Higher degree by research scholarship information

Make sure you check the eligibility criteria and rules carefully as you will only be considered if you meet all of the criteria. Scholarship rules and eligibility criteria can be found using the search function on the individual scholarship webpage on the scholarships database. Before applying for a scholarship, make sure you have all of your supporting documentation in order.

You must apply for both candidature, and scholarship. Follow these steps:

Please note: individual pdf file size is 8MB max. To reduce the size, open the pdf document and save as new document using the “Adobe PDF Files, Optimised” function.

Check you have completed the steps above before you submit your application.

Make sure you check the eligibility criteria and rules carefully as you will only be considered if you meet all of the criteria. Scholarship rules and eligibility criteria can be found on the individual scholarship webpages on the scholarships database. Before applying for a scholarship, make sure you have all of your supporting documentation in order. You must apply for both candidature, and scholarship.

To apply for candidature

To apply for scholarship

You will be notified of the outcome of your application via your Flinders email account.

*Current Flinders student or a recent graduate (within 12 months) you can submit your application for a scholarship via the Student Information System, by selecting the My Scholarships tab at the top of the page, and searching for the scholarship you wish to apply for.

*If you have never studied at or made an application to Flinders University, you can register and submit your application for a scholarship using the eApplication portal. You will receive two emails once your application is completed: confirmation of an application submission; and a second email with your student ID. Note, it may take 1— 4 hours for your student ID to be created.

*If you have studied at Flinders University more than 12 months ago you will need to reactivate your FAN via the FAN reactivation page. With an active FAN you will then be able to submit your application for a scholarship via the Student Information System as advised above.
 

If you are experiencing issues with the eApplication portal, call +61 8 8201 2345 for support.  

Once your submitted application is complete including all mandatory questions and documentation, your application will be assessed once applications have closed. Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered: you must provide all the required information.

If you wish to apply for an intermission, including sick leave, maternity leave, and carers leave from your scholarship (leave may be paid or unpaid depending on duration, supporting evidence and type of leave); please refer to your scholarship conditions of award. You need to apply at least four (4) weeks in advance to the Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee by completing an online request via the Inspire portal. The online request through the Inspire portal will make an application for a variation to your enrolment, and to your scholarship.

If you wish to apply for recreational leave or an HDR allowance (thesis preparation reimbursement or relocation reimbursement), please complete an online request via the Inspire portal.

If you wish to apply for a six-month extension to your HDR scholarship (based only on study reasons beyond your control), please complete an online request via the Inspire portal. Applications for scholarship and candidature extensions are assessed separately by different offices. You will receive notification of each outcome separately delivered to your Flinders email account.

Leave entitlements

The following leave entitlements apply to most scholarships. Check your scholarship conditions for specific details that apply to you.  

Intermission

Intermissions are non-paid periods of leave from a scholarship, which must match any intermission from candidature due to personal circumstances. The following conditions apply:

• Award holders who wish to intermit or suspend their studies and scholarship must apply to the Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee. The Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee may approve a period or periods totalling up to 12 months. In exceptional circumstances (circumstances beyond the student’s control), the Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee may approve periods of intermission up to 24 months in total. Award holders must apply separately to the relevant College Higher Degrees Committee for intermission of their candidature.
• The Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee will not approve intermission of scholarships in the first six months of scholarship tenure except in exceptional circumstances.
• Award holders who suspend their studies without the approval of the Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee will be required to repay any award payments to which they were not entitled.

If you have taken a period of intermission, you must inform Student Finance to confirm your return to study by email to scholarships@flinders.edu.au.  Your scholarship payments will not recommence until you have confirmed your return.

Extension

An extension to an AGRTPS/FURS/CSERA or FIPRS of up to six months may be approved by the Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee provided:

• the student is making satisfactory progress, and
• the grounds for the extension relate to study reasons and are beyond the control of the student.

Research Masters students are not eligible for an extension.

Under extenuating circumstances Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (International) award holders may apply for an additional extension of up to six months, only once the initial extension of six months has commenced.  A second extension is only considered under extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control, and the committee reserves the right to award a lesser extension period than applied for based on the evidence provided. 

