Scholarship in Migrant and Refugee Youths’ Sexual and Reproductive Health

A postgraduate research scholarship
$27,094 yearly scholarship to assist a master's by research student at the School of Health Sciences.

Highlights

Value Eligibility Open date Close date
$27,094 pa (up to 1.75 years)
  • Domestic full-time master's by research student at the School of Health Sciences
  • Research sexual and reproductive health
  • Hold a bachelor degree in health or social sciences
30 October 2020 17 November 2020

How to apply

Apply here.

For further information on the research area, please email Dr Zakia Hossain at zakia.hossain@sydney.edu.au.

Benefits

This scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $27,094 per annum for up to 1.75 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

Who's eligible

You must:

  • be a domestic student
  • receive an unconditional offer of admission to study a full-time master's by research degree at the University of Sydney School of Health Sciences (you may apply for the master's by research degree after you have received a conditional offer of scholarship)
  • be willing to conduct research into sexual and reproductive health
  • hold a bachelor degree with a health or social sciences background
  • have strong foundational understanding and fundamental skills in quantitative methods, skills of data analysis and knowledge in statistics.

Note: Preference will be given to applicants or descendants of an applicant who are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, or have background and experience working with immigrant and refugee populations.

Background

This scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a Masters by Research student who is undertaking research in migrant and refugee youths' (aged 16-24) understandings and experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

This scholarship is supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Project entitled ‘Migrant and Refugee Youths' Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’. The project aims to investigate migrant and refugee youths' understanding of and experiences with SRHR and identify barriers and facilitators of perceived sexual and reproductive wellbeing, decision-making and agency.

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a Masters by Research student who is undertaking research in migrant and refugee youths' (aged 16-24) understandings and experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

b. This Scholarship is supported by a grant from Australian Research Council (ARC) Project entitled “Migrant and Refugee Youths’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.” The aims of the project are to investigate migrant and refugee youths' understanding of and experiences with SRHR and identify barriers and facilitators of perceived sexual and reproductive wellbeing, decision-making and agency.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a Masters by Research within the Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be a domestic student.

c. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into sexual and reproductive health.

d. Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree with a health or social sciences background.

e. Applicants must have strong:

I. foundational understanding and fundamental skills in quantitative methods,

II. foundational skills of data analysis and

III. foundational knowledge in statistics.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,

II. relevance of area of study and/or research proposal to the ARC project,

III. curriculum vitae,

IV. reference from two academic referees,

V. a personal statement describing their experience with quantitative research and reason(s) for applying, and

VI. previous research experience.

b. Preference will be given to applicants who:

I. are from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background,

II. are a descendant of a applicant form a CALD background, or

III. have background and experience working with immigrant and refugee populations.

c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s) on the recommendation of a selection committee headed by the relevant research supervisor.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $27,094 per annum for up to 1.75 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The recipient may not apply for an extension.

c. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.

d. No other amount is payable.

e. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to passing the annual progress review.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before the leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

8. Suspension

a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend. Cis will notify changes to ARC.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,

II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,

III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,

IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,

V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,

VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or

VII. If the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,

II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or

III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

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

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.

12. Intellectual Property

a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.

b. Ownership of any Thesis approved in advance by the University of Sydney and authored by the successful recipient remains with the successful recipient.

13. Privacy and Confidentiality

a. The successful recipient is required to keep all Confidential Information disclosed by the all Parties to the Multi-Institutional Agreement (MIA) between Western Sydney University and The University of Sydney for ARC Project ID DP200103716 executed 28 January 2020, confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party, as appropriate, or as required by law.
b. The successful recipient must deposit in the library a copy of their completed thesis or work submitted for a higher degree if requested.

c. If the successful recipient’s thesis contains Partner Organisation’s Confidential Information, the recipient may submit such thesis on the basis that any such Confidential information is included in the appendix to the thesis which is restricted from public access for a reasonable period of time agreed by the Partner Organisation but not exceeding 5 years.

14. Acknowledgement

a. The successful recipient agrees to ensure that any publications, for they are listed as an author and that result from the Project comply with the obligations to include acknowledgement of the ARC’s funding, including the ARC Project ID, in accordance with clauses 21.5, 21.6, 29.3 and 29.5 of the Grant Agreement.

b. The successful recipient must provide Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney with a copy of any proposed publications at least 30 days in advance of submitting for publication. Comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication can be made by Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney to protect their Confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property provided they are given to the publishing Party in writing no later than 15 days before the publication is made. Where amendments are requested, the successful recipient will use all reasonable efforts to amend the proposed publication accordingly and, if requested, delay submission of the publication for a period not exceeding 6 months to all appropriate registration of any registrable Intellectual Property.

15. Other Requirements

a. The successful recipient must abide by all the terms and conditions outlined in the Multi-Institutional Agreement (MIA) between Western Sydney University and The University of Sydney for ARC Project ID DP200103716 and Project Title “Migrant and Refugee Youths' Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” executed on 28 January 2020.