance with Cancer Council Victoria’s Complaints Policy (internal document) and Conflict of Interest Procedure (internal document). Information collected as part of handling a complaint is done in line with Cancer Council Victoria’s Privacy Policy (www.cancervic.org.au/about/about-this-site/privacy).
Types of complaints we accept
Cancer Council will only accept complaints related to the grant administration processes of its Extramural Research Grants Program. Cancer Council will not accept complaints concerning assessor ratings or comments, differences of opinion regarding quality or merit of individual applications (successful or unsuccessful), and decision outcomes.
Lodging a complaint
Complaints can be made by:
The Research Administration Office (or equivalent) on behalf of the grant applicant(s) and any partner institutions or by members of the grant assessment committee.
Complaints must be received by Cancer Council within 28 calendar days (4 weeks) of the notification date of application outcomes (e.g., if Cancer Council sends notification of outcomes on 1 October, the complaint must be lodged by 28 October). Complaints can be lodged via post, email or phone.
Attention: Research Governance and Business Operations Unit (Strategy and Support Division)
Postal address: Cancer Council Victoria Level 8, 200 Victoria Parade East Melbourne 3002
Email: grants@cancervic.org.au
Phone: +61 3 9514 6100 (Cancer Council general number)
Complaints handling
For every complaint received, Cancer Council Victoria will:
- Respond to the complaint (where the complainant is known);
- Review the complaint and escalate where required;
- Unless there is a genuine reason not to do so, communicate the outcome of a complaint to the complainant (where the complainant is known);
- Record and report the complaint, including the complaint outcome.
Complaints recording and reporting
The Research Governance and Business Operations unit maintains a log of complaints received and uses this information to undertake internal complaints tracking and reporting.