Arts Graduate Research Essentials Grant

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility

• Be enrolled in a graduate research degree in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne;
• Be Confirmed;
• Be able to demonstrate that the proposed research activity is essential to thesis completion with strong support from your Advisory Committee;
• Have a Research Expenses Plan approved by your Advisory Committee at Confirmation

Selection criteria

The selection is based on the Research Expenses Plan approved at Confirmation of Candidature.

Conditions

This scholarship is subject to the following conditions:

• Applications for funding for the purpose of research involving human subjects must demonstrate compliance with the University's code of conduct for research before any data gathering or interpretation can commence under the auspices of the Arts Graduate Research Essentials Grant.
• Graduate researchers who have obtained approval for their Research Expenses Plan during the Confirmation phase are eligible to access the allocated funds by submitting a payment request, but it is expected that funded activity will be completed within 3 years (EFTSL) of candidature for PhD or 1.5 years (EFTSL) for MA by Research. Graduate researchers who have received funding under this scheme cannot received funding from the‚ÄØPhD Fieldwork Grant.
• Graduate researchers may propose to undertake more than one research trip under this scheme throughout their candidature up to the specified limit. Each trip is typically expected to be elements of the same essential research activity.
• The experience of data collection and interpretation are considered an important part of the training of a graduate researcher, and this scheme is designed to support this experience. Funding awarded under this scheme cannot be used to pay for data analysis or transcription by professional fieldwork companies.
• Graduate researchers jointly enrolled in another Faculty with co-supervision in Arts may access pro-rated funding only when an approved completion sharing agreement is in place. For partner based IRTG candidates, reciprocal arrangements must be approved prior to enrolment.
• Graduate researchers on Australia Awards scholarships have funding for fieldwork built into their scholarship and are allowed one fieldwork trip (either to their home country or within Australia) funded by Australia Awards during the course of their scholarship. Visit the Australia Awards web page.
• Retrospective applications, where the activity has already taken place, will not be considered.
• Graduate researchers travelling under this scheme are required to submit a report. Reports are due by the 1 March in the year following their trip. Guidelines on drafting such reports are available on the research grant reporting requirements web page. A report must be provided for before accessing funding up to the approved funding limit.

Budget

Budgets are expected to be prudent and economical, and any funding is based on an agreed budget by the Advisory Committee, subject to approval by the Faculty ADGR.

Items usually funded include:

• Expenses to support costs associated with course-related research work
• Fees for obtaining research material essential to course-related research work
• Travel costs for the critical research work
• Accommodation
• Access fees (i.e. costs of community access, gatekeeping, interpreting in the field, etc.)
• Government fees and research visas
• Archival materials from external sources
• Software or consumable materials critical for the research that cannot be provided by the University of Melbourne

Items that may be funded with justifiable evidence (on a case-by-case basis):

• Specialist training needs in the exceptional cases where these cannot be met from within the University of Melbourne and where they are necessary for the successful completion of the PhD project
• Translation or transcription or research assistance, if a clear and persuasive case is made that paying for such assistance in situation is essential
• Use of specialist services and learning specialist techniques directly related to your research and beyond what is provide by at the University of Melbourne
• Research participant compensation or gifts, as is appropriate in the particular local or cultural context
• Thesis editing and proofreading – where permitted by University Policy MPF 1321
• Business cards for the purposes of your research project
• Other research related expenditure, which is essential to ensure the successful completion of your thesis

Items NOT funded include:

• living expenses – these are expected to be covered by either your scholarship or other sources
• Electronic equipment, such as laptops, recorders or other consumables
• Language study – you are expected to have developed any required language skill prior to travel
• Cross-institutional study or travel to attend a training course or workshop
• Travel insurance over and above the University policy
• Joint PhD graduate researchers visiting partner universities
• Data gathering or analysis performed by professional fieldwork companies or private individuals on your behalf