Policies and procedures
POLICY NO: RES 9.1
DATE OF APPROVAL: 15 November 1996
AMENDMENTS: Academic Board 17 July 1998
Further amendments by Research Degrees Committee June 1999.
Further amendments by Academic Board February 2000.
Further amendments by Academic Board May 2007.
REFERENCE AUTHORITY: Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice
President (Research &
Innovation);
Dean of Graduate Studies (Chair of Research Degrees Committee)
CROSS REFERENCE:
Academic Regulations for
Higher Degrees by Research
Code of Practice:
University philanthropic activity
Higher Education Support Act and associated scholarship guidelines
UniSA Higher Degree by Research scholarship ranking criteria
UniSA Higher Degree by Research scholarship conditions
UniSA Higher Degree
by Research candidature information
The purpose of this policy is to establish the general principles underpinning:
This policy does not apply to:
A prize is selected on academic merit to acknowledge outstanding academic achievement in a course, group of courses or program, in accordance with the selection criteria. A prize may take the form of a certificate or letter of recognition, a plaque or medal, a subscription or membership, nominated items or monetary reward.
A scholarship is an award selected on merit (including but not limited to academic merit) to assist a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student to undertake or complete a program of research at the University, in accordance with the selection criteria. A scholarship may take the form of monetary payment or assistance with specified costs (such as tuition fees). It may be known also as a grant.
1. Prizes and scholarships are of strategic significance to the University's competitive, research and equity aspirations and indicate the University's commitment to academic and research excellence, social responsibility, equity and diversity.
2. The University’s Research Degrees Committee (RDC) will report new scholarships and prizes, or major amendments to scholarships and prizes, to Academic Board on an annual basis. The University will establish and administer scholarships for any of the following reasons:
3. The University will support growth in the range and number of prizes and scholarships congruent with its strategic intent through setting aside funds for scholarships to be established, actively encouraging donations from industry, government, business and community organisations, alumni and philanthropists, as well as through allocation of earned income by the University.
4. All external funds received for the purpose of an approved scholarship or prize may be directed via the University’s Foundation and will be managed in accordance with the principles outlined in the Code of Practice: University philanthropic activity, for the purposes specified by the donors. The University will report annually on the use of the funds to the donors or their trustees.
5. The University reserves the right not to accept scholarship funds from a donor, and not to accept particular conditions on funding, such as the establishment of a scholarship in a particular area, or the requirement to impose certain criteria associated with a new scholarship or prize.
6.1 The University will select students for an HDR scholarship against published selection criteria, and the awarding of the scholarship will be conditional on continuing eligibility under those criteria, including future enrolment and/or performance in a program of research at the University.
6.2 Criteria for the awarding of a scholarship will include competitive academic merit and evidence that the research is in a designated University area of research strength, but may also include or take account of factors that contribute to a student's relative disadvantage in their capacity to demonstrate academic merit such as disabilities, isolated or rural location, low socio-economic status, non-English speaking or Indigenous background.
6.3 The University will administer scholarships established under relevant legislation, including the Higher Education Support Act and Australian Taxation law.
6.4 If, for any reason, a donor is unable to meet the financial obligations associated with a scholarship or prize, the University will not be responsible for providing ongoing payments to scholarship recipients.
7. The University will select Higher Degree by Research students for a prize against published selection criteria.
8.1 The University may recognise its most outstanding HDR graduating students by the awarding of university prizes under clause 2 in these procedures.
9. Procedures for Higher Degree by Research Prizes
9.1 The Dean of Graduate Studies, in conjunction with the Marketing and Development Unit, is responsible for managing relationships with donors of prizes that are specific to HDR students and graduands, including recommending ways to formally acknowledge donations through naming of prizes (subject to conditions) and where appropriate, through publication in graduation ceremony booklets.
9.2 After approval by Academic Board, each new prize will be formalised through a written agreement with the donor, detailing financial arrangements, selection criteria and other relevant considerations. All agreements are to comply with the Vice Chancellor’s designations established by the University’s Council.
9.3 The Dean of Graduate Studies will establish appropriate selection panels to determine the prize winner according to the prize documentation approved by Academic Board.
9.4 The Dean of Graduate Studies, in conjunction with Marketing and Development Unit, will be responsible, where applicable, for:
9.5 Research Degrees Committee, through the Dean of Graduate Studies, will report all prize winners (and prizes which were not awarded) to Academic Board each year.
9.6 The Graduate Studies Office, in conjunction with Student and Academic Services, will maintain a register of all prizes offered.
