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Chapter 10: Fees and Financial Assistance

10.2 Financial Assistance and Awards for Research Candidates

The following financial assistance schemes are available for research candidates:

10.2.1 Scholarships and Awards including H1 Equivalence procedures
10.2.2 Postgraduate Travel Grants
10.2.3 Faculty of Arts 'Top-Up' Postgraduate Travel Grants
10.2.4 Monash/ Kings College London Postgraduate Travel Grants
10.2.5 Postgraduate Conference Organisers Grants Scheme
10.2.6 Postgraduate Publications Award Scheme (RGSC)
10.2.7 Postgraduate Publication Prize
10.2.8 Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Publications Awards (near-miss)
10 2.9 Student Loans
10.2.10 Sessional Tutoring
10.2.11 Faculty of Arts Research Scholarship International
10.2.12 Faculty of Arts Research Scholarship
10.2.13 Monash Research Scholarships in the Faculty of Arts
10.2.14 Research Assistantships
10.2.15 Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal
10.2.16 Faculty of Arts Prize for the Best Masters Thesis

10.2.1 Scholarships and Awards including H1 Equivalence

Further information to that given below together with application forms are available online at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/research/

Closing Date for applications for all scholarships detailed below is 31 October each year to the:

Monash Research Graduate School, Research Services, P.O. Box 3A, Monash University, Victoria, Australia 3800.

One application kit covers all of the scholarships outlined below and is available at the end of July each year from Schools and other academic units at Monash University.

Minimum Requirements for Scholarships

Scholarships are offered for full-time research at graduate level. Applicants need to hold, or expect to hold, a bachelor's degree with first class honours (H1), or a qualification deemed equivalent, from an Australian or overseas tertiary institution.

Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA)

Only Australian citizens or permanent residents who have lived in Australia continuously for the last 12 months as at the closing date for applications are eligible to apply.

There are no age restrictions relating to these awards.

Awards will not be available to those who:

Are in receipt of another equivalent award/scholarship/salary offering similar benefits, from the Australian Government or its statutory authorities;
Have completed a PhD or equivalent;
Have already completed a Masters degree or equivalent unless going to do a PhD (i.e. a scholarship holder cannot hold an award for a second Masters); and
Have previously held for more than 3 months a Commonwealth Australian Postgraduate award (unless changing from a coursework APCA or CPCA award to research award).

The award may be held for three years for PhD studies or for up to two years for Masters studies. The APA carries an annual stipend of $19,231 as at 2006. There is an annual incremental increase indexed to inflation.

Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS)

Both Australian citizens or permanent residents and overseas research candidates may apply for these awards. Approximately 100 are awarded university-wide each year. Annual stipend as at 2006 is $19,231. There is an annual incremental increase indexed to inflation.

Scholarships will not be available to those who:

Are in receipt of another equivalent award/scholarship/salary offering similar benefits;
Have already completed a PhD or equivalent unless there is a significant change in research direction;
Have already completed a Masters degree or equivalent unless intending to undertake a PhD, or unless there is a significant change in research direction; and
Have previously held for more than 3 months a Monash Graduate Scholarship unless in the case of a PhD candidate the prior award was for a Masters degree.

The scholarship may be held for three years for PhD studies or for up to two years for Masters studies.

Part-Time APA and MGS Awards

Persons who for compelling social reasons (e.g. major family commitments) are unable to pursue full-time graduate study are eligible to apply for part-time awards (see web link below for full details of part-time award conditions).

An awardee holding a part-time award needs to be enrolled as a part-time candidate.

Holders of part-time awards may convert to full-time at any stage. Monash may also require holders to convert to full-time if compelling social reasons no longer apply.

APA (part-time) and MGS (part-time) awards are paid at $10,289.21 as at 2006 and are taxable.

All other conditions for APA (formally APRA) and MGS scholarships apply.

