Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA)

These awards are for full-time study towards higher degrees by research. Australian Postgraduate Awards are funded by the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Competition for the APA scheme is intense; only applicants with a first-class Bachelor Honours degree or equivalent qualifications and experience will be offered an award.

• Value
• Tenure
• Eligibility
• Closing Date
• How will my application be ranked?
• How to apply
• Can currently enrolled candidates apply?
• When will I be made an offer?
• Can I work while on scholarship?
• Can I apply for a part-time scholarship?
• Contact Us

Value

$22 500 tax-free stipend in 2010. Relocation and thesis allowances are also available. Successful applicants will be awarded a Research Training Scheme funded place in the course.

UWS top-ups of $10 000 per annum may also be awarded to the highest ranked applicants.

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Tenure

The tenure of the award is three years for doctoral candidates and two years for Masters Honours (research masters) candidates.

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Eligibility

To hold this scholarship, you must:

• be a domestic applicant (Australian Citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand Citizen)
• be enrolled or eligible for entry into a research degree.
• not already hold an academic qualification equivalent to or at a higher level than the research higher degree program you are undertaking.
• not have previously held a research higher degree scholarship funded by the Australian government (other than EIPRS) for three months or more, unless seeking to transfer.
• have or expect to attain a first Class Bachelor Honours degree or equivalent qualifications and experience.

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Closing Date

Applications must be lodged by 29 October 2010.

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How will my application be ranked?

The UWS Research Studies Committee has designed a metric to rank applications for Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) and UWS Postgraduate Research Awards (UWSPRA).

APA scholarships are ranked on the basis of previous academic merit and performance, and research output.
UWSPRAs are allocated on a combination of the APA criteria above along with an academic judgement about the level of professional experience that is relevant to the intended area of study.

The UWS Higher Degree Research Scholarship Ranking Metric (PDF, 77Kb) provides advice about the ranking process and the documentation required to support your claims.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Contact an academic advisor

You are strongly advised to contact an academic advisor to discuss your proposed project before applying. A Research Coordinator is available in each School, Research Group and Research Centre to discuss your eligibility and assist you to identify a suitable supervisor.

Step 2: When should I apply?

Applications for admission and scholarship are accepted at any time of the year, and you can nominate to commence the course immediately, next session or next year. 

Scholarship applications received on or before the 29 October 2010 will be ranked in the current calendar year. Applications received after 29 October 2010 will be ranked in the following year.

You should carefully consider your proposed course commencement date. Scholarships commence in February each calendar year. If you commence your course earlier than February the scholarship tenure will be reduced by the prior period of enrolment.

Step 3: Apply Online

Apply Online together with a research proposal and evidence of prior study, research output and professional experience.

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Can currently enrolled candidates apply?

Currently enrolled candidates (at UWS or elsewhere) can apply for a scholarship if they have been enrolled in the degree for less than 3 full-time years for doctorates, or 2 full-time years for Masters Honours.

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When will I be made an offer?

Your application for admission will be considered by the University on receipt and you will usually be advised of the outcome within 4 weeks. Please note that scholarships are awarded in December. Scholarship payments commence from February each year.

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Can I work while on scholarship?

Scholarship holders are permitted to undertake up to 8 hours paid employment each week provided that the work does not interfere with their study program. Scholarship holders are not obligated to undertake tutoring or other academic employment. 

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Can I apply for a part-time scholarship?

Scholarships are usually for full-time study. Part-time awards are available if you are unable to study full-time because of a medical condition, or if you have heavy care commitments for children or family members. You may not apply for a part-time award to enable you to work more than 8 hours per week.

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Contact Us

Research Scholarships Development Officer
Office of Research Services
University of Western Sydney
Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797
Telephone: +61 2 4736 0966
Email: t.mills@uws.edu.au

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