Thomas T Roberts Education Fellowship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship is funded from the perpetual charitable trust established by the Estate of Mr Thomas T Roberts, LRCP (Lond) BA, who was a lecturer at the Sydney Teachers College from 1908 to 1940 and at the University of Sydney from 1920 to 1940.

b. The Scholarship is designed to support overseas travel for research or study and to enable the recipient to provide the benefit of their research or study to Education in Australia.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must be 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 at the time of scholarship application closing date.

b. Applicants must conduct research in Education.

c. Applicants must be a graduate of the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney.

d. Applicants must demonstrate a need to undertake travel overseas to conduct research in education as part of their Masters by Research or PhD.

e. Applicants must be under 35 years of age.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. curriculum vitae,
II. detailed proposed budget and itinerary including the names of places to be visited, purpose of the research and date of return to Australia,
III. outline of their proposed research (no more than two pages),
IV. outline of the benefits which they anticipate will be obtained for Education in Australia following on from their research,
V. list of publications (if relevant),
VI. a letter of reference from a supervisor, and
VII. a personal statement which demonstrates their need to travel overseas and the importance of travel to the applicant’s research.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of a selection committee consisting of:

I. Head of School, Sydney School of Education and Social Work,
II. a senior female lecturer of Sydney School of Education and Social Work, or
III. their nominated delegate(s).

c. If any of the above selection committee members decline to act, the remaining members may by a majority vote to appoint such other members of Sydney School of Education and Social Work.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will have a maximum value of $18,500 for both full-time and part-time enrolled recipients. The exact value will be outlined in the recipient’s Scholarship Offer Letter.

b. The Scholarship value will be paid as a once off payment after a receipt of the Scholarship Acceptance Form.

c. The Scholarship is tenable for one year for both full-time and part-time enrolled recipients.
d. The Scholarship cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research.
e. No other amount is payable.

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

5. Other Requirements

a. The recipient must return to Australia within 3 years of being appointed to the Scholarship or after such time as the Committee shall appoint.

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

c. Recipients may be required to produce these receipts if requested by the Sydney School of Education and Social Work.
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 resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
V. 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 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.