Research Higher Degree Scholarships 2009 Procedure

Document Number	000846
Date Approved	25 June 2008

Glossary of Terms:

APA: Australian Postgraduate Award (DEEWR-funded stipend – domestic)

UNRSC: University of Newcastle Research Scholarship Central (funded by the Research Division)

UNRSE: University of Newcastle Research Scholarship (External) (stipend, funded by an individual, School, Faculty, or external source)

UNIPRS: University of Newcastle International Postgraduate Research Scholarship

EIPRS: Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DEEWR-funded fee waiver - international)

OGS: Office of Graduate Studies

IA: International Admissions  

DEEWR: Department of Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

PUNRSC: Provisional UNRSC, awarded to a current Honours student

Procedures

1.      Role of Faculties

i.               Faculties will have responsibility for assessing applications by the due date as advised by the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS).

ii.             If offered, Faculties will advise OGS of recipients of Provisional UNRSC’s to allow a conditional offer of UNRSC to be issued. Recipients must be currently enrolled in an Honours program at the University of Newcastle.

iii.            The Faculty contact person for scholarship selection will be the person appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty as Assistant Dean with responsibility for Research Training.

iv.            From the list provided by OGS, Faculties will nominate eligible international applicants for a full living allowance scholarship subject to receiving a matching UNIPRS.

v.              From the list provided by OGS, Faculties will nominate eligible domestic applicants for a 50% living allowance scholarship.

2.      Role of Office of Graduate Studies and International Admissions

i.              The Senior Graduate Studies Officer (Scholarships) will be responsible for research scholarship management, in consultation with appropriate Faculty personnel.

 

ii.            Staff of OGS and International Admissions (IA) will service the research scholarship business activity.  OGS will receive domestic applications, complete preliminary processing, calculate GPA*, obtain final year results, distribute and receive application packages to and from Faculties, complete preliminary audit checks on scholarship assessments, issue letters of offer of admission to candidature and offers of scholarship.

iii.            IA will receive applications from overseas applicants, complete preliminary processing, calculate GPA*, evaluate overseas credentials, distribute and receive application packages to and from Faculties and issue letters of offer of admission to candidature by the due date as advised by OGS. 

iv.            OGS will undertake scholarship eligibility checks prior to the ranking meeting.

 

v.             OGS will determine whether an award is to be an EIPRS, UNIPRS, APA or a UNRSC.

 

vi.           OGS will have responsibility for conveying formal scholarship offers to applicants, receiving acceptances and reporting on the University’s compliance with DEEWR procedures.

 

vii.          OGS will provide the Faculties with a list of remaining eligible international applicants after EIPRS scholarships have been allocated, for nomination of a Faculty funded full living allowance scholarship.

 

viii.        OGS will provide the Faculties with a list of remaining eligible domestic applicants after APA and PUNRSC scholarships have been allocated, for nomination of a Faculty funded 50% living allowance scholarship.

 

* GPA calculation will be based on the last 2 years of undergraduate study prior to Honours (years 2 and 3 for embedded Hons programs), or part-time equivalent and exclude work placements and projects. Applicants from other institutions including international universities have their score GPA weighted for courses with different unit values.

3.      Overview of the Assessment Process

i.               Applications will be accepted at OGS or IA until the closing dates (31 August for international applicants and 31 October for domestic applicants).  All applications must be complete at the time of submission.  Supporting documentation received after the closing date may not be considered.  

ii.             Applicants may elect to be considered in more than one discipline area.  A separate applicationmust be lodged for each discipline and each will be considered separately within the relevant School or Faculty.   Offers of admission to candidature and scholarship are not automatically transferable to another School or Faculty.

iii.            Credential evaluation will be carried out in OGS or IA prior to the progressive dispatch of applications to Faculties for assessment.

iv.            Applications will be referred to Heads of Schools to provide a structured assessment on the basis of qualifications, experience and accomplishments presented in the application, relative to opportunity**.

v.              The Faculties will return assessed applications to OGS or IA according to the timeline appended to this document.

** Relative to Opportunity: applicants who will be ranked relative to opportunity are:

a.       applicants who are currently enrolled in an Honours program, or program with embedded Honours;

b.       applicants who completed Honours in 2007 or 2008;

c.       recipients of a University medal in 2006, 2007 or 2008 (awarded by any University);

d.       applicants who provide evidence to claim disadvantage on the grounds of ill health, pregnancy, carer responsibilities or other legitimate reason.

3.1.     Selection Criteria

i.       The research scholarship selection criteria for international applicants and for domestic applicants are listed in the assessment sheets:■   international, and

■   domestic.

ii.       The research scholarship selection criteria will have components of academic achievement and research/scholarly attainments relative to opportunity

iii.      If two applications are equally ranked, preference will be directed to a PhD applicant over a Masters applicant.