For more information about your scholarship, please search for your award to view further details, including the full conditions of award.

For general information about the administration of your award, including payments, please download and read Your Research Scholarship information sheet.

Please see below current HDR scholarships conditions of award. If you have need any further clarification or advice, please contact rhdscholarships@flinders.edu.au or call (08) 8201 5511.

• Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (AGRTPS) (Domestic) Conditions of Award
• Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (AGRTPS) (International) Conditions of Award
• Flinders University Research Award (FURS) Conditions of Award
• Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (FIPRS) Conditions of Award
• College of Science and Engineering Research Award (CSERA) Conditions of Award
• Privately Funded Scholarships (PFS) Conditions of Award
• Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue Indigenous Postgraduate Research Award Conditions of Award
• Flinders PhD Enterprise Conditions of Award

As a Postgraduate student you have the opportunity to access leading Universities overseas through a number of highly respected scholarship programs.

These scholarship programs will enhance your studies, research and ability to have real world impact, with many also offering opportunities to develop your leadership skills. You will also be engaged in a supportive community with other students from around the world.
 

Scholarships include:

• Rhodes Scholarship - for postgraduate study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom
• Cambridge Australia Scholarship - for Australian graduates to undertake Masters and PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, England
• Cambridge Trust Scholarships - search for scholarships that will enable study at the University of Cambridge
• Fulbright Scholarship - for Australian graduates to undertake postgraduate or postdoctoral study in the United States of America
• Sir John Monash Scholarship - for Australian graduates to undertake postgraduate study for up to 3 years in another country

Research scholarships for domestic students (or international students with recent Australian qualifications)

Research scholarships for domestic students (or international students with recent Australian qualifications)

If you are submitting a publication or publications to support your scholarship application in the main domestic student research scholarship round (AGRTPS, FURS, CSERA, Joyner, Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue or any other scholarships in the pool), the following conditions apply:

• Applicants should submit for consideration by the Higher Degree by Research Scholarships Committee details of publications or research experience they believe demonstrate their research potential. For co-authored (co-edited) publications, the relative contribution of each author will be assessed in accordance with details provided by the applicant and fractional points may be allocated. Points are allocated for publications published in the last ten years and are within, or relevant to, the applicant's proposed field of study.
• Publications should be related to the research you intend to undertake at Flinders University.
• Publications must not be more than 10 years old.
• Each publication must have a completed a Publications Cover Sheet; publications without coversheets will not be considered.
• If you are providing a hyperlink to your publication on the publication coversheet, please ensure the link is active. If a live link direct to the publication is not possible, please provide an electronic copy of the publication.

A publication will be considered if it was submitted for publication before the scholarship application closing date and has been accepted for publication before the committee meets in early December.  Evidence of acceptance must be provided to the Student Finance prior to that meeting. Please ensure that you provide evidence of acceptance as soon as you receive it.

Specific details on publication scoring can be found on the Higher Degree by research Scholarship ranking guidelines, published on each of the Scholarship adverts which are searchable here.

Research scholarships for international students

If you are submitting an application for the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (AGRTPS) (International) or Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarship, please ensure you read the information below regarding the presentation of your publications.

Publications submitted to support your application for an AGTPS will be used to judge your research potential in the area of your proposed study at Flinders University. Publications outside your area of proposed study may be considered but may not support your application as much as closely related ones.

The following conditions are mandatory:

• Publications must not be more than 5 years old.
• Only present your top five publications and select these in consultation with your proposed Flinders University supervisor.
• Each publication must have a completed a Publications Cover Sheet; publications without coversheets will not be considered.
• Do not provide more than 5 publications; additional publications may be noted on your CV or in a separate list.
• If you are providing a hyperlink to your publication on your publication coversheet, please ensure that the link is active. If a live link direct to the publication is not possible, please provide an electronic copy of the publication.
• Only publications in English should be included among the top five publications; publications in other languages will be accepted only if the nature of the publication (for example, a report to a government agency) dictates that another language is most appropriate.

Please note, due to the highly competitive nature of the AGRTPS, applicants who have not published are unlikely to be competitive.