LINKAGE PROJECT AND AUSTRALIAN POSTGRADUATE AWARD (INDUSTRY)

This sheet is provided to (i) assist academics when selecting students to be considered for scholarships, and (ii) inform academics and students of the eligibility requirements and benefits. This is an overview of the conditions only. The Scholarships, Loans and Research Students Office (SLARSO) should be consulted for other details or where a circumstance is not covered in this sheet. The conditions and benefits are subject to review.

Selection Process
Selection is based on academic merit and research potential. Eligible students should hold a degree of at least Honours 2/1 standard or equivalent. Consideration may also be given to applicants who have considerable research experience in industry. Final assessment of eligibility of a student to hold a scholarship can only be made by SLARSO.

Benefits
Students commencing in 2005 receive an annual stipend, including thesis production allowance, of $24,650 pa, tax exempt. The 2006 rate is not yet available. The stipend is paid in fortnightly instalments. Awards approved to be held on a part-time basis are taxable.

Eligibility
Awards are normally only available to students who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens.

Applicants must undertake a full-time Masters by Research or PhD (or have approval to undertake part-time study-see “Part-time Awards” below).

Awards are NOT available to students who:
•	have already completed a Masters degree or its equivalent unless they are proposing to undertake a PhD
•	have already completed a PhD or its equivalent
•	have already had more than six months of an Australian Government funded postgraduate research award (excluding Australian Postgraduate Course Awards - APCA's received for courses completed prior to 1994)

Tenure
The award is normally provided for three years for a PhD and two years for a Masters by Research.

Recipients are required to commence by 30 June (if the award is made in Session One) or 31 December (if the award is made in Session Two).  Only in exceptional circumstances will the University agree to the student commencing after the above mentioned dates.

Commencement of the APA(I) is also conditional on the University entering into an agreement with the collaborating industry partner/s and the APA(I) candidate.

Periods of study undertaken prior to the granting of the award but which count towards the degree will be deducted from the period of tenure. Part-time study is equivalent to 50% of full-time study.

PhD students may be granted an extension for up to six months if their research was delayed by circumstances beyond their control. The circumstances should relate to the research and not be of a personal nature. Award holders wishing to request an extension should apply in writing to SLARSO, including a supervisor’s supporting statement, no later than two months (and no earlier than four months) prior to the expiry of the award. The industry partner is not required to provide additional cash or “in-kind” contributions for the period of extension.

Additional Benefits

Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)
Recipients of the Scholarship will be allocated an “APA Without Stipend” ie. exemption from liability under HECS, also known as a HECS exemption scholarship.

Allowances
Other allowances are also payable on production of original receipts (2005 rates):
•	Thesis Allowance
An award holder who submits his/her thesis may claim the allowance within six months of submission and not more than one year after termination of the award.  The award provides up to $420 for a Masters thesis and $840 for a PhD for costs associated with the production of their thesis.
•	Relocation Expenses
Where the award holder must move between cities to take up the award, a claim may be submitted for the student, his/her spouse and dependants for:
Travel Allowance which covers the actual costs incurred up to the equivalent of the economy air fare or, where appropriate, the concession rate
Where the student travels by car, an allowance will be provided up to the maximum equivalent of the cheapest direct airfare
Removal Expenses of up to $505 for each adult and $255 for each child - with a maximum claim of $1455.

Part-time Awards
Students with heavy carer commitments or with a medical condition precluding full-time study may, with the approval of their supervisor, the industry partner and the Federal Minister responsible for the ARC, be permitted to hold awards on a part-time basis. Applicants for part-time awards need to attach a statement of reasons to their application form, along with a supporting statement from the proposed supervisor and any relevant documentation. Award holders wishing to transfer to part-time tenure should also forward a statement of reasons and supervisor’s supporting statement to SLARSO for consideration.

In 2005 part-time award holders will receive a taxable stipend of $13,463 pa. The 2006 rate is not yet available. Students may convert to full-time at any stage. Students must convert to full-time if the reasons for undertaking part-time study no longer apply.

HOW TO APPLY
APA(I) application forms are available from UNSW Research Services and the completed form and attachments can be submitted to UNSW Research Services or SLARSO.  To ensure the safety of documents, certified photocopies rather than originals should be provided. Photocopies must be certified by a Justice of the Peace or a member of staff of UNSW Student Central, the proposed School/Faculty or SLARSO.

Whenever possible, transcripts should indicate that all the requirements for the degree have been completed. They should also include a copy of the official grading system to enable interpretation of the results. If the documentation is not in English, certified English translations must be provided.
Application for Admission
Application for an award does not constitute an application for admission. Students must also complete an application for admission. Applications for admission are available from UNSW Student Central.

