Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Generative Visual Pre-training on Unlabelled Big Data

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students who are undertaking research in machine learning.

b. This Scholarship is funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects (DP) in Generative Visual Pre-training on Unlabelled Big Data and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into Machine Learning.

c. Applicants must be supervised by Associate Professor Chang Xu of School of Computer Science.

d. Applicants must also be eligible and subsequently receive the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Enhancing VLA Model to be eligible to receive this Scholarship.

3. Selection Criteria

a. Candidates eligible for the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Enhancing VLA Model will be automatically considered for this Scholarship.

b. This Scholarship will be allocated to an eligible recipient of the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Enhancing VLA Model on the basis of academic merit, their area of study and research proposal, or other evidence of research potential.

c. The successful recipient will be awarded this Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), and the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Engineering or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate per annum (indexed on the 1 January each year), subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The Scholarship is for commencement after the conclusion of the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Enhancing VLA Model and may be held for up to 3.5 years less any periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of this Scholarship (estimated time 1.7 years). No extension is possible.

c. The Scholarship recipient cannot transfer the Scholarship to another area of research or change their lead supervisor without the prior approval of the Faculty of Engineering, Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominee.

d. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

e. No other amount is payable.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. The Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation including all the required candidature milestones and remaining enrolled in their PhD.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the lead supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carers leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their lead supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. Scholarship recipients may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's lead supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC) and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

8. Suspension

a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the Grantor, student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC and the grantor, their lead supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, and course transfer. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2026 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).
b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct 2023 (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Student Charter 2020 and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.

12. Reports

a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship may be requested to contribute to the progress and final reports to ARC.
13. Intellectual Property
a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney

14. Publications

a. All ARC-funded research projects must comply with the ARC Open Access Policy on the dissemination of research findings, which is on the ARC website.

b. Any Research Outputs arising from ARC-funded research must be made openly accessible within a 12-month period from the publication date. Where this requirement cannot be met, it should be discussed with the relevant research supervisor.

c. The recipient agrees to provide a copy of any proposed publication to The University of Sydney and any other party in connection to this scholarship with sufficient notice in advance of submitting for publication (review period), as informed by their relevant research supervisor. The other parties may provide comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication to protect their confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property, including requesting removal or delay publication to allow appropriate registration of any registrable Intellectual Property. If The University of Sydney or any other party does not provide any comments within the review period, the recipient may publish the proposed publication.
d.
15. Acknowledgements

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must acknowledge the ARC’s support and any other relevant project party in all publications and any other promotional or advertising materials published in connection with this research in the form and manner advised by ARC and the relevant research supervisor.

16. Confidentiality

a. The successful recipient agrees to not to disclose confidential information related to the research project without prior written consent unless required or authorised by law or Parliament to disclose.