Applicant Guide

Annual Scholarship Round

2017 Research Scholarships

June 2016
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 2017 QUT Research Scholarships Applicant Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Important Dates ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Available Scholarships and Minimum Eligibility ....................................................................................................................... 4

Table 1: Scholarships available in the 2017 Annual Scholarship Round .............................................................................. 5

Honours Equivalence ................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Additional eligibility requirements for a Scholarship ............................................................................................................... 6

Predicted Honours Equivalence ............................................................................................................................................... 7

How to apply ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8

Table 2: Supporting Documents Required for Honours 1 Equivalence .............................................................................. 10

How your scholarship application will be assessed ................................................................................................................ 12

Table 3: Scoring Process for APA, QUTPRA, IPRS and IPRA applicants .............................................................................. 12

Application outcomes ............................................................................................................................................................. 13

Scholarship Start Dates .......................................................................................................................................................... 14

Appealing a scholarship application outcome ........................................................................................................................ 14

Contacts .................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

Appendix 1 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 15

Approval & modification history.................................................................................................................................... 17

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 2017 QUT Research Scholarships Applicant Guide

INTRODUCTION
QUT awards a limited number of scholarships every year to students who provide clear evidence of exceptional
research potential and who are undertaking, or applying to undertake, a higher degree by research.

The availability of scholarships is limited each year and QUT currently conducts one highly competitive scholarship
round per year, called the Annual Scholarship Round (https://www.qut.edu.au/research/scholarships-grants-and-
funding/annual-scholarship-round).
This document is a guide for both current and prospective research students who are considering applying for a
scholarship in the 2017 annual round.

FEEDBACK
We would love to hear what you think! Feedback or suggestions on additional information to be included is always
welcomed. To ensure it is added for next years scholarship round, please email the Research Students Centre
Scholarships team (refer to page 15 for our contact details).

IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday 1 Sep 2016 The QUT Virtual scholarship application form becomes available for current QUT
research students to apply for a 2017 research scholarship

Thursday 8 Sept 2016 Information session for prospective scholarship applicants

10am 11am Gardens Point Campus, (Z block, Level 10, Gibson Room)

Thursday 15 Sept 2016 Information session for prospective scholarship applicants

2.30pm 3.30pm Kelvin Grove Campus, (88 Musk Avenue, Level 1, Room 109)

Friday 30 Sept 2016 (11:59pm Application closing date

Australian Eastern Standard Time
This date applies to both current research students (via the QUT Virtual online
- Brisbane)
form) and commencing students (via receipt of an application for admission).
Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Friday 30 Sept 2016 Deadline to submit any additional documentary evidence to confirm Honours 1
Equivalence. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Use the Time Zone Converter at

From Monday 5 Dec 2016 www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html toand

Release of Scholarship offers to successful applicants convert
final our closing
unsuccessful
recipient email notification roll out

Friday 27 Jan 2017 Responses to scholarship offers are due or the offer will lapse

time to your regions time zone.

May 2016 Page 3 of 17
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 2017 QUT Research Scholarships Applicant Guide

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS AND MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY

The scholarships offered in QUTs Annual Scholarship Round are awarded to support students general living costs. A small
number of Excellence top up scholarships are available to supplement income. Tuition fee sponsorships which cover the
tuition fees associated with research courses, are awarded to International students in conjunction with specific
scholarships as listed below.

Table 1 lists the main scholarships that are awarded in each annual scholarship round, and the minimum Honours
Equivalence level required to be considered.

In addition to the QUT scholarships available in the annual round in Table 1, separate funding may be provided
throughout the year specific to QUT schools, faculties and institute scholarships. These scholarships are offered
(independently of the annual scholarship round) directly from schools, faculties and/or institutes.

