Baillieu Research Scholarship in Medicine, Law, Business or Architecture * [F7861]

An asterisk (*) indicates that this scholarship is governed by conditions. This scholarship is governed by the General Conditions for Scholarships for Coursework Students except as set out in the conditions that follow.

Baillieu Research Scholarships are available to eligible domestic applicants (Australian and New Zealand citizens or an Australian permanent resident) to enrol in a research higher degree at The University of Western Australia (the University) in Medicine, Law, Business or Architecture. Preference may be given to applicants who are the lineal descendant of an Australian soldier or sailor who has died or has been blinded or permanently and totally incapacitated while a serving member of the armed forces.

The Baillieu Research Scholarship provides a living allowance to be held in conjunction with a Research Training Scheme (RTS) place. The scholarship is established and awarded in accordance with the following conditions. Conditions for the scholarship may be subject to change from time to time. Students will benefit from any changes to these conditions that are to their advantage.

Definitions and Acronyms

For the purpose of these conditions—

a student and/or students, unless specifically linked to a PhD or master’s degree by research (by thesis) means a student and/or students enrolled for either of those degrees;

domestic applicant or domestic student is an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident;

head of school means a person appointed or acting in that capacity or the Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator of the school, Postgraduate Research Co-ordinators being designated academics who have been approved by the head of school and the Board of the Graduate Research School to act on behalf of the head of school on matters pertaining to research higher degrees;

a research higher degree means Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or master’s by thesis;

BGRS means the Board of the Graduate Research School;

CTS means the Commercialisation Training Scheme;

GRSO means the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office;

RTS means the Research Training Scheme.

1. Tuition fees

1.1 All domestic scholarship holders are allocated an RTS place which provides an entitlement to student contribution and tuition fees for the duration of their research higher degree course.

1.2 A student may not hold more than one RTS place at any one time regardless of whether a student studies on a full-time or part-time basis.

2. Concurrent scholarships

2.1 Normally the Baillieu Research Scholarship may not be held concurrently with any other external or University scholarship.

2.2 Approval for concurrent scholarships may be granted in exceptional circumstances, on the basis of a written application to the Scholarships Committee.

2.3 The scholarship holder is not permitted to be in receipt of an award, scholarship or salary that provides benefits greater than 75 per cent of the APA or UPA base stipend rate.¹

¹ The maximum supplementation for a full time scholarship in 2009 is $15,320 per annum. The maximum supplementation for a part-time scholarship is $8217 per annum in 2009.

3. Stipend and allowances

3.1 Full-time scholarships

3.1.1 A full-time Baillieu Research Scholarship carries a stipend of $30,000 per annum.

3.1.2 Payments are made in fortnightly instalments.

3.1.3 It is the responsibility of scholarship recipients to check the implications for income tax liability of accepting a scholarship.¹

¹ http://www.ato.gov.au/

3.2 Part-time scholarships

3.2.1 A part-time Baillieu Research Scholarship carries a stipend of approximately $16,027 per annum for part-time study.

3.2.2 Payments are made in fortnightly instalments.

3.2.3 A part-time scholarship is taxable.

3.2.4 It is the responsibility of the scholarship recipient to check the implications for income tax liability of accepting a scholarship.¹

3.2.5 A part-time scholarship may be offered to a student who is—

(a) able to demonstrate that special circumstances, such as a medical condition or primary care responsibilities prevent full time enrolment; or

(b) undertaking CTS training concurrently with a research higher degree. 

3.2.6 The desire to undertake part-time employment is not accepted as a special circumstance.

3.2.7 Students who hold a scholarship on a part-time basis are subject to the same employment restrictions as full-time scholarship holders.

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

3.2.9 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 special circumstances no longer apply.

3.3 Other stipend matters

3.3.1 A scholarship is not affected by payments in relation to long service leave, assistance granted for travel associated with overseas research or field trips, concurrent assistance from a private employer in the form of part salary, or any other assistance for purposes other than those covered by the scholarship.

Part 2—Scholarship Conditions

4. Purpose

4.1 The purpose of the scholarship is to enable graduates of the University, or another recognised university, to undertake a research higher degree in the disciplines of Medicine, Law, Business or Architecture at the University.

5. Value and number of scholarships available

5.1 The value of the scholarship is as set out in 3.

5.2 The number of scholarships available each year is determined by the Scholarships Committee.

6. Eligibility

6.1 To be eligible to apply for a Baillieu Research Scholarship in 2008 an applicant must—

(a) be a domestic applicant;

(b)  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 a research higher degree at the University by the date of commencement of the scholarship;

(c) have a bachelor’s degree with first class honours (H1) or equivalent;

(d)  not have completed a degree either at the same level as, or at a higher level than, the degree for which candidature is sought; and

(e)  not be in receipt of an award, scholarship or salary to undertake the research higher degree that provides benefits which are similar to, or greater than, this scholarship.

