Sydney Law School’s Visiting Fellowships bring international researchers to Sydney to conduct research, collaborate with Law School academics, and contribute to the School’s research community. The George Flannery track is for early- to mid-career researchers, while the Sir Percy Spender track is for tenured full professors.
Particularly strong Spender applications may be considered for the Elizabeth Evatt Distinguished Fellowship; there is no separate Evatt application. Visits are expected to take place between March and November 2027.
Benefits & funding
- Each George Flannery or Sir Percy Spender Fellow receives AUD 6,000 toward travel and accommodation in Sydney.
- The payment is a partial contribution and may not cover all costs; recipients must have other resources to support the visit.
- Fellows receive access to University systems and libraries, an affiliate card, and shared office space with a desktop computer if required.
- The expected visit is two weeks or longer. Visits may last up to three months, with visits of up to six months considered exceptionally.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be available for a substantive in-person visit to Sydney Law School.
- George Flannery applicants must hold a full-time tenure-track position at a university, institute, or similar organisation based outside Australia. They must also be early- to mid-career researchers with an established international record in law and legal studies, criminology, or a related area, and be no more than ten years post-PhD after career disruptions are excluded. PhD students and full professors are not eligible for this track.
- Sir Percy Spender applicants must be tenured full professors employed full-time by a university, institute, or similar organisation based outside Australia, with an established international record in law and legal studies, criminology, or a related area. Adjunct and honorary professors are not eligible for this track.
- Applicants must secure support from a current Sydney Law School academic staff member with related or complementary interests. Honorary, adjunct, and emeritus affiliates cannot serve as the primary host.
- No citizenship requirement is stated; eligibility instead depends on career stage, employment, host support, and availability for the Sydney visit.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Employed full-time in a tenure-track position at a university, institute, or similar organisation that is based outside of Australia. … Employed full-time by a university, institute, or similar organisation that is based outside of Australia.” Eligibility
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Select the George Flannery or Sir Percy Spender track that matches the applicant’s career stage and review its terms and conditions.
- 2Contact a potential Sydney Law School academic host by 11 September 2026 with a CV and publications list, a short explanation of the proposed visit and activities, and proposed visit dates.
- 3Agree on a program of work, prepare a proposal of no more than two pages, and obtain the host’s statement of support.
- 4Complete the relevant online application form by 28 September 2026 at 11:59 pm AEST, uploading a CV of no more than four pages, the host statement, and the proposal. The host must submit a confidential referee report by the same closing date.
Program timeline
Applications open
24 July 2026
Deadline to contact a potential academic host
11 September 2026
Applications and host referee reports close
28 September 2026, 11:59 pm AEST
Visiting Fellows expected to be announced
Late November 2026
Fellowship visits take place
March–November 2027