The Thomas Henry Coulson Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship was established in 2020 to provide support to undergraduate students studying English who are experiencing disadvantage or hardship.

b. This Scholarship is funded by a donation made in 1916 from Miss Mary Jane Coulson in memory of her brother.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant being currently enrolled in their second, third of fourth year in an undergraduate degree majoring in English within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must demonstrate financial hardship based on one or more of the below:

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. low socio-economic status,

III. carer responsibilities,

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

V. sole-parent responsibilities,

VI. regional or remote disadvantage,

VII. refugee status,

VIII. LGBTIQ+, and/or

IX. first in family.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit, and

II. a personal statement that demonstrates:

i. why they are studying English,

ii. a commitment to studying English, and

iii. the impact their financial hardship has on their studies.

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

I. Head of School, School of Art, Communication and English, and

II. Chair of English Studies, or

III. their nominated delegates.

4. Value

a. A recipient enrolled full-time will receive $5,500 per annum for up to one year, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. A recipient enrolled part-time will receive 50% of the full-time rate for up to 2 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

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

d. Deferral and suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the Head of School, School of Art, Communication and English.

e. The scholarship cannot be transferred to another University school, faculty or university.

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

g. 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. 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. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance,

III. 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

IV. 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.