* Further details on the conditions of the APA and MGS awards, including part-time awards are located at: www.monash.edu.au/study/scholarships/research/award-conditions.html

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (Iprs)

Approximately 300 scholarships are available Australia-wide under this program each year for research candidates from all overseas countries, excepting New Zealand. Those who already have a PhD or equivalent or already have a Masters by Research and intend undertaking another, are ineligible.

Applicants must be intending to commence PhD or a Masters by Research by 30th June in the year the scholarship is awarded. It should be noted that these scholarships presently pay tuition fees only.

Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (Miprs)

This Monash University scholarship scheme meets living expenses. Up to 20 full-fee scholarships are offered each year university wide to international research candidates (excluding New Zealand citizens) for research candidates who will enrol full-time for a PhD, professional doctorate by research or Masters by research. Further details are available online at:

http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/index.html#research

Conditions and Allowances for Scholarship and Award Recipients

Information on conditions and allowances for scholarships and award recipients are located at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/publication/index.html

Principles of Scholarship Selection: University H1 Equivalence

Scholarships and awards are granted to candidates who have achieved H1 or H1 equivalence. The following outlines the process whereby research candidates may achieve H1 equivalence:

Standard of Documentation

The case for H1 equivalence is made by the academic unit of the applicant, not the applicant. Each submission for H1 equivalence assessment is economical and self-contained. A balance is sought between too little detail on the one hand, and excessive detail on the other. Academic units are encouraged to attach additional documentation (e.g. a publications list) where this supports the claims made. Panels should not have to refer to the original application submitted by the research candidate; the H1 Equivalence submission encapsulates all that the Panel needs to know about the applicant in order for it to reach a fair and proper judgement on that person's academic standing and research potential. In short it is a stand-alone document.

Schools are reminded that this process provides them with a unique opportunity to present and promote their candidates in the best possible light through the submission of carefully selected objective evidence of their academic standing and research potential.

Research candidates and supervisors may find the following report from the Arts Faculty representative on a previous Arts H1 Equivalence panel helpful:

Research candidates who came before the H1 equivalence panel typically were research candidates who did not have a H1 honours degree, who had a coursework Masters degree or whose previous qualifications were not undertaken in Australia or New Zealand. The criteria for getting H1 equivalence is first and foremost publications, which must be in refereed journals, and preferably accompanied by a letter which substantiated the quality of the publication. Another important point was whether the publications were sole or joint ones. Professional references were not seen as being as important. In some cases very relevant work experience, where research capability was an obvious or demonstrated part of the work, was also taken into consideration.

Another common criteria for H1 equivalence is a large, independent, individually supervised research project, where either the grade given or the comments by the examiners indicate that the grade is the highest achievable, ie HD, H1 or A. In such cases it is important to provide information on the length of the project as well as copies of examiners' reports with relevant comments indicating research excellence underlined.

It was stressed that H1 equivalence is a 'one-shot opportunity' where the supervisors/Schools need to make a good case for each applicant they put forward to the panel - in some cases the arguments were only forthcoming once the applicants had been deemed at not being H1 equivalent. Due to the multitude of applicants considered, there is no appeals process.

English Language Proficiency

Where H1 equivalence submissions are made for international research candidates, full documentary evidence of English proficiency (in accordance with established University guidelines) accompanies the H1 Equivalence submission. If this is not done, the Panel will not proceed with an assessment of the research candidate in question.

Supporting Documentation in English

Departments and faculties cannot assume that Panel members are multi-lingual and therefore documents are in English or a translation provided.

Referees

Only the views of reputable referees known to the School concerned may be cited in support of an application for H1 Equivalence.

Masters Qualifications

The assessment of Masters qualifications presents H1 Equivalence panels with their greatest challenge.

Coursework Masters: completion of a coursework masters program alone will not gain H1 equivalence. Additional evidence of research potential, such as publications, or a substantial independent research project taken as part of the coursework degree of a minimum 9 000 words, either graded HD or accompanied by examiners reports indicating HD standards, is required.

Research Masters: only where a formally recorded overall H1 grade is given for a research masters from a reputable Australian or New Zealand University, is H1 assessment not required.

