Scholarship in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to PhD students who are undertaking research into cardiovascular rehabilitation and secondary prevention.

b. This Scholarship is funded by a NHMRC Synergy Grant entitled, Solving the long-standing evidence-practice gap associated with cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (SOLVE-CHD).

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must have an unconditional offer of admission or be currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must not have completed more than one year of full-time studies in a PhD at the University of Sydney.

c. Applicants must also hold an Honours degree or a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

d. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into cardiovascular rehabilitation and secondary prevention.

e. Applicants must be a recipient of a primary scholarship from the University of Sydney that provides a stipend allowance.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. cover letter detailing interest in subject area,
III. curriculum vitae, and
IV. references from two academic referees.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of SOLVE-CHD Chief Investigators’ Committee.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $10,000 per annum for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance. No extension is allowed.

b. The latest end date of the scholarship is 31 December 2025 unless approved by the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health. The NHMRC Synergy Grant funding this scholarship must be approved by NHMRC for an extension past the current end date for the scholarship to be considered to continue beyond this date.

c. The Scholarship is for commencement in research period 1 or 2, 2022 and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval of Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health.

d. No other amount is payable.

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

5. Eligibility for Progression

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

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The same conditions as indicated in the terms and conditions of the primary stipend scholarship excluding any additional paid sick leave, maternity leave and/or parental leave.

7. Research Overseas

b. The same conditions as indicated in the terms and conditions of the primary stipend scholarship.

8. Suspension

a. The same conditions as indicated in the terms and conditions of the primary stipend 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.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the student from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. upon the student having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
IV. on receipt of another supplementary stipend scholarship(s) that increases the overall supplementary amount paid to a student to more than 75% of the primary amount. In such circumstances, the supplementary stipend scholarship of the higher value prevails,
V. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VI. 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, 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 (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.