RMIT University International Research Scholarships 2009

RMIT University is committed to world-class research that is practical, applied and valuable. The University is committed to attracting top research students into its key areas of expertise. Priority for scholarships will be given to students conducting their research in one of these identified RMIT research concentration areas.

RUIRS 2009 awards are awarded to international postgraduate research students with excellent academic performance.

Important: All applicants wishing to apply for an RMIT University International Research Scholarship 2009 must have received an offer letter for an RMIT postgraduate by research program. To apply for admission into a program please visit "www.rmit.edu.au/international/apply"

Eligibility
Value of RUIRS 2009 Award
Selection Criteria
Duration of RUIRS 2009
How to apply
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
Scholarships for international students

Eligibility
RMIT University International Research Scholarships (RUIRS) will be awarded to:

new international postgraduate research students, intending to enrol in Semester 1 or Semester 2, 2009

Applicants must possess excellent academic results.

Citizenship
Applicants who are citizens of all overseas countries, except New Zealand are eligible.

Visa
Applicants who meet international student visa requirements as specified by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), including the requirement to purchase and maintain a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the Commonwealth Government of Health and Ageing.

Commencement
Applicants must be commencing full-time enrolment in a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program in Australia in 2009 at RMIT University. The approved program duration is two years for a Masters by Research degree or three years for a Doctorate by Research degree.

RUIRS 2009 awardees must commence their studies in Australia in 2009 at RMIT University by 30th August 2009. The RUIRS 2009 award cannot be deferred to another year. If a candidate is unable to take up a RUIRS award, the candidate must apply again for the award in the following year.

Academic
Applicants must have received a Firm Offer or Conditional Offer of a place for entry in a Higher Degree Research (HDR) program at RMIT University, to commence in Semester 1 or Semester 2, 2009. The offers must be granted no later than 31st October 2008.

Sponsorship/Scholarship history
Applicants who are applying for or have received external funding for tuition and/or living allowance are eligible to apply. The allocation of the tuition fee and living allowance for RUIRS 2009 is at the discretion of RMIT University and will be determined by the value of external allowances. Please provide details of the sponsorship arrangement and evidence of the funding and duration. RMIT University must receive the evidence by the closing date.

English language requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency prior to the closing date.

As a guide, RMIT University requires the following English language requirements for entry into research programs:

IELTS - 6.5+ (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL – Paper based = 580+ (TWE4.5+)
TOEFL – Computer based = 237+ (TWE4.5+)
REW – English for Academic Purposes Advanced 2

The IELTS/TOEFL/RMIT English test result must be current or have been taken no more than 2 years before the commencement of the research program.

Note: Some programs have higher English language requirements

Non-Eligibility
The following students cannot apply for the RUIRS 2009 award:

Currently enrolled RMIT University students in a Research Masters Program or Doctoral Program.
Value of RUIRS 2009 Award
RMIT University will provide:

The annual tuition fees in a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program undertaken at RMIT University, in a program included on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) for the standard duration of the program.
The cost of a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Ageing and which covers the student and dependants for the period of the RUIRS 2009 award.
A living allowance for successful candidates of the RUIRS 2009 for the standard duration of the program. As a guide, RMIT University recipients of the RUIRS 2008 were awarded a living allowance of approximately AUD$19,000 per annum for the standard duration of the program – two years for a Masters by Research degree or three years for a Doctorate by Research degree.

The RUIRS award does not provide for travel, medical costs associated with the issue or renewal of a student visa, thesis expenses, cost of English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS), or costs associated with overseas fieldwork.

Selection Criteria
Students must be undertaking study in a subject area identified by RMIT University as one of its areas of research concentration. RMIT University has identified the following as their research concentrations for 2009.

Science, Engineering and Technology

Advanced Industrial Informatics
System Modeling & Optimization
Microplatforms
Advanced Materials
Traditional & Complementary Medicine
Metabolic Diseases
Biomedical Electronics
Interfaces Soft Condensed Matter & Nano Structures
Environmental Change
Aero, Auto Design
Geospatial Science
Biotech
Business

Accountability, Governance and Regulation of Business Organisations
Economics; Finance; Marketing
Systems, Models, Management and Technology for the Digital World
Creation and Design, Performance, Governance and Sustainability of Organisations
Logistics and Supply Chain Systems and Management

Design and Social Context
Urban Sustainability
Globalisation
Design in the Built Environment
Visual Arts and Media
Teaching and Learning

Duration of The RUIRS 2009 Award
The RUIRS 2009 award will cover the normal duration of the program from the time the student commences the HDR degree at RMIT University. The normal duration of an RUIRS is three years for Research Doctorate degrees and two years for Research Masters degrees.

The duration of an RUIRS will be reduced in the following situations:

During suspension of the RUIRS award.
If a student is transferring from another institution.

