1. Introduction
UniSC is committed to offering a postgraduate research environment of the highest quality for all candidates within our programs.
The objective of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Research Scholarships is to support research training by providing financial support to students with a high level of research promise to undertake a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) to support the University research strategy.
This schedule of conditions applies to the UniSC Research Scholarship (UniSCRS) and does not apply to Research Training Program Scholarships (RTPS).
2. How to apply
Information about application, eligibility, selection, offer and acceptance processes are provided in the Higher Degrees by Research Scholarships – Procedures, the Higher Degrees by Research Scholarships – Awarding Guidelines and the relevant scholarship web page advertisement.
3. Scholarship inclusions and disbursement
UniSC Research Scholarships may comprise of either:
- Tuition fee Offset scholarship only; or
- Stipend, allowance and Tuition fee Offset
The letter of offer will stipulate what is included for each awardee.
3.1 Tuition Fees
UniSC’s annual tuition fees are published on the UniSC website. Visit the Tuition Fees web page and choose your student type (domestic or international) and select the Higher Degrees by Research tab.
3.1.1 Tuition fees will automatically be paid each semester for the duration of the scholarship support.
3.2 Stipend and Allowances
3.2.1 The 2025 full-time base stipend is valued at A$35 482 per annum. The level of the base stipend will be reviewed annually with no reductions occurring during the standard duration of the scholarship. Full value of scholarship packages are made available to students in their offer letters
3.2.2 Stipend payments are made to the student on a fortnightly basis to their nominated Australian bank account and are tax-free for full-time students.
3.2.3 Where a UniSCRS stipend recipients is approved for part-time study, part-time stipends rates are 50 per cent the full-time rate and are not tax-free.
- A UniSCRS stipend recipient may claim up to a combined total of A$2,000 to assist with their costs associated with undertaking their HDR at UniSC under the following categories:
3.2.4.1 Relocation
Where a student must travel a distance greater than 100km to their UniSC campus of enrolment to commence a Higher Degree by Research on a UniSC Research Scholarship:
- Removal expenses (excluding travel)
- Travel expenses (one way)
- air travel expenses up to a maximum amount equivalent to an economy or student concession airfare, whichever is the lowest amount
- travel by car calculated using a per kilometre rate of allowance as determined by the University and consistent with current University recommended rates up to a maximum amount equivalent to an economy or student concession airfare, whichever is the lowest amount
Claims for the relocation allowance must be made within six months of the date of commencement of the Scholarship and provide original receipts and supporting documents.
3.2.4.2 Overseas Student Health Cover
Where a student visa holder requires overseas student health cover, the scholarship will provide single cover for up to 59 months.
4. Commencement and duration
4.1 Recipients of UniSC Research Scholarships may commence anytime throughout the calendar year of award. Awards cannot be deferred to the following year under any circumstances.
4.2 All stipends will commence as of the day of HDR commencement within the calendar year of the award or a date specified by the university of the year of award for current students.
4.3 The duration of a UniSCRS will be adjusted by changes between full and part-time candidature. The pro rata equivalent of the remaining standard duration will apply.
4.3.1 The standard duration of a UniSC Research Scholarship Tuition Fees Offset matches the maximum duration of candidature on the offer for admission. This is typically four years full-time equivalent for a Research Doctorate, and two-years full time equivalent for a Research Masters.
4.3.2 The standard duration of a UniSCRS stipend is normally three years full-time equivalent for Research Doctorate studies, and 18 months full-time equivalent for a Research masters.
4.3.2.1 UniSCRS stipend recipients may be granted an extension of up to six months where the award holder applies formally to the University, is making satisfactory progress and the grounds for the extension relate to the study that are beyond the control of the student, and where funding is available. Work commitments cannot be accepted as grounds for an extension.
4.3.2.2 In exceptional circumstances and where funding allows, UniSCRS stipend recipients who are enrolled in a doctoral degree may be granted a second and final extension of up to six months (total extension of 12 months).
4.4 A recipient who begins as a student in a master level degree and who, before the maximum duration of one and a half years, changes to doctoral level degree, may hold the award for a total described in section 4.3.2, 4.3.2.1 and 4.3.2.2)
4.5 Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the scholarship will reduce the duration of the award tenure.
4.6 The duration of a UniSC Research Scholarship will be:
- increased by any periods of unpaid leave or paid sick or maternity leave approved by UniSC; and
- adjusted by changes between full and part-time candidature. The pro rata equivalent of the remaining standard duration will apply.
5. Leave/suspension of entitlements
5.1 Standard leave entitlements described in the Higher Degrees by Research Candidature Progression – Guidelines apply to all UniSCRS recipients.
Students do not apply formally for this leave and the scholarship end date will not be extended. These leave entitlements may be accrued over the life of the UniSCRS but will be forfeited when the UniSCRS is terminated.
5.2 UniSC research scholarship recipients who are temporarily unable to continue their studies and wish to suspend their scholarship must apply to the Graduate Research School at least 4 weeks prior to the date from which they seek a period of unpaid leave. The minimum period of suspension is 4 weeks.
5.2.1 The total period of suspension is normally added to the original tenure of the scholarship. If at any time during the suspension of the scholarship, the student undertakes enrolled study, this period will be deducted from the tenure.
5.2.2 Medical leave entitlements (including additional medical leave for UniSCRS stipend recipients) may also be used to cover leave for students with family caring responsibilities.
