Thomas and Ethel Mary Ewing Scholarships

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to support higher degree research students who need to travel in order to assist in their research in education.

b. This Scholarship was established 1964 and is funded by a bequest from Dr Thomas Ewing.

2. Eligibility

a. This Scholarship is offered subject to applicants having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study in a Masters by Research or PhD within the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must undertake research in the field of Education.

c. Applicants must demonstrate a need to undertake travel overseas, interstate or outside Sydney as part of their Masters by Research or PhD.

d. Applicants must be graduands or graduates of Education, the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. area of study and outline of research proposal (no more than two pages),
III. curriculum vitae,
IV. detailed proposed budget and itinerary,
V. list of publications,
VI. a letter of reference from a supervisor, and
VII. a personal statement which demonstrates their need to travel and the importance of travel to the applicant’s research.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship by the School of Education and Social Work Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Scholarship Selection Committee.

4. Value

a. A full-time enrolled recipient will be provided with a stipend allowance of $45,000 per annum, subject to satisfactory academic performance, as per the following duration:

I. up to three years for a PhD recipient,
II. up to two years for a Masters by Research recipient who commenced studies prior to 1 January 2019, or
III. up to 1.75 years for a Masters by Research recipient who commenced studies on or after 1 January 2019.

b. A recipient enrolled part-time will be provided with a stipend allowance equivalent to 50% of the full-time stipend rate for up to the equivalent full-time student load duration outlined in Clause 4.a., subject to satisfactory academic performance.

c. A PhD recipient may apply for a maximum extension of up to 6 months of the stipend allowance provided the grounds for extension relate directly to study and are beyond the control of the recipient.

d. An international recipient enrolled full-time will receive academic course fees, subject to satisfactory academic performance, as per the below duration:

I. up to 12 research periods for a PhD recipient,
II. up to 8 research periods for a Masters by Research recipient who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2019, or
III. up to 7 research periods for a Masters by Research recipient who commenced their candidature on or after 1 January 2019.

e. An international recipient enrolled part-time will be provided with academic course fees, for up to the equivalent full-time student load duration outlined in Clause 4.d, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

f. An international PhD recipient may apply for a maximum extension of up to 2 research periods of the academic course fees provided the grounds for extension relate directly to study and are beyond the control of the recipient.

g. 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.

h. The Scholarship is for commencement in relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred without prior approval of the Head of School, Sydney School of Education and Social Work.

i. The scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research.

j. No other amount is payable.

k. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding, in rotation with Thomas and Ethel Mary Ewing Scholarships in Medicine.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

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 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 carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to 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.

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 must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School 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 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. 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 receives an alternative primary stipend and/or tuition fee scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative scholarship where it is of higher value,
V. if the recipient fails to undertake the relevant travel overseas as part of their Masters by Research or PhD within the required time frame, or
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 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 the 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.

12. Reporting

a. Scholarship recipients are required to provide an annual report on their research work and details of their intended research in the following year to the Associate Dean (Research Education) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

13. 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 Sydney School of Education and Social Work.