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TABLE 1: SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE IN THE 2017 ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP ROUND
Scholarship
Intl
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-
scholarships/scholarships-and-
prizes/australian-postgraduate-award-apa
International Postgraduate Research
Scholarship (IPRS)
www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-
scholarships/scholarships-and-
prizes/international-postgraduate-research-
scholarship-iprs
QUT Postgraduate Research Award
(QUTPRA)
www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-
scholarships/scholarships-and-prizes/qut-
postgraduate-research-award-qutpra
Womens Re-Entry Scholarship (WRE)
www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-
scholarships/scholarships-and-prizes/qut-
womens-re-entry-scholarship
Indigenous Postgraduate Research Award
(IPRA)
www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-
scholarships/scholarships-and-
prizes/indigenous-postgraduate-research-
award-ipra
QUT Excellence Top Up Scholarship
(formerly known as the DVC or VC Top Up
Scholarship)
*The stipend rate for 2017 will be advised in December 2016.
** Current international research students do not qualify for the single OSHC component
May 2016
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Citizenship Description
Dom
Pays a living allowance (based on the current
2016 full time stipend rate: $26,288* per
annum) to domestic research students only
Covers tuition fees and family overseas health
cover (OSHC) for commencing international
research students. An IPRS is complimented
with a QUTPRA Living allowance.
Pays a living allowance (based on the current
2016 full time stipend rate: $26,288* per
annum).
Covers a tuition fee sponsorship.
For commencing students only - includes
single overseas health cover (OSHC)** for the
duration of the student visa.
Pays a living allowance (based on the current
2016 full time stipend rate: $26,288* per
annum) to a female research student who can
demonstrate a significant interruption to her
academic career
Pays a living allowance (based on the current
2016 full time stipend rate: $26,288* per
annum) to a domestic research student of
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
Pays a supplementary living allowance (2016
full time stipend rate: $7,000 per annum) to
the top ranked applicants only
2017 QUT Research Scholarships Applicant Guide
Eligibility requirements Estimated #
available in
2017
First Class Honours (H1), or an equivalent level of attainment in accordance 120
with QUTs criteria for determining Honours equivalence
Must not previously have held a Commonwealth-funded postgraduate
research scholarship (i.e. APA, APAI, AusAID, etc.) unless it was terminated
within six months of the scholarships payments commencing
First Class Honours (H1), or an equivalent level of attainment in accordance
with QUTs criteria for determining Honours equivalence
Must not have held an AusAID scholarship within the two years prior to
commencing the IPRS, or be in receipt of a scholarship for which course
tuition is a component under any other scholarship scheme to which the
Australian Government makes a substantial contribution
First Class Honours (H1), or an equivalent level of attainment in accordance 110
with QUTs criteria for determining Honours equivalence
Upper Second Class Honours (H2A), or an equivalent level of attainment in 1
accordance with QUTs criteria for determining Honours equivalence
Open to female applicants who are able to demonstrate a period of
significant interruption to their academic career
Completion of a 4 year Bachelor Degree; and 1
Declaration to QUT of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
heritage
First Class Honours (H1), or an equivalent level of attainment in accordance 30
with QUTs criteria for determining Honours equivalence
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HONOURS EQUIVALENCE
Honours equivalence determines your eligibility for admission (H2A or H2AE) and for a scholarship (H1 or H1E).
You must meet the minimum admission requirements for a research degree to be eligible to be considered
for a scholarship (refer to Appendix 1).

The Australian Governments Department of Education and Training advises that for an applicant to be eligible
for an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) it is a requirement that they must have completed a Bachelor
Degree with First Class Honours, or be regarded by the Higher Education Provider (HEP) as having an equivalent
level of attainment. In determining an equivalent level of academic attainment a HEP may consider previous
study, relevant work experience, research publications, referees reports (not applicable to QUT) and other
research experience (para. 2.10.5, Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research), 2012,
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L02535).

Honours equivalence for admission purposes is determined by the Research Students Centre. Honours
equivalence for scholarship purposes and subsequent scores are determined by each Faculty using the criteria
set by Research Degrees Committee (please refer to Appendix 1). You are encouraged to review your Honours
equivalence based on these criteria to help determine if you are eligible to apply for a 2017 scholarship.

