Work Integrated Research Project Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship was established by the School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Engineering to support postgraduate students with outstanding academic ability to spend 6 months full-time in an industry setting (the placement), undertaking high‐level investigative and research projects during the course of their studies trough COMP5802: Work Integrated Research Project.

b. The Scholarship is funded by the NSW Department of Customer Service (the Grantor), for industry placement with the NSW Data Analytics Centre, or the Behavioural Insights Unit related to data analytics, data science or data engineering projects.

2. Eligibility

a. Candidates must be full-time postgraduate coursework students who have completed at least one full‐time semester (24 credit points) in one for the following coursework programs:

I. Master of Data Science (MDS), or

II. Master of Computer Science (MCS).

b. Candidates must have achieved a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 75 or more in their previous semester of study in one of the above listed coursework programs.

c. Candidates must be eligible to enrol in the Unit of Study COMP5802.

d. Candidates must agree to comply with the University of Sydney Student Placement and Projects Policy.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit, and

II. an interview with the selection committee.

b. The scholarship will be awarded by the Head of School of the School of Computer Science or their nominee on recommendation of the School's Education Committee and in consultation with the Grantor. The final decision rests with the School of Computer Science.

4. Value and Payment

a. The Scholarship is valued at $25,000 and will be paid in two equal instalments. The first payment at the mid-point of the placement with the industry partner and the second one at end of the placement.

b. Deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted, and it is not transferable to another school, faculty or university.

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

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. The recipient of the Scholarship is required to remain enrolled full-time in their eligible coursework program.

b. The recipient must also enrol and complete the requirements of COMP5802 while undertaking the placement and maintain satisfactory performance on the industry project.

6. Duration and timing of placement

a. The placement duration is 26 weeks for the period as specified in the Placement Offer Letter agreed with the student, the University, and the grantor.

b. The Placement does not create an employment relationship between any of the participating parties, nor does it create any future employment relationship.

7. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

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

II. withdraws from the required unit of study COMP5802,

III. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance or satisfactory progress in the placement,

IV. commences part-time study without prior approval,

V. fails to comply with the University’s Student Placement and Projects Policy,

VI. does not complete, or meet the requirements of their placement,

VII. 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,

VIII. accepts an alternative primary scholarship, administered by the University of Sydney, for the same purpose as this scholarship. In such circumstances this scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative scholarship where the alternative scholarship is of equal or higher value,

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

X. commences or continues to undertake paid employment that interferes with their ability to complete the placement as required,

XI. ceases to meet any requirements in these terms, or

XII. any other provision as indicated in these terms that would lead to termination.

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

c. Where the student withdraws from the placement or the scholarship is terminated by the University in consultation with the Grantor, the student is liable to repay any scholarship funds already paid for the period. The value to be repaid will be calculated based on number of days paid less number of days of participation in the placement.

d. 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.

8. Confidentiality, Intellectual Property and Insurance

a. Confidentiality, Intellectual Property and Insurance requirements are specified in the relevant Student Deed Poll.

b. The scholarship recipient must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.

9. Thesis and Acknowledgement

a. The recipient is required to write a thesis to demonstrate how they applied academic knowledge to the assigned project tasks. This will include reflections on which data analysis methodologies were applied in the context of a typical data science workflow, and an assessment of the quality and adequacy of the findings.

b. The recipient agrees to provide the Grantor a copy of any thesis, report, review or other publication prepared by them as part of their enrolment in the Placement, prior to its submission for publication. If such a request is made, the recipient agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Grantor and The University of Sydney in providing the requested copy.

c. The recipient should acknowledge the Grantor in any thesis, report, review or other publication which is prepared by the Student as part of their course work arising from the Placement.

d. The recipient retains copyright ownership of their thesis at all times. All other intellectual property created by the recipient during their enrolment in the Placement will be governed by the terms agreed with The University of Sydney in accordance with its Intellectual Property Policy.