Fay Marles Scholarship (FMS)
The Fay Marles Scholarship is awarded to applicants wishing to undertake graduate research or graduate coursework 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:
- Living allowance of $19,425 per annum (2008 rate) for those students enrolled full-time in a graduate research degree. Students enrolled in a graduate coursework degree will be paid pro-rata based on the number of points undertaken each semester.
- Relocation Grant of $2,500 to eligible recipients who are moving from interstate or overseas in order to study at the University of Melbourne. FMS recipients may also be eligible to claim (upon application and presentation of receipts) a Relocation Allowance for specific relocation expenses.
- Thesis Allowance of up to $420 (2008 rate) for masters by research and up to $840 (2008 rate) for PhD and other doctorate by research candidates.
The FMS does not cover course/tuition or HECS fees for coursework programs.
Please use the following links for information about the FMS conditions (including progress requirements for FMS recipients); duration of awards and commencement.
Eligibility criteria
1. Applicants 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.)
2. Applicants must plan to undertake, or be currently enrolled in, a postgraduate diploma*, masters by coursework, doctorate by coursework or graduate research degree at the University of Melbourne.
*FMSs cannot be awarded to support studies towards a graduate diploma or postgraduate certificate.
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. Applicants seeking a FMS to undertake a:
- coursework program (eg. postgraduate diploma, masters by coursework) must meet the normal academic requirements for the course.
- graduate research degree must normally meet the academic requirements that apply to the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS). See further details about APA/MRS Eligibility.
5. 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 2008 FMS rate = $14,280), 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. In exceptional circumstances a scholarship application form may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Research Scholarships Team.
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 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.
3. The relevant page from your faculty handbook that outlines the minimum entry requirements for the course for which you are seeking a FMS (coursework applicants only; this is only required from applicants who have not yet commenced the course for which a FMS is sought.)
Application outcome
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
31 October (or the next working day if 31 October falls on a weekend). We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.
For further information
Please contact the Graduate Research Scholarships Team on 03 8344 8747 or via www.postgradschols.unimelb.edu.au/query.