Honours Partnership Program 2026

Honours research, co-designed and delivered with grower groups

In 2026, WAARC and the Grower Group Alliance (GGA) have joined forces to launch an exciting new Honours Partnership Program.

The program connects students with Western Australian grower groups to co-design and deliver research projects that address real challenges and opportunities for the State’s agricultural sector.

Six Honours students will be offered a scholarship in 2026, with places shared equally across WAARC’s university members: Curtin University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia.

The program has already attracted strong interest from WA grower groups, reflecting a clear appetite for applied, regionally relevant research that is closely connected to industry priorities.

Grower groups have proposed a wide range of potential research topics and are also open to ideas from students themselves.

Key features of the Honours Partnership Program:

• A $10,000 Honours scholarship per student, plus up to $10,000 for associated travel costs
• Hands-on, field-based research with direct industry relevance
• Strong industry engagement throughout the project, from research design through to delivery
• Flexibility to commence in Semester 1 or Semester 2
• A clear pathway into PhD study for those interested in research careers, alongside strong industry recognition for those entering the workforce
• Contribute to real-world, practical outcomes for WA agriculture.

The program is open to a broad range of participants, including recent graduates and people already working within the agriculture sector who want to formalise and strengthen their applied research skills through Honours.

Why Honours matters?

Honours plays a critical role in Western Australia’s research and industry capability. It provides the foundational research training needed for students who choose to purse a PhD, while also producing graduates who are highly valued by industry for their analytical thinking, project experience and ability to solve real-world challenges.

An Honours qualification continues to deliver value well beyond university, regardless of whether graduates pursue further study or move directly into industry.