Masters Preliminary Program: If an H1 grade is achieved in a formally graded Masters Preliminary program undertaken in Australia or New Zealand that has a structure and status similar to an honours program, H1 equivalence assessment is not required.

In all other cases the following are submitted:

Coursework results;
Examiners' reports for thesis/project component; and
Referee reports on the research candidate's research undertakings.

Information on points value and percentage of the overall program are supplied for all coursework and thesis/project units.

Additionally, for international masters qualifications, the department needs to have:

Sighted the thesis work (where this is in a language other than English, a reliable referee should have provided an assessment of the work)
and/or
Sought other evidence of research potential, specifically publication in reputable refereed international journals.

The H1 Equivalence Form: Specific Comments

Parts B and C: Academic Qualifications

NOOSR (National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition) assessment of overseas qualifications must be attached.

Alternatively, other evidence by way of an independent assessment of the quality of the institution (or course within the institution) should be submitted.

Part C4: Relevant Work Experience

H1 Equivalence assessment panels are greatly assisted in their task if the following information is recorded:

The length of the relevant work experience (together with report(s), paper(s), etc. that suggest that the applicant has reflected upon the work experience); and
The level and nature of the research previously undertaken by the applicant during periods of employment (e.g. 'research assistant' does not provide the information a Panel would need to make a judgement on the quality of the research experience of the applicant and the extent to which he/she was closely supervised or left to pursue the work independently).

Part C5: Abstracts, Publications and Reports

It is helpful when Schools provide the following, either on the form or attached to it:

An assessment of the applicant's contribution to the publication cited e.g. 100%, 25% etc.;
Whether it is in press (accepted for publication) or published;
The nature of the publication - refereed journal article, government report, conference abstract etc., length of article; and
Above all, Panels need information on the quality of the publication in which the article, etc., appears. Is it held in high repute nationally or internationally? Use a citation index where available.

Where a publication is not yet in press, it needs to be verified that the publisher is in receipt of the article. Publications that have been submitted, but not as yet accepted, will not be considered.

Complete citation details are required. A list of publications should be attached to the H1 Equivalence form.

Part C7: Additional Information

Please remember that for an H2A candidate, the panel will need other clear evidence of research potential (e.g. publications). For an H2B applicant, more substantial evidence will be required.

In the case of performance based programs, where other criteria may be appropriate, international or national reputation by way of exhibitions/performances may be used in determining H1 equivalence.

10.2.2 Postgraduate Travel Grant Program

Limited financial support is available to assist with the travelling expenses of doctoral and research Masters candidates.

Fieldwork and Research Work Away from the University (Interstate and Overseas)

Travel grants assist with the travelling expenses of doctoral and research masters candidates who wish to undertake data collection, learn new techniques, pursue research in specialist archives collections, undertake field trips, surveys and interviews, and to utilise specialist equipment not available at Monash University. The program may also enhance the quality and depth of research by giving research candidates access to resources not available locally. Applicants need to demonstrate that the study program will contribute significantly to the research, which will be reported in the thesis submitted for the degree.

If the Graduate Coordinator certifies that it is necessary to pursue fieldwork or undertake research integral to the research program, the award may be tenable away from Monash for up to twelve months, or for other special cases, eighteen months for doctoral research candidates. A shorter period of study away may be approved for Masters by research candidates. At all other times, awardees are expected to reside at a location that allows daily attendance on campus. Study Away will not normally be approved for candidates who have not successfully completed the process of the Review of Candidature for masters candidates, or Confirmation of Candidature for PhD candidates.

All absences overseas for Masters research candidates on scholarships and for all PhD candidates, for whatever period, are reported to the Research Graduate School Committee. Applications for overseas study are made to the Research Graduate School Committee via Monash Research Graduate School, Research Services. A standard form is available for this purpose.
http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/index.html#research

Candidates cannot proceed to fieldwork for a duration of six weeks or more prior to confirmation of candidature.

