The Peter Nicol Russell Undergraduate Scholarship

1. Background

a. Established in 1896, this Scholarship has been generously donated by Sir Peter Nicol Russell, to encourage higher education in mechanical and mechatronic engineering.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.

b. Applicants must have completed the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) or equivalent no more than 3 years prior to commencement of their undergraduate degree, except where the applicant has been engaged for the full period following completion of the HSC or equivalent in a program of employment and/or study related to the practice of engineering.

c. Applicants must qualify for entry into and be commencing Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechanical Engineering) or Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechatronic Engineering) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.

d. Applicants enrolling into combined degrees are not eligible for this Scholarship.

e. Recipients must enrol full-time in the eligible degree in the semester immediately following award of this scholarship.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit based on the applicant’s performance in the HSC or equivalent, and

II. a personal statement.

b. Where an applicant completed the NSW HSC or equivalent more than 3 years prior to commencement of their undergraduate degree, supporting documentation such as academic transcripts or letters from employers must be submitted to prove the applicant has been engaged for the full period since high school completion in a program of employment and/or study related to the practice of engineering.

c. The Scholarship will be awarded on the nomination of a selection committee consisting of the Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Engineering, or their nominated delegate, and at least one other academic member of staff from the area of Mechanical Engineering.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is valued at $6,000 per annum and is tenable for up to 4 years. 

b. The Scholarship annual value will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester.

c. The scholarship may be held part-time due to extenuating circumstances such as a medical condition which limits the student’s capacity to undertake full-time study. An application to hold the scholarship part-time must be submitted via the Scholarships Office for the consideration of the Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Engineering, or their nominated delegate. If approved, the value will be paid on a pro-rata basis.

d. If part-time enrolment is approved, the value will be paid on a pro-rata basis based on enrolled units of study with 24 credit points being considered a full-time semester load for the purposes of this scholarship. Payments will not exceed the maximum value of the scholarship.

e. Deferral and/or suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Engineering, or their nominated delegate.

f. The Scholarship is not transferable to another School, Faculty or University.

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

h. No other amount is payable.

5. Ongoing eligibility

a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, the recipient must maintain a minimum Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 65 each semester.

b. Recipients undertaking an exchange during the tenure of this Scholarship are required to have achieved a Satisfied Requirements grade (SR) to receive their next payment.

6. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:

I. withdraws from an eligible course or fails to enrol,

II. commences part-time study without prior approval of the Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Engineering, or their nominated delegate, 

III. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance, 

IV. is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application, 

V. accepts an alternative scholarship administered by the Faculty of Engineering or any School within the Faculty of Engineering, valued at $6,000 per annum or more for the same purpose as this scholarship. The exception to this is where the recipient is awarded a placement scholarship, in which case this scholarship will be suspended for the duration of the placement. It will be reinstated at the completion of the placement if there is any scholarship candidature remaining. The value of this scholarship for the period of the placement will be forfeited, or

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

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

c. Where a student is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.