Note only one criterion needs to be met in order to achieve Honours 1 Equivalence.

Scholarship applicants with a prior research experience level equivalent to, or less than, an H2A, will be sent an
email indicating that they have not been successful in their scholarship application (excluding those who have
applied for either an IPRA or WRE which do not require H1 equivalence).

Scholarship applicants who have met the minimum admission requirements of H2A or H2AE to a higher degree
research will be given the option to withdraw their application for admission in light of the advice that they
have not met the H1 or H1E equivalence for scholarship and therefore have been unsuccessful in their
scholarship application.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

For the 2016 scholarship round, the following two requirements must be met by 30 September 2016:

International applicants must have met the required QUT English Language Equivalence (unconditional)
Applicants using scholarly papers in support of relevant research experience must have had them
published or accepted for publication with supporting evidence by the deadline
If affected applicants fail to meet these requirements by the deadline, they will not be considered for a 2017
scholarship. No exceptions will be granted.

NOTES FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED HDR STUDENTS:

In addition to the above basic eligibility requirements, the following criteria apply to currently enrolled HDR
students who wish to be considered for a 2017 research scholarship:

Current doctoral students with a projected consumed EFTSL (Equivalent Full Time Standard Load) of
more than 2.500 at 1 January 2017 are ineligible for inclusion in the 2017 Round.
Current research masters students with a projected consumed EFTSL of 1.0 less than their courses
standard duration are ineligible for inclusion in the 2017 Round unless advice is included of an
articulation to the PhD being planned prior to 30 September 2016.
Example: a BS92 (standard duration of BS92 is 1.5 EFTSL) student with any more than 0.500 EFTSL
consumed at 1 January 2017 would be ineligible for consideration in the round.

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Current QUT HDR students who are in receipt of a scholarship with a stipend rate equal to or greater
than the 2016 APA rate (AU$26,288 per annum) for the term of their candidature will be ineligible for
inclusion in the 2017 Round (excluding specifically identified bridging scholarships).

APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED WHEN:

Please note the following where currently enrolled HDR students are not permitted to apply for a scholarship:

Enrolled HDR students who are in receipt of an external sponsorship (for example, from their home
country government or current employer, China Scholarship Council, VIED, etc.);

Enrolled HDR students who are in receipt of an internally funded scholarship (for example, a Supervisor
or Faculty living allowance) who have applied and been admitted to their course prior to the
scholarship round unless their scholarship has been explicitly identified as being a bridging scholarship.

PREDICTED HONOURS EQUIVALENCE

If you do not currently meet H1 Equivalence criteria at the time that your application is assessed, but are
predicted to meet one of the following criteria by 31 March 2017 (no extensions are permitted), you may be
considered as conditionally H1 equivalent. This may apply, for example, if you:

are a current Honours student completing your degree in Semester 2 2016 and awaiting final results
which must be received on or before 31 March 2017;
are a current Research Master student with your completion being awarded on or before 31 March
2017.
are current doctoral students who have a timely Confirmation of Candidature*** milestone date on or
before 31 March 2017;
are current Research Master students whose faculty advise the Research Students Centre (prior to the
RDC Scholarship meeting) of a planned timely PhD Articulation*** seminar on or before 31 March
2017;

Applicants awarded a scholarship on the basis of inclusion in the scholarship round on a conditional H1
equivalence as above, may accept their offer. However you will be required to show evidence that the predicted
criteria has been achieved prior to being approved to commence a scholarship.

NOTE: *** these predicted honours equivalence are being phased out and will not be
available in future scholarship rounds.

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HOW TO APPLY
How you apply for a scholarship will depend on whether you are a current QUT research student or whether
you are applying to start your research with us in late 2016 or during 2017. Your answer to the following
question will determine what application method to use.

Question: Will you be enrolled in a PhD, Masters by Research or Professional

Doctorate at QUT on 30 September 2016?

