United States Studies Centre PhD Scholarship

1. Background

a. The United States Studies Centre PhD scholarship has been established to support a student to undertake research in American Studies, American foreign policy, economic security, or American politics and culture. 

b. The scholarship is funded by the United States Studies Centre.

2. Eligibility Criteria

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled in a PhD in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney. 

b. An applicant without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.

c. Applicants must hold at least one of the following:

I. an Honours degree (First Class) or equivalent degree, or

II. a Master's degree with a substantial research component.

d. Applicants must undertake research in areas that align with the mission and the expertise of the United States Studies Centre. 

3. Selection Criteria 

a. Applicants are assessed on their:

I. academic merit,

II. curriculum vitae,

III. area of study and/or research proposal, and

IV. academic references.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the scholarship by a selection panel that includes:

I. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), United States Studies Centre,

II. Academic Director, United States Studies Centre, and

III. the supervisor(s) of the applicants.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship provides a living allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney’s Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on 1st January each year) for up to 14 research periods for PhD candidates subject to meeting academic progression requirements. The Centre may approve a part-time Stipend Scholarship* where the Centre is satisfied that there are special circumstances beyond the student’s control (for example medical conditions, financial hardship, carer’s responsibilities).

*A part-time scholarship may have tax implications and student should seek tax advice from registered tax agents.

b. The Scholarship provides a payment of $5,000 per annum for travel, up to a total of $15,000, upon receipt of required documentation through Concur. This will be managed by your supervisor and/or Finance Manager.

c. The Scholarship provides a one-off payment of up to $10,000 to support participation in a research boot camp or research training program at an American university. This activity must be approved by the recipients supervisor and the USSC Academic Director. If approved this payment will be managed through Concur by your supervisor and/or Finance Manager.

d. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship, will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship.

e. The Scholarship is not transferable to another area of research.

f. The scholarship cannot be deferred to a different calendar year from the year of award.

g. No other amount is payable. 

h. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding. 

5. Eligibility for Progression 

a. Progression is subject to passing the annual progress evaluations and maintaining satisfactory progress in coursework.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. Holders of the Scholarship receive up to 20 working days recreation leave every 12 months of the Scholarship and this may be accrued.  Any unused leave when the Scholarship is terminated or completed will be forfeited.  Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading. The supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. Holders of the Scholarship may take up to 10 working days sick leave every 12 months of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship.  Students with carer responsibility may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carers leave on presentation of medical certificate/s.  Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

c. Holders of the Scholarship may receive additional paid sick leave of up to a total of twelve weeks during their scholarship for medically substantiated periods of illness where the student has insufficient sick leave entitlements available under Clause 6b above.  Students applying for additional paid sick leave must do so at the start of absence or as soon as practicable.  Periods of additional paid sick leave are added to the duration of the Scholarship.

d. Once holders of the Scholarship have completed twelve months of their award, they are entitled to a maximum of twelve weeks paid parental leave during the tenure of the Scholarship. Students applying for paid parental leave should do so at least four weeks prior leave commencement date.  Periods of paid parental leave are added to the duration of the Scholarship. Holders of the Scholarship who have not completed twelve months of their award may access unpaid parental leave through the suspension provisions.  When applying for parental leave, applicant should include at least one of the following documents:

I. letter from medical professional related to pregnancy, 

II. a surrogacy agreement, 

III. birth certificate of the child, 

IV. adoption documents, or 

V. documentation that substantiates the application. 

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, USSC Academic Director and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC) and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

8. Suspension 

a. Holders of the Scholarship cannot suspend their award within the first six months. 

b. Holders of the Scholarship may apply for up to 4 research periods suspension for any reason during the tenure of their award.  Periods of suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated.  Approval to suspend must be given by the Centre.  Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify the Centre and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the Centre may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

10. Termination

a. Unless terminated according to provisions specified in earlier clauses, the Scholarship will be terminated:

I. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award;

II. on resignation or withdrawal of the student from their PhD;

III. if the student ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained from the USSC Academic Director and/or CEO to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis;

IV. upon the student having completed 14 research periods full-time study for a PhD, 

V. if the recipient receives and accepts an alternative primary stipend scholarship of higher value, 

VI. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or;

VII. if the student ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the Centre before this time if, in the opinion of the Centre:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer;

II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or;

III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.  

c. Stipend payments will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to Centre error.   

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the Centre warrants recovery of funds paid to the student, the Centre may require the student to repay stipend amounts and any other payments made to the student in connection with the Scholarship.  Examples of such conduct include and without limitation: academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.  

b. The Centre may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period.  In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.