Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences International Postgraduate Research Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to offer opportunities to high calibre international PhD students to conduct research in diverse disciplines that address some of the most important problems facing society today. Students will be able to work with leading researchers in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must have submitted a PhD application for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be an international student.

c. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission in a PhD within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney. A conditional scholarship offer may be issued until the recipient receives an unconditional offer of admission.

d. Applicants that are planning to enrol part-time in their PhD will only be considered eligible for this Scholarship if they are able to demonstrate extenuating circumstances as to why they are unable to enrol full-time.

e. Applicants must have at least one of the following:

I. Honours degree (First Class or Second Class/Division 1),
II. Masters degree (with a significant research component), or
III. Demonstrated appropriate professional experience and alternative qualifications in the field of study.

f. Applicants must be willing to undertake research in the context provided by one of the following research projects:

I. Sexuality Studies and LGBTQ+ Inclusive Education
II. Macroeconomic Implications of Microeconomic Decisions and Beliefs
III. The Poetics of Social Change in Late Antiquity (250-750 AD)
IV. Digital innovations to push journalism boundaries: Bhutan as a case study
V. Sydney Games and Play Lab
VI. Queer TV and Media
VII. Understanding Early Medieval Friendship
VIII. Culturally Responsive Assessments in Education.

3. Selection Criteria

a. Successful applicants will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit,
II. area of study and/or research proposal,
III. a personal statement which details the applicant’s interest in and commitment to the particular research project they are applying for, and
IV. a statement of support from their prospective lead supervisor.

b. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences selection committee deciding the award will consist of the following:

I. Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or their nominated delegate(s), and
II. at least two other members of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Research Education Committee.

4. Value

a. A recipient enrolled full-time will receive a stipend allowance of $37,207 per annum for up to 3.5 years.

b. A recipient enrolled part-time will receive a stipend allowance equivalent to 50% of the full-time rate for the equivalent full-time duration outlined in Clause 4.a.

c. A recipient enrolled full-time will receive the Student Services Amenities Fee (SSAF) for up to 14 research periods.

d. A recipient enrolled part-time will receive the SSAF for the equivalent full-time duration outlined in Clause 4.c.

e. Single Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) will be provided for an international recipient enrolled full-time for up to 55 months.

f. Single OSHC will be provided for an international recipient enrolled part-time for the equivalent full-time duration outlined in Clause 4.e.

g. All Scholarship benefits are subject to satisfactory academic performance.

h. The Scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research.

i. The Scholarship is for commencement:

I. at the beginning of research period 1, 2 or 3 of the forthcoming year if offered towards the end of the year, or
II. at the beginning of research period 2 or 3 of the current year if offered at the beginning of the year.

j. The Scholarship can be deferred for up to six months providing it is in the same calendar year of the scholarship offer with the approval of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The Scholarship cannot be deferred past the calendar year of the unconditional or conditional scholarship offer.

k. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship excluding any potential extension period.

l. No other amount is payable.

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

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

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 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 carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

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

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 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 their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid Scholarship funds.

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 from the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis due to extenuating circumstances,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary scholarship that provides one of or more of the benefits provided in this Scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative 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 (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 Code of Conduct for Students 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.