UWA Stipend and Allowance

Scholarship Conditions

Graduate Research School

UWA Stipend and Allowance Scholarship Conditions

Introduction
UWA stipend and allowance scholarships are available to support domestic and international
students enrolled in higher degrees by research (HDR) at The University of Western Australia (the
‘University’). The University offers a variety of stipend and allowance scholarships.

These scholarships are governed by the conditions set out below and are to be read in
conjunction with the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships Policy and
rules for courses administered by the Graduate Research School in the UWA Handbook.

The roles and responsibilities of the Graduate Research School, Heads of School, Graduate
Research Coordinators, Advisory Panels, Supervisors, and Students are outlined in the Graduate
Research Training Policy.

Students are required to read and act in accordance with all relevant University rules,
regulations, policies, and procedures; and the rules governing the degree course in which they
are enrolled.

Conditions

1. Eligibility
1.1 The University awards stipend and allowance scholarships following a selection process (see
section 2).
1.2 To be eligible to apply for and receive a stipend and/or allowance scholarship an applicant
must—
i) meet the requirements for entry to the nominated course;
ii) be eligible to be enrolled as a full-time and internal domestic or international student,
unless the University approves otherwise;
iii) not be receiving income from another source to support their general living costs while
undertaking their course of study if that income is greater than 75% of their stipend
rate. Income unrelated to the course of study or income related to the course of study
not for the purpose of supporting general living costs is not taken into account;
iv) meet any eligibility criteria as listed in these Conditions; and
v) meet any applicable additional criteria as advertised on the UWA Scholarship
webpage/s.

2. Purpose, selection criteria and process

2.1 The purpose of stipend and allowance scholarships is to enable eligible students to
undertake a HDR at the University.
2.2 The number of Australian Government and University funded stipend and allowance
scholarships to be provided annually is determined by the Vice-Chancellor or delegate, in
consultation with the Graduate Research School.
2.3 Scholarships are awarded by the HDR Scholarships Committee to eligible applicants on
the basis of—

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 i) academic achievement as evidenced by their academic record; and
ii) research potential based on academic referee reports, relevant research experience
and publications, if applicable.
2.4 In the competitive selection process, priority may be given to students who are enrolling in
a HDR for the first time, and students who have not—
i) previously completed a Research Doctorate or equivalent;
ii) previously completed a Research Masters degree or equivalent, unless intending to
undertake a Research Doctorate;
iii) previously held an Australian Postgraduate Award, Australian Postgraduate Award
(Industry) or an Australian Government-funded Postgraduate Research Award
(excluding an IPRS) previously unless it was terminated within six months of the
commencement of benefits; and
iv) previously been awarded, or currently be in receipt of, a current scholarship stipend;
an Australian Government International RTP Fees Offset Scholarship; Scholarship for
International Research Fees (SIRF), or other scholarship designed to offset HDR fees.
2.5 Stipend and allowance scholarships are administered by the Graduate Research School.
2.6 A scholarship is awarded principally for educational purposes.
2.7 The University’s deliberations and decisions relating to the allocation, selection and award
of Scholarships are confidential.

3. Benefits
3.1 The value of the scholarship/s and method and timing of its payment will be detailed in
the student’s offer letter.
3.2 The University will administer the stipend scholarship by making fortnightly payments
directly into the recipient’s nominated active Australian bank account.
3.3 Stipend scholarships may be subject to annual indexation by the Australian Government
or the University.
3.4 Stipend scholarships administered by the University may be tax exempt in Australia if the
recipient is enrolled full-time and is able to have funds transferred to an active Australian
bank account. The University encourages all recipients to obtain independent taxation
advice.
3.5 Stipend and allowance scholarships do not cover the cost of Student Services and
Amenities Fees, costs associated with tuition fees, overseas fieldwork, bridging English
language courses or travel expenses associated with the relocation of the student to take
up the award, except as set out in clause 6.1.

