Prescott Postgraduate Scholarships [F20710]

Stipend and Allowances

Effective from 1 January 2008

1. The stipend is $30,000 per annum for full-time study and approximately $16,027 per annum for part-time study.

2. Relocation Allowance

(Applicable where the student must relocate to Perth to take up the scholarship.)

• economy class or student airfare for scholarship holder, spouse and dependants for  travel to Perth, up to a maximum of $530 per person; or
• travel by car, for which a per kilometre allowance is determined up to a maximum of $530.  Students cannot claim for accommodation or the cost of meals if they elect to travel by car; and
• removal expenses up to $600 per adult and $250 per child, up to a maximum of  $1700 (on production of receipts).

3. Thesis Allowance

• up to $420 for Master’s thesis
• up to $840 for PhD thesis

A thesis allowance may be claimed after submission or resubmission of a thesis and on the production of receipts. Claims must be made within 12 months of submission of a thesis. Claims made for a thesis submitted more than two years after termination of the scholarship cannot be approved. 

Prescott Postgraduate Scholarships [F20710]

Effective from 1 January 2008

Prescott Postgraduate Scholarships are available to students enrolled for higher degrees by research at The University of Western Australia ('the University'). These scholarship conditions apply to commencing and continuing students. If a continuing scholarship holder is disadvantaged by any condition in comparison with the relevant condition in the year of commencement, the original condition applies.

For the purpose of these conditions the Head of School is the person appointed as Head, acting in that capacity or a Graduate Research Co-ordinator who has been approved by the Board of the Graduate Research School to act on matters pertaining to research higher degrees.

The scholarship is awarded in accordance with the following conditions.

Eligibility
1. To be eligible for a Prescott Postgraduate Scholarship an applicant must:

(a) be eligible to enrol or be enrolled as a full-time student in a higher degree by research upon commencement of their scholarship or, in exceptional circumstances, be granted approval by the University for a part-time scholarship in accordance with the criteria detailed in 22;

(b) be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen;

(c) have completed at least four years of tertiary education at a high level of achievement demonstrated by the award of a degree with First Class Honours or equivalent;

(d) be recommended by the Head of School in which the proposed study is to be undertaken and have been accepted into the proposed higher degree by research course by the Board of the Graduate Research School;

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

(f) not be in receipt of an award, scholarship or salary to undertake the higher degree by research course that provides a benefit greater than 75 per cent of the Prescott Postgraduate Scholarship stipend.

Commencement
2. (1) A scholarship holder must commence the course in the School specified in the letter of offer and by 30 June of the year for which the scholarship is awarded or the scholarship may be withdrawn and reallocated to another applicant.

(2) Applications to commence in, or transfer the scholarship and enrolment to another School within the University must be approved by the Scholarships Committee.

Tenure and Extension of Scholarship
3. (1) The period of tenure of a full-time scholarship is up to two years for a Master’s degree and three years for a Doctoral degree. 

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

(3) No extensions are possible for students undertaking Master’s degrees.

(4) Periods of study already undertaken towards the course prior to the commencement of the scholarship or undertaken during suspension of the scholarship are deducted from the maximum period of tenure (unless the study was undertaken as part of an Australian Government Supported International postgraduate research scholarship).

Conversion between Masters and Doctoral Scholarship
4. (1) On the recommendation of the Board of the Graduate Research School approval may be given for the conversion of a scholarship for a Master’s degree to a scholarship for Doctoral studies. Similarly, a scholarship for Doctoral studies can be converted to a scholarship for a Master’s degree. The maximum duration of a converted scholarship becomes that for the new candidature.

(2) A current scholarship holder who, prior to completing his or her Master’s degree, intends to enrol in a Doctoral degree may use the balance of the scholarship towards the Doctoral degree. There must be no interval between completion of the Master's degree and Doctoral candidature, or such an interval must be covered by the suspension of the scholarship.

(3) A scholarship for a research Master’s degree normally expires on submission of a thesis for examination or at the end of two years (whichever is the earlier). The scholarship holder must ensure that the progression to a Doctoral degree, or suspension of the scholarship referred to in (2) is arranged before the Master’s degree is completed or the scholarship expires.

(4) The maximum period of a scholarship permissible for a student progressing from a Master’s degree to a Doctoral degree is three years (or three and a half years if an extension is approved) from the date the student commenced the Master’s degree. 

Review of Progress
5. (1) A review of the progress of a scholarship holder must be conducted each year and is used by the Scholarships Committee to determine whether an award, within the time limit stipulated, is to be continued. 

(2) Failure to submit an Annual Progress Report may result in a scholarship being suspended  and/or terminated.

