International Research Fee Scholarships for China (China Scholarships) * [F19680]

An asterisk (*) indicates that these scholarships are governed by conditions. See also general conditions.

Introduction
International Research Fee Scholarships for China (China Scholarships) are available to eligible students to undertake study for the degree of PhD at The University of Western Australia (the University). The scholarships are normally awarded to graduates from the Chinese universities listed as 985 Program Universities. The scholarships are awarded in accordance with the following conditions.

Title
1. The scholarship is called the China Scholarship.

Purpose 
2. These scholarships provide payment of international student tuition fees set by the University and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in conjunction with an award from the China Scholarship Council, which provides a living allowance.

Value 
3.(1) The value of the scholarship is—

(a) the international student tuition fees set by the University for the course in which the student enrols; and

(b) the cost of OSHC for the student and their accompanying dependents, for the duration of their scholarship which may be up to four years.

(2) The scholarship does not cover student union or amenities fees, costs associated with overseas fieldwork, living expenses, bridging English language courses or travel expenses associated with the relocation of the student to take up the scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements 
4.(1) To be eligible to apply for a China Scholarship a student must—

(a) be a Chinese citizen and resident in China at the time of application;

(b) hold a degree from a recognised Chinese University, normally at least equivalent to an Australian First Class Honours degree;

(c) not hold a Doctorate by research degree deemed the equivalent of an Australian Doctorate by research degree;

(d) be eligible to enrol in the degree of PhD;

(e) demonstrate that they have adequate English language proficiency by providing evidence of an IELTS score of 6.5 with no individual band less than 6.0.

(2) To be eligible to take up an International Research Fee Scholarship for China a student must—

(a) be recommended by the China Scholarship Council and in receipt of a scholarship from the Council which provides a living allowance of approximately AUD$15,600 per annum for a period of up to four years, or up to the date of submission of the thesis, whichever occurs first;

(b) enrol in the degree of PhD;

(c) enrol in a PhD in an area of research concentration and be recommended by the Head of the School in which the proposed study is to be undertaken;

(d) normally be commencing full-time, on-campus study for the degree of PhD within 12 months of the date of offer of the scholarship;

(e) be undertaking an approved research project compatible with the key areas and majors sponsored by the China Scholarship Council unless otherwise approved by the Council.

Body Responsible for Selection
5. The selection committee is the Scholarships Committee of the University.

Selection Criteria
6. The scholarships are awarded to the applicants, who among those eligible, are ranked highest and on the basis of the following criteria—

(a) academic achievement;

(b) English proficiency;

(c) research output; and

(d) the quality of the proposed research training environment.

Selection Process
7. The scholarship applications are ranked by the nominated Schools using instructions provided by the Scholarships Office. The ranked lists are then endorsed by the appropriate Faculty, before being forwarded to the Scholarships Committee for assessment and awarding.

Method of Payment
8. The Scholarships Office arranges payment of the scholarship recipient's international student tuition fees and OSHC with the International Centre, on behalf of the student.

Visa Entitlements and Requirements
9.(1) Awardees are required to pay visa application fees and meet the costs of any medical examinations associated with the issue or renewal of visas for themselves and their dependents.

(2) It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they and any dependents hold a valid visa while in Australia. Students are encouraged to contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) with any queries concerning their visas.

Health Care Cover 
10. International students and their dependents are required to join the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This cost is covered by the scholarship.

Nature of award
11.(1) The scholarship may only be used for the course of studies for which it is provided and cannot be used for any other purpose. Any proposal by the candidate to alter the research areas indicated in the original application and letter of offer must be approved by the Graduate Research School and the China Scholarship Council. Approval is subject to the new research areas being an area of research concentration where adequate University supervision and facilities are available.

(2) The award of a scholarship is subject to the written acceptance of the Offer of a Scholarship by the student and must normally be taken up within twelve months of the date of the formal offer of the scholarship.

(3) A scholarship offered at the University may not be taken up at another institution.

Recreation Leave
12. A student is entitled to 20 days recreation leave a year calculated on a pro-rata basis. No more than 30 days recreation leave may be accumulated and leave must be taken during the tenure of the scholarship. The agreement of the supervisor and Head of School must be obtained before leave is taken.

Paid Overseas Leave
13.(1) Applications for overseas leave to undertake fieldwork, conduct research, attend conferences or take annual leave must be approved by the University Scholarships Office and the China Scholarships Council.

