Faculty of Engineering Research Scholarship for MENA

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students from the Middle East and North African region (MENA).

b. This Scholarship is funded by Faculty of Engineering.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a PhD within Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be a citizen of a country from the Middle East and North African region (MENA).

c. Applicants must also hold an Honours degree (first class or second upper) or equivalent.

d. It is a condition of accepting the MENA scholarship that awardees withdraw applications for Research Training Program (RTP) funding, including any RTP Allowance, RTP Fees Offset (international only), RTP Stipend or RTP Scholarships.

e. Applicants will be automatically considered for the ERS Scholarship. A separate application is not required.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. curriculum vitae, and
III. area of study and/or research proposal.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney’s Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate (indexed on 1 January each year), and is maintained through satisfactory academic performance for up to three years with a possible six months extension.

b. Academic course fees and the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) are also provided, subject to satisfactory academic performance for up to twelve research periods with a possible two research period extension.
*The Faculty of Engineering reserves the right to substitute the academic course fees from this scholarship with another scholarship which provides equivalent value as long as the recipient will not be financially disadvantaged.

c. 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 excluding the potential extension period.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered. Recipients can defer the Scholarship for up to three research periods subject to the approval of their Lead Supervisor. Deferment of Scholarship for more than three research periods is considered on a case-by-case basis by the Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominee.

e. Recipients cannot transfer the Scholarship to another area of research or change their lead supervisor without the prior approval of the Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominee.

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

g. No other amount is payable.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. The Scholarship is maintained by attending and passing the annual progress evaluation, including all the required candidature milestones and remaining enrolled in their PhD.

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 lead 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 carers leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their lead 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 with the approval of Associate Dean (Research Education).

d. Subject to relevant visa conditions, 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. Scholarship recipients commencing in Australia may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

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 to suspend must be given by HDRAC and the Associate Dean (Research Education). 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 stipend and tuition fees.

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 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 stipend and tuition fees scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend and tuition fees 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,
III. the student fails to attend and pass their annual progress evaluation and complete 12 credit points of HDR coursework units by the end of year 2, or
IV. 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 (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.

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.