Policy Number : POL HDR 01 Title : Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme Effective Date : 13 th December 2012 Category : Students, Support & Scholarship Organisational Unit : Research and Development Office/Higher Degree Research 1. POLICY PURPOSE This document provides the overarching policy governing the provision of Higher Degree Research (HDR) Scholarships by Curtin University Sarawak campus (Curtin Sarawak) to support the healthy growth of its HDR programs and to increase the number of good quality HDR students enrolled at this campus under the Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme (CSPRS). 2. APPLICATION All applicants for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree at Curtin Sarawak who wish to be considered for a Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship. 3. EXCEPTIONS Applicants for Curtin Sarawak Research Institute (CSRI) Scholarships. 4. DEFINITIONS 4.1. Leave of absence Period during which enrolment is suspended as provided for under Curtin University Rule 10, Item 10. 4.2. Satisfactory progress The award of Good Standing status under Curtin University Rule 10, Item 9. 5. POLICY STATEMENT The Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship (CSPRS) Scheme is an initiative to increase the number of good quality HDR students enrolled at the Curtin Sarawak campus and enhance the research culture, research activities and research performance of our HDR students and their supervisors on this campus. The Scholarship is intended to attract individuals with strong academic track records who wish to pursue research leading to a PhD degree. CSPRS are awarded competitively based on applicants academic records. 6. OBJECTIVES or PRINCIPLES 6.1. Nature of Support The Scholarship scheme supports only full time PhD (by research) students who are enrolled at the Curtin Sarawak. The Scholarship covers full course fees and provides a monthly stipend for a maximum duration of three years. The value of the stipend is set by the Research & Development Committee of Curtin Sarawak. Reference Number: POL-HDR-01 Version: 1.0 Page 1 of 5
The Scholarship will take effect from the enrolment date of the recipient and the stipend will be remitted each month to the awardee s bank account. The stipend will be suspended during any approved Leave of Absence. 6.2. Eligibility Both Malaysian and international applicants are eligible for the Scholarships. Only those applicants who have been approved for enrolment into a PhD program can be considered. 6.3. Student Obligations An awardee is required to conform to the rules (including disciplinary provisions) of Curtin Sarawak. This award is conditional on the awardee s adherence to Curtin University Higher Degree by Research Regulations for PhD Degree students (Rule No. 10 Made Pursuant to Statute No. 12 Enrolment: Degree of Doctor by Research) for the entire duration of studies. An awardee shall remain enrolled continuously until the thesis has been submitted for examination to the Office of Research and Development, except during periods of approved Leave of Absence. Awardees shall diligently and to the best of their ability apply themselves to the successful completion of the degree and shall make satisfactory progress in their candidature. If the Curtin Sarawak does not consider that progress to be satisfactory, the student will be placed on conditional status and/or the award may be terminated. Awardees are required to engage in teaching related activities within Schools to a maximum of 8 hours per week in the teaching terms. 6.4. Withdrawal from the PhD program If an awardee withdraws from the PhD program, the awardee will be required to reimburse 100% of course fees, stipend and any other costs incurred to the date of the withdrawal, and the funds shall be reimbursed within a period of sixty (60) days. 6.5. Termination of Scholarship Curtin University Sarawak may at its discretion, terminate a scholarship on any of the following grounds: academic misconduct or non academic misconduct; neglect of study or an unsatisfactory progress report; breached any part of the Scholarship Offer; abandonment or changes to the study program without the permission of the university; withdrawal from the course due to any reason(s) whatsoever, In the event of termination, the scholarship holder will be required to reimburse the University 100% of the total scholarship value awarded including course fees, stipend and Reference Number: POL-HDR-01 Version: 1.0 Page 2 of 5
any other costs incurred and the reimbursement of money to Curtin University Sarawak shall be made within a period of sixty (60) days. 6.6. Visa and Student Pass Information (for international and non Sarawakian students ONLY) It is the responsibility of the scholarship holders to ensure that they hold a valid student visa and student pass while studying at Curtin Sarawak. If the student visa and student pass expire, the student may be required to leave Malaysia and the scholarship will be automatically suspended. The scholarship does not cover the costs of the student visa, student pass and medical checkup. 6.7. Group Hospitalisation & Surgical Insurance (GHSI) (For International students ONLY) It is compulsory for all international students who wish to study at Curtin Sarawak to purchase GHSI. The scholarship does not cover the costs of (GHSI) 6.8. Transfer The scholarship cannot be transferred to another university. 