International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS)
Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship (MIFRS)
Benefits and conditions 2008
- Eligibility
- Selection
- Benefits
- Items that IPRSs and MIFRSs do not cover
- Commencement date
- Requirements once enrolled
- Duration (including extensions)
- Leave
- Candidature conversions
- Transferring scholarships
- Termination of scholarships
- Student and University obligations
Eligibility
Applicants will only be considered for an IPRS or MIFRS if they satisfy all of the following requirements:
- Are a citizen of a county other than Australia and New Zealand and are not an Australian permanent resident.
- Have received an unconditional course offer for entry into a graduate research degree course at the University of Melbourne. In graduate research degree courses, the research component (eg thesis) accounts for at least 66% of the course requirements.
- Note that receipt of an unconditional course offer includes meeting the University's English language requirements. For information on English language requirements, please contact International Admissions or view their website.
- Have completed, at a high level of achievement, a tertiary course that is at least equivalent to a 4 year Australian bachelors degree with honours. More information about tertiary courses that meet this requirement can be found in the section 3 of the Postgraduate Scholarships Conditions Booklet.
- To be considered for the IPRS, the application for admission to the University must be submitted by the IPRS closing date.
Applicants cannot be considered for an IPRS or MIFRS:
- If they have already completed a graduate research degree at the same or higher level than the course for which they seek a scholarship. Students who have completed a research masters cannot receive a scholarship to complete another research masters, and students who have completed a research doctorate cannot receive a scholarship to complete another research degree at either the masters or the doctorate level.
- If they already hold, or will receive a scholarship that covers the tuition fees for the course for which the IPRS and/or MIFRS is sought.
International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRSs)
Students who have commenced the course for which a fee remission scholarship is sought will not be considered for an IPRS. The only exception is if the student commenced their course in the year immediately before the current round of IPRS offers and they were not considered in the last round of IPRS offers.
The main reasons why an application would not have been considered in the last round of IPRS offers are:
- the application was lodged after the scholarship closing date
- the applicant had not received an unconditional course offer at the time the IPRS offers were made
- required documents and/or other essential information was not available when the IPRS offers were made.
The Melbourne Scholarships Office (MSO) will automatically identify and consider all students who meet the criteria listed above (i.e. an application is not required). The MSO will contact the students who are offered an IPRS.
Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarships (MIFRSs)
It is up to each faculty to decide if they will award MIFRSs from their allocation to students who have commenced the course for which a MIFRS is sought. Faculties may, however, only award MIFRSs to students who have at least 12 months full-time candidature remaining to complete their course. The only exception to this is where a fee remission scholarship was held, other than an IPRS or MIFRS, and the student requires a MIFRS for less than 12 months.
Students apply for the MIFRSs by submitting:
- an application via SCHOLS, the online application service, and
- the Form to Reapply for a Postgraduate Scholarship.
The MSO will advise all applicants of their success or otherwise.
Other eligibility notes
- An IPRS or MIFRS that was held for a masters by research may continue to be held for the initial part of research doctorate studies, providing (i) there is no interval between the masters and doctoral candidature, or (ii) the interval is covered by suspension (ie Leave of Absence) of the scholarship. Leave must be arranged before the masters by research thesis is submitted. The IPRS or MIFRS may be held for a maximum of 4 years in total.
- IPRS and MIFRS holders may concurrently hold a living allowance, such as a Melbourne International Research Scholarship (MIRS), or any type of non-tuition fee allowance from any source, except an Australian Government scholarship program.
- International applicants must comply with any contractual obligations that are owed to an employer or sponsor (eg AusAID), including obligations relating to the time to be spent in the home country following completion of undergraduate study.
- Recipients must be enrolled as a full-time student as standard student visa requirements preclude part-time enrolment for international research higher degree students.
- Students who gain temporary residency can still hold an MIFRS. Temporary residents may convert their MIFRS to a part-time status. IPRS holders, however, must firstly comply with the international student visa requirements as specified by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA). Note that IPRS or MIFRS recipients who also hold a MIRS may only retain the MIRS on a part-time basis if there are socially compelling reason/s that prevent full-time enrolment.
- Cotutelle students should visit the Melbourne School of Graduate Research website for information regarding scholarship eligibility.
Selection
- Selection of scholarship recipients is highly competitive, and is based on academic merit and research potential. Publications in refereed journals of a national and international standing, and relevant research experience, are taken into account.
