Scholarship-supported research project

Literacy in Adolescent Students, or related well-being

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is offering two full-time PhD scholarships to undertake research into literacy in adolescent students.

The successful applicants will support the work of Professor Anne Castles and her team in conducting her ARC Laureate project on literacy in adolescent students. The candidates will have the opportunity to select a project from a range of options, ensuring a good match with their experience and interests.

The scholarships will be offered to driven and high-performing candidates, preferably with a background in one or more of the following disciplines:

  • education
  • psychology
  • linguistics
  • speech language pathology
  • cognitive science.
Study mode Full-time for up to 3.5 years
Location North Sydney campus
Places available Two
Commencing 2025
Supervisor

The successful applicants will be supervised by a team of ACAL researchers, including:

Professor Anne Castles

Professor Castles' research focuses on learning to read and reading disorders. She has a particular interest in variability within the reading-impaired population, and in the causes of different types of reading disorders, including genetic, cognitive, and language factors.

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Research group

Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy (ACAL)

Led by Professor Rauno Parrila, ACAL believes that every student can learn to read and write if the instruction they receive is based on the best scientific evidence available. It is committed to understanding how people learn to read and write, and to translating that knowledge into effective teaching practices.

The centre's strategic priorities are:

  • distinctive, inclusive, and research-informed literacy education in ACU
  • distinctive, inclusive, and research-informed professional learning
  • world-leading literacy research with impact
  • deeply engaged, vibrant, and outward-oriented academic culture.

The successful candidates will participate in various ACAL activities and training opportunities.

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Scholarship package

The successful applicant will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:

  • A Stipend Scholarship of A$33,511 p.a. (tax-free, indexed) for up to 3.5 years.
  • A Tuition Fee Scholarship valued at c. A$30,000 p.a. for up to 3.5 years.
  • ACU Grant-Funded Top-Up Scholarship of A$4,000 p.a. (tax-free, non-indexed) for 3.5 years.

International candidates will also receive:

The scholarship package is subject to satisfactory progress and full-time study mode. The scholarship conditions align with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy.

How to apply

Applications close: Tuesday 22 April 2025, 11:59 PM AEST

Eligibility
Requirements

In addition to the eligibility criteria, the successful applicants should have:

  • a strong interest or experience in literacy acquisition
  • a Masters or Honours degree (or equivalent) in education, psychology, linguistics, speech pathology, cognitive science, or other related discipline.
  • experience with statistical analysis software (desirable)
  • experience working with school populations(desirable)
Application process

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the PhD program at ACU, as detailed in the How to Apply instructions, plus:

  • A CV detailing relevant academic and practical experience; and
  • A cover letter detailing demonstrated interest and/or experience in the program of research described.

When completing the PhD application form, please indicate that you are also applying for a stipend scholarship and include the name of this project "Literacy in Adolescent Students, or related well-being".

Before you apply

Interested candidates should contact Professor Anne Castles before applying for the PhD program and scholarship:

anne.castles@acu.edu.au

Why choose ACU?

course discussion

As a research candidate at ACU, you will join a world-class research community ready to support you on your research journey.

  • 1st in Australia for research quality 1
  • One of the top 10 Catholic universities worldwide 2
  • 1st in Australia for scientific impact across all disciplines 3
  • In the top 100 young universities worldwide 4

Our researchers develop innovative solutions to issues impacting human dignity and the common good. Through interdisciplinary and collaborative research, they seek to enable people to develop intellectually, spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally, to enable flourishing lives, foster thriving communities and build an ethical future.

If you dream of working to solve the critical challenges we face in the world today, explore our research to discover why ACU is the place for you.

Explore our research

(1) Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2025 (2) Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, ranked IFCU members (3) 2024 CWTS Leiden Rankings (4) Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, 2024

Have a question? Contact the Graduate Research School

grad.research@acu.edu.au

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