4. Part-time scholarships
4.1 A part-time stipend may be approved by the Graduate Research School where the
student can demonstrate—
i) significant, documented carer responsibilities; or
ii) a medical condition or disability which limits the capacity to undertake full-time
study (supported by medical certification).
4.2 Part-time recipients are only entitled to the approved part-time stipend or allowance rates
and are not exempt from tax.

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 4.3 A student is not granted permission to hold a stipend scholarship on a part-time basis
because they wish to undertake paid employment on a full-time or substantial part-time
basis.
4.4 A student who holds a stipend scholarship on a part-time basis is subject to the same
employment restrictions as a full-time scholarship holder (see clause 21).
4.5 A student holding a part-time stipend scholarship must be enrolled at the University as a
part-time student.
4.6 A recipient of a part-time stipend scholarship may convert to full-time at the beginning of
any teaching period or may be required by the University to convert to full-time if carer
responsibilities or health issues no longer apply.
4.7 Where a recipient of a stipend scholarship has been approved to change their enrolment
between full-time and part-time their stipend scholarship entitlements are pro-rated
accordingly.

5. Tenure
5.1 The tenure of the scholarship/s will be detailed in the student’s offer letter.
5.2 Unless otherwise specified in the offer letter or conditions set out below, the maximum term
for a stipend scholarship will be—
i. 3 years full-time equivalent study if enrolled in a Research Doctorate (6 years if
enrolled part-time); or
ii. 2 years full-time equivalent study if enrolled in a Masters (4 years if enrolled part-
time), calculated from the date you enrol in the Course.
5.3 The tenure of the scholarship will be reduced by any period of study undertaken towards
the degree prior to the start of the scholarship.

6. Allowances
RTP Stipend, UPA, Hackett, Gledden, Rogerson, Forrest, Green, Gibbon and Schrader
Scholarships only

6.1 An Establishment Allowance of $2,000 is provided where the scholarship holder must
relocate to Perth from interstate to take up the scholarship and undertake a HDR. Proof of
the student's previous interstate address in Australia must be provided.
6.2 There is no provision for an Establishment Allowance for international scholarship holders or
their dependants to relocate from overseas to Perth or return to their place of origin at the
completion of their studies.
6.3 Other allowances for additional costs such as relocation, research, operating and travel
expenses may be provided and will be detailed in the letter of offer.

7. Acceptance, deferral and commencement of scholarship

7.1 Students must notify the Graduate Research School by the date specified in the offer letter
whether accepting the offer of scholarship. Acceptance includes a declaration that the
scholarship holder consents to the Conditions set out in this document.
7.2 Students must start by the date specified in the offer letter unless there are exceptional
circumstances, and approval to defer the start date is received from the Graduate
Research School.

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 7.3 If a student does not start by the date specified in the offer letter or apply and receive
approval to defer the start date, the scholarship/s may be withdrawn and reallocated to
another applicant.
7.4 Applications to transfer the scholarship and enrolment to another school within the
University must be approved by the Graduate Research School.

8. Residency

8.1 Students are expected to enrol as internal students and live close enough to the University
to enable frequent and systematic use of University facilities, including use of physical
resources, formal research training and frequent contact with supervisors.
8.2 An applicant who wishes to be enrolled remotely and based outside of Western Australia
is not normally eligible to be considered for a scholarship.

9. Criteria for continuation

9.1 Continuation of the scholarship is subject to the recipient—
i) Continuing to meet the eligibility criteria;
ii) maintaining continuous enrolment at the University, except when suspensions have
been approved;
iii) submitting all milestone reports by the due date; and
iv) making satisfactory progress according to the rules of the HDR in which they are
enrolled.

10. Concurrent scholarships

10.1 Subject to clause 1.2 (iii), a stipend may be held concurrently with another external or
University award provided that the conditions of the concurrent award so permit.
10.2 The maximum supplementation is 75% of the annual stipend scholarship value.