If your answer is YES, you will need to apply for a research scholarship using the online scholarship
application form on QUT Virtual by no later than 11.59pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Friday
30 September 2016.

The QUT Virtual scholarship application form can be accessed by logging into QUT Virtual (via
https://esoe.qut.edu.au/web/login.htm) with your student ID and password. Navigate to the Research
tab. Under the Scholarships section you will see the link Apply for scholarships. Click the link to initiate
a new scholarship application.

If your answer is NO, you must submit a complete application for admission together with all supporting
documents to QUT by no later than 11.59pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Friday 30 September
2016. You will be considered for all scholarships you are eligible for.

The forms to apply for admission are available within Step 9 at www.qut.edu.au/study/applying/phd-and-
research-degree-applications. Please note that there are different forms depending on whether you are a
domestic applicant (Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident (incl. Humanitarian visas) or New
Zealand Citizen) or an International applicant.

DOMESTIC APPLICANTS should use the PR form, available either as an online form or a fillable PDF, and
submit their completed application to the Research Students Centre (research.enquiries@qut.edu.au).
Please ensure to indicate on this form whether you are interested in applying for a scholarship.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS must use the FR form, available as a fillable PDF, and should submit their
completed application to QUTs International Admissions (qut.intadmission@qut.edu.au).

Applicants who have already applied since 1 October 2015 and have not yet commenced studies will
automatically be included in the annual scholarship round. If you fit into this category, you will need to
ensure that any additional supporting documentation is submitted by no later than 30 September 2016.

If you are unsure of which application method applies to you, please email research.scholarships@qut.edu.au.

Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Use the Time Zone Converter at www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
to convert our closing time to your regions time zone.

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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have provided all supporting documents for your application by no
later than 30 September 2016 or your application cannot be considered.

In addition to the standard supporting documents applicable to your method of application, it is vital that you
submit the documentary evidence required to confirm your H1 equivalence (or H2A equivalence if you are
applying for the WRE). All supporting documentation must be submitted by no later than 30 September 2016
for your application to be considered..

Table 2 outlines what documentation is required to confirm each criterion used for supporting your Honours
equivalence level.

Applicants for the Womens Re-Entry Scholarship (WRE) are required to submit a statement explaining their
eligibility as a result of a period of significant interruption to their academic career.

Applicants for the Indigenous Postgraduate Research Award (IPRA) are required to provide evidence of
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

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TABLE 2: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR HONOURS 1 EQUIVALENCE
Criteria for the Verification of H1 Equivalence
A completed Australian Bachelor Honours Degree in the First Class (H1)
A completed overseas qualification comparable to the educational level of
an Australian Bachelor Degree:
with a duration of normally no less than 4 years (either as a four
year award or a three year Bachelor followed by an end on Honours
year) AND
an overall GPA comparable to at least a 6.0 on a 7-point scale
(where pass=4) for a four year award or a 6.5 on a 7-point scale
(where pass = 4) for a 1 year end on Honours AND
containing a significant and major thesis, dissertation, design
project or creative work that has been
successfully examined by at least two examiners OR
awarded a grade of at least 6.0 on a 7-point scale (where
pass=4)
A completed domestic or overseas qualification comparable to the
educational level of an Australian Masters Degree (by Research)
A completed overseas qualification containing:
a significant research component of at least 50% AND
awarded an overall grade of at least a Distinction and/or at least
75%
A completed Australian Masters by Coursework or overseas qualification
(comparable to the educational level of an Australian Masters by
Coursework degree) containing:
a relevant research component of at least 25% AND
at least two years of documented relevant research experience
AND
awarded an overall grade of a least a Distinction and/or at least 75%
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2017 QUT Research Scholarships Applicant Guide
Supporting Documents
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript and completion certificate (testamur), unless your degree was
completed at a QualSearch affiliated Australian institution (http://www.qtac.edu.au/for-institutions/postgraduate-
qtac)
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript AND
2) An electronic copy of the research work AND
3) At least two examiners reports (where the examiners reports are in a language other than English, a complete,
certified translation must be provided)
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript and completion certificate (testamur), unless your degree was
completed at a QualSearch affiliated Australian institution (http://www.qtac.edu.au/for-institutions/postgraduate-
qtac)
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript AND
2) Evidence of the significant research component:
Certified copy of research thesis/work (English) and two examiner reports in PDF format
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript AND
2) Evidence of the relevant research component
3) Evidence of the relevant research experience:
Scholarly papers involving a substantial contribution as an author, appearing in relevant quality* academic
journals or in volumes published by academic publishers (*list/scimago score provided by Faculty). A copy of the
paper/s as well as evidence of peer review, impact factor information, and any other evidence that establishes
the quality of the paper/s, should be submitted. All documents should be in English and in PDF format. Please
provide the URL link for the publication.
Relevant research or technical reports prepared for industry, government or business, which adhere to the broad
conventions of academic publishing (i.e. contain an up-to-date review of relevant literature, a description of
relevant research methods and an evaluation of results, etc.) and which identify you as a significant contributor.
All documents should be in English and in PDF format.
Page 10 of 17

