Flash Hero Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students who are undertaking research in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and/or distributed systems within the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Sydney.

b. The scholarship is co-funded by a donation from Flash Hero Pty Ltd and the Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney.

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 Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must hold an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

c. Applicants must conduct research in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and/or distributed systems.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit, and
II. area of study and/or research proposal in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and/or distributed systems.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship by the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s) within the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on the 1 January each year) for up to 3.5 years with no possible extension, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. Academic fees are also provided for a successful international applicant for up to fourteen research periods subject to satisfactory academic performance.
*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. The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) are also provided for up to fourteen research periods, satisfactory academic performance.

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 form the original scholarship start date, subject to the approval of their Lead Supervisor as confirmed by an approved deferral of admission.

e. Deferment of Scholarship for more than three research periods is considered on a case-by-case basis by the Faculty of Engineering, Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominee.

f. Recipients cannot transfer the Scholarship to another area of research outside artificial intelligence (AI) and/or distributed systems. Recipients cannot change their lead supervisor without the prior approval of the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Engineering, or their nominee.

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

h. No other amount is payable.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. The recipient must attend and pass the annual progress evaluation meeting.

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.

7. Research Overseas

a. Scholarship recipients commencing in Australia may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. Scholarship recipients commencing in Australia may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's lead supervisor, Head of School and 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.

c. Scholarship recipients are normally expected to commence their degree in Australia. However, Scholarship recipients who are not able to travel to Australia to start their degree, may commence their studies overseas only if they have applied for their student visa and with the approval of their lead supervisor and Associate Dean (Research Education).

8. Suspension

a. 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, Associate Dean (Research Education) 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 lead 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/or 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 Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Engineering 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/or tuition fee scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend and/or tuition fee scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave,
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 (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 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.

12. Privacy and Confidentiality

a. The successful applicant is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by the Flash Hero Pty Ltd or the University of Sydney confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the University of Sydney or Flash Hero Pty Ltd as appropriate, or as required by law.

b. All information or data provided to the successful recipient by the Flash Hero Pty Ltd must remain confidential unless used for the purposes of the research outlined in these terms and conditions.