7. Selection criteria

7.1 The scholarship is awarded by the Scholarships Committee to the eligible applicants on the basis of academic achievement as evidenced by their academic records.

8. Application procedure

8.1 Applicants must complete and submit the online application for the Australian and University Postgraduate Awards in the main round of applications as advertised on the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office web site at http://www.scholarships.uwa.edu.au/home by the advertised closing date.

9. Awarding body

9.1 The scholarship is awarded by the Scholarships Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School in which the proposed study is to be undertaken.

10. Duration of award

10.1 A full-time scholarship can be awarded for a period of—

(a) two years for the degree of masters by research; or

(b) three years for a doctoral degree.

10.2 A part-time scholarship can be awarded for a period of—

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

(b) six years for a doctoral degree.

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

10.4 No extensions are possible for students undertaking the degree of master.

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

10.6 Where a scholarship is converted from a scholarship for a master’s degree to that for a doctoral degree, the maximum period of a scholarship is three years, or three-and-a-half years if an extension is approved.

11. Criteria for continuation

11.1 Continuation of the scholarship from year to year 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, through their supervisor and the Head of the School, a satisfactory Annual Progress Report to the BGRS.

12. Administering body

12.1 The scholarship is administered by the GRSO.

13. Commencement

13.1 A scholarship holder must enrol by 30 June or the scholarship may be withdrawn and reallocated to another applicant. 

14. Conversion between masters and doctoral awards

14.1 If the BGRS approves a transfer of candidature in accordance with University General Rules 1.3.1.21 and 1.3.1.22 it may permit the scholarship to be converted from a scholarship for doctoral studies to a scholarship for master’s studies or vice versa.

14.2 If the BGRS approves the conversion of a scholarship in accordance with 14.1, the maximum duration of the scholarship becomes that of the new candidature as set out in 10.

14.3 Any interval between completion of the master’s degree and the commencement of the doctoral candidature must be covered by the suspension of the scholarship or the scholarship expires.

14.4 Suspension of the scholarship must be arranged before the master’s studies are completed or the scholarship expires.

14.5 A scholarship for a master’s degree normally expires on submission of a thesis for examination or at the end of two years, whichever is the earliest.

15. Transfer of scholarship

15.1 A Baillieu Research Scholarship cannot be taken up at another institution.

16. Changes to enrolment and suspension status

16.1 Changes to enrolment status

16.1.1 Students must inform the Scholarships Office at least two weeks in advance if they intend to suspend or terminate their enrolment or change their enrolment to part-time.

16.1.2 Failure to provide notice in accordance with 16.1.1 may result in overpayment of the scholarship that must be recovered from the student.

16.2 Suspension of a scholarship

16.2.1 A student who wishes to suspend their candidature must apply in writing through their supervisor and head of school for a period of suspension.

16.2.2 Applications for suspension of candidature are considered by the BGRS.

16.2.3 A student who is applying for a period of suspension of candidature must apply to suspend their scholarship for the same period.

16.2.4 Applications to suspend a scholarship are considered by the Scholarships Committee.

16.2.5 Periods of study undertaken by the student while their scholarship is suspended are deducted from the maximum period of tenure of a scholarship.

16.2.6 Subject to 16.2.8, a student may apply to suspend their scholarship even if they are not proposing to suspend their candidature.

16.2.7 Unless it decides otherwise in recognition of exceptional circumstances, the Scholarships Committee will not approve suspension of a scholarship that commences within the first six months of tenure of the scholarship or that will result in an accumulated period of suspension that is of more than twelve months’ duration.

16.2.8 In exceptional circumstance a further period of suspension of not more than twelve months, subject to the approval of the BGRS, may be approved.

16.2.9 The Scholarships Committee will under no circumstances approve suspension of a scholarship for a period or periods exceeding two years.

16.2.10 If a student whose scholarship has been suspended does not either resume study at the end of the period of extension or apply by the due date to extend the period of extension, their scholarship will be terminated.