A completed Australian or overseas qualification containing:
a relevant research component AND
at least three years of documented relevant research
A current Doctoral enrolment with:
a timely Confirmation of Candidature; OR
a timely Articulation (from a Masters Degree by Research)
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2017 QUT Research Scholarships Applicant Guide
A portfolio of relevant published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all of that
work, or of a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates your development of a scholarly
approach to creative work as research investigation. All documents should be in English and in PDF format.
Proven relevant industry or work experience, of at least two years, where you can demonstrate that you have
planned and executed a research project, working with a high level of independence. All documents should be in
English and in PDF format.
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript AND
2) Evidence of the relevant research component
3) Evidence of the relevant research experience:
Scholarly papers involving a substantial contribution as an author, appearing in relevant quality* academic
journals or in volumes published by academic publishers (*list/scimago score provided by Faculty). A copy of the
paper/s as well as evidence of peer review, impact factor information and any other evidence that establishes
the quality of the paper/s should be submitted. All documents should be in English and in PDF format together
with the URL link to the publication
Relevant research or technical reports prepared for industry, government or business, which adhere to the
broad conventions of academic publishing (i.e. contain an up-to-date review of relevant literature, a description
of relevant research methods and an evaluation of results, etc.) and which identify you as a significant
contributor. All documents should be in English and in PDF format.
A portfolio of relevant published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all of that
work, or of a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates your development of a scholarly
approach to creative work as research investigation. All documents should be in English and in PDF format.
Proven relevant industry or work experience, of at least two years, where you can demonstrate that you have
planned and executed a research project, working with a high level of independence. All documents should be in
English and in PDF format.
If your current doctoral enrolment is at QUT, no additional supporting documentation is required to confirm this.
If your current doctoral enrolment is external to QUT:
1) An original certified copy of your academic transcript AND
2) A letter from your current institution confirming:
a) the standard due date for confirmation or articulation AND
b) the date which you completed the milestone.
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HOW YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION WILL BE ASSESSED

APA, QUTPRA, IPRS and IPRA applicants will be ranked based on a competitive scoring model that has been
approved by QUTs Research Degrees Committee. Application ranking is necessary as there are fewer
scholarships to offer than the number of H1 or H1E applications received.

QUT will score your application based on two criteria, outlined in the following table.

TABLE 3: SCORING PROCESS FOR APA, QUTPRA, IPRS AND IPRA APPLICANTS
Selection Criteria Maximum
Score
Your most recent degrees GPA 3
Your most recent coursework degrees GPA, converted to a GPA on a scale of 7.0 where 4.0 is a
pass, will be used to calculate a score out of 3.00 using the formula [GPA x 3] / 7.
Note:

QUT has a trusted method for translating foreign GPAs (including reverse scales). To ensure
an accurate translation is calculated it is vital that we have your most recent degrees
grading scale.

