Postgraduate Scholarships 2008 Conditions Booklet
(APA, MRS, MIRS, FMS, HRS, Prestigious and Other Major Scholarships)
5. Duration of scholarships
As outlined in item 5.1, the tenure (i.e. duration) of the APAs, MRSs, MIRSs, FMSs, HRSs and prestigious scholarships covered by these conditions depends on the course for which the scholarship is awarded.
See item 5.2 for general principles about the tenure of scholarships.
Click here to find out how to apply for an extension to your scholarship.
5.1 Course specific details
(a) PhD and other research doctorates
Scholarships may be held for up to 3 years. Students may be granted an extension of up to six months to their scholarship if their candidature is also extended.
The duration of the scholarship is limited to the standard duration of the masters by research course. An extension to the scholarship is only possible if course tenure is extended. Scholarships can be held for a maximum of two years.
(c) Masters by research converted to a doctorate by research (eg. PhD)
The scholarship may be held for a maximum of 3 years (or 3.5 years if an extension is approved) from the date the masters was commenced. The time enrolled in the masters course is counted as part of the doctorate by research course.
(d) Doctorate by research (eg. PhD) converted to a masters by research
The scholarship may be held for a maximum of 2 years from the date the doctorate was commenced. If the scholarship has already been held for more than 2 years it will cease on the date of conversion.
(e) Completing a masters by research before starting a PhD or other research doctorate.
Please see 5.3 below for details.
(f) Graduate coursework programs (eg. postgraduate diploma)
Arrangements for FMSs and HRSs awarded to students to undertake a graduate coursework program are detailed in section 15.4 (d).
(g) MPysch/PhD students awarded a FMS or a HRS should refer to section 15.4 (j)
top of page5.2 General principles
(a) Periods of study undertaken towards the degree before commencement of the scholarship will be deducted from the total duration of the scholarship.
(b) Periods of study undertaken either during suspension of the scholarship (eg. unpaid Leave of Absence), or during the tenure of a previous Australian Postgraduate Course Award, will also be deducted from the total duration of the scholarship.
(c) Continued receipt of a scholarship requires satisfactory academic performance.
(d) Scholarships cannot be extended past a student's thesis submission date (ie. course completion date).
(e) Students must apply for extensions to scholarship on the appropriate form. The forms are available from the MSO and the MSO website.
(f) Section 16 outlines the other situations when a scholarship will be ceased.
5.3 Completing a masters by research before starting a PhD or other research doctorate
(a) Students who wish to commence a research doctorate within 12 months of completing a masters by research:
In this case the scholarship that was held for the masters by research may continue to be held for the initial part of the research doctorate studies, providing:
- there is no interval between the masters and doctoral candidature, or
- the interval is covered by suspension (ie. Leave of Absence) of the scholarship.
As scholarships normally cease on completion of a course, the student must arrange their enrolment in the doctorate by research, or their Leave of Absence from the scholarship, before they submit their masters by research thesis.
In these cases the scholarship may be held for a maximum of 3.5 years and students should apply for another scholarship for the remainder of their research doctorate. For example, if an APA was held for 1.5 years for the masters by research, the APA may be held for a further 2 years for the PhD. Toward the end of the 3.5 years the student should apply for other scholarships (eg. MRS) by the scholarship closing date to cover the remainder of their PhD enrolment.
(b) Students who complete a masters and wish to undertake a PhD or other research doctorate at a later stage:
Students who complete a masters by research degree while holding a scholarship and who wish to pursue a PhD or other research doctorate at a later stage (ie. more than 12 months after the completing the masters) may apply for a different scholarship to support their research doctorate studies. For example, a student who held an APA while enrolled in a masters may apply for a MRS to support their PhD study.
Note that completion of a masters degree while holding a scholarship does not guarantee the award of a scholarship for research doctorate (eg. PhD) study.