Well hello DP27 – great that you’re finally here (even if we’ll be sorry to see you go)!

Here we are, staring down what’s expected to be the final ARC Discovery Project (DP) round… ever. It is a momentous occasion indeed! Applications open 2 March and close 22 April 2026.

I remember when I was doing my PhD (a few years ago now!). January meant closed office doors because professors were deep in DP proposals. They’d emerge only for coffee and quick chats with postdocs:

“Is that data ready yet?”

“Does it support my hypothesis?”

With the introduction of the expression of interest (EoI) stage, things look a little different. January and February are now a mix of teaching prep and nervous inbox-refreshing. Everyone is waiting to hear whether they’ve made it to the next stage. Then, for the lucky few, it’s back into full proposal mode.

EoI outcomes have arrived, so now is the time for optimism, to put on the rose-coloured glasses and to manifest the positive vibes. And to start thinking about how to turn EoI success into full DP triumph.

From 2 pages to 7: what changes?

So how do you expand a 2-page EoI into a 7-page proposal?

1. Significance: stay consistent

If you’ve made it through the EoI, you’ve already done a strong job explaining:

• why the problem matters

• why your approach is innovative

• why it’s feasible

• why it will deliver meaningful benefit.

Much of this will carry over. You may simply need to:

• update any new information

• expand points that may have felt rushed

• add nuance where space was tight.

Your project aim and research questions were clearly compelling. To maintain consistency, these should usually remain unchanged.

2. The team: already done

Your EoI would also have demonstrated the strength of your team. If you progressed, you’ve clearly nailed the ROPE statements. The good news? Those are locked and loaded, so that’s one less thing to worry about.

3. Method and feasibility: now you go deeper

This is where the expansion really happens.

Your EoI likely outlined the core elements of your research plan in about a page. In the full proposal, that may grow to 3 or 4 pages. Here you can properly unpack:

• methodology

• research design

• activities and timelines

• risk management

• access to facilities and resources.

Feasibility wasn’t a formal EoI criterion. But in the full proposal, it’s worth 10%. You must give assessors confidence that the project will be delivered:

• on time

• within budget

• in the right environment

• with the right expertise and infrastructure.

Clarity and detail matter here.

4. Benefit: now worth 15%

In the EoI, you probably had space for only a short statement about new knowledge and impact, so now you can expand with more detail, clearly explaining:

• what new knowledge will be generated

• what new theories, methods, techniques, or understandings will emerge

• how this advances your field.

Then zoom out and describe:

• what the broader economic, commercial, environmental, and/or social benefits for Australia could be

• which end-users or communities are expected to benefit.

This is a good moment to revisit your ‘why’.

Why does this research matter?

And who does it ultimately help?

That said, not every DP will promise major impact beyond academia – especially in more theoretical or conceptual disciplines. Reviewers understand that. Just be clear and realistic about the contribution your work will make.

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If you’re feeling stuck, you don’t have to do it alone. We have great resources and experienced advisors who’ve seen many DP rounds come and go.

Get in touch at hello@thegrantedgroup.com.au to see how we can help.