Ernest Heine Family Foundation Digital Music Scholarship

1. Background

a. Established in 2023, the Ernest Heine Family Foundation Digital Music Scholarship is to support undergraduate students to study digital music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must study in the Digital Music and Media Program in the Bachelor of Music. 

c. Applicants must be an Australian Citizen. 

3. Selection Criteria

a. The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of:

I. academic merit, 

II. a personal statement, and 

III. audition or interview.

b. Preference will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the below criteria:

I. are from a rural or regional area, and/or

II. can demonstrate financial need or disadvantage.

c. The Scholarship will be awarded by the Head of School and Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is valued at $20,000 per annum for up to a maximum of four years. 

b. In cases where recipients demonstrate having financial need or disadvantage and/or are from a rural or regional area, they may receive an additional cash payment of up to $18,000 per annum to help cover accommodation expenses. The specific amount of this benefit per annum will be determined by the Head of School and Dean, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

c. The annual payment will be made in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester. 

d. Recipients may hold the scholarship on a part-time basis with approval of the Head of School and Dean, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Where a part-time scholarship is approved, payment will be 50% of the normal semester payment and the scholarship will be extended by one additional part-time semester for each part-time semester that the recipient is approved to hold the scholarship on a part-time basis and meets the ongoing eligibility requirements as stated in Clause 5. 

e. Deferral and/or suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted.

f. Transfer of the Scholarship, within the same faculty, may be permitted with the written approval of the Head of School and Dean, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

g. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funds.

h. No other amount is payable.

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must:

I. maintain a minimum SAM of 70 each semester, and

II. submit a progress report to con.community@sydney.edu.au every six months. These reports must be shared with the grantor and should provide updates and reflections on the scholarship’s impact, academic performance, and detailed breakdown of fund usages. This breakdown may include expenses related to educational pursuits, music career development, tuition fees, living costs and accommodation. 

b. Recipients must meet with the grantor on an annual basis for the duration of award.  

c. Recipients undertaking an exchange during the tenure of this Scholarship are required to have achieved a Satisfied Requirements grade (SR) to receive their next payment. 

6. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

I. withdraws from an eligible course or fails to enrol,

II. commences part-time study without prior approval of the Head of School and Dean, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, 

III. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance, 

IV. is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, or

V. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave.

b. Once a Scholarship has been terminated, it cannot be reinstated unless due to University error.

c. Where a student is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.