- To be competitive for an IPRS, exceptional first class honours or equivalent results are required. The IPRSs are awarded by the Graduate Research Scholarships Committee (GRSC).
- Strong first class or equivalent results are normally required to be competitive for an MIFRS. The MIFRSs are allocated to the faculties to award. Faculties may take into account tertiary results, areas of research strength and other strategic factors when awarding their allocation of MIFRSs.
For further information, please see the selection principles that apply to the scholarships for graduate research degree studies.
top of pageBenefits
- IPRSs and MIFRSs cover 100% of the course tuition fees for the duration of the scholarship. Payments are not made to the student.
- Students holding a 100% fee remission scholarship may not be required to pay the international fee for dependents attending government primary and secondary schools in Victoria. All dependants seeking enrolment in a government school are required to complete an application form. To determine eligibility, students should contact the international student program unit:
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
International Student Program Unit
GPO Box 4367
Melbourne VIC 3001
AustraliaWeb: www.study.vic.gov.au
Email: international@edumail.vic.gov.au
Phone: +613 9651 3700
Fax: +613 9651 3980
Additional IPRS benefits
- Health insurance is provided for students, their spouse and dependants by the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme.
- New IPRS holders should inform International Admissions whether they will need family cover when they accept their offer of a place.
- A standard OSHC policy covers the costs of medical and hospital care in Australia, most prescription drugs, and emergency ambulance transport.
- An IPRS does not cover the costs of extra OSHC and IPRS holders must purchase extra OSHC if they require cover for ancillary services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy, etc.
- For new IPRS holders, OSHC cover is paid for the standard course duration (three years for PhD, 18 months for masters by research). If candidacy is extended beyond the standard duration, the student must pay the OSHC provider directly for renewed cover and then seek reimbursement from the Melbourne Scholarships Office (MSO).
- To ensure immediate health care cover, please contact International Admissions as soon as you arrive in Melbourne.
- As government sponsored students, IPRS holders may not be required to pay the visa application fee. Please contact DIMA for a refund form [Claim for Refund (ACC 05)/Repayment] if the fees have been paid. Refund forms must be sent to the overseas post where the fees were paid.
- IPRS holders may be eligible to claim Child Care Benefits (CCB) which assist families with the cost of their child care. This Benefit is means tested and is paid through the Family Assistance Office in Centrelink (freecall number 13 61 50). The following information may help when trying to obtain benefits:
- IPRS holders do meet the residency requirements for child care benefits. The relevant legislation is The Family Assistance Act 1999. Section 42(a) of the Act states that an individual is conditionally eligible for child care benefit if the individual, or the individual's partner, is undertaking a course of study in Australia and receiving financial assistance directly from the Commonwealth for the purpose of undertaking that study.
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In order to establish that Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships are direct financial assistance provided from the Australian Government, it may be useful to quote that they are postgraduate research scholarships that are a class of Commonwealth Scholarship, established under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) . For further information, refer to: http://www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au/guidelines/csg_guide.htm
Items that IPRSs and MIFRSs do not cover
- a living allowance. The University, however, normally also awards a Melbourne International Research Scholarship (MIRS) to IPRS and MIFRS recipients. The MIRS provides a living and thesis allowance, and a relocation allowance to students moving to Melbourne from another area of Australia.
- travel/relocation or thesis allowances. Please refer to the MIRS information above.
- Voluntary Student Union (VSU) fees
- overseas fieldwork costs (unless specifically included in the estimated course cost set by the University of Melbourne)
- tuition fees beyond the end date of the scholarship. IPRS and MIFRS recipients who remain enrolled beyond this date are liable for any tuition fees, etc from the date the scholarship ends.
IPRSs do not cover:
-
medical costs associated with the issue or renewal of a student visa.
MIFRSs do not cover:
-
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Students are responsible for their own OSHC payments
- visa application fees.
Commencement date
IPRS
The scholarship must be commenced on or after 1 January of the year of the award. It is expected that all awardees will commence study by the start of Semester Two. No IPRS may be commenced after 30 September.
MIFRS
MIFRS recipients may normally begin at any time in the semester in which they have an offer of a place of the year of the award. If a faculty requires commencement by a particular date, this will be specified in the scholarship offer letter.
It is not possible to defer commencement of either award until the following year. Applicants who are unable to commence in the current year are invited to reapply for the following year.
Requirements once enrolled
- IPRS and MIFRS holders must be enrolled in a graduate research degree on a full-time basis unless specific approval by both DIMA and the MSO has been granted to convert to part-time status.
