Studentships
A Special Postgraduate Studentship provides funds to support a student enrolled in a graduate research or graduate coursework degree at the University of Melbourne. Studentship funding is provided by departments, faculties, supervisors, industry partners or anyone able to support a student.
Benefits & conditions (including payments, progress requirements and leave)
Application process (including how to apply for new studentships, completing the MSO2 form, and how to extend existing studentships)
Benefits and conditions
Payments
Payment of a Special Postgraduate Studentship can be made either as a lump-sum (minimum allowable lump sum payment is $500) or as an annual amount.
If a studentship is provided as a top-up to an APA, MRS, MIRS, FMS, SFS, HRS or prestigious/other major scholarship, the amount must be less than 75% of the per annum rate.
For example if the student is receiving an APA in 2008:
- The 2008 APA rate is $20,007
- 75% of the APA rate is $15,005.25 (=maximum value of studentship allowable)
- Total is $35,012.25
An explanation is required if a top-up Studentship is more than 75% of one of the main scholarships (listed above). The head of department must attach a letter of explanation to the MSO2 Special Postgraduate Studentship form.
Payments are made fortnightly into the student's bank account. Please view the pay dates for each pay period.
The Melbourne School of Graduate Research (MSGR) will advise the Melbourne Scholarships Office (MSO) of any PhD, MSc, MOptom and MIS students who have not provided satisfactory progress reports. Studentship payments will not be renewed until the student has provided a satisfactory report to MSGR.
Studentships lapse if the recipient is not enrolled as a full-time postgraduate student at the University. It is not normally possible to reinstate a lapsed award.
Any course suspensions and periods of leave away from the University must be arranged in advance. The minimum period of leave of absence a Studentship recipient may apply for is 2 weeks.
PhD, MSc, MOptom and MIS Studentship recipients must apply for leave from their course on the form available from MSGR or the MSO.
All other Studentship recipients must complete the MSO leave form and also apply for leave of absence from their course at their faculty office.
Eligibility criteria
All students enrolled in a graduate research or graduate coursework degree at the University of Melbourne are eligible to receive a studentship. Suitability is discussed with the department/funding body intending to fund the student.
Application process
Applying for a new studentship
One of three payment methods can be used to pay a Studentship.
- A lump sum (one-off) payment eg. $2,000
- An annual amount eg. $18,000 per annum from 1/2/08 to 31/1/11 (3 years)
- An amount for a specific period eg. $4,500 for 3 months.
Please note that Method 3. requires an annual amount to be calculated for payments to be made. The MSO is required to calculate the annual amount using a formula from HR. Therefore, if you know the annual amount please choose Method 2.
How to complete the payment method section on a MSO2 form
This section of the MSO2 Special Postgraduate Studentship Form should be completed by the department. First decide which payment method best suits the department and the student. Then complete one of the following methods and actions.
If choosing Method 1:
- Place a tick in the first box (lump-sum)
- Enter the lump sum amount in the box
- Enter the name of the organisation/fund or donor, and
- Enter the correct Themis account string with percentage.
If choosing Method 2:
- Place a tick in the second box (annual amount)
- Enter the annual amount in the box
- If the annual amount is to be set at the APA or MRS rates use the Yes/No tick boxes to indicated whether you wish this rate to be indexed annually in line with the APA or MRS (NB: The rate will increase on January 1st of each year in line with the increases for APA and MRS rates)
- Enter the Studentship commencement date and Studentship end date
- Enter the name of the organisation/fund or donor, and
- Enter the correct Themis account string with percentage.
If choosing Method 3:
- Place a tick in the third box (amount to be paid for specific period)
- Enter the total amount to be paid to the student for the specific period in the box
- Enter the Studentship commencement date and Studentship end date
- Enter the Name of the organisation/fund or donor, and
- Enter the correct Themis account string with percentage.
Remember if an incomplete or incorrect Themis account string is provided payment will not be made. Please check with your Departmental Accounting Officer (DAO) if you have any questions on the Themis account string.
Payments will only commence once the following has been completed and/or submitted to the MSO:
- student has a confirmed enrolment at the University of Melbourne;
- student has submitted a completed MSO10 Banking Details form;
- department has submitted a completed MSO2 Special Postgraduate Studentship form (all sections including the correct THEMIS account string must be completed);
- department has provided supporting documents if Studentship is a top up to an APA, MRS, MIRS, FMS, SFS, HRS or prestigious scholarship which is more than 75% of the per annum rate; and
- student, if enrolled part-time, has completed a Tax Declaration form. Students enrolled part-time need to complete a Tax Declaration form as part-time scholarships are taxable. This form can be downloaded from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) web site or collected from the MSO. Please contact the ATO with any questions you may have with completing this form.
All of these forms are available from the MSO and on the Graduate Research Scholarships website.
Applying for an extension of a studentship
The award of studentships, like all scholarships, is subject to satisfactory academic progress.
To extend a studentship the Head of Department must complete a MSO6 Extension of Studentship Form with the correct Themis account details and forward it to the MSO. Please view the pay dates for the cut off date for payments.
Please note: students wishing to extend a studentship must ensure they have a sufficient period of candidature remaining. If not, they must apply for the necessary extension of candidature (with the Melbourne School of Graduate Studies or the relevant Faculty office) as the MSO can not extend a scholarship/studentship beyond the candidature end date.
Closing date & timelines
Please refer to the pay dates for the cut-off date for each pay period. This will indicate when the necessary forms should be submitted to the MSO to ensure the student is paid on time.
For further information
Please contact the Graduate Research Scholarships Team on 03 8344 8747 or via www.postgradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query.