(2) Approval to undertake fieldwork or conduct research outside Australia is only granted where the research is essential for completion of the degree and the work can be credited to the student's research programme. Students are not permitted to spend any more than twelve months overseas to study by remote candidature.

(3) The Scholarships Office approves overseas leave to undertake fieldwork or conduct research where the University has been assured that the proposed destination site has not been listed as a dangerous zone by the Department of Foreign Affairs, there is adequate supervision at the overseas institution and the candidate remains enrolled as a student at this University. Students should note that in the event of war or civil disturbance breaking out in a country to which they have travelled for the purposed of research, the University's travel insurance policies may cease to apply.

(4) The University Scholarships Office does not normally approve overseas leave to attend conferences, undertake fieldwork or conduct research within the first six months of the commencement of the award or prior to the approval of a student's research proposal.

(5) Failure to obtain approval for overseas leave may result in the scholarship being suspended or terminated.

Employment 
14.(1) International students are not automatically given the right to work when they are issued with a student visa. Scholarship holders who wish to work while studying in Australia are required to apply for, and receive, a new student visa with permission to work attached as a condition of that visa. Any enquiries concerning visas and visa applications must be made through the University's International Centre.

(2) Students and dependents may only apply for a visa with work rights after they arrive in Australia and the student has commenced their research.

(3) A full-time international student is only permitted to undertake a strictly limited amount of paid employment, generally no more than 240 hours of employment a year and no more than eight hours employment a week between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Part-time work commitments cannot be accepted as grounds for an extension of the scholarship.

(4) The University does not require a student to undertake employment and the Scholarships Office must be satisfied that part-time work does not interfere with the study programme. Students must refer to the regulations governing work permit visas, defined by DIAC.

Termination 
15. A scholarship is terminated—

(a) on submission of the thesis or at the end of the scholarship, whichever is earlier;

(b) if after due enquiry, the Graduate Research School considers that the student has not fulfilled their obligations, has not met the eligibility criteria or is not making satisfactory progress, and no alternative arrangements can be made for continuation of the postgraduate research degree;

(c) if the student does not resume study at the University after a period of study overseas, or does not make arrangements for an extension of the period of study overseas;

(d) when the student ceases to be enrolled as a full-time research student;

(e) on the death, incapacity, resignation or withdrawal of the student;

(f) upon the granting of permanent resident status to the student (other than under the Permanent Resident Class 818 provisions);

(g) if the cumulative period of suspension of the scholarship exceeds 12 months.

SPECIFIC UNIVERSITY OBLIGATIONS

Supervision 
16. The University has established a Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research and Supervision which students must read and familiarise themselves with its content.

Administration 
17. The University must—

(a) be fair and equitable in the use of its discretionary powers;

(b) abide by the principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988;

(c) advise students of appropriate appeal mechanisms for the resolution of any academic disputes that might arise during their candidature;

(d) provide students with adequate facilities and appropriate supervision;

(e) make provision for Students Plan Personal Accident Insurance.

SPECIFIC STUDENT OBLIGATIONS

18.(1) Students must diligently and to the best of their ability apply themselves to the successful completion of the degree.

(2) Students are required to conform to the rules, regulations and policies (including disciplinary provisions) of the University.

(3) Students must abide by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) codes on human and animal experimentation, guidelines established by the Australian Government's Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee and rulings of relevant University committees including the Animal Ethics Committee, Human Research Ethics Committee and Institutional Biosafety Committee.

(4) Students must provide all reports required by the University, including an annual report submitted through the supervisor and Head of School. If the University does not consider that progress is satisfactory the scholarship is terminated, or the student placed on probation.

(5) The University does not accept liability for injury or damage suffered or caused by the student.

(6) Candidates must abide by the principles of the China Scholarship Council in relation to the living allowance scholarship provided by that Council.

TOP-UP SCHOLARSHIP FOR STIPEND

19. A Top-Up or Supplementary Scholarship, providing a supplementary stipend, must be provided for each successful applicant. The supplementary stipend rate plus the China Scholarships Council stipend rate ($15,600 in 2007) must be at least equal to the current Australian Postgraduate Award ($19,616 in 2007). The Top-Up or Supplementary Scholarship is indexed each year, and paid to the awardee in fortnightly instalments.