The final year of study of your most recent degree must be less than 10 years prior to 2016
(i.e. no earlier than 2006).

If your most recent degree is a postgraduate coursework degree it must be at the

comparable level of an Australian Masters degree; we do not use Graduate Certificate or
Graduate Diploma level courses towards this score.

The GPA used for this score must be obtained using grades from at least 8 units.

If your most recent degree does not have a GPA, or if the GPA has been calculated using
grades from less than 8 units, the GPA from your next most recent degree will be used.

If you do not have a GPA that fits with any of the above conditions, a score will be calculated
by dividing your Faculty score by 4.

Faculty Score 12

Your faculty will review your application in line with all other eligible applicants and will provide a
score out of 12. When determining your faculty score, your faculties may take all, some or none of
the following criteria into consideration:

your overall quality as an applicant as informed by such factors as the quality of any
publications and your performance in prior formal education;

your levels of relevant professional or research experience;

strategic alignment of your research topic with the research goals and activity of the faculty,
or areas in which targeting of HDR students is a strategic goal; and

a prediction of your suitability for conducting and managing a research project successfully
to completion.

MAXIMUM TOTAL SCORE 15

WRE SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants for the Womens Re-Entry Scholarship (WRE) are selected independently, with consideration of both
the merit and situation of the applicant.
For this reason if you are applying for a WRE you must submit a statement explaining their eligibility through a
period of significant interruption to their academic career.

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Your statement and your academic and research backgrounds will be reviewed by the Research Degrees
Committee.

APPLICATION OUTCOMES

IF YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL

If you are determined to have a level of prior research experience equivalent to, or less than, an H2A, you will
be emailed by at least Friday 4 November 2016 to inform you that you have not been successful in your
scholarship application (excluding those who have applied for either an IPRA or WRE which do not require H1
equivalence).

If you are not able to meet H1 equivalence for scholarship purposes and you have also applied for admission to
a higher degree research, we kindly ask at this point that if you wish to withdraw your application for admission
in light of the advice that you have not been successful in your scholarship application, you reply to the email
with this information.

Alternatively, if you were determined to be H1 or H1 equivalent but your total score was below the cut off you
will be notified after Monday 5 December 2016 that your scholarship application has been unsuccessful.

ALTERNATIVE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

We encourage you to continue searching for a scholarship for your research studies.

QUT occasionally lists scholarships for specific projects being undertaken by researchers who may have received
a grant or other funding. These scholarships will be listed on our website under the Research Scholarships and
Prizes section at https://www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships-and-prizes.

If your application for admission has been successful but your application for a scholarship has not, you may
also consider speaking with your principal supervisor, as they may have ideas of where else you may be able to
source funding from.

The following external websites may also have alternative scholarship opportunities, possibly at another
Australian institution:

Hobsons Coursefinder (www.hobsonscoursefinder.com.au/scholarship/)

FindAPhD: The world's largest database of PhD opportunities (www.findaphd.com/)

IF YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL

If your application is successful you will be sent a scholarship offer letter in the first week of December 2016.

You will be expected to accept your offer by no later than 27 January 2017 or the offer will lapse.

You will be expected to commence your scholarship by no later than 31 July of the year for which you are
offered the scholarship or the scholarship offer will lapse.

DEFERRING A SCHOLARSHIP OFFER

Scholarships cannot normally be deferred. In exceptional circumstances a scholarship may be deferred to no

later than 31 July of the year for which they are offered, with the option to apply in the scholarship round for
the following year.
Deferrals of faculty, school, institute or supervisor funded scholarships will be considered by the relevant
funding area upon receipt of a request.

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CONDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS

If you are successful in being awarded a scholarship on the basis of your inclusion in the scholarship round on a
conditional H1 equivalence that falls under the Predicted Honours Equivalence category, you will be required to
show evidence that the predicted criteria has been achieved before you will be eligible to accept your
scholarship offer.

