Melbourne Scholarships

A minimum of 2 weeks and up to 12 months Leave of Absence can be taken for any reason during the tenure of the scholarship.

If circumstances beyond their control prevent a student from pursuing their studies, they may apply for more than 12 months Leave of Absence. Requests for additional leave require a letter from the student that explains their situation, supporting documents (eg. medical certificate for protracted illness), and a letter of support from the supervisor and head of department. Additional leave will only be approved if the documented exceptional circumstances are beyond the student’s control and warrant further leave.  Only in very exceptional cases would leave beyond a total of 24 months be approved.

APA(I) recipients: may apply to the University, with the consent of the Industry Partner, for Leave of Absence of up to 12 months to gain industry work experience. In exceptional cases, the University may allow a Leave of Absence on compassionate grounds with the consent of the Industry Partner and the ARC. Prior approval of the ARC is required where a period of leave will occur within six months of the starting date of the project, or if the leave will be more than 12 months.

Students must apply for leave from their scholarship online via the Student Portal at least 2 weeks before the intended leave commences.

Leave is not normally approved earlier than 6 months into the course. Exceptions will only be made for compassionate reasons or for other exceptional circumstances that are beyond the student’s control.

Up to 10 days sick leave each year of the scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the scholarship.

Additional paid sick leave of up to 12 weeks is possible for medically substantiated periods of illness that last for more than 10 consecutive working days. If this leave is approved, the scholarship will be extended by the same amount of time for which the additional sick leave was granted.

An application is not necessary for students who take up to 10 days sick leave only in one year. Students must notify Melbourne Scholarships as soon as they know that, due to poor health, they will be unable to study for more than 10 consecutive working days.

Students who have held their scholarship for at least 12 months (FTE or equivalent) are entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks paid maternity leave throughout the tenure of their scholarship. Additional (unpaid) leave is possible by applying for Leave of Absence.

Paid maternity leave must be taken at the time of the birth.

This leave should be arranged in advance of the birth by applying for leave online via the Student Portal and submiting to Melbourne Scholarships a doctor's certificate at the time of application. Please ensure your full name and Student ID are clearly displayed on the doctor's certificate.

Scholarship recipients who are partners of women giving birth, and who have completed at least twelve months (FTE or equivalent) of their scholarship, may apply for up to 5 days paid parenting leave. Additional (unpaid) leave may be taken by applying for Leave of Absence.

Students may opt to use some of the sick leave entitlement described above if they need to support members of their immediate family or household who are dependent upon the student when:

• the person is ill, or
• an emergency renders it essential that the student attend to that person.

Students may take up to 5 days of their sick leave entitlement as Family Leave per year. This entitlement is not in addition to the sick leave described above.

Students who have held their scholarship for at least 12 months (FTE or equivalent) are entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks paid adoption leave throughout the tenure of their scholarship, provided the child is under the age of 5 years and is placed with the scholarship recipient for the purposes of adoption. Additional (unpaid) adoption leave is possible by applying for Leave of Absence.

Paid adoption leave must be taken at the time of the adoption.

This leave should be arranged in advance of the adoption by applying for leave online via the Student Portal and submiting to Melbourne Scholarships an adoption certificate or supporting letter at the time of application. Please ensure your full name and Student ID are clearly displayed on the adoption certificate or supporting letter.

Students will be granted paid jury duty leave if the jury duty entails 5 or more days. Up to 12 weeks of paid jury leave is possible throughout the duration of the scholarship.

Paid jury leave does not diminish other leave entitlements and the payment received for jury service attendance does not reduce the student’s scholarship payments. Students should however, ask the Australian Tax Office (ATO) if there are any tax implications.

The University may allow students to spend up to 12 months of their course (18 months for Anthropology and for special cases) away from the University (eg. interstate or overseas). Requests will not normally be approved earlier than 6 months into the course.

All absences overseas, for whatever period, must be reported.Students travelling within Australia must apply for Leave to Study Away if they will be away for one month or more and/or the destination to which they are travelling has an identifiable risk (eg. travel to remote or dangerous destination).

Approval to study away from the University will only be granted if:

• the research is essential for completion of the student’s course and will be credited to their course, and
• while away from the University, there is adequate supervision and the student remains enrolled at the University of Melbourne.

A scholarship may be ceased if the time away from the University exceeds the period for which the Leave to Study Away was granted.

When a student is on Leave to Study Away, they are still enrolled at the University. This means that:

• students in receipt of a scholarship which provides a living allowance, will continue to have their stipend paid. Payments will continue to be transferred into to their nominated Australian bank account. Students must make their own arrangements to forward money overseas.
• students in receipt of a fee-remission scholarship will still have their fees covered for the period that they are overseas or away.

To apply for leave to study overseas / away students must apply online via the Student Portal.

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