Dr. Charlotte Last Memorial Scholarship

1. Background

a. The Dr Charlotte Last Memorial Prize was established in 1997 following a donation to Sydney Medical School in memory of the late Dr Charlotte Last, who graduated from the Faculty with the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1986.

b. The award was initially established as a prize. A subsequent donation made in 2008 enabled the award to be converted into a scholarship. 

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant being currently enrolled in the third or fourth year of the Doctor of Medicine (MD).

b. Applicants must be enrolled in, or have completed, their MD Research Project within the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

c. Applicants must be undertaking, or have undertaken, a research project in one of the following disciplines:

• Child and Adolescent Health

• Perinatal and Women’s Health

• Surgery

• Neuroscience

3. Selection Criteria

a. The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of the following supporting documents provided by the applicant regarding their MD Research Project.

The student applicant will need to provide:

I. A research abstract of no more than 300 words that provides a concise summary of the MD Research project. The abstract should include the research aim or question, methodology, key findings and the significance or potential impact of the research.

II. Copy of MD project Oral Presentation slides

III. A written statement (maximum 300 words) outlining how the research project has influenced, or is expected to influence, their future clinical, academic, or research career trajectory.

IV. A referee statement or letter of support from the applicant’s MD Research Project supervisor commenting on the quality of the project and the applicant’s contribution.

b. The selection committee will use the following criteria to award the prize:

a. Quality of Abstract and Presentation

b. Evidence of student’s engagement with the project and commitment to future research activities.

c. Selection will be made by the Head of School and Dean of Sydney Medical School, or their nominated delegate(s). Shortlisted students may be invited to present their research to the selection panel.

d. Sydney Medical School reserves the right not to award the Scholarship if, in its opinion, there are no applicants of sufficient merit.

4. Value

a. The total value of the Scholarship is $5,000.00.

b. The Scholarship will be paid as a one-off payment upon receipt of recipient’s signed scholarship acceptance form. 

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

d. No further payments or benefits are associated with this Scholarship.

5. 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, 

IV. 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, 

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

VI. does not present at the conference for which the funds were awarded, or

VII. does not declare funding applied or received for the same conference from an alternative source.

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.