5.3 UniSCRS stipend recipients are entitled to:
5.3.1 paid medical leave of up to a total of 60 working days during the duration of the UniSCRS for periods of illness where the student has insufficient sick leave entitlements available under paragraph (5.1), provided that a medical certificate and leave application has been provided by the student to the Graduate Research School within two weeks of returning to study.
5.3.2 paid maternity or parental leave up to a total of 60 working days if they have completed 12 months of their UniSCRS. Maternity and parental leave must be:
- arranged in advance with a doctor’s certificate attached to a leave form; and
- taken at the time of birth or adoption.
Periods of paid maternity or parental leave are in addition to the normal duration of the award. The University will extend an award to compensate for an approved period of maternity or parental leave.
5.3.3 unpaid maternity and parenting leave may be taken through a leave of absence. UniSCRS holders who have not completed twelve months of their award may access unpaid maternity leave through the suspension provisions in section 5.2.
6. Study Load
6.1 UniSCRS tuition fees only recipients may enrol full-time or part-time as agreed with their Principal Supervisor.
6.2 UniSCRS stipend recipients are required to maintain full-time enrolment except where medical reasons or carer’s commitments prevent this, substantiated by relevant medical certificates.
6.3 Where part-time study is approved, the remaining period of support is extended to part-time rate pro rata.
6.4 Employment commitments will not normally be accepted as grounds for part-time enrolment.
7. Research topic and program of enrolment
7.1 UniSC scholarships are awarded to support the UniSC research strategy by supporting research student participation on UniSC research projects. Accordingly, requests to change research topic or HDR program are not normally permitted.
7.2 Scholarship recipients seeking to change program should refer to the HDR Candidature – Procedures for information.
7.3 Change requests will be considered by the Dean, Graduate Research on a case-by-case basis where exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.
7.4 Where a request to change research topic is denied, UniSC Research Scholarship (UniSCRS) recipients may relinquish their UniSCRS and pursue their preferred topic without UniSCRS support.
8. Research at other organisations (eg industry internships)
8.1 The University remains responsible for candidates who are approved to conduct research at another organisation (often in the form of Industry Internships) and must be satisfied that the organisation can provide adequate support, supervision, training and research time for the candidate. The University may approve a request from a recipient to conduct substantial amounts of the research at organisations outside the higher education system. The candidate must notify the Graduate Research School as soon as possible to lodge such a request.
8.2 UniSC Research Scholarship payments will continue where an industry placement, research internship, professional practice activity is undertaken as part of their HDR within the original period of support (duration).
9. Assignment of Intellectual Property
To participate, or continue to participate in certain activities or research, students may be requested to assign to UniSC their interest and title in any intellectual property they create during their studies and transfer any data and other information. This may be required, where:
- the studies are externally funded; or
- the studies have contractual obligations with third parties; or
- the studies have clear Commercialisation potential or objectives.
It is intended that requests for students to assign their intellectual property will be done only where necessary to enable UniSC to meet its legal obligations to industry partners, or to achieve the objective of deriving appropriate benefits from innovation at UniSC by commercialising intellectual property.
Full details can be found at < data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Intellectual Property - Governing Policy .
* Individual scholarships may include an Addendum which contains additional conditions and may supersede some sections of the above Schedule of Conditions.
10. Specific candidate obligations
10.1 All HDR students are required to conform to the regulations, policies (including disciplinary provisions) of the University.
10.2 UniSC Research Scholarship holders must abide by the conditions of the scholarship outlined in the Scholarship Letter of Offer, UniSC Research Scholarship Conditions including any addendums.
10.3 UniSC Research Scholarship holders must apply themselves diligently and to the best of their ability to the successful completion of the degree.
10.3.1 UniSC Research Scholarship holders must maintain satisfactory progress. Progress will be reported on using the scheduled Progress Plan and Review (PPR) milestones.
10.3.2 Employment commitments will not normally be accepted as grounds for extension, part-time enrolment or lack of progress.
10.4 UniSCRS Tuition Fees Offset only recipients may enrol full-time or part-time as agreed with their Principal Supervisor.
10.5 UniSCRS stipend recipients are required to maintain full-time enrolment except where medical reasons or carer’s commitments prevent this, substantiated by relevant medical certificates.
10.6 Employment commitments will not normally be accepted as grounds for part-time enrolment by stipend recipients.
10.7 UniSC Research Scholarship holders will abide by all relevant legislation on human and animal experimentation and rulings of the ethics committees of the University.
10.8 UniSC Research Scholarship holders will notify the Graduate Research School promptly of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their eligibility to continue receiving payments under the award.
10.9 UniSC Research Scholarship holders acknowledge that these Conditions are subject to any further or other conditions, including conditions as to funding of the scholarship, which may be made by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, or any other relevant government body.
The discontinuation process described in the < data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">HDR Scholarships – Procedures may be applied if a UniSCRS recipient fails to comply with any scholarship conditions, or maintain any eligibility criteria provided on their offer letter.
11. Specific obligations of the University of the Sunshine Coast
11.1 The University must comply with the < data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Higher Degree by Research Academic Policy and associated Procedures and related documents which outline the responsibilities of the University, enrolling unit and supervisors.
11.2 The University reserves the right to make changes at short notice after publication. UniSC Research Scholarship recipients will be notified in writing to their UniSC student email address of any changes. To ascertain if any changes have been made to this document after receipt, please contact the Graduate Research School.
This information was correct at the time of publishing. The University reserves the right to make changes at short notice after publication. To ascertain if any changes have been made to this information, please contact the Graduate Research School.
Last updated 02 November 2023