16.3 Termination

16.3.1 The University terminates a scholarship—

(a) on submission of the thesis or the death, incapacity or withdrawal of the student or at the end of the scholarship, whichever is earliest; 

(b) if in the opinion of the Scholarships Committee, the student has committed serious misconduct as defined in Statute 17 http://calendar.publishing.uwa.edu.au/page63869 including but not limited to, the provision of false or misleading information;

(c) if in the opinion of the Scholarships Committee, the course of study is not being carried out  in accordance with the offer of a scholarship, and no suitable alternate arrangements can be made for continuation of the research higher degree course;

(d) when the student ceases to be a full-time student and when approval has not been obtained to hold the scholarship on a part-time basis; or

(e) the scholarship holder does not resume study at the conclusion of a period of suspension.

16.3.2 If an award is terminated, it cannot be reactivated unless the termination occurred in error.

17. Publications

17.1  Any thesis, dissertation or other publication, resulting from research undertaken by the recipient while in receipt of the Baillieu Research Scholarship must acknowledge the support of the scholarship and carry the University by-line.

18. Intellectual property

18.1 Intellectual Property is governed by the University’s Intellectual Property policy available on the University’s website at http://www.universitypolicies.uwa.edu.au/page/117132.

Part 3—Leave Entitlements and Paid Employment Conditions

19. Recreation leave

19.1 Students undertaking a research higher degree are entitled to 20 days paid recreation leave a year calculated on a pro-rata basis.

19.2 Subject to 19.3, recreation leave may be accumulated.

19.3 No more than 30 days recreation leave may be accumulated and leave must be taken during the tenure of the scholarship.

19.4 Approval to undertake periods of annual leave must be obtained from the supervisor and head of school before leave is taken.

20. Sick leave

20.1 Scholarship holders are provided with up to ten days paid sick leave each year of their scholarship which may be accrued but cannot be taken after the scholarship has expired.
 
20.2 For medically substantiated periods of illness lasting longer than two weeks (ten University working days) scholarship holders may receive up to a total of 12 weeks' paid sick leave which is additional to the normal duration of the scholarship.

20.3 Periods of sick leave longer than twelve weeks must be accessed through the suspension provisions set out in 16.2.

21. Maternity leave

21.1 On completion of twelve months of a scholarship a scholarship holder may access up to twelve weeks' paid maternity leave in addition to the normal tenure of the scholarship.

21.2 A scholarship holder is not permitted to take paid maternity leave in the first year of the scholarship; however unpaid maternity leave may be accessed through the suspension provisions.

22. Parenting leave

22.1 Scholarship holders who are partners of women giving birth and who have completed twelve months of their scholarship may be entitled to a period of five days paid parenting leave in addition to the normal duration of the scholarship.

22.2 Paid parenting leave cannot be taken in the first year of a scholarship, however unpaid parenting leave may be accessed through the suspension provisions set out in 16.2.

23. Paid overseas leave

23.1 The BGRS may grant approval for a student to undertake fieldwork and conduct research outside Australia in relation to their course.

23.2 Approval to undertake fieldwork or conduct research outside Australia is only granted where it can be demonstrated that it is essential for completion of the course.  

23.3 Except in exceptional circumstances the BGRS does not approve paid overseas leave to undertake fieldwork or conduct research within the first six months of the commencement of the award or prior to submission of a research proposal.

23.4 The BGRS approves paid overseas leave to undertake fieldwork or conduct research only where the student has confirmed in writing that the proposed destination has not been listed as an area to which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have advised against all travel and there is adequate supervision at the overseas institution.  

23.5 The scholarship holder must maintain contact with their supervisor and remain enrolled at this University.

23.6 Students should note that in the event of war or civil disturbance breaking out in a country to which a student has travelled for the purpose of research, the University's travel insurance policies may cease to apply.

23.7 Failure to obtain approval for paid overseas leave may result in the award being suspended or terminated.

24. Research at other organisations (within Australia)

24.1 The University may approve a scholarship holder conducting fieldwork or undertaking a substantial amount of research in Australia at organisations outside the higher education sector provided adequate support, supervision, training and research freedom for the student is available at the other organisation. 

24.2 Applications to conduct such fieldwork or research referred to in 24.1 require the approval of the Scholarships Committee and are only approved on the understanding that the student remains as an enrolled student of the University.

25. Employment

25.1 The University does not require a student to undertake employment.

25.2 A full-time student may undertake only a strictly limited amount of paid employment during notional standard working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

25.3 Holders of part-time scholarships are subject to the same employment restriction as full-time scholarship holders.

25.4 No more than eight hours employment a week during notional standard working hours is permitted.

25.5 The head of school is responsible for ensuring that excessive part-time employment is not undertaken to the detriment of the student’s studies.

25.6 Working hours must be noted on the scholarship holder’s Graduate Research School Annual Progress Report. The normal period of tenure will be three years for a PhD candidate or two years for a master's candidate.