Research Training Scheme (RTS)
6. (1) All scholarship holders commencing a higher degree by research are granted exemption from tuition fees through the Research Training Scheme (RTS) for the tenure of their scholarship.

(2) All continuing scholarship holders are allocated an RTS place for the tenure of their scholarship.

(3) Scholarship holders may not hold more than one RTS place at any one time regardless of whether they are enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis.

Stipend
7. (1) A full-time scholarship carries a stipend of $30,000 per year, paid in fortnightly instalments.

(2) The level of the stipend will not be reduced during the period of the scholarship. 

(3) Part-time scholarships carry a stipend of approximately $16,027 per year.

(4) Full-time scholarships are currently exempt from taxation under Section 51-10 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

(5) Part-time scholarships are taxable.

Relocation Allowance
8. (1) A scholarship holder who relocates to Perth to take up the scholarship is entitled to receive, upon the production of receipts, relocation expenses of up to a maximum amount equivalent to—

(a) economy class or student airfare for the scholarship holder, spouse and dependants for travel to Perth, up to a maximum of $530 per person;

(b) travel by car, for which a per kilometre allowance is determined up to a maximum of $530¹; and 

(c) removal expenses up to $600 per adult and $250 per child, up to a maximum of $1700.

¹Students cannot claim for accommodation or the cost of meals if they elect to travel by car.

(2) For the purpose of these conditions, 'spouse' is a person who is married to or in a bona fide de facto relationship with the scholarship holder where the two live together and have a mutual commitment to each other to the exclusion of all others.

Thesis Allowance
9. (1) A scholarship holder is entitled to an allowance, upon production of receipts, of up to $420 for costs associated with the production of a Master's thesis or $840 for a Doctoral thesis.

(2) An allowance must be claimed within 12 months of submission or resubmission of a thesis for examination. Claims made for a thesis submitted more than two years after termination of the scholarship cannot be approved.

(3) The allowance is a contribution towards the cost of production of a thesis and does not include costs such as purchase of computer equipment.

(4) Additional thesis allowance claims are payable for costs associated with the resubmission of a thesis or the lodgement of bound copies provided the claim is made within 12 months of the resubmission and not more than two years after the termination of the award.

Supplementary Awards
10. Subject to 11, a scholarship may be supplemented by another scholarship or funds placed at the disposal of the University.

11. A supplementary scholarship means another scholarship that provides benefits no greater than 75 per cent of the base stipend rate. The maximum supplementation in 2008 is $22,500.

12. 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.

Leave Entitlements
Recreation Leave
13. (1) Scholarship holders are entitled to 20 days paid recreation leave a year calculated on a pro-rata basis and leave may be accumulated.

(2) No more than 30 days recreation leave may be accumulated and leave must be taken during the tenure of the award. Unused leave remaining when a scholarship is terminated or completed is forfeited.

(3) Approval to undertake periods of annual leave must be obtained from the supervisor and Head of School before leave is taken. 

Sick Leave
(4) Scholarship holders are provided with up to ten days paid sick leave each year of their scholarship and this may be accrued. These periods of leave are not in addition to the normal duration of the scholarship and funds are not provided for leave accrued after the scholarship has expired.

(5) For medically substantiated periods of illness lasting longer than ten 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. Periods of sick leave longer than 12 weeks must be accessed through the suspension provisions.

Maternity Leave
(6) On completion of 12 months of a scholarship a student undertaking a higher degree by research may access up to 12 weeks' paid maternity leave in addition to the normal tenure of the scholarship. 

(7) Paid maternity leave may not be taken in the first year of the scholarship, however unpaid maternity leave must be accessed through the suspension provisions.

(8) Paid maternity leave is in addition to the normal duration of the award.

Parental Leave
(9) Scholarship holders who are partners of women giving birth and who have completed 12 months of their scholarship may be entitled to a period of five days' paid parental leave.

(10) Paid parental leave cannot be taken in the first year of a scholarship, however unpaid parental leave may be accessed through the suspension provisions.

(11) Paid parental leave is in addition to the normal duration of the scholarship.

Paid Overseas Leave
(12) The Scholarships Committee may approve students attending conferences, undertaking fieldwork and conducting research toward a Master's degree or a Doctoral degree outside Australia.

(13) Approval to undertake fieldwork or conduct research outside Australia is granted where it can be demonstrated that the fieldwork or research is essential for completion of the degree and the work can be credited to the degree in which the student is enrolled. 

(14) The Scholarships Committee does not normally approve paid overseas leave to attend conferences, undertake fieldwork or conduct research within the first six months of the commencement of the scholarship or prior to submission of a Research Proposal.

