Higher Degree by Research funding
The School provides financial assistance to Higher Degree by Research candidates to help with research costs and conference travel.
Funding available
PhD candidates may be funded up to a total of $2,000 for research and conference expenses across the course of their candidature. Additional funds of up to $2,000 may be available for essential research purposes outside Australia.
MPhil candidates may be funded up to a total of AUD $1,500 for research and conference expenses across the course of their candidature. Additional funds of up to $1,000 may be available for essential research purposes outside Australia for MPhil students.
These funds may be used for travel and accommodation costs for research necessary for the successful completion of the thesis, for conferences where the candidate is presenting a paper, and may also be used for other essential research costs, subject to the approval of the Director of Research Training and the Head of School.
HDR candidates must discuss their funding application with their Advisors prior to submitting the application. It is the responsibility of students and their Advisors to ensure that funds are used in such a way as to enable the completion of essential research tasks.
Guidelines
All travel must be justified as having a clear benefit to the student’s thesis progress and to the School, as approved by the Director of Research Training, or the Head of School. A suitable funding application should demonstrate how the activity is relevant to the candidate’s research and how the funds will be spent.
Applicants must be enrolled as Higher Degree by Research candidates. Applications can be submitted after Confirmation and prior to Thesis Submission. In some cases, applications will be considered prior to Confirmation. However, the candidate will be required to cover initial costs, with reimbursement to be provided upon successful completion of Confirmation. In all cases, funded travel must take place before Thesis Submission.
Applications must be approved prior to travel/conference attendance. No Funding Applications will be approved retrospectively for travel already taken.
Funds may be used to cover travel costs for a candidate’s research purposes, including airfares, accommodation, and conference registration. Funds can also be used to cover the costs of research materials (such as specialist books to be housed in the library, overseas inter-library loans, and specialist software). Where access to remote archives or objects is not possible (e.g., due to travel restrictions), funds can be used to secure research assistance at the relevant locations (e.g., in order to digitize material).
International conference travel will not ordinarily be supported unless combined with essential research travel. Funding for travel to attend a conference is only available if the candidate is presenting a paper.
Funding to cover conference registration for a conference held at a local venue will be available if the candidate is presenting a paper at the conference.
No funds are available for the hiring of research assistants or for the purchase of computing equipment.
Funding for other essential research purposes may be considered on application to the Director of Research Training and the Head of School, but such funding would only be granted in exceptional cases.
Applications to the School must include the following:
- Funding Application Form (the form will need to be endorsed by your Principal Advisor).
- Your current, endorsed Academic Portfolio (DOC, 154 KB).
Applications must be submitted to the Director of Research Training via email. The application will then be considered by the Director of Research Training and the Head of School.
After your funding has been approved, complete a Domestic Reimbursement Form and forward it along with the approval email and application form to HaSS Finance for payment to your nominated bank account. You are required to organize your own travel arrangements, consulting and abiding by the terms and conditions for all HDR travel.
If you have questions about what would be appropriate research travel, discuss this with your advisory team. If you have questions about the application process, ask your HDR Liaison Officer.