Conference Attendance (Interstate and Overseas)

Travel grants may also assist with the travelling expenses of doctoral and research masters candidates who wish to attend interstate or overseas conferences for the purpose of presenting a paper or poster. Applicants need to be the principal author of the paper being presented, which must cover original, ongoing research, be largely the research candidate's own work, report recent findings and be directly related to the applicant's thesis topic. Eligibility for a grant requires research candidates to submit the abstract of the paper(s), which must include mention of their institutional affiliation with 'Monash University'.

Selection criteria

Full-time and part-time research candidates are eligible; a research degree is defined as one having at least a 66% research component.
Australian and international research candidates are eligible.
Research candidates may receive more than one grant, but only one grant will be made per person per calendar year; and the maximum grant from Central funds (not including Faculty of Arts funding) a research candidate may receive over the course of their candidature is currently $925.

Applications will be judged on the quality of academic grounds cited in the documentation provided.

Applicants for travel assistance for fieldwork/research outside Victoria need to demonstrate how the proposed period of fieldwork/research will become an integral and essential component of the overall research program and how this will be reflected in the thesis submitted for examination. Applicants for travel assistance to attend a conference need to demonstrate how their studies would be substantially enhanced by participation in the conference detailed in the application. All applicants need to demonstrate that they have the support of their supervisor(s) and school and that appropriate supervision arrangements for the period have been made.

Levels of Funding

Method of Application

An application kit, containing full information and the application form, can be found on the Monash Research Graduate School located at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/

Applications may be lodged at any time of the year, but no less than six weks prior to the applicant's departure date.

The original and one copy of the completed application and appended supporting documentation should be submitted to the Arts Research Graduate School for initial processing.

Successful applicants will be notified in writing by the MRGS usually within three to four weeks of the application having been submitted to the ARGS. Notification advises research candidates of the amount of payment they may expect to receive.

10.2.3 Faculty of Arts 'Top-up' Postgraduate Travel Grants

In 2003 the Arts Research Graduate School, recognising that research candidates face added cost burdens when travelling overseas, introduced a 'top-up' travel grant scheme to supplement the value of the Postgraduate Travel Grants or other externally-funded grants. The current maximum value of these awards is $700. The number of awards is limited and preference is given to the candidates travelling overseas to engage in fieldwork. To be eligible for a 'top-up' grant candidates must first be awarded a Postgraduate Travel Grant or an approved externally-funded award such as an AusAid grant, but applications may be submitted at the same time.

Full details of the 'top-up' travel grant scheme and the application form are located at: www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/research_scholarships/scholarshipsprizes.html

10.2.4 Monash/King's College (Kcl) Postgraduate Travel Grants

Research candidates can apply for a travel grant to attend King's College in London. Further details can be located at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/grants/

10.2.5 Postgraduate Conference Organisers Grants Scheme

Objectives

Through this program groups of research candidates can apply for a grant to help initiate, plan and run a Monash, state, national or international graduate research conference, seminar or workshop.

Like the Postgraduate Travel Grants scheme, the Postgraduate Conference Organisers' program provides research candidates with an opportunity to meet and engage in professional debate with researchers of local and international standing. Organisational and team building expertise, together with a range of other generic skills will be honed during the process. It is expected that their careers will be ultimately advanced by this opportunity to co-ordinate a national research forum during their Monash postgraduate candidature.

Additionally, the program seeks to advance Monash's reputation at the national and international level by generating collaborative research links with other tertiary institutions in a novel and innovative way.

Selection criteria

Members of the conference planning group may be full-time or part-time candidates, international or Australian research candidates.

The conference, workshop or seminar:

Level of funding

The maximum level of central funding for individual grants is $1 000 for national and international conferences, and $250 for Monash-only seminars and conferences (as at 2005). A further Faculty subsidy may also operate in some cases on a 50:50 central/Faculty subsidy or other arrangement. The actual grant made however is determined on a case-by-case basis according to the nature, scope and size of the proposed forum. A detailed budget estimate of anticipated expenditure is required as part of the application. Successful applicants will be reimbursed on the basis of receipts or where appropriate, invoices. At the conclusion of the conference, workshop or seminar, a summary of final expenditure is required.

