Fay Marles Scholarship (FMS)
The Fay Marles Scholarship is awarded to applicants wishing to undertake graduate research studies at the University who are of Indigenous Australian descent and/or who have had their tertiary studies adversely affected by personal circumstances.
Application process (including required documents)
Number
The University of Melbourne offers up to eight Fay Marles Scholarships each year.
Benefits and conditions
Fay Marles Scholarship benefits are similar to those provided by the Melbourne Research Scholarship and include a:
- a living allowance of $22,500 per annum (2010 rate)
- a Relocation Grant of $2,000 awarded to students who are moving from interstate in order to study at the University of Melbourne or $3,000 awarded to those who are moving from overseas
- a Thesis Allowance of up to $420 (2010 rate) for masters by research and up to $840 (2010 rate) for PhD and other doctorate by research candidates, and
- paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.
Please click on the following link for further information about scholarship conditions including duration of awards and commencement requirements etc.
Eligibility criteria
1. Applicants must plan to undertake, or be currently enrolled in, a graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne.
*FMSs cannot be awarded to support studies towards a graduate coursework degree, graduate diploma or postgraduate certificate.
2. Applicants seeking an FMS must have completed tertiary studies that are at least equivalent to a 4-year Australian Honours degree with a minimum grade average of a high H2A (ie. upper second class average which equates to 78-79% at the University of Melbourne.)
3. Applicants must provide evidence showing that they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- they are of Indigenous Australian descent, and/or
- their tertiary studies have been adversely affected by one or more of the following:
- illness
- disability
- family responsibilities (eg. child bearing or rearing, sustained care of a dependent family member, etc.), or
- traumatic event(s) that were beyond their control.
4. FMSs are not awarded to applicants who:
- cannot provide evidence of circumstances to support their FMS application
- have already completed a course deemed to be at the same level or higher level than the course for which they are seeking scholarship support
- have previously received a HRS, MRS, PES, Scholarship for Women with Career Interruptions or a Postgraduate Scholarship for Indigenous Australians
- as a result of previous candidature and/or prior scholarship, have a maximum tenure of less than 12 months
- have already been awarded or later receive another equivalent award, scholarship or salary for the studies for which they seek a FMS. An "equivalent" award is regarded as one greater than 75% of the base MRS rate (75% of the base 2009 FMS rate = $15,320), or
- are awarded an APA or MRS before the FMS selection meeting in January.
Selection criteria
Selection of the FMS is primarily based on three main criteria: personal circumstance, academic merit, and strength of the supporting documents.
Application process
Applicants must complete and submit to the Graduate Research Scholarships Office by 31 October an application for scholarship and (3) complete sets (one original and two copies) of the documents listed on the document checklist and the additional documents noted below. Applicants should apply for scholarship online using SCHOLS.
Applicants must submit three (3) complete sets (one original or certified and two copies) of the documents listed on the document checklist and the following additional documents with their scholarship application by 31 October (or the next working day if 31 October falls on a weekend).
If the required documents are not provided by the closing date or do not clearly address the requirements outlined below, the application will be deemed ineligible.
1. A statement (maximum of 1 page) that explains how you meet the eligibility requirements listed above. Specifically, this statement should indicate that you are of Australian Indigenous descent and/or show how and when your personal circumstances adversely affected your tertiary studies.
2. Documents that clearly verify:
a) That you are of Australian Indigenous descent. Examples of these documents include:
- a letter from a community elder, or
- supporting documents from the Centre for Indigenous Education at the University of Melbourne.
and/or
b) How(ie. a drop in your grades) and when (ie. which months, years etc.) your personal circumstances adversely affected your tertiary studies. Examples of these documents include:
- medical certificates
- birth certificates for dependent children
- police reports
- a Disability Impact Statement from the University of Melbourne Disability Liaison Unit, or
- a letter from an academic or course coordinator that outlines how your personal circumstances impacted upon your tertiary studies.
The FMS selection committee will be looking for a clear link between your personal circumstances and the way in which your studies were affected.
For example: you were ill for a substantial amount of time and your academic transcripts show a drop in your grades during this time.
Applications that do not demonstrate a link between personal circumstance and the way in which tertiary studies were affected will not be considered for a scholarship.
Application oucome
Applicants can view the progress of their application and scholarship assessment timelines.
The FMS selection meeting will take place in January. Applicants will be advised via standard mail and SCHOLS by the end of January of the outcome of their FMS application.
Closing date and timelines
Application forms via SCHOLS are due on 31 October at the latest. Supporting documentation is due on 31 October, or the following business day if 31 October falls on a weekend. We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.
Scholarship assessment timelines for local and international students can also be viewed.
For further information
Please contact the Melbourne Scholarships Office on 03 8344 8747 or via www.postgradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query.