11. Provisions for students undertaking work outside their research topic
11.1 A student in receipt of a stipend may undertake research fellowships, industry
placements, research internships, professional practice activities or other similar
enrichment activities undertaken as part of their HDR by approval of the relevant board
in conjunction with the supervisors and enrolling school/s.
11.2 If payment of the stipend is suspended, but the student has been approved to remain
enrolled in the HDR for the duration of the research fellowship or internship, the Graduate
Research School may, at its discretion, allow the period of suspension to not be
deducted from the scholarship tenure.

12. Conversion between Research Masters and Research Doctorate awards

12.1 If a student is approved to upgrade from a Research Masters to a Research Doctorate,
the maximum duration of the scholarship becomes that for the new HDR minus any periods
of study undertake towards the related degree prior to the change. The maximum period
of support is up to three years with a possible six month extension.
12.2 If a student is approved to downgrade from a Research Doctorate to a Research Masters,
the maximum duration of the scholarship becomes that for the new HDR minus any periods
of study undertaken towards the related degree prior to the change. The maximum period

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 of support is up to two years, however, if the student has already received or exceeded
this support, the scholarship is discontinued, but there is no requirement for the student to
repay any excess.

13. Changes to field of research/research topic/enrolment status

13.1 Failure to give adequate notice of changes in enrolment that affect scholarship eligibility
may result in a scholarship overpayment to the scholarship holder.
13.2 Scholarship holders are required to repay all scholarship overpayments to the University on
request, regardless of the reason for the overpayment.
13.3 A student in receipt of a scholarship who wishes to change their Field of Research must
formally seek approval to do so from the Graduate Research School and any external
funding organisation (if applicable). Approval depends on the availability of suitable
supervisory and resourcing. Approval to change a Field of Research does not alter or
extend the student’s entitlements to International Tuition Fees Offset Scholarship support.

14. Suspension of a scholarship

14.1 Students may apply for a suspension for up to 12 months and will not normally be approved
to suspend a scholarship prior to the submission of the Research Proposal.
14.2 Periods of suspension will normally be approved only for full teaching periods. That is, a
student may not commence or end a period of suspension part-way through a teaching
period other than in exceptional circumstances outside the student’s control. Exceptional
circumstances do not include employment commitments.
14.3 In addition to the provisions for suspension above, a student may apply and be approved
for unpaid maternity or parenting leave as described in the rules of the course in which
they are enrolled. These periods of leave are managed administratively as suspensions of
candidature and scholarship/s.
14.4 Suspension must be applied for in advance, except in unavoidable circumstances. Any
retrospective suspension application must be submitted within 2 weeks of the date of
return to study and appropriate documentation (for example, a medical certificate) must
be provided.
14.5 During a period of suspension, a scholarship holder is not enrolled in load-bearing units,
does not consume their Fees Offset Scholarship (if applicable) and is not covered by
University insurance for activities undertaken as a student.
14.6 Failure of the scholarship holder to resume study or to make arrangements to extend a
period of suspension within the approved time will result in the scholarship being
terminated.
14.7 Suspensions of a scholarship must not exceed two years in total under any circumstances.
14.8 A scholarship holder who suspends a scholarship is normally required to suspend
candidature in the degree for the commensurate period. If the scholarship holder remains
enrolled, the tenure of the scholarship will be reduced by the period of study undertaken
during suspension of the scholarship, unless approval has been granted by the Graduate
Research School to allow the period of suspension for approved activities, such as paid
industry placements and internships, to not be deducted from the tenure of the
scholarship.

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15. Annual recreation leave
15.1 Students in receipt of a scholarship are entitled to up to 20 working days (four weeks) of
paid annual recreation leave in each year of the scholarship which is calculated on a pro-
rata basis.
15.2 Annual recreation leave may be accumulated and must be taken during the tenure of
the scholarship.
15.3 Applications for annual recreation leave will not normally be approved within the first six
months of the commencement of the award or prior to the submission of the Research
Proposal.
15.4 Applications for annual recreation leave in Australia must be approved by your supervisor
and are conditional on students submitting any milestones which are due at the time of
the proposed leave.
15.5 Applications for annual recreation leave outside of Australia must be approved by your
supervisor, Graduate Research Coordinator and the Graduate Research School and are
conditional on students submitting any milestones which are due at the time of the
proposed leave.
15.6 Annual recreation leave will not extend the scholarship tenure.