Method of application

Application forms must be submitted before the conference, seminar or workshop takes place. Applications should be typed.

Further information is located at: http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/

10.2.6 Postgraduate Publications Award (Ppa) Scheme (University Wide)

Objectives

A postgraduate publications program is designed to provide a modest income to authors during the preparation of articles or books based on their thesis submitted for a Monash Masters or PhD degree.

The scheme is intended for research candidates who will have submitted their thesis by, or will be submitting within two months after the closing date for the next selection round. Applicants need to be prepared to write the intended publication(s) shortly after the award offer is made or shortly after the submission of the thesis.

Eligibility

Masters or PhD candidates whose thesis submission date is either one month before or two months after the closing date of the PPA round and have not yet qualified to graduate would be considered under this scheme. The award is designed to occupy the period when the thesis is being assessed by the examiners.

Intending applicants need to apply in the selection round which closes immediately preceding their estimated submission date.

Priority is given to:

PhD candidates who submit within 3½ years full-time equivalent (FTE), and
Masters candidates who submit within two years FTE.

Applications from research candidates who submit outside these times are only considered in circumstances that are exceptional and adequately documented by the respective departments. See also under 'Tenure' below.

It is immaterial whether an applicant held an APA or MGS scholarship during the period of candidature but a Postgraduate Publications Award cannot be held concurrently with another award offering similar benefits.

A person to whom an award is made cannot take either full-time or substantial part-time employment during the tenure of the award (i.e. not more than six hours a week of employment may be undertaken during 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday).

Tenure

Maximum tenure of an award is twelve weeks.

An award may be taken up on either the day on which the thesis is submitted or, if the thesis has been submitted prior to the offer of the award, the day on which the awardee accepts the offer. Applicants who are yet to submit their thesis would be expected to hand it in no later than three weeks after the predicted submission date.

As the submission date is a major factor in determining whether an application is successful, an award offer will lapse if the awardee fails to submit within three weeks of the submission date predicted in the application form, unless exceptional circumstances delaying submission can be sustained and confirmed by the relevant department. A lapsed offer will be withdrawn and allocated to another candidate.

Value of Awards

Awardees will receive a fortnightly taxable honorarium equivalent to the current stipend rate of the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA).

Application

Applicants complete an Application for Postgraduate Publications Award form. This form can be obtained from Monash Research Graduate School or from the following web address:

http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships/index.html#research

Applicants need to attach a proposal or summary of publications they propose to write-up during the tenure of the award.

Applicants need to attach a list of any previous publications.

Applicants may attach letters from journal referees, editors or publishers regarding potential publication.

Application Procedures

Applications are submitted to: Monash Research Graduate School, Research Services Division, Monash University, Clayton, 3800.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring departmental endorsement and that the completed application form reaches Monash Research Graduate School by the closing dates.

Closing dates every year: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December

Application forms, Interim Report Forms and Final Report Forms are located at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/

10.2.7 Postgraduate Publication Prize

Postgraduate research candidates who have had a prestigious publication in a DEST publication category in the previous year which was included in the School's research publication collection, are eligible to be nominated for a Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Publication Prize of $1000. The winner will also receive an award certificate from the Faculty.

Number of Annual Awards

There shall be one award per year.

Award Benefits

The award shall be a prize of $1000. The prize may be shared between two people.

Nomination and Selection:

Supervisors are invited to nominate a research candidate who has published:

a valuable piece of work in a refereed scholarly journal, book or refereed conference publication.

The nominee will be currently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts, will have been enrolled in the Faculty at the time the work was submitted for publication, or the publication must have arisen directly out of the thesis and appeared in the Research Publication no later than two years after the degree was completed, and nominations must include:

A copy of the nominated publication plus all relevant instrumentation (imprint page, details of editorial/publication board, evidence of refereeing) from the journal or book as well as any other documentation relating to the publication which may give the panel indication of its merit;
Supporting statement as to the value of the publication from the supervisor and the School Graduate Co-ordinator and one other qualified person outside Monash University.

