University College Postgraduate Research Scholarship

A limited number of University College Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UCPRS) are available to postgraduate research students each year. These are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and research potential - there are no quotas for particular disciplines.

Applications are considered in December and applicants notified in late December / early January. The following provides a brief overview of the UCPRS conditions. The allowance rates are quoted. Students should be aware that the scheme is subject to review at any time. There has been a recent change under which eligibility is restricted to permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand.

Selection Process

Selection is based on academic merit and research potential. Competition for awards is intense and in recent years all new award holders had degrees of Honours 1 standard or its equivalent. Students completing an Honours degree are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Most award holders will receive an annual stipend of $17,888. The stipend is paid in fortnightly instalments. International students will be required to pay the fee which applies to their particular program before the scholarship payments begin. In certain cases, International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) awardees may be eligible for a part or full scholarship.

Eligibility

Awards are only available to students who:

will undertake a full-time Masters or PhD by research
have completed at least four years of higher education.
For example:
- a four year bachelor degree
- a three year bachelor degree plus an Honours year (or Masters preliminary or equivalent postgraduate qualification)
- two three year degrees

Awards are not available to students who:

are receiving similar assistance from the Australian Government or its statutory authorities (with the exception of IPRS awardees as stated under 'Benefits' above)
have already completed a Masters degree or its equivalent unless they are proposing to undertake a PhD
have already completed a PhD or its equivalent
have already had a Government Postgraduate Award (this does not include the now abolished Australian Postgraduate Course Awards - APCA)

Tenure

The award is normally provided for three years for a PhD and two years for a Masters.

PhD students may be granted an extension of up to three months if their research is delayed by circumstances beyond their control. Any application for extension requires the support of the supervisor and Head of School and is granted at the discretion of the Rector or nominee.

Students should commence the award by the beginning of the appropriate academic year. In exceptional circumstances students can seek deferral up to the end of Session 1. Requests for deferral are considered on merit and cannot be assumed.

Additional Benefits

Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)

All award holders are HECS exempt.

Stipend

The scholarship takes the form of a living allowance which is paid fortnightly into a nominated account. Scholarships cannot be converted into a lump-sum payment. Other allowances are also payable on production of receipts.

Thesis allowance

An award holder who submits his / her thesis may claim the allowance upon submission, or not more than six months after termination of the award. The award provides up to $400 for a Masters thesis and $700 for a PhD for costs associated with the production of 5 copies of the thesis. All claims must be validated by official receipts and will be verified before processing. Only genuine claims will be met. All claims require the approval of the Rector or nominee.

Relocation Expenses

Where the award holder must move between Australian cities to take up the award, a claim may be submitted for the student, his / her spouse and dependents for:

Travel Allowance which covers the actual costs incurred up to the equivalent of the economy air fare or, in the case of international students, the cost of domestic travel to Canberra from port of entry up to a maximum equivalent to the Melbourne/Canberra economy airfare.
Removal Expenses of $400 for each adult and $200 for each child Ñ with a maximum claim of $1,000.

Travel and removal expenses are considered at the discretion of the Rector or nominee and cannot be assumed.

How to Apply

Applications should be lodged with Student Administration by 31 October.

Applications and documents, with the exception of research papers, must be provided in duplicate.

To ensure the safety of transcripts and certificates certified photocopies rather than originals should be provided. Photocopies must be certified by a Justice of the Peace or a member of staff of Student Administration or the proposed School.

Transcripts should indicate that all the requirements for the degree have been completed. They should also include a copy of the official grading system to enable interpretation of results.

Students are responsible for providing their referees with the report forms. Students are strongly advised to check with referees prior to the closing date to ensure that the reports have been sent to the College. Two referees' reports should be sent to Student Administration as soon as possible but no later than 31 October. Referees must send their reports directly to Student Administration. Applications cannot be processed without referees' reports.

Students are strongly advised to contact the Head of the School in which they wish to carry out the research, to discuss the suitability of the proposed program of study and the availability of a supervisor.

An application for an award does not constitute an application for enrolment as a higher degree candidate. Applicants must also submit an application for admission by the relevant advertised closing date.

Leave Arrangements

Recreation Leave of up to 20 days a year will be approved at a time agreed to by the supervisor.
No more than 20 days may be accumulated and all leave must be taken during the period of tenure.
If a medical certificate is provided the award may be extended to compensate for periods of absence longer than two weeks.

Suspension

An award holder may request approval to suspend his/her award for up to 12 months where special circumstances apply. Where the suspension is due to illness, a medical certificate must be provided. Before a scholarship can be restored after suspension the student will need to write to Student Administration and confirm the date on which he/she is returning to studies. The supervisor will also need to confirm that the student is able to resume studies. Failure to resume studies after an approved period of suspension will result in termination of the award.

Transfer of Awards

Masters to PhD
A Masters research award may be coverted to a PhD award provided the student's progress merits it, the topic is deemed to be suitable and the College has funds available.
Between Institutions
This award is not tenable at any other institution.

Other Sources of Income

Employment

Students are permitted to undertake employment only with the permission of their supervisor and Head of School. The employment must not interfere with their research. During normal working hours (is from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) the student is not permitted to work for periods totalling more than 180 hours each year. International students must ensure that the conditions of their student visa concerning employment are adhered to.

Relinquishment

An award will be terminated at the time the thesis is submitted or at the end of the award, whichever is the earlier. An award will be terminated before this time if the student has not fulfilled obligations or met the criteria for satisfactory progress. An award holder is required to give at least 14 days notice of the intention to voluntarily relinquish the award.

Obligations of Award Holders

The student must advise Student Administration within 14 days of any change to the information provided in connection with their application, eg, a change of address, the intention to suspend their award, or periods of illness. Students must advise Student Administration when they submit their thesis. It is recommended that the student contact Student Administration prior to any change.

Students must diligently apply themselves to the successful completion of the degree and comply with degree conditions.

Renewal

Each year the student, the supervisor and the head of school will be asked if renewal of the award is required and recommended.

Applications by candidates for an extension of the award beyond the specified time will be treated as special cases.

Email: gradstud@cs.adfa.edu.au

03/08/1999