Leave Arrangements
Leave (except sick and maternity leave), approval of overseas study and suspension of the award may normally only be requested after the award holder has been in receipt of the assistance for at least six months. Leave is normally only granted with the approval of the supervisor and industry partner. The approval of the Supervisor and SLARSO must be sought for any leave. In some cases the approval of the Industry partner and the Federal Minister responsible for the ARC may also be necessary.

Recreation Leave 
Up to 20 days a year may be approved at a time agreed to by the supervisor. All leave must be taken during the period of tenure.

Overseas Study
Where overseas study is essential to the student's research, the award may be held overseas if:
•	the total periods of overseas study do not exceed 12 months (or 18 months in exceptional circumstances)
•	the prior approval of the minister is required where the overseas research is to commence within 6 months of the starting date of the project
•	adequate supervision can be arranged
•	the student returns to Australia to complete the research immediately following the period of overseas study
•	the overseas study is full-time
•	the student continues to be enrolled as a full-time student. Higher Degree Committee approval must be sought if the period of study will exceed 12 weeks.

Suspension
An award holder may request suspension of the award for up to 12 months to gain work experience in industry. Only in exceptional circumstances will suspension be granted on other grounds. Suspension within the first 6 months of the award or for periods over 12 months require ARC approval.

Before a scholarship can be restored after suspension the student and supervisor must complete a “Commencement of Study” form (available from UNSW Student Central) and confirm the date on which the student is returning to studies. Failure to resume studies after an approved period of suspension may result in termination of the award.

Sick Leave
Award holders may receive up to ten days paid sick leave each year of the award and this may be accrued.  Unused sick leave is forfeited when the award is terminated or completed. Students should contact SLARSO whenever they take sick leave.

Maternity Leave of up to 12 weeks may be available. Paid maternity leave cannot be taken during the first 12 months of tenure. Periods of paid maternity leave are in addition to the normal duration of the award. 

Transfer of Awards
A Masters by research award may be converted to a PhD award or vice-versa provided the student's progress merits it.

Employment
Scholarship recipient students cannot be required to undertake paid employment. Students are permitted to undertake employment only with the permission of their supervisor and Head of School. The employment must not interfere with their research, their ability to undertake full-time study, or the wishes of the industry partner.

Reporting
Your supervisor will be asked to submit regular progress reports. Forms can be obtained from the ARC website and SLARSO.  A final report must be submitted to SLARSO within 6 months of termination of the award.

Relinquishment
An award will be terminated two weeks after the thesis is submitted or at the end of the award, whichever is the earlier. An award holder is required to give at least 14 days notice of the intention to voluntarily relinquish the award.

The award will be terminated:
•	if the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or the student is not fulfilling obligations or has not met satisfactory progress criteria.
•	when the student ceases to be a full-time research student (unless a part-time award is approved).
•	on the death, incapacity, resignation or withdrawal of the student.
•	if the cumulative period of suspension of the award exceeds twelve months, and prior approval has not been obtained for further suspension.
•	if the student is absent from study without the prior approval of their supervisor or SLARSO.
•	if the student fails to return to study after an approved period of leave, suspension or overseas study.

Obligations of Award Holders
The student must advise SLARSO prior to making any change which may affect their Scholarship application or eligibility for benefits. Eg. a change of address, the intention to study overseas or suspend their award, or periods of illness. Students must also advise SLARSO when they submit their thesis. Where it is not possible to provide prior advice concerning a change, notification must be sent to SLARSO within seven days of the change.

Students must diligently apply themselves to the successful completion of the degree and comply with degree conditions.

The student must abide by the NHMRC codes on human and animal experimentation, the guidelines established by the Australian Government's Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee and rulings of the Safety and Ethics Committees of the University.

Renewal
Each year the student’s supervisor will be asked if renewal of the award is required and recommended. 

The Scholarships, Loans and Research Students Office
(c/-UNSW Student Central, Lwr Grnd Floor, The Chancellery)
The University of New South Wales
UNSW Sydney 2052 Australia
Telephone:	+61 (2) 9385 1462/3101
Facsimile:	+61 (2) 9385 3732
Email:		scholarships@unsw.edu.au

UNSW Research Services
(Ground Floor, Rupert Myers Building)
The University of New South Wales
UNSW Sydney 2052 Australia
Telephone:	+61 (2) 9385 7249/7230
Facsimile:	+61 (2) 9385 7238