(15) The Scholarships Committee may approve paid overseas leave to undertake fieldwork or conduct research only where the University has been assured that the proposed destination has not been listed as a dangerous zone by the Department of Foreign Affairs and there is adequate supervision at the overseas institution. The scholarship holder must maintain contact with their supervisor and remain enrolled at this University. Students must 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.

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

Research at Other Organisations (within Australia)
14. The University may approve a scholarship holder conducting fieldwork or undertaking a substantial amount of research in Australia at organisations outside the higher education system provided adequate support, supervision, training and research freedom for the student is available at the other organisation. Applications to conduct such fieldwork or research require the approval of the Scholarships Committee and is only granted on the understanding that the University remains responsible for the student.

Employment
15. (1) A full-time student may undertake no more than eight hours paid employment per week during normal working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

(2) A full-time student may undertake no more than 240 hours of employment per year.

(3) The University does not require a student to undertake employment. The Head of School in which a student is enrolled is responsible for ensuring that excessive part-time employment is not undertaken to the detriment of the student's studies.

Suspension
16. (1) Where a student is unable to pursue the degree for a period of time, a period of suspension of the scholarship may be granted by the Scholarships Committee on the recommendation of the student’s supervisor and Head of School.

(2) If the proposed suspension is to commence after the first six months and is of less than 12 months' duration, the Scholarships Committee may, at its discretion, approve the suspension. Failure of the scholarship holder to resume study or to make arrangements to extend a period of suspension within the specified time will result in the scholarship being terminated.

(3) If the proposed suspension is to commence within the first six months, or the accumulated period of the suspension(s) is of more than 12 months' duration, an application must be made to the Scholarships Committee to seek approval of the suspension. The application is only approved if there are exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the student.

(4) If a scholarship holder fails to obtain the approval of the Scholarships Committee as described above, the scholarship holder is in breach of these conditions and the scholarship is terminated immediately.

(5) A scholarship holder who suspends a scholarship must suspend candidature for the degree for the commensurate period. Periods of study undertaken during suspension of the scholarship must be deducted from the maximum period of tenure.

(6) The University must endeavour to ensure that scholarship holders are advised of their option to suspend rather than relinquish their scholarship (subject also to meeting the requirements relating to suspension of candidature), thus keeping open the option of resuming their scholarships at a later date.

(7) In exceptional circumstances a further period of suspension of not more than 12 months, subject to the approval of the Board of the Graduate Research School, may be approved.

(8) Suspensions must not exceed two years in total under any circumstances.

Termination
17. (1) The University must terminate 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 earlier; 

(b) if, in the opinion of the Scholarships Committee, the student has committed serious misconduct 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 with competence or in accordance with the offer of the scholarship, and no suitable alternate arrangements can be made for continuation of the postgraduate degree;

(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;

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

(2) If a scholarship is terminated, it cannot be reactivated unless the termination occurred in error.

Supervision
18. The University has established and must abide by a Code of Good Practice for Graduate Research and Supervision. Scholarship holders are required to read the Code of Good Practice for Graduate Research and Supervision.

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

(2) The University must abide by the Commonwealth Information Privacy Principles.

(3) The University must advise students of appropriate appeal mechanisms for the resolution of any academic disputes that might arise during their candidature.

(4) The University must pay the student all entitlements due under the scholarship.

(5) The University must provide the scholarship holder with adequate facilities and appropriate supervision.

(6) The University does not accept liability for injury suffered or damage caused by the scholarship  holder.

(7) The University must make provision for Student Plan Personal Accident Insurance.

Specific Student Responsibilities
20. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of 13, 16 and 17, students must inform the Scholarships Office at least two weeks in advance if they intend to suspend, terminate or change their enrolment to part-time. Failure to provide this notice may result in overpayment of stipend and/or allowances that must be recovered from the student.

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

(3) Students must abide by the 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.

(4) Students must conform to the rules and regulations, including disciplinary provisions, of the University.

(5) 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.

21. The University of Western Australia does not accept liability for injury or damage suffered or caused by the student. See 19 (6).

Part-time Scholarships
22. (1) Part-time scholarships may be offered to students who:

(a) are able to demonstrate that compelling social reasons, such as a medical condition or major family commitments, preclude full-time study; or

(b) are undertaking Commercialisation Training Scheme (CTS) training concurrently with a research higher degree. 

(2) The desire to undertake part-time employment is not accepted as a compelling social reason.

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

(4) Holders of part-time scholarships 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 or the CTS is completed.

(5) The tenure of a part-time scholarship is four years for a Master’s degree and six years for a Doctoral degree.