Group of Eight Equity and Merit Scholarships * [F1185]

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.

The awards are administered in accordance with the following conditions:

Definition
Membership of the Group of Eight Universities (Go8) comprises Adelaide University, The Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland, The University of Sydney and The University of Western Australia. Further information about the Group of Eight is available at http://www.go8.edu.au/.

Purpose
1. The University, as part of the Group of Eight Consortium, has agreed to provide a sum of money to acknowledge and reward students who have the drive and determination to succeed academically despite financial restraints.

Title
2. The scholarships are called the Group of Eight Equity and Merit Scholarships.

Type of scholarships
3. (1) There are two types of scholarships available:

(a) Partial Fee Waiver scholarship; ¹ and

(b) Cash Payment scholarship. ²

(2) Students nominate at the time of submitting their application the type of scholarship for which they are applying.

Number and Value
4. (1) Four scholarships are awarded each year.

(2) The scholarship is valued at $ 4080 per annum for a full-time student, or pro-rata for a part-time student.

(3) The annual value of the scholarship is indexed in line with the indexation applied to the Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

5. Students are not normally entitled to receive in excess of $7500 per annum in total from the Group of Eight Equity and Merit Scholarships, any other UWA scholarships (including the UWA SWANS Scholarships) and/or the Commonwealth Learning Scholarships programme.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility to apply for a scholarship
6.(1) To be eligible to apply a student must—

(a) be an Australian citizen or the holder of an Australian permanent visa (including Humanitarian visa);

(b) be completing Year 12 studies or equivalent in the year of application; and

(c) have undertaken no previous study at University level.

Eligibility to receive a scholarship
7. To be eligible to receive a scholarship a student must—

(a) be undertaking an undergraduate course of study as a Commonwealth supported student at the University as defined in The Higher Education Support Act 2003;

(b) be in receipt of a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance etc);

(c) be enrolled on a full-time basis;

(d) commence their course in the semester in which the scholarship is awarded; and 

(e) enrol in the course for which the scholarship has been awarded.

Body responsible for Selection
8. The selection committee for the scholarship comprises:

(a) the Vice Chancellor;

(b) the Registrar;

(c) the Pro- Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning); and

(d) the Director of Student Services.

Selection Criteria
9. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of—

(a) demonstrated academic merit as evidenced by the Tertiary Entrance Rank; and

(b) demonstrated financial need, as evidenced by receipt of Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy.

Selection Process
10.(1) The applicants are ranked by the Prospective Students Officer according to their Tertiary Entrance Rank.

(2) All applicants must provide evidence of financial need.

(3) The Prospective Students Officer makes a recommendation to the selection committee.

Method of Payment
11.(1) The scholarship is normally paid in two equal instalments, following the census date in semester one or semester two as relevant.

(2) The method of payment of the scholarship is determined in consultation with the successful applicant and takes into account Centrelink's requirements relating to regular allowance payments.

Duration of Award
12. Subject to the recipient meeting the criteria for continuation set out in Clause 13, the scholarship is tenable for the duration of the course for which the scholarship is awarded, including an honours year if applicable.

Criteria for Continuation of Scholarship
13.(1) Continuation of the scholarship from year to year is subject to the recipient:

(a) making satisfactory progress as defined in University General Rule 1.2.1.29 in the Undergraduate Handbook;

(b) maintaining continuous enrolment at UWA from year to year, excluding periods of approved leave;

(c) confirming in writing prior to each scholarship payment being made, that their circumstances are unchanged from those described in their original application.

(2) The selection committee determines a recipient's eligibility to receive further scholarship payments in situations where the conditions in (1)(a),(b) or (c) have not been met.

Deferral of a Scholarship
14.(1) Students awarded a scholarship who defer commencement of their studies or withdraw from their course prior to the semester one census date, forfeit their scholarship.

(2) Continuing students who are recipients of a Group of Eight Equity and Merit scholarship and who wish to suspend or interrupt their studies for a period of up to 12 months after their first census date, are permitted to defer their scholarship for a similar period subject to written notification to the Undergraduate Scholarships Officer in the Scholarships Office.

(3) Requests to defer a scholarship for a period longer than 12 months are considered by the selection committee where there are exceptional circumstances and where the request is supported in writing by the student's Faculty Sub-Dean, Associate Dean or Student Advisor.

(4) The Scholarships Office monitors scholarship recipients who have deferred  their scholarship to ensure that they re-enrol after the period of deferment has finished.

Transfer of a Scholarship³
15. Rescinded

Termination of a Scholarship
16.(1) The University terminates a scholarship if—

(a) the student ceases to meet the eligibility criteria, other than during a period of approved leave;

(b) the student breaches the terms and conditions of the scholarship;

(c) the student does not resume study at the conclusion of a period of approved leave;

(d) the University determines that a student is guilty of serious academic misconduct; or

(e) the student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined in University General Rule 1.2.1.29 in the Undergraduate Handbook.

(2) The Scholarship Office informs a student in writing if his or her scholarship is to be terminated.

Administration
17. The Scholarships Office is responsible for the management and administration of the Group of Eight Equity and Merit Scholarships.

Application Procedure
18. Written applications for the scholarships are called for annually and must be submitted to the Prospective Students Officer by the advertised date.