IMPORTANT: Please ensure you retain this copy of the conditions for award and continue

to refer to them throughout your candidature.

Conditions for Award 2015

International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS)
The International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) is funded by the Australian Government,
under the Department of Education. The objective of the IPRS is to maintain and develop
international research linkages and to attract top quality international postgraduate research
students to areas of research strength within Australian tertiary Institutions.
The IPRS covers the tuition fees for a period of two (2) years for a masters by research degree or
three (3) years for a doctoral degree and the cost of a standard Overseas Student Health Cover
(OSHC) for the scholarship holder and their dependant(s). It does not provide for living allowance,
travel, conference attendance, medical costs associated with the issue or renewal of a student visa,
thesis expenses, the cost of English language testing, tuition fees for bridging English language
courses, or costs associated with study-related field trips.
The information contained in this document is based on the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines
(the Guidelines) for IPRS available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L02535
1. ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for an IPRS, a student must:
(a) be an overseas student as defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) (the Act); and
(b) meet international student visa requirements as specified by the DIAC, including the requirement
to purchase and maintain a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the
Australian Government Department of Health; and
(c) be commencing full-time enrolment for the first-time in a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) at an
eligible scholarship provider (such as the University) under section 46-15 of the Act. The provider
may also consider students who:
(i) commenced their HDR in the previous year but who, due to the timing of their application and
subsequent enrolment, were unable to apply for the scholarship in that year; or
(ii) commenced a HDR and terminated that enrolment within six months of commencement; and
(d) be undertaking study in a subject area identified by the provider as one of its areas of research
concentration; and
(e) not hold a research qualification regarded by the provider to be equivalent to an Australian
doctoral degree or, if undertaking a masters by research degree, not hold a research qualification
regarded by the provider to be equivalent to or higher than an Australian masters by research
degree; and
(f) not have held an Australian Agency for International Development scholarship within the two
years prior to commencing the IPRS; and
(g) not be receiving a scholarship for which course tuition is a component under any other
scholarship scheme to which the Australian government makes a substantial contribution; and

2015 APA conditions Oct 2014

(h) not previously have received an IPRS for a doctoral degree, unless converting to a masters by
research degree; and
(i) not previously have received an IPRS for a masters by research degree, unless:
(i) that degree was completed and the student is immediately undertaking a doctoral degree; or
(ii) the student has converted their HDR under paragraph 3.25.15 of the Commonwealth
Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2012 (the Guidelines).
2. OFFER PROCESS
The University may only offer the IPRS as a result of:
(a) an application lodged as part of a competitive application process; or
(b) the University agreeing to continue an IPRS for a student who is already in receipt of an IPRS and:
(i) is transferring from another provider under paragraph 4.25.10 of the Guidelines; or
(ii) is converting their HDR under paragraph 4.25.15 of the Guidelines; or
(iii) has completed a masters by research degree and is immediately proceeding to a doctoral degree
in a related field.
3. VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP
The maximum value of an IPRS in a year is equal to:
(a) the estimated annual tuition fee, as specified in the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and
Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), for the HDR being undertaken by the student; and
(b) the cost of a standard OSHC policy approved by Department of Health and which covers the
student and their spouse and dependants (if any) for the period of the IPRS.
4. TENURE CONDITIONS
The following tenure conditions apply to the IPRS:
(a) The IPRS must be taken up by the census date of the relevant semester for which the offer is
made. The IPRS cannot be deferred.
(b) The duration of an IPRS is three years for doctoral degrees and two years for masters by research
degrees.
(c) The duration of an IPRS will be reduced by any periods of study undertaken:
(i) towards the course of study prior to the commencement of the IPRS; and
(ii) during suspension of the IPRS
(d) The University may approve extensions to the duration of an IPRS subject to funding availability.
(e) Students must be making satisfactory progress and the grounds for an extension must relate to
the study only and are beyond the control of the student.
(f) Applications for extension must be supported by the principal supervisor and endorsed by the
Facultys/Institutes academic officer responsible for HDR students [Responsible Academic Officer]
(RAO). Extensions will be subject to approval by the Dean, Graduate Research School and funding
availability.
5. ONGOING ELIGIBILITY
The University must monitor the ongoing eligibility of a student to ensure that the student continues
to meet the eligibility requirements for the IPRS as set out in paragraph 3.10 of the Guidelines. The

2015 APA conditions Oct 2014

continuation of an IPRS is subject to the IPRS holder maintaining satisfactory progress. IPRS holders
must also comply with the Universitys rules and regulations relating to Graduate Research Study
available on the University website at: http://www.gsu.uts.edu.au/rules/11-index.html.
6. SUSPENSION OF SCHOLARSHIP
A student may apply to the University for suspension of their IPRS prior to the period of suspension.
The approval of suspensions will be at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate Research School.
7. TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PROVIDER
If an IPRS holder wants to transfer to another provider, the following conditions apply:
(a) A student in receipt of an IPRS may transfer the IPRS to another provider in exceptional
circumstances only.
(b) Students may continue to receive an IPRS only if the former provider supports the students
transfer and the new provider agrees to continue the IPRS.
(c) The new provider must ensure that it receives information from the former provider on any IPRS
duration consumed and payment received by the IPRS holder.
(d) Change of provider does not constitute sufficient grounds for a subsequent extension of the IPRS.
8. CONVERSION OF DEGREES
The following conditions apply if an IPRS holder wishes to convert their HDR:
(a) An IPRS holder may convert from a masters by research degree to a doctoral degree or from a
doctoral degree to a masters by research degree and continue to receive their IPRS.
(b) The maximum duration of a converted IPRS becomes that for the new research degree minus
periods of study undertaken towards the related degree prior to the conversion.
9. EMPLOYMENT
The following conditions apply if an IPRS holder wishes to undertake work other than work that is
specified as a course requirement:
(a) An IPRS holder with a student visa may undertake work unrelated to their course requirements
consistent with the conditions of the student visa provided the IPRS holder obtains the approval of
the RAO and the Graduate Research School prior to undertaking such work.
(b) The University may not approve an IPRS holder undertaking work unless it is satisfied that the
work will not interfere with the IPRS holders study programme.
(c) The University may approve work subject to conditions determined by the University in its
absolute discretion.
(d) Work commitments cannot be accepted as grounds for an extension of the duration of the IPRS.
10. TERMINATION OF AN IPRS
The IPRS will be terminated:
(a) if the IPRS holder ceases to meet the eligibility criteria as specified other than during a period in
which the IPRS has been suspended; or
(b) once the maximum duration of the IPRS has been reached; or

2015 APA conditions Oct 2014

(c) upon submission of thesis for examination or when the IPRS

(d) expires, whichever is earlier; or
(e) once the IPRS holder is granted permanent residency status in Australia;
(e) if the University determines that:
(i) the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence; or
(ii) the IPRS holder has failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress; or
(iii) the IPRS holder has committed serious academic misconduct including, but not limited to the
provision of false or misleading information in terms of paragraph 11.
11. PROVISION OF FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION
If the University knows or has reason to believe that a student in receipt of an IPRS has provided
false or misleading information to the University in relation to the IPRS, the University will
immediately:
(a) re-assess the students entitlement to the IPRS; and
(b) notify the Department of Education of the suspected offence and provide a copy of the students
application and any other relevant information requested by the Department.

2015 APA conditions Oct 2014