4.      Credential Evaluation

i.                     Honours 1 or equivalent is the threshold for consideration for the award of a scholarship.   Attainments and/or qualifications that provide the evidence for Honours 1 equivalence cannot also be given recognition in any other category, that is, they cannot be counted twice for rating purposes. Honours 1 equivalence will be determined by the Head of School and confirmed by the Assistant Dean (Research Training).

ii.                   If an applicant has two Bachelor degrees, the most relevant rather than the most recent degree is used.

iii.                  Any applicant without a Bachelor degree will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

4.1.     International qualifications

International qualifications will be assessed for comparability with Australian degrees on the basis of reference material from the National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) Guides, UK NARIC, the International Handbook of Universities and other resources used by IA.  The assessments will be undertaken by staff in IA and provided to Heads of Schools and the Research Training Sub-Committee Scholarship Working Group. A Distinction level GPA (6/7) for an international qualification is assessed as equivalent to Honours 1, provided that the degree is of at least four years duration.

4.2.     Honours degree from an Australian university

Honours 1 or an equivalent Honours 1 qualification is required. Those whose qualifications and experience are assessed as less than equivalent to Honours 1 will not be eligible for a scholarship except where all Honours 1 applicants have received a scholarship and there are a number of scholarships remaining. All candidates currently enrolled in Honours programs are eligible to apply for research scholarships and will be ranked as if they have achieved Honours 1. Any offers issued will be conditional. If the applicant is deemed to be Honours 1 equivalent the School must state the justification on the assessment sheet.

4.3.     Other qualifications that may meet equivalence requirements

Some applicants will present with a Bachelor degree and other qualifications. For the purpose of the scholarship application process,  a research Master degree is considered equivalent to Honours 1, however, the research Master degree cannot be counted again as an extra research attainment. Other qualifications are considered on their merits.

5.      Offer of Awards

5.1.     Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) and University of Newcastle Research Scholarships Central (UNRSC).

In order to enable the timely despatch of scholarship offers in December, a Scholarship Selection Meeting will be held in late November.  The Research Training Sub-Committee Scholarship Working Group will confirm Honours 1 equivalence and scoring allocated by Heads of School and confirm a ranked list of applicants based on academic merit.  Committee members will review applicants for scholarships in Faculties other than their own (except to confirm Honours 1 equivalence).

Recipients of a PUNRSC will be ranked in the institution merit list and, subject to achieving Honours 1, will also be considered for an APA.

 

5.2.     Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (EIPRS)

 

The Research Training Sub-Committee Scholarship Working Group will confirm Honours 1 equivalence and scoring allocated by Schools and confirm a ranked list of applicants based on academic merit. 

A selection score will be determined for each application.  Applicants who have not met the English language requirements for admission by the close of applications will not be considered for an EIPRS.

Successful EIPRS applicants must normally arrive at the University of Newcastle to take up their EIPRS by 1 July in the year of offer, or the offer will be withdrawn.

 

5.3.     University of Newcastle International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (UNIPRS)

 

The Research Training Sub-Committee Scholarship Working Group will confirm Honours 1 equivalence and scoring allocated by Schools and confirm a ranked list of applicants based on academic merit. 

A selection score will be determined for each application.  Applicants who do not already meet the English language requirements for admission will only be considered for an UNIPRS where a request is made in accordance with the English Language Proficiency Policy to consider exceptions, based on a submission from the Head of School attesting to the English proficiency of the applicant and approve a relaxation of the requirement, with or without conditions.

Eligibility for UNIPRS to be equivalent to EIPRS with the following exceptions:

·         must be commencing a Research Higher Degree in Semester 1 or 2, 2009

·         must normally not have previously held a research scholarship for the level of award.

·         Faculty must fund the stipend for the duration of the award.

·         Must have a valid application for EIPRS in current round.

At other times of year, applicants who are nominated by the Faculty for a UNIPRS with UNRSE will be considered by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Award of UNIPRS is subject to meeting appropriate academic standards.

 

6.      Externally Funded Scholarships (UNRS – External)

i.       Applications of unsuccessful candidates for a research scholarship (APA, UNRSC, EIPRS, and UNIPRS) will be made available to University staff seeking to award a scholarship funded from a research grant or other external funding source.  If there are no eligible candidates identified from this pool, individual recruitment procedures will be put into place to fill the scholarship.

 

Approval Authority	Academic Senate
Date Approved	25 June 2008
Date for Review	25 June 2009
Policy Contact Position	Executive Officer, Graduate Studies