The Mary Henderson (Gerstle) Undergraduate Scholarship in Political Economy

1. Background

a. Established in 2015, this Scholarship has been generously donated by Ms Mary Henderson to support commencing students studying political economy at the University of Sydney.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must be commencing their first year of an undergraduate degree with a Political Economy major at the University of Sydney. 

b. Applicants must be enrolled full time.

c. Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.

d. Applicants must demonstrate at least one of the following:

I. Identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person as defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015,

II. carer responsibilities,

III. low socio-economic status,

IV. long-term medical condition/disability, 

V. regional or remote disadvantage,

VI. sole parent responsibilities, or

VII. first in family.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit, and

II. a statement that:

i. demonstrates financial need and/or personal disadvantage,

ii. explains your interest in studying political economy, and

iii. sets out how this scholarship will assist you with the continuation and completion of your studies in political economy at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

c. Preference will be given to female applicants.

d. The Scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee consisting of the:

I. Head, Political Economy or their nominated delegate, and 

II. two other members of the discipline of Political Economy, comprising at least one female. 

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is tenable for the duration of the recipient’s three- year undergraduate degree course.

b. An additional year may be included on the Scholarship if the student enrols in the Honours degree in Political Economy. 

c. The tenure of the Scholarship will not exceed four years.

d. The Scholarship is valued up to $8500 per annum. The final value is determined by the selection committee and will be stipulated in the Scholarship Offer Letter. 

e. The Scholarship annual value will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester. 

f. Deferral and/or suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the Head of School, School of Social and Political Science. If the recipient’s deferral or suspension is approved, payment of the Scholarship will be paused for the period of the deferral/suspension and will resume when they return to studies.

g. The Scholarship cannot be transferred to another University school, faculty or university. 

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

i. No other amount is payable.

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must maintain a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65 each semester. 

b. 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 major or enrolled degree within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,

II. fails to re-enrol at the end of permitted or approved deferral or suspension,

III. commences part-time study without prior approval from the Head of School, Social and Political Science, 

IV. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance, 

V. is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, as specified in the University of Sydney Student Discipline Rule (as amended or replaced), including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, 

VI. the recipient was awarded in error,

VII. accepts an alternative scholarship, administered by the University of Sydney, valued at$8,000 per annum or more for the same purpose as this Scholarship, or

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

b. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not 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. 

7. Privacy

a. The University collects and uses recipients’ personal information for the purpose of administering and maintaining the Scholarship, the University’s scholarship processes and for making Scholarship payments to the recipient, in accordance with the University’s business requirements and legal obligations. Further information about the collection and use of personal information is outlined in the University’s Scholarships Privacy Collection Notice (as amended or replaced).