Research funding in STEM and other fields

Two datasets show research funding of chief investigators and all investigators: 

• Australian Research Council (ARC)
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

These help us understand the success rate of women and men researchers in STEM and other fields.

Data insights

Fewer women than men were named on grant applications for STEM research starting in 2023.

Across all STEM fields, 25% of applicants for ARC funding were women and 34% of NHMRC applicants were women.

As fewer women than men applied, fewer women than men gained funding.

• 760 women received ARC funding, with 562 as chief investigator. In comparison 2,055 men received ARC funding, including 1,465 as chief investigator. 
• 116 women received NHMRC funding, with 56 as chief investigator. 181 men received NHMRC funding, including 82 as chief investigator. 

A higher proportion of women were named in applications for Health research than STEM research.

• Women represented 47% of ARC applicants and 44% of NHMRC applicants in these fields. 
• Women were named as chief investigators on 48% of ARC applications and 46% of NHMRC applications in these fields. 

Success rates for women and men in STEM fields were similar, with women’s success rates being slightly higher.

• 28% of women investigators who applied for an ARC grant were successful. 26% of men were also successful. 
• 26% of women chief investigators who applied for an ARC grant were successful. 23% of men were also successful.
• 17% of women investigators who applied for an NHMRC grant were successful, compared to 14% of men.
• 18% of women chief investigators who applied for an NHMRC grant were successful, compared to 16% of men.

About the data

The ARC and NHMRC supplied this data. 

We define whether data falls in STEM, non-STEM or Health fields of research on our methodology page. Some researchers working in Health or non‑STEM research fields may still hold STEM qualifications or work in a STEM occupation. 

The dataset shows the number of researchers (chief investigators and investigators) who were named on applications and received funding each year.

For 2023 data, it uses the 2-digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020 edition. Both the ARC and NHMRC had adopted the new classification for start year 2023, so this year is the first point in a new time series.

Data is also available in the visualisation above for 2015 to 2022. This is the previous time series, and will not be added to in future. It uses the 2-digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008 edition. ARC adopted ANZSRC 2020 during 2022. For 2022 ARC data only, and for the purposes of this exercise, outcomes announced under ANZSRC 2020 were allocated back to ANZSRC 2008 at the 2-digit level of the classification.

ARC outcomes are also shown in ARC Trend Visualisation. ARC includes ANZSRC 2008 Divisions ‘Medical and health sciences’ (Division 11) and ‘Psychology and cognitive sciences’ (Division 17) in its definition of STEM. These classifications don’t align with our definition, so ARC’s self-reported data and reporting may not be comparable with the numbers on this page. ARC supplied data based on participants’ current gender, rather than their gender at submission.

People who are included as chief investigators on multiple applications may be counted more than once each year.

Read more about our methodology and this data.