Faculty of Engineering Research Stipend Scholarship

1. Background 

a. The Engineering Research Stipend Scholarship (ERSS) has been established to encourage and support outstanding higher degree research (HDR) students within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney. 

b. The scholarships may be fully funded by the Faculty of Engineering or co-funded by external research grants or industry funded research project

2. Eligibility 

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission for full-time enrolment in a PhD program or an unconditional offer of admission for full-time enrolment in a Master’s by Research program with the intent to transfer to PhD after satisfactory completion of the first annual progress evaluation within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney

b. Applicants will be automatically considered for the ERSS Scholarship. A separate application is not required. 

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

3. Selection Critera

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of academic merit, their area of study and research proposal, or other evidence of research potential

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

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 3.5 years.

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is also provided, subject to satisfactory academic performance, for up to 14 research periods.

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

c. 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. 

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

e. No other amount is payable. 

5. Eligibility for Progression 

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

b. Progression for Master’s by Research students is subject to attending and passing their first annual progress evaluation, Including all the required candidature milestones and subsequent transfer to a PhD program.  

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.

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,

i. 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. 

b. Holders of the Scholarship may conduct up to 12 months (18 months for students of Anthropology and other special cases) of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, and Head of Department/School, 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 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 for any reason during the tenure of their Scholarship. Periods of suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval to suspend must be given by both 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 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 academic tuition fees.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the student from their research degree,

II.upon the student having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy, 

III. if a Master’s by Research student does not satisfactorily complete their first annual progress evaluation, complete the required 6 credit points of HDR coursework units, and subsequently transfer to a PhD program, 

IV. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,

V. if the student ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,

VI. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of equal or higher value,  

VII. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or

VIII. if the recipient commences their degree from overseas without having applied for their  student visa

IX. if the student 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 paid to the student, the University may require the student to repay stipend amounts and any other payments made to the student 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. Other requirements

a. Where the scholarship is co-funded by the Faculty of Engineering and external research grants, the successful recipient may be required to comply with other conditions related to the research grant such as intellectual property, confidentiality, publication and acknowledgement requirements.  Where applicable it will be outlined in the scholarship offer letter and these requirements may be as follows:

I. Intellectual Property - Where indicated, the successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney to cover any jointly created Intellectual Property during the course of the project

II. Confidentiality - Where indicated, the successful applicant is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by the funder organisation 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 the funder organisation as appropriate, or as required by law

III. Publications and Acknowledgement - Where indicated, the successful scholarship recipient must acknowledge the support of their scholarship in any media, publications or presentations arising from the research. This must include where applicable, acknowledgement of funding source and comply with their guidelines.