In the case of jointly authored work where both authors were Monash graduate research candidates at the time the article was accepted for publication, a joint nomination will be accepted.

Nominations are called for publications appearing between 1 January and 31 December of the previous year, which are included in that year's Research Publication Collection.

Ratification of Nominations:

The awarding of the prize will be determined by a Prize Selection Panel comprising. The Selection Panel reserves the right to withhold an award in a particular year if it believes that nominations are not of a sufficiently high calibre.

10.2.8 Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Publications Award (Near Miss Category)

To reward timely completions of theses and to provide better facilities for the post-submission transition phase the Faculty is funding some Postgraduate Publication Awards each year from the Graduate Research budget. Awards will be allocated on a 'near miss' basis with awardees drawn from funding applicants who were unsuccessful in securing central support through the University-wide Postgraduate Publications Award. A limited number of awards will be given each year, based mainly on the extent and likelihood of publications.

10.2.9 Student Loans

Loans of up to $500 are available to research candidates as soon as they have enrolled. Loans in excess of $500 normally require a guarantor, but international students may be able to access up to $1,000 without a guarantor. This could be very helpful for international students who may need assistance with a deposit on housing and other setting-up costs. Smaller amounts can be got immediately, larger amounts of a few hundred dollars are paid into the student's bank account and take a couple of days.

Applicants for a loan should contact Mr Bill Wright, Student Financial Adviser, Campus Building, 2nd floor (same area as Counselling, ie west corner of Campus Bulding), tel 9905 3156.

10.2.10 Sessional Tutoring

The Faculty of Arts Research Management Plan 2001 recommended that scholarship candidates in middle candidature and non-scholarship candidates be advised of the opportunities within the School of sessional teaching opportunities and the School should call for expressions of interest from candidates which should include their CV and relevant documentation as to the progress of their research. All candidates interested in sessional tutoring should discuss this with their supervisor and the Graduate Co-ordinator of the School.

10.2.11 Faculty of Arts Research Scholarship International

Subject to funding and based on academic merit, the Faculty of Arts selects a few international applicants each year based on:

Applicants being citizens of an overseas country, excluding New Zealand.
The awardee applies for a research Masters or PhD degree.
The scholarship covers the course fee and gives a stipend equivalent to the MGS rate for the first calendar year of the course, ie from the start date of the research until and including 31 December of that same year. All awardees will be required to apply for an IPRS/MIPRS/MGS scholarship for the following year (ie with the closing date of 31 October of the year that the research was commenced). Should an awardee be unsuccessful for that scholarship, however, the Faculty will continue to cover both course fees and stipend for the same duration as IPRS/MIPRS/MGS scholarships, viz. two years for a Masters degree three years for a PhD degree, with the possibility of a six-month extension.
The Arts Scholarships Ranking Committee at its yearly meeting in November will nominate the awardee(s) on the basis of merit.
The awardees have obtained an Honours or a Research Masters H1 degree or have been deemed H1 Equivalent by the Monash Research Graduate School Committee H1 Equivalence Panel.

All applicants for APA and MRG scholarships are automatically considered for the MAIPRSS.

10.2.12 Faculty of Arts Research Scholarship

Subject to funding and based on academic merit, the Faculty of Arts awards scholarships to applicants who applied to the round of scholarships closing on 31 October but who missed out on being awarded a university scholarship by a close margin. The conditions for the award are:

Awardees must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
Awardees start a research Masters or PhD degree in the Faculty of Arts between 1/1 - 30/6 of the year following the application round.
Currently enrolled candidates are not eligible.
The Scholarships are equivalent to the APA/MGS rates for scholarships and are funded 50% by the Faculty and 50%by the School.
The Scholarship is for the first calendar year of enrolment only, ie from the start of the research date until and including 31 December of the year of the start of the research.
Candidates are eligible to apply for the scholarships round closing 31 October of the year of the start of the research for a university scholarship for the remainder of their candidature.