If an RUIRS awardee transfers to another institution, the funding for the RUIRS award will cease.

How to apply
Applications for the 2009 scholarships have closed. Applications for 2010 Scholarships will open in September 2009.

The following documents must be submitted (these can be uploaded through the online application form or sent directly to our office – see Contact)

A copy of your offer letter from RMIT University
Official certified copies of all academic transcripts, including a university explanation of the grading system. Copies should be provided in both English and the original language (where applicable)
Certified copy of graduation certificate
Evidence of English language proficiency
Research proposal outlining the objective, methodology and expected outcomes (no less than 200 words)
Statement indicating why you wish to undertake this research
Resume (Curriculum Vitae)
Evidence of your employment history on company letterhead (if applicable)
Copy of any relevant publications, unpublished thesis or essays you have completed (if applicable)
Letter from scholarship provider (if applicable)
Two Academic Referee Reports. Please download the Academic Referee Report Form here.

For Art & Design related programs (if applicable), please also include

A portfolio of 12 slides or a CD Rom including annotation introducing the work. Your folio will not be returned, please ensure that you retain a copy of all your folio.
Supplementary forms relevant to the Art & Design related program. The form can be printed out at RMIT International’s Supplementary forms webpage (http://www.rmit.edu.au/international/supplementary_forms)

Certified copies
Certified copies' are copies authorised, or stamped as being true copies of the originals, by a person or agency recognised by the law of the country in which they are certified.

Documents submitted
Please note that all documents submitted remain the property of RMIT University. Requests for documents to be returned will not be approved.

Contact
For all correspondence on the above please contact:

International Scholarships Office
International and Development Portfolio
RMIT University
Building 108, Level 4, 239 Bourke Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
Tel: (+61 3) 9925 5135
Fax: (+61 3) 9663 6925
Email: ISscholarships@rmit.edu.au

Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have achieved an IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or TOEFL (Paper based:580+;Computer-based:237+ (minimum TWE of 4.5) when I apply for one or both scholarships?

Yes. Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency prior to the closing date.

Who does not have to provide an IELTS or TOEFL test?

Applicants who have received a Firm Offer

or Applicants with a Conditional Offer that does not stipulate the English pre-requisite, are exempt from providing the IELTS or TOEFL test

or Applicants who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor or Postgraduate program at an Australian education provider.

Should the scholarship application and documents be posted or can I email or fax the documents?

The application MUST be made through the online system. Documents can be uploaded OR sent by post following the application. You do not need to do both.

All Referee Reports must be sent by the referee directly. If the referee sends the reports back to the student they must be in a sealed envelope which can be forwarded to our office.

What will I need for my scholarship application?

All applicants must provide all the documents listed on the checklist.

A copy of your offer letter from RMIT University
Official certified copies of all academic transcripts, including a university explanation of the grading system. Copies should be provided in both English and the original language (where applicable)
Certified copy of graduation certificate
Evidence of English language proficiency
Research proposal outlining the objective, methodology and expected outcomes (no less than 200 words)
Statement indicating why you wish to undertake this research
Resume (Curriculum Vitae)
Evidence of your employment history on company letterhead (if applicable)
Copy of any relevant publications, unpublished thesis or essays you have completed (if applicable)
Letter from scholarship provider (if applicable)
Two Academic Referee Reports (sent by the referee)

For Art & Design related programs (if applicable), please also include

A portfolio of 12 slides or a CD Rom including annotation introducing the work. Your folio will not be returned, please ensure that you retain a copy of all your folio.
Supplementary forms relevant to the Art & Design related program. The form can be printed out at RMIT International’s Supplementary forms webpage

What are Certified copies of documents?

Certified copies' are copies authorised, or stamped as being true copies of the originals, by a person or agency recognised by the law of the country in which they are certified.

How can I apply for the scholarship/s?

Applications for 2010 will open in September 2009.

I have lodged my Research application but I have not received an Offer yet, can I still apply for the scholarship/s?

You need to have received either a Firm or Conditional offer of a place in a Research program before you make the application for Scholarship.

You will not be able to proceed with the application unless you have a File Ref No and have received an offer for a research.

I have already submitted my academic transcripts and other items listed in the checklist when I applied for a place in the program, do I have to submit the same documents for my scholarship application?

Yes, all scholarship applications and items on the checklist will be submitted to the Selection Committee. This is a different process from applying for a place in the program.

In addition, you may wish to provide extra documents to support your scholarship application and it is your responsibility to provide the documents.

After the closing date, we will not be requesting for documents that were not submitted. Incomplete applications will NOT be submitted to the Selection Committee.

If you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate in contacting:

International Scholarships Office
International and Development Portfolio
RMIT University
Building 108, Level 4, 239 Bourke Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
Tel: (+61 3) 9925 5135
Fax: (+61 3) 9663 6925
Email: ISscholarships@rmit.edu.au