10.1 The University may recognise its most outstanding HDR graduating students by the awarding of scholarships as outlined in clauses 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of these procedures.
10.2 The Research Degrees Committee will be responsible for establishing, promoting, selecting, establishing conditions, ranking, awarding and reporting of University-wide Higher Degree by Research scholarships.
11.1 All HDR student scholarships established at and offered by the University will be in accordance with this policy.
11.2 University researchers may negotiate with potential funding bodies in order to establish scholarships. Normally, approaches to potential external donors will be coordinated through the Dean of Graduate Studies.
11.3 To ensure that it is administered in a fair and transparent manner, consistent with the principles of equity and equal opportunity, each new scholarship will be formalised through a written agreement with the donor, detailing:
Wherever possible, the selection criteria and scholarship conditions are to comply with the established University scholarship conditions.
11.4 All such agreements are to comply with the Vice Chancellor’s designations established by the University’s Council.
11.5 The Dean of Graduate Studies, in conjunction with the Divisional Dean Research (or equivalent) and Marketing and Development Unit, is responsible for managing relationships with donors of scholarships that are specific to the relevant HDR programs, including recommending ways to formally acknowledge donations through naming of scholarships (subject to conditions).
11.6 The Graduate Studies Office, in conjunction with Student and Academic Services, will maintain a database containing details and conditions of all University Higher Degree by Research scholarships. The database may also include details of non-University scholarships available to UniSA students. The Graduate Studies Office and Student and Academic Services will also ensure that comprehensive, current and accurate information about scholarships and prizes is available on the University website.
12.1 A scholarship may not be promoted, advertised or awarded until it has been approved by Research Degrees Committee, all documentation has been finalised, and funding to cover the duration of the scholarship for the first recipient(s) has been confirmed.
12.2 The Marketing and Development Unit, in conjunction with the Dean of Graduate Studies, will undertake regular publicity, advertising and marketing initiatives for University scholarships.
13.1 Scholarships are to be awarded on the basis of academic merit, including eligibility for admission to the degree in line with the Academic Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, research capacity, potential to complete a research degree and conducting research in a University-designated area of strength.
13.2 The Dean of Graduate Studies will determine the University’s HDR Scholarship Conditions, review them on a regular basis and report changes to Research Degrees Committee.
13.3 The following general conditions will apply to all scholarships:
13.4 The maximum period of tenure for an HDR scholarship will be up to three years full-time for a Doctoral program or two years full-time for a Masters by Research. Periods of study towards the research degree within three years prior to commencement will be deducted from the period of the scholarship.
13.5 The Dean of Graduate Studies, on application from the HDR student and supported by the Principal Supervisor, Research Degree Coordinator and Dean of Research, may grant an HDR student an extension to the scholarship funding for a period normally not exceeding six months.
13.6 Unless specified otherwise in the procedures governing a particular scholarship, scholarships are not transferable to another university or provider.
14.1 The Research Degrees Committee will determine the University’s Scholarship Ranking Criteria and review it on a regular basis.
14.2 Selection for a scholarship will be based on academic merit and the ranking of each applicant will be assessed on a combination of:
14.3 Where a student becomes ineligible for, or rejects the offer of a scholarship, an offer may be made to the next ranked student providing they meet the selection criteria.
14.4 The following preclude the awarding of a University scholarship:
15.1 The Dean of Graduate Studies shall formally offer all research degree scholarships on the recommendation of the appropriate selection committee.
15.2 Offers made to a scholarship recipient must be in writing, either by email or letter, and include:
15.3 Scholarship recipients may apply to vary their candidacy in accordance with the Academic Regulations for the Higher degree by Research and the University’s established scholarship conditions, or where applicable, those applying to the named scholarship.
15.4 An HDR student who relinquishes the scholarship may have it reinstated, subject to approvals and funding being available.
15.5 The Graduate Studies Office is responsible for ensuring the fortnightly payment of scholarships through the University’s established payment procedures, following the HDR student’s formal enrolment in the program. All variations to payment of research degree scholarships shall be authorised by the Dean of Graduate Studies, relevant Dean Research (or equivalent) or the appropriate cost centre manager.
16.1 The Dean of Graduate Studies will report to Academic Board annually on new scholarships established.
16.2 The Director, Finance, in conjunction with the Dean of Graduate Studies, will be responsible for preparing appropriate reports on financial details associated with Commonwealth funded HDR scholarships.
16.3 The Dean of Graduate Studies will be responsible for preparing appropriate reports on details associated with scholarships provided by non-government sources.
