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Australian Catholic University is offering a full-time PhD scholarship stipend to investigate ways to improve writing engagement and achievement for students in low-SES secondary schools.
| Study mode | Full-time for up to 3.5 years |
|---|---|
| Location | Brisbane |
| Places available | One |
| Commencing | Late 2026 or early 2027 |
The successful applicant will join an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project investigating how disadvantaged students engage in writing and how effective writing practices and communities can improve engagement and achievement among middle years students from low-SES backgrounds.
The project draws on Vygotskian and neo-Vygotskian perspectives, while welcoming complementary theoretical approaches. The PhD will align with the ARC project while allowing the candidate to develop a distinctive research focus. Possible areas include:
Proposals addressing other relevant aspects of writing engagement, development or pedagogy are also welcome.
Opportunities for methodological and theoretical mentoring and collaborative publishing will be facilitated.
The candidate will work collaboratively with Professor Clarence Ng, Professor Peter Renshaw, Dr Jemima Rillera Kemspter, and other members of the project team.
The successful applicant will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:
| Stipend scholarship | A$34,315 per annum (tax-free, indexed) for up to 3.5 years, providing financial stability while you focus on your research. |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee scholarship | Full tuition fee coverage valued at approximately A$34,728 per annum for up to 3.5 years. |
Professor Clarence Ng
Professor Clarence Ng’s current research focuses on the motivation and engagement of diverse student groups, with a particular interest in promoting literacy engagement among disadvantaged students. His research in these areas draws on both sociocognitive and Vygotskian perspectives.
Faculty of Education and Arts
Research at ACU's Faculty of Education and Arts explores the transformative power of learning, culture, and creativity. Through interdisciplinary inquiry in education, humanities, and the arts, our researchers address social and cultural challenges, inform policy and practice, and contribute to a more inclusive and reflective society.
Visit the faculty research website
Applications close: Friday 25 September 2026, 11:59 pm AEDT
Eligibility
Before you apply, confirm you meet the following eligibility criteria:
Conditions
By applying, you acknowledge and accept the following conditions:
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Professor Clarence Ng prior to applying for the PhD program and scholarship, to express their interest and discuss the project in detail.
Email: [email protected]
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:
When completing the PhD application form, please indicate that you are also applying for a stipend scholarship and include the name of this project "Improving disadvantaged students’ writing engagement and achievement in middle school".
As a research candidate at ACU, you will join a world-class research community ready to support you on your research journey.
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, 2026 (2) Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, ranked IFCU members (3) 2025 CWTS Leiden Rankings (4) Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, 2024