Sydney Policy Reform Project Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship was established in 2021 to provide financial assistance to a first-year student enrolled in a postgraduate coursework degree related to policy and law reform within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and who is experiencing disadvantage and/or hardship. 

b. The Scholarship is funded by a donor.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant being currently enrolled in their first year of one of the following postgraduate coursework degrees at the University of Sydney: 

I. Master of Cultural Studies,

II. Master of Digital Communication and Culture,

III. Master of Economics,   

IV. Master of Economic Analysis,

V. Master of Health Communication, 

VI. Master of International Relations,

VII. Master of International Security, 

VIII. Master of Public Policy, 

IX. Master of Political Economy,

X. Master of Social Justice (Human Rights),

XI. Master of Social Justice (Peace and Conflict Studies),

XII. Master of Social Justice (Development Studies),

XIII. Master of Social Work, or

XIV. Master of Social Work (Qualifying).

b. Applicants must demonstrate competence and interest in policy and law reform.

c. Applicants must demonstrate that they are experiencing financial hardship, including but not limited to being related to one or more of the below. Supporting documentation and evidence must be provided. If not supplied the application will not proceed.

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

II. long-term medical condition/disability (including ongoing effects of abuse),

III. sole-parent responsibilities, 

IV. regional or remote disadvantage,

V. refugee status, 

d. Applicants who are recipients of another scholarship or grant, internal or external to the University of Sydney, at a value of $5,000 per annum or more are not eligible to be considered.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit, 

II. documented evidence of disadvantage and/or hardship, and

III. a personal statement of no more than 450 words.

b. Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

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

I. the Head of School of the School of Social and Political Sciences, School of Economics or School of Art Communication and English or their nominated delegate of any of these Heads of School.  

II. an Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or their nominated delegate, and 

III. the Manager, Student Affairs and Engagement within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or their nominated delegate.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is valued at $2,175 per annum and is tenable for one year. 

b. The Scholarship annual value will be paid in full after the census date of the semester in which the student is participating in the project. 

c. Deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Deferral of the scholarship may be permitted on the basis of hardship and/or disadvantage, among other reasons, and where the deferral still allows the recipient to participate in the Sydney Policy Reform Project before the end of the year of award. Supporting evidence and/or documentation may be required. 

d. The Scholarship is not transferable to another University school or faculty without prior approval. 

e. The Scholarship will be offered subject to availability of funds.

f. No other amount is payable.

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must maintain a minimum Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 50 each semester. 

b. The recipient must participate and fulfil all required commitments throughout the entire duration of the Sydney Policy Reform Project in at least one semester during the tenure of the Scholarship.

c. The recipient must not undertake an exchange during the tenure of the Scholarship. 

6. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

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

II. does not maintain a minimum SAM of 50 each semester,

III. does not participate in the Sydney Policy Reform Project in at least one semester during the tenure of the Scholarship without approval of the Associate Dean Student Life/ or Associate Dean Student Affairs, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,

IV. withdraws from the Sydney Policy Reform Project prior to the completion of the project, or is deemed by an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to not have adequately participated in the project. 

V. is determined by the University to be guilty of any misconduct as outlined in the Student Discipline Rule, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, 

VI. holds another scholarship at a value of $5,000 per annum or more, or

VII. 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 any form of 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.