10.2.13 Monash Research Scholarships in the Faculty of Arts

Monash Arts offers a stimulating environment for successful research candidates who will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of academic, research training, and professional development programs.

The Faculty has a strong commitment to providing research candidates with relevant and valuable experience, including casual tutoring, lecturing and research positions, for careers in a range of fields. Both the Faculty and the Schools provide innovative research training programs for commencing research candidates, focusing on project development and helping foster research candidate involvement in a culture that supports productive research, publication and intellectual engagement.

In addition, the Faculty of Arts has introduced two new opportunities for prospective research candidates:

Monash Arts Research Excellence Awards (Marea)

The Faculty of Arts has two scholarship supplements each of $3,000 per annum for candidates of outstanding quality , topping up the Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship or the Monash Graduate Scholarship. All applicants for APA and MRGS Scholarships are automatically considered for the MAREA award.

Monash Arts Special Research Awards (Masra)

New scholarship holders whose projects will be enhanced by undertaking significant fieldwork research in Australia or overseas or who have specific software, equipment or technical requirements will be considered for one of two Monash Arts Special Research Awards of $3,000. All applicants for APA and MRGS Scholarships whose school has signalled the need for funding of this kind are automatically considered for the MASRA award.

Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the above awards.

Successful candidates for the above awards are also be entitled to apply for the University's Travel Grant Scheme which is open to all research candidates intending to undertake research, fieldwork or attend a conference in Australia or overseas.

Scholarship applications close on 31 October. For information call the Arts Research Graduate School on (03) 9905 1444.

10.2.14 Research Assistantships

Please consult with your supervisor or the School Graduate Co-ordinator as to the availability of paid research assistance. For the name of your Graduate Co-ordinator select your School at: www.arts.monash.edu.au/

10.2.15 Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal

Ten medals are awarded annually, normally one for each Faculty.

Nomination and Selection

Faculties, through their respective Committee for Graduate Studies/Arts Research Graduate School Committee, are invited to nominate one the best PhD thesis for the award.

The nominee will have fulfilled the requirements for the degree and had their result ratified at one of the eleven general meetings of the Research Graduate School Committee for that year.

The Committee expects that the examiners' reports, the research candidate's publication record and any other evidence of research excellence would form the basis of the nomination. The candidate's supervisor, School Graduate Coordinator and the Associate Dean (Graduate Research) make an argument for the nomination. In looking at publications, only those that formed part of, or arose from the thesis are considered relevant. The award is for the thesis and not for the research done before becoming a doctoral research candidate.

A nomination form is available from Monash Research Graduate School. A Faculty may, in exceptional circumstances nominate up to two persons of exceptional calibre in any given year. Late nominations will not be considered.

A Sub-Committee of the Research Graduate School Committee will meet no later than the 9 March to decide the award of the prize for theses submitted the previous year. The Committee reserves the right to withhold an award in a particular year if it believes that a nominee is not of sufficiently high calibre.

Presentation of the Award

The presentation of the medal will normally take place at one of the relevant Faculty's graduation ceremonies in the year following the award of the degree.

Academic Transcripts

Official academic transcripts will record the award of the medal.

Selection Criteria

A maximum of ten medals are awarded.
A medal is awarded to the best PhD thesis for each Faculty provided the nominee meets an overall level of excellence required for the award of the medal.
Only in exceptional circumstances is more than one medal awarded per Faculty. To receive the award the second nomination has to be of exceptional quality.
The quality of the thesis, not just the quality of the research, is paramount to the selection process.
The examiners' reports are used to establish the quality of the nominee's thesis.
Consideration is also given to publications produced as a result of the research.

Lodge nominations with Arts Research Graduate School. The nomination form is available for academics at: www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/research/

10.2.16 Faculty of Arts Prize for Best Masters Thesis

As from 2004 the Faculty of Arts has offered a prize for the best masters thesis in each year. The prize consists of a book voucher to the value of $500 and a framed certificate. Supervisors and graduate coordinators are able to nominate their candidates at any time of the year.

Nomination forms are located ate: http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/scholarships

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