EMERGENCY LOANS

You may be able to access a loan through QUTs Equity Emergency Bursaries and Student Financial Assistance
Scheme (SFAS) loans if youre struggling financially.

Please refer to https://www.student.qut.edu.au/fees-and-finances/financial-help-and-support/financial-help

for more information.

Please note these schemes are only available to students who are currently enrolled at QUT.

SCHOLARSHIP START DATES

Scholarships cannot be started until you have commenced your course. If you are a new research student, your
first priority should be to ensure that all conditions of your offer of admission have been met, and you have
been enrolled into your course.
If you are a current research student and you applied for a scholarship using the QUT Virtual application form,
your scholarship can start as early as 1 January 2017, subject to any conditions that were listed in your
scholarship offer letter being met.

The Research Student Centres Scholarship team will work with you to ensure that your bank account details
and tax file declaration forms have been received and entered into the QUT payroll system in order to start your
scholarship as quickly as possible. Despite this please note that depending on when you are enrolled you may
experience a delay of up to 4 weeks to receive your first payment.

APPEALING A SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION OUTCOME

You have the right to request a review of the outcome of your scholarship application where you believe there
has been an error in process. Appeals can only be heard against process issues and not against committee
decisions or assessment ratings and comments.

The Research Degrees Committee has the authority to hear appeals from applicants who consider that their
application has been incorrectly assessed.

If you wish to appeal the outcome of your application, please submit your appeal via email within 10 business
days of the date of your application outcome, to research.scholarships@qut.edu.au.

CONTACTS
Research Students Centre Scholarships Team
Email: research.scholarships@qut.edu.au
Tel: +61 7 3138 4923 or +61 7 3138 2932

Find your Faculty Research Office

www.qut.edu.au/about/contact/groups/faculty-research-offices

GOOD LUCK

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APPENDIX 1
Guidelines for Determining H1 and H2A Equivalence
The following table lists criteria approved to judge Honours 1 (H1 and H1E) for scholarships and
Honours 2A (H2A and H2AE) for admission equivalency eligibility.

H1 or H1E for Scholarships*

Eligibility for most QUT-funded scholarships (excluding the IPRA and WRE) requires First Class Honours (H1)

H1 Actual: A completed Australian Bachelor Honours Degree1 in the First Class (H1) OR

H1E Actual (O/S): A completed overseas qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian
1
Bachelor Degree :
with a duration of normally no less than 4 years (either as a four year award or a three year Bachelor
followed by an end on Honours year) AND
an overall GPA comparable to at least a 6.0 on a 7-point scale (where pass = 4) for a four year award or a
6.5 on a 7-point scale (where pass=4 for a 1 year end on honours AND
containing a significant and major thesis, dissertation, design project or creative work that has been
successfully examined by at least two examiners OR
2

Awarded a grade of at least 6.0 on a 7-point scale (where pass =4)

H1E (Completed Masters by Research): A completed domestic or overseas qualification comparable to the
1,3
educational level of an Australian Masters Degree (by Research) OR

H1E (Completed Masters O/S): A completed overseas qualification containing:

4
a significant research component of at least 50%; AND
awarded an overall grade of at least a Distinction and/or at least 75% OR

H1E (Completed Coursework Masters): A completed Australian Masters by Coursework or overseas

qualification (comparable to the educational level of an Australian Masters by Coursework Degree) containing:

4
a relevant research component of at least 25% AND

5
documented relevant research experience AND
awarded an overall grade of at least a Distinction and/or at least 75% OR

H1E (Completed 4-year Bachelor): A completed Australian or overseas qualification containing:

4
a relevant research component AND

5
at least three years of documented relevant research OR

H1E (a current enrolment) with:

a timely Doctoral Confirmation of Candidature6; OR

1,3
a timely Articulation6 (from a Masters Degree by Research)

