Funding and Support

The ALS research grants scheme offers grants of up to $5,000 for research in any area of linguistics.

The principal applicant must be a current financial member of ALS at the date of submission of the application. If the principal applicant is not a current financial member of ALS, the application will not be considered.

The purpose of the award is to support linguists to give back to the community by converting some of their research into materials of benefit to the language speakers, for example by producing community materials in the language or engaging in language maintenance or revitalisation activities. The award aims at supporting researchers who have less access to funding and resources than established academics. This includes but is not limited to support for postgraduate students who would like to take time out from their degree-oriented research in order to develop community materials or other community-oriented outcomes during or after completion of the degree. Note: unsuccessful applicants for the Jalwang Scholarship will automatically be considered in the general grants round.

The name jalwang is the word for the currawong in the Yugambeh language of Southeast Queensland.

The Gerhardt Laves Scholarship assists honours or postgraduate research students enrolled at an Australian University who are undertaking linguistic fieldwork on an indigenous language of Australia or its immediate region as part of their research towards an Honours or postgraduate research degree by providing a research grant towards their fieldwork expenses. The Scholarship contributes up to around $5000 towards fieldwork expenses. Funds are normally expected to be fully expended within the year of award of the scholarship unless alternative arrangement are approved by ALS. Unsuccessful applicants for the Laves Scholarship will be automatically considered in the general grants round.

Following a very generous contribution by Michael Clyne and also funded by donations in Michael's honour, the annual Michael Clyne Prize was established in 2006 for the best PhD or MA (Research) thesis with a focus on some aspect of immigrant bilingualism and language contact. The thesis must have been passed or the degree awarded at an Australian university in the previous year. This Prize is jointly administered by the Australian Linguistic Society and the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia.

The winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a contribution of up to $500 to cover costs (e.g. travel, accommodation, conference registration) for the recipient to attend either ALS or ALAA to present a paper on the research. The recipient will be guaranteed a place in the program at their chosen conference. A summary of the thesis will be published in newsletters of both associations when the award is announced. The winner will be announced at the AGMs of each society.

In honour of the late Barb Kelly, the annual Barb Kelly Prize recognises the most outstanding PhD or MA (Research) thesis in linguistics, complementing the more specific focus of the Michael Clyne Prize. The thesis must have been passed or the degree awarded at an Australian university in the previous year.

The winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a contribution of up to $500 to cover costs (e.g. travel, accommodation, conference registration) for the recipient to attend the annual ALS conference to present a paper on their thesis research. The recipient will be guaranteed a place in the program at the conference. A summary of the thesis will be published in newsletters of both associations when the award is announced. The winner will be announced at the AGM of the society.

In celebration of the contribution of Susan Kaldor to linguistics in Australia, the Susan Kaldor Scholarship provides funding of up to $2,500 to assist an ALS student member to attend an international institute, summer school or similar intensive course (for example the Linguistic Society of America Summer Institute; the LOT Summer School (The Netherlands); etc). Funds are normally expected to be expended within the year of award of the scholarship.

Note: In view of covid-related conditions, applications will be considered for costs associated with attending an online institute or summer school, such as registration fees.