16. Paid professional development leave

RTP Stipend, University Postgraduate Award (UPA), Hackett, Gledden, Rogerson, Forrest, Green,
Gibbon and Schrader Scholarship holders only

16.1 The Graduate Research School may grant approval for some scholarship holders to
undertake up to 20 working days (four weeks) per year of paid professional development
leave to—
i) be employed as research assistants on field trips; demonstrators, tutors; and/or
ii) be employed to assist with the organisation of conferences or other approved
academic activities.
16.2 No more than 20 working days (four weeks) paid professional development leave may be
taken in any period of 12 months and leave must be taken in a block. Unused paid
professional development leave may not be accumulated.
16.3 Paid professional development leave is not in addition to the normal tenure of the
scholarship.
16.4 The scholarship holder will remain enrolled at the University during paid professional
development leave.
16.5 Approval to undertake periods of paid professional development leave must be obtained
from the supervisors, graduate research coordinator and the Graduate Research School
before leave is taken.
16.6 Applications for paid professional development leave will not normally be approved within
the first six months of commencement of the scholarship or prior to the submission of the
Research Proposal.
16.7 Approval of paid professional development leave is conditional on scholarship holders
having submitted the Research Proposal, and any milestone reports which are due at the
time of the proposed leave.

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17. Sick leave
17.1 Scholarship holders are provided with up to 10 working days (2 weeks) paid sick leave
each year of their scholarship.

RTP Stipend, University Postgraduate Award (UPA), Hackett, Gledden, Rogerson, Forrest, Green,
Gibbon and Schrader Scholarship holders only

17.2 Paid sick leave referred to in clause 17.1 is not in addition to the normal duration of the
stipend.
17.3 Scholarship holders may also receive up to a total of 60 working days (12 weeks) paid sick
leave which is additional to the normal duration of the stipend.
17.4 Paid sick leave referred to in clause 17.3 is normally only for medically substantiated
periods of illness of the scholarship holder lasting longer than 2 weeks (10 working days).
17.5 Periods of sick leave longer than 12 weeks must be accessed through the suspension
provisions set out in clause 14.2.

18. Maternity leave

RTP Stipend, University Postgraduate Award (UPA), Hackett, Gledden, Rogerson, Forrest, Green,
Gibbon and Schrader Scholarship holders only

18.1 Students who have completed 12 months of their stipend scholarship are entitled to a
maximum of 60 working days (12 weeks) paid maternity leave which is in addition to the
normal tenure of the scholarship.
18.2 Maternity leave is available to scholarship holders for—
i) the birth of their child; and/or
ii) adoption of a child who is not the birth child of the student or the student’s partner,
is under the age of 16, and has not lived continuously with the student for six months
or longer.
18.3 Paid maternity leave cannot be taken in the first year of a stipend scholarship; however
unpaid maternity leave may be accessed through the suspension provisions set out in
clause 14.2.

19. Parental leave

RTP Stipend, University Postgraduate Award (UPA), Hackett, Gledden, Rogerson, Forrest, Green,
Gibbon and Schrader Scholarship holders only

19.1 Scholarship holders who are not the primary caregiver, and who have completed 12
months of their scholarship, are entitled to parenting leave anytime in the 3 months
immediately after the date of birth or placement of an adopted child to their partner.
19.2 Scholarship holders may receive up to a total of 10 working days (2 weeks) paid parenting
leave which is additional to the normal duration of the stipend scholarship.
19.3 Paid parenting leave cannot be taken in the first year of a stipend scholarship; however
unpaid parenting leave may be accessed through the suspension provisions set out in
clause 14.2.