6.9. Provision of False or Misleading Information If the Curtin Sarawak knows or has reason to believe that an awardee has provided false or misleading information to Curtin Sarawak in relation to the Scholarship, Curtin Sarawak will immediately: re assess the student s entitlement to the Scholarship; and/or notify the Malaysian Immigration Department of the suspected offence and any other relevant information requested by the department (for international students only). 7. PROCEDURES 7.1. Awarding scholarships 7.1.1. A prospective student begins the process of obtaining a scholarship by following the procedures described in the admission and enrolment section of PRO HDR 02 which is aimed at securing admission to a HDR program. 7.1.2. An applicant declares an intention to be considered for a scholarship by denoting this in the form Application for Admission Higher Degree by Research Students. 7.1.3. All applications which have been processed up to Step 7.1.7 of PRO HDR 02 and which have been received by the closing date of a particular scholarship round will be considered for a Scholarship. 7.1.4. As soon as possible after the closing date of an application round, members of the Graduate Studies Committee score the applicants using the Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scoring Sheet and average scores are processed into an indicative ranking of all applicants by the Office of R&D. 7.1.5. A meeting of the Graduate Studies Committee is convened as soon as possible after the indicative ranking of applicants is completed, to confirm the ranking order and identify Reference Number: POL-HDR-01 Version: 1.0 Page 3 of 5
sufficient top ranked applicants as awardee elects to fill the Scholarship places available in the particular round. 7.1.6. The Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee sends Letters of Offer of Scholarship to the awardee elects, stating a date by which offers must be accepted. 7.1.7. Unfilled places after this process are distributed sequentially by the Chair in rank order to those down the ranking list until all available Scholarship places are taken up. 7.1.8. As soon as an Awardee has accepted a scholarship, the Office of R&D passes the letter of acceptance and the awardee s application for enrolment to the Admission and Enrolment Officer in the Student Services Department and the required subsequent actions follow the description in the admission and enrolment section of PRO HDR 02 at the corresponding point in the procedure. 7.2. Distributing stipends 7.2.1. Once a Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme awardee is enrolled with Curtin Sarawak and starts his/her HDR program, the Associate Dean, Research Training, advises the Financial Services Department of the scholarship recipient s name, bank account details, starting date of study so that the awardee s first stipend payment can be made. 7.2.2. At least five (5) working days prior to the end of each month, the Associate Dean, Research Training sends a memorandum to the Financial Services Department listing the names of stipend payees and the stipend amounts they should receive. 7.2.3. Using this list, the Financial Services Department arranges direct credit of the stipulated stipend amount into the payees bank accounts by the end of the relevant month. 7.3. Setting stipends 7.3.1. The Research &Development Committee recommends a change to monetary value of the stipend ( the stipend ) for awards under the Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship (CSPRS), specify a specific date from when the change in the monetary value of the stipend should be effective. 7.3.2. The recommendation is submitted to the Curtin Sarawak Budget Review Committee at one of its sittings, or if the matter needs to be resolved before such a meeting, a paper may be put before the Curtin Sarawak Board of Directors. 8. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Nil 9. RESPONSIBILITIES Role (Position, Committee) Accountable for Graduate Studies Committee Confirmation of the ranking order and identification of sufficient top ranked applicants as awardee elects Recommendation of change for monetary value of the stipend Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee Sending of the Letters of Offer of Scholarship Associate Dean, Research Training Advice to Financial Services Department on Reference Number: POL-HDR-01 Version: 1.0 Page 4 of 5
the scholarship recipient s details Sending of memorandum to Financial Services Department Curtin Sarawak Budget Review Committee Approval of recommendation of change for monetary value of the stipend 10. APPENDICES (FORMS, WORK INSTRUCTION, SCHEDULES, PROCEDURES) 10.1. Appendix 1: Curtin Sarawak Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scoring Sheet 11. OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS/LINKS 11.1. Full student visa information is available on the Immigration Department of Malaysia s website at http:/www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/visa Policy Manager Contact Officer Telephone E mail Approval Authority Date of Approval Assigned Review Period Date of Next Review RESPONSIBILITIES Dean, Research and Development Personal Assistant to Dean, Research and Development 443891 jenny.teoh@curtin.edu.my Academic Board (via recommendation of the R & D Committee) Yearly REVISION HISTORY Version Number Approved/ Rescinded Date Approved/ Rescinded Resolution Number/ Minutes Reference 1.0 Approved 13 th December Sarawak Council 2012 meeting held on 13 th Dec 2012 Reason for & Details of Amendment Procedures updated to comply with the approved document management and version control policy and procedure. Reference Number: POL-HDR-01 Version: 1.0 Page 5 of 5