Prizes, scholarships and other financial support
Scholarships Office website
The University of Sydney Scholarships Office has information on scholarships offered by the University to all students: current and future; local and international; undergraduate, Honours, postgraduate coursework and research.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences scholarship information
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences lists information on Scholarships and Prizes available to students in the Faculty.
Research Office
The Research Office provides information on research funding, including a scholarships bulletin, and links to databases of research grants and scholarships.
Postgraduate Research Support Scheme
The PRSS is a scheme that provides direct support for currently enrolled postgraduate research students. Under the scheme, funds are allocated to Schools or Departments (in some cases Faculties) based on their higher degree research enrolment figures in the previous year. The funds are not allocated directly to the students but are awarded by Schools or Departments to eligible applicants on a competitive basis according to the University's general guidelines. Information about the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme is available on the Scholarships Office website.
In the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the PRSS application process is managed by the Schools. At least one application round will be held every year. For information on application closing dates and to obtain copies of application forms and guidelines visit the School website.
Below are listed prizes and scholarships specific to this Department.
Prizes
The following prizes are available for annual award following the November meeting of department staff to review students’ results.
Winston G. Lewis Prize in Chinese History | Value: approximately $1800
Awarded annually on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Languages and Cultures on the advice of the Professor of Chinese to the student who does the best work in senior units of study on Chinese history (or related topics) taught within the Chinese Studies curriculum, provided that the student’s work is of sufficient merit.
Funds to establish this prize were donated in memory of Winston G. Lewis, a former lecturer in the department and a historian of premodern China.
Asian Students’ Council’s 1963 Festival of Asia Prize for Proficiency in Chinese Studies | Value: $350
Awarded annually to reward excellent work in Chinese Studies in the pre-Honours year on the part of a qualified applicant for admission to Honours in Chinese Studies.
Scholarships to support in-country study
Applications are invited for the following awards:
The Chinese Studies Travelling Bursary | Value: $1,000
The purpose of this bursary is to assist students to travel to China, spending some time in Hong Kong where possible, for the purpose of exposing them to Chinese culture and improving their knowledge of Chinese language. Holders are normally expected to undertake a course of study, for which they may receive credit (as appropriate) towards their degree at the University of Sydney. Preference is given to students enrolled, at the time of application, in Chinese 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A or 4B. Preference may also be given to students who have, at the time when the award is made, no other scholarship or bursary support for the proposed travel to China known to the awarding committee.
The bursary was established in 1997 by a generous donation from Professor John Wong, a prominent Hong Kong alumnus.
The T. M. Hsiao Scholarship | Value: $1,500
The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students to undertake advanced training at a Chinese university or to collect research material in China or Taiwan for an Honours thesis. Holders who undertake a course of study may, if appropriate, apply for credit towards their degree at the University of Sydney. Preference is normally given to students enrolled in the Chinese Studies pre-Honours training program during the semester of award or who have given other evidence of intent to proceed to Honours in Chinese Studies within two years of the award. Eligibility is confined to students who have completed a major in Chinese Studies.
This award may be made to a student who has already had scholarship or other financial support for a semester of study in China, although such students will normally have low priority unless the T. M. Hsiao Award is to be used to fund a second semester of study or a separate visit to collect research material.
The T.M. Hsiao Scholarship was established in 1992 by a generous donation by the family of the late Mr Hsiao Tsung-mou, formerly the general manager of the World Book Company, Taiwan.
The Chinese Studies Alumni Bursary | Value: $1,000
The bursary is established with funds donated by alumni of the Department of Chinese Studies to assist students studying in Chinese to undertake a period of approved in-country study, preferably through the University’s exchange program.
Other Minor Travel Awards (Values vary from $100-$500)
Applicants who are not selected for the above three awards may be nominated by the Department for these awards of various values. There is no need to apply specifically for these awards.
Applications should take the form of a 1 - 2 page letter covering the following points:
- 1. Your motivation for wanting to study in China.
- 2. Details of your current plans for studying in China, including the approximate period (eg. summer 2012, first semester 2013).
- 3. The name of the Chinese University or other recognised tertiary institution a which you hope to study.
The department will consider students' previous university results in selecting candidates (first choice and one reserve) for recommendation to the Head of School. If some or all of your previous university was not done here, please attach a copy of your previous transcript(s).
Applications should be addressed to:
Dr Linda Tsung
Chair of Chinese Studies
School of Languages and Cultures
Brennan-MacCallum Building - A18
The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Australia
Either post your application to this address, email as an attachment to , or deliver in person to the School office (Room 506), on Level 5, Brennan MacCallum Building.
The closing date for applications is 5.00pm Friday, 25 October, 2013.
Externally funded scholarships
Generous scholarships for in-country study in China or Taiwan are sometimes offered by sources external to the University. These opportunities are openly advertised within the department, which is sometimes required to select the best-qualified applicant(s) and nominate them to the awarding body. This is done by a sub-committee of department staff in accordance with selection criteria that have been publicized in advance. The central criteria are usually:
- merit as measured by results in Chinese Studies units of study plus China-focused units of study offered or cross-listed in the Asian Studies program;
- motivation as reflected in students’ application letters plus other evidence of commitment to Chinese studies.
Occasionally we are asked to recommend students for opportunities at very short notice, and we regret that in such circumstances it may be impossible to follow the above procedures.
Confucius Institute Scholarships
The Confucius Institute Scholarship Program encourage students, scholars and Chinese language teachers worldwide to study Chinese language and culture in China, or proceed to a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL). Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged from 16 to 35.
There are three categories of Confucius Institute Scholarships:
- Scholarships for Four-Week Study;
- Scholarships for One-Academic Year Study, and;
- Scholarships for a Master's Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.
For information on the Confucius Institute Scholarship, please consult the Confucius Institute Scholarship website or contact .
AustCham China Scholarship Programme
The AustCham China Scholarship program offers final year students and recent graduates the opportunity to take a paid, full time, graduate traineeship in China for nine months.
For more information about the program, eligibility and the application process please see the AustCham China website.
Chinese Government Scholarship Program
and Short Term Scholarship Scheme for Foreign Teachers of Chinese Language
Available to staff and students of the University of Sydney.
For more information contact David Boyd or phone (02) 9114 0525.
Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship (HES) - Taiwan
Huayu Enrichment Scholarship is funded by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, and aims to provide the scholarship recipients a better understanding of the language (Huaya). It designs to give the non-Mandarin Speakers an in-depth Mandarin learning environment and to promote mutual interactions between Taiwan and Australia.
Please follow the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship link on the www.cultural.teco.org.au - Study in Taiwan webpage.