Ad Hoc Postgraduate Scholarships at University of Western Australia

Background: Ad hoc postgraduate scholarships are administered by the Scholarships Committee on behalf of various internal and external funding agencies. The committee considers that there is a clear distinction between a scholarship awarded for educational purposes, and the employment of a postgraduate student on a research project. Ad hoc scholarship conditions cannot require awardees to be employed by The University of Western Australia (‘the University’), or to enter into, or continue to be, party to contract labour or to render services in exchange for the scholarship payments.

The committee expects that candidates will normally be selected, after advertisement in open competition, on the basis of academic merit. In the absence of specific alternative conditions accepted by the University, all ad hoc postgraduate scholarships must conform with the following conditions. 

Eligibility requirements
Each scholarship is awarded for educational purposes only.

A scholarship holder must not be under any bond at the conclusion of their studies.

Candidates must hold a degree from a recognised university, normally of at least 2A honours standard or its equivalent.

A scholarship holder must be eligible to enrol or be enrolled as a full-time student or, in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the University, as a part-time student, in an HDR at the University by the date of commencement of the scholarship.

Part-time scholarships
               A part-time scholarship is taxable.

A part-time scholarship may be offered to a student who is able to demonstrate that compelling social reasons, such as a medical condition or primary care responsibilities, prevent full-time enrolment.

An applicant is not granted permission to hold a scholarship on a part-time basis because they wish to undertake paid employment on a full-time or substantial part-time basis.

A student who holds a scholarship on a part-time basis is subject to the same employment restrictions as a full-time scholarship holder (see clause 10).

A student holding a part-time scholarship must be enrolled at the University as a part-time student.

A holder of a part-time scholarship may convert to full-time at any stage or may be required by the University to convert to full-time if compelling social reasons no longer apply.

Value
A scholarship may be awarded—

(a) as a full scholarship; or

(b) subject to 3.4 and 3.5, to supplement another award; or

(c) to extend scholarship support for a limited period.

A supplementary scholarship may be awarded only with the permission of the respective donors and of the Scholarships Committee and provided that the conditions governing the supplementary scholarship do not contravene those attached to the primary award.

The value of a supplementary scholarship must not exceed 75 per cent of the value of the primary award. Except where an award is made to supplement another award, or to extend scholarship support for a limited period, the minimum living allowance for a scholarship will not normally be approved at a level less than a University Postgraduate Award. It is the responsibility of scholarship recipients to check the implications for income tax liability of accepting a scholarship.

Allowances
Other allowances, such as relocation costs, sick leave, maternity leave and costs towards thesis preparation may be provided.

Duration of award
Subject to 5.5, a full scholarship is normally tenable for the duration of the course for which it is awarded which is—

(a) two years for a master’s degree by research; or

(b) three years for a doctoral degree.

The tenure of a part-time scholarship is—

(a) four years for a master’s degree by research; or

(b) six years for a doctoral degree.

Doctoral students may apply for an extension of tenure of up to six months’ duration subject to satisfactory progress, provided that the grounds for extension are related to their research and are beyond the control of the student.

Extension of tenure is conditional upon the submission of the Research Proposal and Confirmation of Candidature, and all outstanding milestone reports including Annual and Interim Reports, and Travel Award Reports, if applicable.

Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the scholarship or undertaken during suspension of the scholarship may be deducted from the maximum period of tenure.

Criteria for continuation
Continuation of scholarship payments is subject to the recipient—

(a) maintaining continuous enrolment at the University as a full-time student, unless otherwise recommended by the Scholarships Committee and approved by the BGRS; and

(b) submitting the Research Proposal and Confirmation of Candidature, and all milestone reports by the due date including Annual and Interim Reports, and Travel Award Reports, if applicable.

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Contact Address:

Ms Heather Williams

Manager, Postgraduate Scholarships
Graduate Research and Scholarships Office

Telephone number: 6488 4740

Fax number: 6488 1919

Mailbag delivery point

M358

Email address: heather.williams@uwa.edu.au

Postal Address:

The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley WA 6009
Perth, Australia

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