- It is the responsibility of each scholarship holder to ensure they hold a valid visa whilst in Australia.
- Students must inform the MSO immediately of any changes in their enrolment status. For example, changing from full-time to part-time study or from ‘on-campus’ to ‘off-campus’ enrolment status.
Duration (including extensions)
All students should develop a plan with their supervisor that will ensure that they complete their course within the normal candidature time frames.
IPRSs and MIFRSs awarded to masters by research students are limited to the standard duration of the masters by research course. An extension to scholarship is possible if the candidature is extended. Scholarships held by masters by research students can be held for a maximum of two years.
IPRSs and MIFRSs are awarded for three years for PhD and other research doctorate studies. Scholarships may be extended by up to six months if the candidature is also extended. If exceptional circumstances exist that are documented, clearly beyond the control of the student and relate directly to student's course, approval may be given for IPRSs and MIFRSs held by PhD and other doctorate students to be extended for an additional six months.1
Periods of study undertaken toward the research higher degree course before the commencement of the scholarship are deducted from the maximum scholarship tenure.
Scholarships cannot be extended beyond the end date that applies to the candidature (ie the thesis submission date).
Extensions to IPRSs and MIFRSs due to a change in research area will only be approved where the change of research area was outside the control of the student and the University.
Work commitments cannot be accepted as grounds for an extension of the duration of an IPRS or a MIFRS.
1 Note that the MIRS, a scholarship that provides a living allowance is often held by IPRS and MIFRS recipients, can not be extended beyond 3.5 years for PhD and other research doctorate students. This means that if a second 6 month extension to the IPRS or MIFRS is approved, the student would need to cover their own living expenses for the final 6 months.
Leave
Scholarship holders may take a maximum of 12 months Leave of Absence and 12 months Leave to Study Away/Overseas from their course and scholarship, but must check their visa conditions before applying for leave.
PhD and MSc, MIS, MOptom students must apply in advance by using a special form available from either the Melbourne School of Graduate Research (MSGR) or the Melbourne Scholarships Office (MSO). Other students must apply in advance through their faculty for leave from their candidature and through the MSO for leave from their scholarship. MSO forms are available from the graduate research scholarships website.
Up to 4 weeks recreational leave is available each year by arrangement with supervisors. It is not necessary to advise the MSO of such leave.
Candidature conversions
It is possible for a student to convert from a masters by research degree to a research doctorate (eg PhD), or vice versa, with the scholarship duration increased or decreased according to the new length of candidature. For example, a masters student who converts to a PhD will receive the scholarship for a total of three years (or 3 years 6 months if an extension is approved) from the date they commenced their masters.
Transferring scholarships
IPRSs
It is possible to transfer an IPRS from one institution to another or between University of Melbourne departments but special conditions apply. Please contact the International Graduate Research Scholarships Officer (MSO) for details.
MIFRSs
It is not possible to transfer a MIFRS from the University of Melbourne to another institution. Students wishing to transfer a MIFRS between University of Melbourne departments should contact the International Graduate Research Scholarships Officer (MSO).
Termination of scholarships
Scholarships will be terminated in the following circumstances, whichever comes first:
- if the student ceases to meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the conditions
- at the end of the period for which it was granted
- upon completion of the course of study
- when the thesis is submitted
- when the student ceases to be enrolled as a full-time graduate research degree student (unless specific approval by both DIMA and the MSO has been granted to convert to part-time status)
- if the student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress
- if the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the scholarship offer
- if the University determines that the student is guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, the provision of false or misleading information
- if the student does not resume study at the end of a period of leave or formal arrangements (via the MSO) have not been made to extend the period of leave
- if the student is granted Australian permanent resident status. Students must immediately advise both the MSO and Student Enrolment Services about any changes to their visa status. Students should visit International Admissions in the first instance if they have queries about visa conditions
- upon the death, incapacity, resignation or withdrawal of the student from the course.
Scholarships may also be terminated (or the student placed on probation) before this time if, after due inquiry, the University forms the view that the student has not complied with the Conditions set out in this document.
Student and University Obligations
Students must notify the MSO of any changes in their enrolment and other circumstances that may effect their eligibility to continue receiving a scholarship, or risk termination of the scholarship. Please see section 18 of the Postgraduate Scholarships Conditions Booklet for other student obligations.
The University's obligations are outlined in section 17 of the Postgraduate Scholarships Conditions Booklet.