Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Psychology

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in multisensory integration.

b. This Scholarship is funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) investigator grant (2026318) for Dr Reuben Rideaux.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a PhD within the School of Psychology, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicant must be a domestic student.

c. Applicants without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.

d. Applicants must undertake research in multisensory integration.

e. Applicants must also hold at least one of the following in Psychology:

I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent or
II. a master’s degree with a substantial research component or equivalent.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. curriculum vitae or resume with previous research experience,
III. area of study and/or research proposal, and
IV. a personal statement which demonstrates research motivation in multisensory integration.

b. Preference will be given to applicants with a background in perception and neuroimaging.

c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to 1 year, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred without prior approval from the research supervisor.

c. The Scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research.

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 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.

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. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis from the research supervisor,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. 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 higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
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. Intellectual Property

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.

13. Publications

a. The scholarship recipient must comply with the guidelines as outlined on the NHMRC Open Access Policy.

14. Acknowledgements

a. The scholarship recipient must properly acknowledge in any correspondence, public announcement, advertising material, research report or other material produced related to the research part of this agreement.

b. Any material published must include the unique NHMRC Grant Identification Number (2026318) and contents of the published material are solely the responsibility of the author and do not reflect the views of NHMRC.

c. The scholarship recipient must not use NHMRC logo without NHMRC’s prior written consent to that specific use of the logo, which NHMRC may give, refuse or revoke in its absolute discretion. NHMRC may give consent subject to any terms or conditions that it considers reasonable.

15. Personal Information

a. The scholarship recipient must comply with Division 2 of Part III of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and with any policy guidelines laid down by the Commonwealth or issued by the Information Commissioner from time to time relating to the handling of personal information.

b. The scholarship recipient must not transfer personal information held in connection with this research agreement outside Australia, or to allow parties outside Australia to have access to it, without the prior approval of NHMRC.

16. Confidentiality

a. The scholarship recipient is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by the NHMRC 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 NHMRC, as appropriate, or as required by law.