Fay Marles Scholarship (FMS)

The Fay Marles Scholarship is awarded to local applicants (Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents) wishing to undertake graduate research studies at the University who are of Indigenous Australian descent and/or who have compelling personal circumstances.

Number

The University of Melbourne offers up to eight Fay Marles Scholarships each year.

Benefits and conditions

Fay Marles Scholarship benefits are similar to those provided by the Melbourne Research Scholarship and include a:

  • living allowance of $24,653 per annum (2013 rate)
  • Relocation Grant of $2,000 awarded to students who are moving from interstate in order to study at the University of Melbourne or $3,000 awarded to those who are moving from overseas
  • Thesis Allowance of up to $420 (2013 rate) for masters by research and up to $840 (2013 rate) for PhD and other doctorate by research candidates, and
  • paid sick, maternity and parenting leave.

Please click on the following link for further information about scholarship conditions including duration of awards and commencement requirements.

Eligibility criteria

  1. Applicants must plan have applied for, or be currently enrolled in, a graduate research degree* at the University of Melbourne.

    *Graduate research degrees have a research component of at least 66%.

    *FMSs cannot be awarded to support studies towards a graduate coursework degree, graduate diploma or postgraduate certificate.

  2. Applicants seeking an FMS must have completed tertiary studies that are at least equivalent to a 4-year Australian Honours degree with a minimum grade average of a high H2A (ie. upper second class average which equates to 78-79% at the University of Melbourne.) Applicants who do not meet FMS academic eligibility criteria will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Directly relevant professional experience will be considered when the academic eligibility criteria is not met.

    Applicants who have commenced their graduate research degree must have at least 12 months full-time or equivalent candidature remaining.

  3. Applicants must provide compelling evidence showing that they meet one or more of the following criteria:

    (a) they are of Indigenous Australian descent, and/or

    (b) they have compelling personal circumstances such as:

    • illness
    • disability
    • family responsibilities (eg. child bearing or rearing, sustained care of a dependent family member, etc.), or
    • traumatic event(s) that were beyond their control.
  4. FMSs are not awarded to applicants who:
    • cannot provide compelling evidence of circumstances to support their FMS application
    • have already completed a course deemed to be at the same level or higher level than the course for which they are seeking scholarship support
    • have previously received a HRS, MRS, PES, Scholarship for Women with Career Interruptions or a Postgraduate Scholarship for Indigenous Australians
    • as a result of previous candidature and/or prior scholarship, have a maximum tenure of less than 12 months
    • have already been awarded or later receive another equivalent award, scholarship or salary for the studies for which they seek a FMS. An "equivalent" award is regarded as one greater than 75% of the base FMS rate (75% of the base 2012 FMS rate = $17,796), or
    • are awarded an APA or MRS before the FMS selection meeting in January.

Selection criteria

Selection of the FMS is primarily based on three main criteria: compelling nature of personal circumstance, academic merit, and strength of the supporting documents.

Application process (including required documents)

To be considered for a Fay Marles Scholarship the following steps must be completed by 31 October 2012.

Step 1: FMS applicants submit a scholarship application

Applicants should follow the instructions on the 'How to Apply' webpage.

Step 2: Complete a FMS coversheet with supporting documentation

In addition applicants must complete and submit a FMS document coversheet, with the documents listed below, to Melbourne Scholarships by 31 October 2012.

Required documents

If the required documents are not provided by the closing date or do not clearly address the requirements outlined below, the application will be deemed ineligible.

  1. A compelling statement (maximum of 1 page) that explains how you meet the eligibility requirements listed above. Specifically, this statement should indicate that you are of Australian Indigenous descent and/or describe your compelling personal circumstances.
  2. 2. Documents that clearly verify:
    • a) That you are of Australian Indigenous descent. Examples of these documents include:
      • a letter from a community elder, or
      • supporting documents from the Centre for Indigenous Education at the University of Melbourne.

      and/or

    • b) Documents to support your compelling personal circumstances. Examples of these documents include:
      • medical certificates
      • birth certificates for dependent children
      • police reports
      • a Disability Impact Statement from the University of Melbourne Disability Liaison Unit, or
      • a letter from an academic or course coordinator that outlines how your personal circumstances impacted upon your tertiary studies. For example: you were ill for a substantial amount of time and your academic transcripts show a drop in your grades during this time.

Application outcome

Applicants may view the progress of their application via the Student Portal.

The FMS selection meeting will take place in late January. Applicants will be advised via email by mid-February of the outcome of their FMS application.

Closing date and timelines

31 October 2012. We are unable to consider late or incomplete applications.

Scholarship assessment timelines for local and international students can also be viewed.

For further information

Please contact Melbourne Scholarships.