Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PGR Fieldwork Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research students who are undertaking research in any area across the University to conduct fieldwork.

b. Funding from this scholarship can be used for any area of fieldwork including however not limited to travel, accommodation, working with community, access to libraries and other archives etc.

2. Eligibility

To be eligible for the Scholarship, an applicant must:

a. Identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, or both, as defined in the University of Sydney's Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015.

b. Be currently enrolled in a Master by Research, Master of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy or Doctorate by Research at the University of Sydney.

c. Have successfully completed their confirmation of candidature as approved by the relevant School or Faculty delegated authority.

d. Conduct research at the University of Sydney.

e. Apply for funding to be used for the specified research project in the application only.

f. Apply to fund expenses expected to be incurred in the next 6 months from the scholarship offer date. Applicants must provide the date of the intended fieldwork when applying. Fieldwork and related expenses that have commenced and/or been incurred prior to the award of the Scholarship are not eligible.

g. Applicants who have been previously awarded this Scholarship may be eligible to re-apply when their previous Scholarship ends.

3. Selection Criteria

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

i. Area of study and/or research proposal;

ii. A personal statement which demonstrates how fieldwork aligns directly to the overall research proposal for their degree and how the funds will support their research; and The Scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee consisting of the:

iii. A detailed budget that includes details and the cost of each activity funds are being requested such as accommodation, flights, and payments to community.

iv. Where the number of eligible applications exceeds the available funding, preference may be given to applicants whose proposed fieldwork demonstrates the strongest alignment with and benefit to their approved research project.

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

i. the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Indigenous Strategy and Services (DVC-ISS) (Chair) or their nominated delegate,

ii. at least one Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services (AD-I),

iii. a Gadigal Centre staff member.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is valued up to $10,000. The amount awarded and the period of award will be indicated in the offer letter.

b. The Scholarship value will be paid in one instalment after award of the scholarship.

c. Deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted, and it is transferable to another faculty or University school if the fieldwork activity remains the same as per the scholarship application. The scholarship is not transferrable to another university.

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

e. No extension is possible.

f.  No other amount is payable.

5. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may conduct their research fieldwork outside Australia. The Scholarship recipient must be enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature.

6. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

i.  No longer meet the Eligibility Criteria, or any other requirement set out in the Scholarship Details or Terms and Conditions;   

ii. Breaches any Terms and Conditions;

iii. Withdraw from their enrolled degree.

iv. Is determined by the University to be guilty of misconduct, as specified in the University of Sydney Student Discipline Rule (as amended or replaced), including having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application;

v. The recipient was awarded in error; or

vi. The funds are reduced or cease to be available.

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

c.  Where a student is found guilty of misconduct, the University reserves the right to request reimbursement of any Scholarship funds paid.

7. Privacy

a. The University collects and uses recipients’ personal information for the purpose of administering and maintaining the Scholarship, the University’s scholarship processes and for making Scholarship payments to the recipient, in accordance with the University’s business requirements and legal obligations. Further information about the collection and use of personal information is outlined in the University’s Scholarships Privacy Collection Notice (as amended or replaced).