McCaughey Memorial Institute Scholarship in Agriculture

1. Background

a. This Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to students studying honours in Agriculture.

b. This Scholarship has been donated by McCaughey Memorial Institute.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission in Honours studying an Agriculture-focused research topic or being currently enrolled in full-time Honours in fourth year with an Agriculture-focused research topic within the School of Life & Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must have completed third year of either:

I. Bachelor of Science (Plant Production) and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
II. Bachelor of Science (Animal Production) and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
III. Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Animal & Veterinary Bioscience)
IV. Bachelor of Science (Soil Science & Hydrology) and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
V. Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Agriculture), or
VI. Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Food and Agribusiness).

c. Applicants must have achieved a WAM of 65 and above, or equivalent, in their previous tertiary studies.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. if relevant, evidence of financial hardship via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Equity Scholarship application, and
III. a personal statement demonstrating interest in an area within the discipline of agriculture or food and agribusiness and if relevant, interest in undertaking field work and other research at rural sites.

b. Preference will be given to students demonstrating financial hardship via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Equity Scholarship application.

c. The Scholarship will be awarded by the Head of School of Life and Environmental Sciences, or their nominated delegate/s.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship is valued at approx. $8,000 per annum and is tenable for one year. The exact value of the scholarship will be stipulated in the Offer Letter.

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

c. Deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of the Head of School of Life and Environmental Sciences and it is not transferable to another University school, faculty or university.

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

e. 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. If recipients enrol part-time in their degree (i.e., domestic students only), they must seek prior approval to hold the scholarship on a part-time basis. The payments may be paid on a pro-rata basis.

c. 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,
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 University of Sydney, valued at $6,000 per annum or more such as the University of Sydney Honours Scholarship,
VI. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. any other provision as indicated in these terms that would lead to termination.

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.