University of Sydney Tuition Fee Scholarship

Eligibility

1. The Candidate must be an international student, who has either obtained unconditional admission offer for, or has already enrolled in, their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) commencing in 2024, at the University of Sydney “the University”.

2. The Candidate must have been awarded a stipend scholarship of $27,000 or above per annum on merit following a competitive process.

3. The Candidate must discuss their eligibility with their supervisor in order to be considered for the University of Sydney International Tuition Fees Scholarship, the “Scholarship”.

4. The Candidate must provide evidence to substantiate their eligibility upon request. Failure to do so may lead to ineligible for consideration.

5. The Candidate must not have consumed more than one research period of their candidature at the time of consideration. 

Tenure

6. The Scholarship may be awarded for up to 14 research periods (full time), or for the duration of their stipend scholarship, whichever will conclude first. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

7. The Scholarship would commence from the research period and year stated in the offer letter. 

8. The holder of the Scholarship, “the Student”, may defer their Scholarship for up to one research period, subject to the deferred research period is within the same year of the original offer, and with approval of: 

a. their supervisor; and 

b. the Associate Dean (Research Education). 

9. The Scholarship may be provided for a duration of an approved industry placement, research internship or professional practice activity (clause 26 of this document) if the maximum tenure of the Scholarship has not been reached. 

Benefits

10. The Scholarship provides 100% tuition fee after relevant census dates as a credit to the Student’s tuition fee liability account for a duration as per clause 6 of this document. The credit will only apply to tuition fee liability. 

11. No other benefits are payable. 

Selection Criteria

12. The Scholarship is awarded by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Researcher Training) on the recommendation from the Associate Dean (Research Education).

13. The Scholarship offer will be issued by email to the Student’s university email address.

Leave Arrangements

14. The Student may be approved to receive up to a total of twelve weeks of extended sick leave for medically substantiated periods of illness.  Application for extended sick leave must be submitted to Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC) at the start of absence or as soon as practicable.  Periods of approved extended sick leave are accumulative and are added to the tenure of the Scholarship.

15. If the Student has received the Scholarship for twelve months (full time equivalent), the student is entitled to a maximum of one research period of paid parental leave. Application for parental leave must be submitted to the Scholarships Office at the start of absence or as soon as practicable.  Periods of approved parental leave are accumulative and added to the tenure of the Scholarship. When applying for paid parental leave, the Student must provide at least one of the following documents:

a. letter from medical professional related to pregnancy, 

b. a surrogacy agreement, 

c. birth certificate of the child, 

d. adoption documents, or 

e. relevant documentation that substantiates the application. 

16. If the Student who has not received the Scholarship for twelve months, they may access parental leave through the Suspension provisions of this document.  

Research Overseas

17. The Student may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of the Scholarship.

18. The Student may conduct up to 12 months (18 months for students of Anthropology and other special cases) of their research outside Australia.  Approval must be sought from the Student's supervisor, and Head of Department/School, and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree.  Approved periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards the Student's candidature.  The Student must remain enrolled and have received approval to Count Time Away.

Transfer from Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) to Master’s degree by Research

19. A transfer from a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree to Master’s degree by Research may result a termination of the Scholarship. Should the Student be approved to retain the scholarship, the maximum tenure of the Scholarship becomes that for the Master’s degree by Research. 

Transfer to another University, Faculty, School or Supervisor

20. The Scholarship is not transferrable to another university. Should the Student transfer to another faculty, school, or supervisor within the University, the tenure of the Scholarship will not be extended. 

Suspension

21. The Student may not apply to suspend their candidature within the first six months (full time equivalent) unless

a. permitted by a legislative provision; or 

b. approved by the relevant Associate Dean (Research Education) for extenuating circumstances^

^extenuating circumstances include carer responsibilities or medical conditions that are generally out of the Student’s control. Approval is subject to the Student’s visa conditions.

22. After the first six months (full time equivalent), the Student may apply for up to 12 months suspension for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship, subject to the Student’s visa conditions and prior approval from Associate Dean (Research Education).  Application for suspension must be submitted to HDRAC.   Periods of approved suspension are cumulative and will be added to the tenure of the Scholarship.

23. Whenever the Student suspends their studies the University must report their suspension to immigration authorities and the Student may be obliged to return to their home country for the duration of suspension. Therefore, if the Student wishes to remain in Australia during their period of approved suspension, they must contact the Australian immigration office, within 28 days of the University’s notice, to seek approval to remain in Australia during their suspension period.

Changes in Enrolment

24. The Student must notify the supervisor and HDRAC within 10 business days of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature transfer from Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) to Master’s by Research in writing.  

25. A Student who has been issued an Australian Permanent Residence visa during their studies, or prior to their enrolment, at the University must bring their passport to the Student Centre as soon as possible to adjust their residency status on their student’s records.  

Industry placements, research internships and professional practice activities 

26. The Student may undertake industry placements, research internships, and professional practice activities up to six months that are approved as part of their course by: 

27.

a. their supervisor, and

b. the relevant Associate Dean (Research Education).

Termination

28. The Scholarship will be terminated upon the Student’s:

a. resignation or withdrawal from their PhD, 

b. failure to enrol without approved leave or suspension, 

c. submission of their thesis,

d. acceptance of another scholarship provides tuition fee, 

e. residency status changes to be a domestic student as defined by Higher Education Support Act, or

f. Scholarship’s maximum tenure has been reached.

29. The Scholarship will also be terminated before clause 27 (f) of this document if the University, after an enquiry, concludes that the Student has:

a. not carried out the course of study with competence and diligence, or in accordance with their Scholarship offer, 

b. failed to maintain satisfactory progress, 

c. committed serious misconduct, or 

d. been deemed ineligible as per Eligibility of this document. 

False or Misleading Information

30. The University reserves the right to reassess a Student’s Scholarship’s entitlements if it believes the Student has provided false or misleading information in relation to their application for admission or the Scholarship.

Appeal

31. The University recognises the right of Student to appeal to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Researcher Training) against any decision affecting their Scholarship.