Advice to Scholarship Applicants

Program Objectives

The scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential undertaking a higher degree by research (HDR). They are provided to assist with general living costs.

Student Eligibility Requirements

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an Award, a student must:

1. 1.

   have completed a four year undergraduate degree or equivalent at First Class Honours level or equivalent;

2. 2.

   be undertaking a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) on-campus, unless formal approval has been granted for off-campus status; and

3. 3.

   be enrolled as a full-time student, unless the University has approved a part-time Award for the student (under the conditions outline below); and

4. 4.

   be a domestic student (APA only); and

5. 5.

   if undertaking a Research Masters, not hold a Research Doctorate or a Research Masters degree or an equivalent research qualification, or if undertaking a Research Doctorate, not hold a Research Doctorate degree or an equivalent research qualification; and

6. 6.

   must not previously have held an Australian Government-funded postgraduate research scholarship (excluding an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship), unless it was terminated within six months of the scholarship’s payments commencing; and

7. 7.

   must not be receiving an equivalent award, scholarship or salary providing a benefit greater than 75% of the Award stipend rate to undertake the HDR. Income earned from sources unrelated to the course of study is not subject to the 75% rule.

Bachelor Degree with First Class Honours - Equivalence

If a student does not hold a Bachelor degree with First Class Honours, then the University may determine that the student has demonstrated an equivalent level of academic attainment. In determining an equivalent level of academic attainment, the University may consider previous study, relevant work experience, research publications, referees’ reports and other research experience.

Approval of a Part-time Award

1. 1.

   The University may approve a part-time Award for a student only if the student has exceptional circumstances.

2. 2.

   The University must be satisfied that the exceptional circumstances relate to significant caring commitments or a medical condition which limits the student’s capacity to undertake full-time study.

A student who has a part-time Award may revert to full-time study at any time with the permission of the University.

Selection Criteria

Recipients of awards are selected on the basis of academic merit taking into account the University’s particular areas of research strength and research training environment.

Payments to Students

Stipend Payments

The value of an Award stipend over the full year in 2008 is as follows:

for a full-time Award: $20,007

for a part-time Award: $10,710

Relocation Allowance

Students may be eligible for a relocation allowance in addition to the annual stipend for the cost of relocating themselves, their partner and dependants to a new place of residence where this is necessary to enable the student to undertake the HDR. In such cases, the University will reimburse travel and removal expenses up to the approved maximum amount, upon production of receipts.

Thesis Allowance

Students may be eligible for a thesis allowance in addition to the annual stipend for the cost of producing a Masters thesis or Doctorate thesis.

Conditions of Award

Duration of Award

The duration of a full-time Award is three years for a student undertaking Research Doctorate studies, and two years for a student undertaking Research Masters studies. The duration of a part-time Award is six years for Research Doctorate studies and four years for Research Masters studies.

The duration of an Award will be reduced by any periods of study undertaken:

1. 1.

   towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Award; or

2. 2.

   towards the degree during suspension of the Award (unless the study was undertaken as part of an Australian Government financially supported international postgraduate research scholarship or award); or

3. 3.

   previously while receiving an Australian Postgraduate Coursework Award.

Extension of Award

1. 1.

   Students may be eligible to apply for up to six months extension to the duration of an Award for a Research Doctorate provided there are extenuating circumstances relating to the research project which are beyond the control of the student.

2. 2.

   The University will not approve an extension to the duration of an Award for a Research Masters student.

Conversion of Award

1. 1.

   If a part-time Award is converted to a full-time Award then the period of time that the student is regarded as having been in receipt of the part-time Award immediately prior to the conversion will be halved for the purpose of determining the duration the student is regarded as having been in receipt of a full-time Award immediately after conversion.

2. 2.

   If a full-time Award is converted to a part-time Award then the period of time that the student is regarded as having been in receipt of the full-time Award immediately prior to the conversion will be doubled for the purpose of determining the duration the student is regarded as having been in receipt of a part-time Award immediately after conversion.

Suspension of Award

1. 1.

   Students who have completed the confirmation of candidature process, may apply for a break in study without stipend for personal reasons. A maximum period of up to 3 months suspension is available during the tenure of the award.

2. 2.

   A student may apply for a break in study without stipend if a technical difficulty hindering the satisfactory progress of the study is encountered during the tenure of the award. The duration of this suspension will be in agreement with the supervisor and head of school, with a maximum of 12 months permitted during the tenure of the award.

Transfer of Award (APA only)

Students who transfer to another University may continue to receive their APA payments only if the new University agrees to its continuation and subject to the new University having sufficient APA grant amounts available.

Conversion of Degrees

1. 1.

   Students may convert from a Research Masters degree to a Research Doctorate degree or from a Research Doctorate degree to a Research Masters degree, and continue to receive their Award.

2. 2.

   A student who completes a Research Masters degree may continue to receive their Award for a Research Doctorate degree provided there is no interval between the completion of the Research Masters and the commencement of the Research Doctorate degree, or that such an interval is covered by suspension of the Award.

3. 3.

   The maximum duration of a converted Award becomes that for the new research degree minus periods of study undertaken towards the related degree prior to the conversion.

Leave Entitlements

1. 1.

   Students are entitled to receive up to 20 working days paid recreation leave and ten working days paid sick leave for each year of the Award. These leave entitlements may be accrued over the life of the Award but will be forfeited when the Award is terminated.

2. 2.

   Students are entitled to receive additional paid sick leave of up to a total of 12 weeks during the duration of the Award for periods of illness lasting longer than ten days for which a medical certificate has been provided.

3. 3.

   Sick leave entitlements (including additional sick leave) may also be used to cover leave for students with family caring responsibilities.

4. 4.

   Students who have completed 12 months of their Award are entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks paid maternity leave during the duration of the Award.

Paid Employment

Students may undertake part-time work subject to the approval of the University. A student is only permitted to work an average of no more than 8 hours employment a week over the whole calendar year, irrespective of the hours of work, the source of income or whether work is done during normal working hours.

There is no limit on how much income a student can receive from part-time work. However this income will not be tax exempt.

Termination of an Award

The University will terminate an Award:

1. 1.

   if the student ceases to meet the eligibility criteria specified above, other than during a period in which the Award has been suspended; or

2. 2.

   when the student ceases to be a full-time student and approval has not been obtained from the University to hold the Award on a part-time basis; or

3. 3.

   when the student completes the course of study, unless completing a Research Masters degree and undertaking Research Doctorate studies as outlined above; or

4. 4.

   if the University determines that:

1. a.

   the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the offer of the Award; or

2. b.

   the student has failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress; or

3. c.

   the student has committed serious academic misconduct.

If an Award is terminated, it cannot be re-activated unless the termination occurred in error.