John Anthony Gilbert (Humanities) Research Grant

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to postgraduate research students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who are travelling interstate or overseas to undertake research in area of humanities.

b. This Scholarship is funded by a bequest made by John Anthony Gilbert in 2011.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must be currently enrolled to study within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney in one of the following degrees:

I. PhD,
II. Doctor of Arts (DArts), or
III. Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSci).

b. Applicants must conduct research in the area of humanities.

c. Applicants must have:

I. completed at least one year equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) in their PhD, DArts, or DSocSci, or
II. completed at least one year EFTSL in their MPhil/Masters by Research if they have upgraded to a PhD, DArts or DSocSci from their MPhil/Masters by Research, or
III. completed at least one year EFTSL in their MPhil/Masters by Research if they have been admitted to a PhD, DArts or DSocSci after partial completion of their MPhil/Masters by Research, and
IV. successfully completed their confirmation of candidature.

d. Applicants must be applying for funding to undertake primary research that cannot be completed without significant travel outside of Sydney.

e. Applicants must be applying for funding for expenses that are not funded by other sources of funding or Scholarships. The Scholarship may be awarded to cover costs in excess of funds already obtained from elsewhere.

f. Applicants must demonstrate that the:

I. travel is essential to the completion of their research, and
II. travel is approved as part of their progress plan discussed at their last annual progress evaluation.

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. a detailed budget including, flights, accommodation, library/archive access fees, documentation fees etc, and
IV. a personal statement that demonstrates the following:
i. their area of research is in humanities, and
ii. that travel is essential to their research.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship by the FASS Postgraduate Research Scholarships selection committee consisting of:

I. Associate Dean (Research Education) or their nominate delegate, and
II. Head of Schools or their nominate delegate from each of the following Schools:

i. School of Humanities,
ii. School of Languages and Cultures,
iii. School of Art, Communication and English, and
iv. Sydney School of Education and Social Work (Humanities related research areas only).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will have a maximum value of $15,000. The exact value of the Scholarship will be outlined in the recipient’s Scholarship Offer Letter.

b. The Scholarship value will be paid as a lump sum payment on receipt of Scholarship Acceptance Form.

c. The scholarship must be utilised within 12 months of award and prior to the submission of the recipient’s thesis.

d. Deferral or suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

e. The Scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research.

f. No other amount is payable.

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

5. Other Requirements

a. Recipients are required to maintain receipts for up to one year for all costs incurred that are relevant to this Scholarship.

b. Recipients may be required to produce these receipts if requested by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

6. 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. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
IV. if the recipient does not undertake the travel for which the funds have been approved within the required time frame of 12 months from award of Scholarship,
V. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VI. 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.

7. 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 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.