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H2A or H2AE for Admission

Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) requires a minimum equivalence level of Upper Second Class (H2A)
1
H2A Actual: A completed Australian Bachelor Honours Degree in the Upper Second Class (H2A) OR

1
H2AE Argument: A completed overseas qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor Degree :
with a duration of normally no less than 4 years AND
an overall GPA comparable to between 5.0 and 5.9 on a 7-point scale (where pass = 4) AND
containing a significant and major thesis, dissertation, design project or creative work that has been

2
examined by at least two examiners OR
has a grade comparable to between 5.0 and 5.9 on a 7-point scale (where pass = 4) OR
1
H2AE (M by CW): A completed Australian Masters Degree , or a completed qualification comparable to the educational level
1
of an Australian Masters Degree ,
with greater than 25% research AND
an overall GPA of at least 5.0 on a 7-point scale (where pass = 4) OR

H2AE Argument: A current doctoral enrolment with either:

6
o a non-timely Doctoral Confirmation of Candidature OR
6
o a non-timely Articulation from Masters Degree (Research) OR
o a completed Doctoral Stage 2 milestone

1
For the purpose of its admission and scholarship assessment process, QUT uses Australian Education Internationals
National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) and the National Recognition Information Centre for the United
Kingdom (UK-NARIC) to assist in determining the comparability of an overseas qualification to an appropriate level of Australian
qualification.
2
A copy of the research work and both examiners reports must be submitted. Examiners may not be part of the supervisory
team. Where the examiners reports are written in a language other than English a complete, certified translation must be
provided.
3
The Australian Qualification Frameworks definition of a research degree requires it to contain a minimum of 2/3 (66.7%)
research, research training and independent study.
4
Relevant^ Research component: Courses that encompass learning outcomes that establish research skills through course
work content and assessment. For instance, undertaking an individually produced (and supervised) research project that
includes a written report with a combined minimum course volume equivalent, or more than four units at QUT, as completed as
part of a bachelors degree or coursework masters degree. Research carried out in groups should at least have been graded
individually.
5 Relevant^ research experience must be evidenced. Relevant research experience demonstrates research preparedness in
that you have planned and executed research work and/or a body of research and scholarship with independence. Research
preparedness can be demonstrated by providing evidence in at least one of the following ways:
o Scholarly papers involving a substantial contribution as an author, appearing in relevant quality* academic journals or in
volumes published by academic publishers(*list/scimago score provided by Faculty).
o Relevant research or technical reports prepared for industry, government or business, which adhere to the broad
conventions of academic publishing (i.e. contain an up-to-date review of relevant literature, a description of relevant
research methods and an evaluation of results, etc.) and which identify you as a significant contributor.
o A portfolio of relevant published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all of that work, or of
a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates your development of a scholarly approach to creative
work as research investigation.
o Proven relevant industry or work experience, of at least two years, where you can demonstrate that you have planned
and executed a research project, working with a high level of independence.
6 For the purpose of QUTs admission and scholarship assessment process, a timely doctoral confirmation of candidature and
timely articulation is one that is completed not more than 13 months FTE after commencement of the degree.

*If you do not hold one of the above qualifications, you will only be considered for a scholarship if you have significant relevant
research experience in which case you may be referred to the Dean for consideration, based on Faculty advice

^ The term relevant in this context refers to the faculty or field of research the applicant is applying to enter

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APPROVAL & MODIFICATION HISTORY

DATE AUTHORITY DETAILS

3 May 2016 Chair, QUT Research Degrees Committee Reviewed changes approved
March 2015 Chair, QUT Research Degrees Committee Reviewed; no changes required
11 September 2014 Chair, QUT Research Degrees Committee Minor changes approved
24 July 2014 Chair, QUT Research Degrees Committee Minor changes approved
7 July 2014 QUT Research Degrees Committee Reviewed; minor changes approved
11 June 2013 QUT Research Degrees Committee Approved methodology for determining
H1 equivalence

Responsible Officer: Coordinator (Research Scholarships, Admission and Enrolment), Research Students Centre

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