20. Paid overseas research leave

20.1 The Graduate Research School may grant approval for paid overseas research leave for
scholarship holders to—

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 i) to attend conferences; and/or
ii) undertake fieldwork and conduct research towards their HDR.
20.2 Applications for paid overseas leave for recreation or research will not normally be
approved within the first six months of commencement of the scholarship or prior to the
submission of the Research Proposal.
20.3 Approval of paid overseas leave is conditional on scholarship holders having submitted
the Research Proposal, and having submitted any milestone reports, which are due at the
time of the proposed leave.
20.4 Approval to undertake fieldwork or conduct research outside Australia is only granted
where it can be demonstrated that it is essential for the completion of the course.
20.5 The Graduate Research School approves paid overseas leave to undertake fieldwork or
conduct research only where the student has confirmed in writing that the proposed
destination has not been listed as an area to which the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade has advised against all travel and there is adequate supervision at the overseas
institution.
20.6 The scholarship holder must maintain contact with their supervisor and remain enrolled at
the University.
20.7 Students should note that in the event of war or civil disturbance breaking out in a country
to which a student has travelled for the purpose of research, the University’s travel
insurance policies may cease to apply.
20.8 Travel overseas without approved leave may result in the stipend being suspended or
terminated.

21. Employment
21.1 You are not required to undertake employment during the tenure of the scholarship.
21.2 A scholarship holder may undertake no more than eight hours’ additional paid work
between the hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday in any week.
21.3 Permission to undertake paid work between the hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday is
contingent on the student continuing to make satisfactory progress toward submission of
their thesis within the agreed period.
21.4 The Head of School or Graduate Research Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that part-
time employment is not undertaken to the detriment of the student’s studies.

22. Termination
22.1 The University may terminate a scholarship—
i) if the student fails to meet the criteria for continuation as set out in clause 8 of these
conditions;
ii) on submission of the thesis or the death, incapacity or cessation of enrolment of the
student or at the designated end of the scholarship, whichever is earlier;
iii) if in the view of the relevant board the student has committed serious misconduct
including, but not limited to, the provision of incomplete, false or misleading
information;
iv) if in the judgement of the relevant board the student is not carrying out the course of
study with competence or in accordance with the offer of the scholarship; and no
suitable alternative arrangements can be made for continuation;

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 v) if the student has committed a serious breach of the Australian Code for the
Responsible Conduct of Research or relevant University policies governing
academic or research conduct;
vi) when the student ceases to be enrolled as a full-time internal student; or
vii) if the scholarship holder does not resume study at the conclusion of a period of
suspension or make arrangements for an extension to the period of suspension.
22.2 If an award is terminated, it cannot be reactivated unless the termination occurred in error.

23. Acknowledgement
Every student who has received stipend scholarship support is obliged to acknowledge this
support in their thesis. When at any time during or after completion of the HDR, the scholarship
holder, their supervisor or any other party, publishes or produces materials such as books, articles,
newsletters or other literary or artistic works which relate to the research project carried out by the
scholarship holder, the publication must acknowledge that the research was carried out while the
author was in receipt of an/a “[insert stipend scholarship name] at The University of Western
Australia”.

24. Provision of false or misleading information

If the University is made aware that a student has provided false or misleading information in
relation to their scholarship, the University may immediately reassess the student’s scholarship
entitlements and/or terminate the scholarship.

25. Complaints and appeals

The University provides a complaint resolution process outlined in the University Policy on Public
Complaints. Where possible, you should attempt to resolve any concerns regarding the
application outcome directly with the Graduate Research School (email: scholarship-
[email protected]). If dissatisfied with the decision, you can make a complaint to the University’s
Integrity and Standards Unit. If still not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you may refer
your complaint to the Ombudsman Western Australia.

26. Changes to conditions

The conditions are determined by the Australian Government and the University and are subject
to change from time to time. Changes will be made available on the relevant scholarship
website/s and will be communicated to awardees.

27. Advice
The University recommends that you seek your own independent taxation and legal advice
regarding the scholarship, intellectual property, and other contractual arrangements with the
University or any external parties.

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 Graduate Research School
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