International Postgraduate Research Scholarships [F11140]

Conditions
International Postgraduate Research Scholarships are available to eligible overseas candidates for higher degrees by research at The University of Western Australia ('the University') and provide course tuition fees for each semester of the course in line with the scholarship tenure and conditions described below.

Eligibility
1.(1) An award holder must be enrolled in a full-time postgraduate research degree at the University.

(2) An award holder must be a citizen of an overseas country, excluding New Zealand.

(3) An award holder who has already obtained an Australian PhD or equivalent degree is ineligible for a scholarship.

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

(5) In order to be considered for a scholarship an applicant must be recommended by the head of the school in which the proposed study is to be undertaken.

(6) An award holder must not have commenced PhD or master's study prior to 1 January of the year for which the scholarship is to be awarded.

(7) An award holder must not be an overseas student who has held a scholarship sponsored by AusAID and is seeking to apply for an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship immediately following the AusAID-funded study: this applies to students who have held the following awards:

(a) the Australian Sponsored Training Scholarships (ASTAS);

(b) the Equity and Merit Scholarship Scheme (EMSS); and

(c) the Australian Development Co-operation Scholarships (ADCOS—formerly the John Crawford Scholarship Scheme).

(8) An award holder must not have applied for permanent residence in Australia.

Duration of Scholarships
2. The period of tenure of a scholarship is two years for a master's course and three years for a PhD. The University may approve an extension of the tenure of a scholarship for a PhD by up to six months where the research has been delayed due to circumstances beyond the award holder's control and related to the research rather than of a personal nature. Extensions beyond this to a maximum of three years for a master's course and four years for a PhD will be at the discretion of the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST).

Nature of Scholarship
3.(1) A scholarship may only be used for the course of studies in respect of which it is awarded and must not be used for any other purposes. Any proposal by an award holder to change from the research area indicated in the original application must be submitted to the Scholarships Committee.

(2) The award of a scholarship is subject to the written acceptance of the Offer of a Scholarship by the award holder and must be taken up in the first semester of the year for which the offer is made.

Leave Arrangements
4.(1) An award holder is entitled to 20 days' paid recreation leave a year calculated on a pro-rata basis.

(2) No more than 20 days' recreation leave may be accumulated and leave must be taken during the tenure of the scholarship.

(3) The agreement of the supervisor and head of school must be obtained before leave is taken.

Employment
5.(1) An award holder may undertake only a strictly limited amount of paid employment—generally no more than eight hours of employment a week during normal working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

(2) The University does not require a student to undertake employment.

Suspension
6.(1) If an award holder is unable to pursue the degree they must seek approval in the first instance from their supervisor and head of school for a period of suspension. Such applications will be considered by the Scholarships Committee.

(2) Students may apply for suspension for a cumulative period of up to 12 months during the tenure of the award.

Termination
7.(1) The scholarship will be terminated two weeks after the thesis is submitted or at the end of the award, whichever is earlier. Scholarships will be terminated before this time if after due enquiry, the Scholarships Committee decides that an award holder has not fulfilled obligations, met eligibility criteria or is not making satisfactory progress.

(2) A scholarship may be terminated—

(a) if, in the opinion of the Scholarships Committee, the course of studies is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the Offer of Scholarship and no suitable alternative arrangements satisfactory to the Scholarships Committee are made for continuation of the postgraduate degree;

(b) when an award holder ceases to be a full-time research student;

(c) on the death, incapacity, resignation or retirement of an award holder and in circumstances where no suitable alternative arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) can be made for the reallocation of the scholarship;

(d) on the granting of permanent resident status to the award holder (other than under the Permanent Resident Class 818 provisions); or

(e) if the cumulative period of suspension of the award exceeds 12 months.

Specific University Obligations

Supervision
8. The University has a code of supervision of postgraduate research degrees which award holders should read.

Administration
9.(1) The University must be fair and equitable in the use of its discretionary powers.

(2) The University will advise award holders of appropriate appeal mechanisms for resolution of any academic disputes that might arise during their candidature.

Specific Award Holder Obligations
10.(1) When at any time during or after completion of the scholarship the award holder publishes a book, article, newsletter or other literary or scientific work which relates to research carried out under the scholarship, the publication must acknowledge that the research was carried out whilst the author was an International Postgraduate Research Scholar in Australia.

(2) Award holders must diligently and to the best of their ability apply themselves to the successful completion of the degree.

(3) An award holder is required to conform to the regulations (including disciplinary provisions) of the University.

(4) An award holder must maintain international student status for the duration of the degree.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, award holders must inform the Scholarships Office at least two weeks in advance if they intend to vary their enrolment. Failure to provide this notice may result in overpayment of allowances which must then be refunded by the award holder.

(6) The award holder must abide by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) codes on human and animal experimentation, guidelines established by the Australian Government's Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee and rulings of the safety and ethics committees of the University.

(7) Award holders must provide all reports required by the University including an annual report submitted through the supervisor. If the University does not consider that progress is satisfactory the scholarship shall be terminated, or the award holder placed on probation.

(8) The University of Western Australia will not accept liability for injury or damage suffered or caused by the award holder.