ACSES launches 2027 Trials and Evaluation grants schemes

The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) has announced two funding opportunities for 2027 through its Trials and Evaluation Program.

The Equity Frontiers Program: Theory-Based Impact Evaluation Projects grants scheme will support universities to deliver projects that examine whether equity initiatives work, how and why they work, for whom, and under what circumstances.

By exploring the processes, mechanisms, and conditions that contribute to impact, this all-new program aims to strengthen the design and delivery of equity initiatives, build evaluation capability, and generate actionable evidence to inform investment, policy, and practice across the higher education sector.

Returning for its second round, the Practitioners Resource Grants Program supports equity practitioners to design, develop, test, and deliver impactful resources tailored for universities—including manuals, practice guides, learning modules, and more.

This program offers practitioners the opportunity to combine their on-the-ground experience—covering all stages of the student lifecycle, from pre-access activities through to attainment and transitioning out—with research already conducted by ACSES.

The grants provide an opportunity to combine frontline experience with existing ACSES research to create resources that support students throughout the entire higher education journey.

To introduce these funding opportunities, ACSES will host an information session on Thursday, 8 October 2026.

Applications close: Friday 30 October 2026

Further information on these grants is available on ACSES's Collaboration and Funding webpage .