Postgraduate Research Scholarship in the Sydney Vietnam Media Innovation Hub

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students who are interested in undertaking research in Vietnamese media and its digital platforms. The successful candidate will join a team of researchers in the Sydney Vietnam Media Innovation Hub to work on the Vietnam Media and Platforms project.

b. The burgeoning digital economy of Vietnam is built on the platformisation of its marketplace. The Platforms research node of the Sydney Vietnam Media Innovation Hub explores how Vietnam’s platform society operates in a non-Western country. This research node is designed to critically analyse its local platform contributions such as Grab and Zalo, while integrating Western versions of Meta, Bytedance and a variety of other non-local platforms. This research node will explore the gatekeepers of the platform society, its backbone regulatory drivers and the formal and informal economies of Vietnamese media industries.

c. This Scholarship is funded by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and supported by the Discipline of Media and Communication and the Sydney Vietnam Institute.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the School of Arts, Communication and English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must conduct research into the platform society, especially its surrounding creative industries in the Southern city of Ho Chi Minh.

c. Applicants must also hold at least one of the following in media studies, communication, cultural studies, or similar field:

I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent, or
II. Masters degree

d. Applicants must undertake their own PhD project, but their work must contribute to the overarching Vietnam Media and Platforms project of the Sydney Vietnam Media Innovation Hub.

e. A part-time scholarship may be approved by the Head of School, School of Art, Communication and English where the University is satisfied that there are special circumstances beyond the student’s control. For example, medical conditions, financial hardship and carer’s responsibilities.
* A part-time scholarship may have tax implications and recipients should seek tax advice from a registered tax agent. International students will only receive approval to study part-time if it is permitted under their visa.

3. Selection Criteria

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit,
II. area of study and/or research proposal,
III. feedback from academic referees, and
IV. a personal statement which demonstrates their:
i. interest in advancing our knowledge of Vietnamese digital media, and building, research capacity within Vietnam,
ii. broad interest in digital media practices from across Southeast Asia,
iii. willingness to travel to undertake fieldwork,
iv. willingness to participate in local seminars and symposia, to contribute to the broader research environment of the Discipline of Media and Communication at the University of Sydney, and to connect with a global network of digital media researchers, and
v. skills in Vietnamese language (or willingness to learn).

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The recipient may apply for an extension of the stipend allowance for up to 6 months.

c. If a part-time enrolled student is approved by the Head of School, School of Art, Communication and English to hold the scholarship on a part-time basis, the Scholarship will provide them with a stipend allowance equivalent to 50% of the full-time stipend rate for the equivalent full-time duration outlined in Clause 4.a. The recipient may apply for an extension of up to one year.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.

e. No other amount is payable.

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

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

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, Head of School 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. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). 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 HDRAC, 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 University may require repayment of any overpaid Scholarship funds.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained from the Head of School, School of Art, Communication and English to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary scholarship that provides one of or more of the benefits provided in this Scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient 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 University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

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. The Scholarship 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 University 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 University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made 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 2023 (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 Student Charter 2020 and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University 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.