• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Part A - Categories of Scholarships Offered
• Part B - General Interpretation
• Part C - Panels
• Part D - Tenure and General Criteria
• Part E - Benefits
• Part F - Termination of Scholarships
• Part G - Appeals
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The University of Western Sydney’s (UWS) scholarships and prizes are designed to:

1. build the leadership and education capacity of the region;
2. establish peer expectation and recognition of UWS as an academically excellent institution;
3. provide support to prospective and current students who are able to benefit from a university education but who are financially (or otherwise) disadvantaged;
4. position UWS competitively with other universities in relation to student recruitment;
5. signal the commitment of the University of Western Sydney to academic excellence, and social justice.

(2) The policy applies to scholarships provided for undergraduate studies at UWS. All scholarships offered in the name of the University of Western Sydney and/or its entities and industry partners must be approved by Academic Senate. Changes to the academic aims, structure, criteria and conditions of existing approved scholarships, including the specific scholarships in the annexure of this policy, also need to be approved by Academic Senate. Additionally, where a scholarship is funded by the University, the Vice Chancellor must approve it.

Section 2 - Definitions

(3) For the purpose of this policy:

1. A prize is an award made to a student at the end of a unit or course, on merit.
2. A scholarship is an amount not less than $5,000 in cash per annum for a full time student for a period not to exceed the minimum completion time for a course offered at UWS; or, not normally less than $2,500 per annum for a part time student for a period not to exceed the minimum completion time for part time study. A scholarship may also comprise in-kind benefits in addition to the cash component. Some scholarship categories may only be tenable on a full time basis.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

Part A - Categories of Scholarships Offered

(4) The categories of scholarships offered by the University are:

1. Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Scholarship;
2. Academic Excellence Scholarship;
3. Merit Equity Scholarship (Commencing and Continuing);
4. Industry Scholarship;
5. Donor Scholarship;
6. Reconciliation Scholarship;
7. International Exchange Scholarships;
8. Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

Part B - General Interpretation

(5) This policy shall apply to scholarships offered in the University’s name and such other undergraduate scholarships as the Vice Chancellor may from time to time determine.

(6) Scholarships at the University of Western Sydney fall into two categories. These are Group A, which are core scholarships and Group B, which are named externally funded scholarships. A student may hold only one Group A scholarship and only one Group B scholarship at the same time. In addition, an International Exchange Scholarship may also be held simultaneously with other scholarships.

(7) The Group A scholarships are:

1. Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Scholarships;
2. Academic Excellence Scholarships;
3. Merit Equity Scholarships (Commencing and Continuing);
4. Reconciliation Scholarships;
5. Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

(8) The Groups B scholarships are:

1. Industry Scholarships;
2. Donor Scholarships.

(9) The University reserves the right not to award one or more scholarships in any of the specified programs.

Part C - Panels

(10) Where the provisions of a scholarship category require that applicants attend an interview, the Chair of Academic Senate will determine the panel membership.

(11) The Chair of Academic Senate has determined that the Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Scholarships, the Academic Excellence Scholarships, the Merit Equity Scholarships, the International Exchange Scholarships, and the Reconciliation Scholarships have a selection panel that consists of:

1. Nominee of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic);
2. Nominee of the Chair of Academic Senate;
3. Nominee of the Academic Registrar;
4. Nominee of the Director, Marketing and Communication;
5. Nominee of the Director Equity and Diversity.

(12) For the Reconciliation Scholarship selection panel, the panel will also include a University Indigenous representative nominated by the Aboriginal Education Centre.

(13) The Chair of Academic Senate can also invite individuals external to UWS to form part of a panel.

(14) The selection arrangements for other scholarships will normally be approved by the Academic Senate at the time the Scholarship proposal is approved by the Senate. The selection panels receive all documentation and will assess students’ applications and associated documentation against the specific scholarship criteria. Interviews may be required where specified for specific scholarships.

(15) An offer will be made to successful recipients with recipients receiving payment only after confirmation of their enrolment at the HECS census date.

(16) The decision of the Selection Panel is final.

Part D - Tenure and General Criteria

(17) All applicants must be Australian citizens or have permanent resident status in Australia.

(18) All applicants must meet the minimum criteria for admission to UWS.

(19) Recipients must maintain satisfactory progress in terms of the criteria for each category of scholarship. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress will result in the withdrawal of scholarship benefits, subject to the guidelines outlined in the policy for special consideration. Annual renewal of scholarship benefits will depend on the scholar maintaining progress at a grade determined by the conditions for the specific scholarship.

(20) Recipients are subject to the policies, rules and regulations of UWS, as specified in the Calendar, and recipients found to have breached the policies, rules and regulations, or have engaged in proven academic or non-academic misconduct, or have been found to have breached any relevant Commonwealth or State laws, may have all scholarship benefits withdrawn, and be ineligible for consideration for future scholarships and prizes.

(21) The scholarship is tenable in the University of Western Sydney to support enrolment in an undergraduate Bachelor degree program.

(22) An Honours year can be included providing the length of the scholarship allows.

(23) The scholarship will cease if the recipient graduates from the course at an alternate exit point.

(24) The scholarship shall be subject to annual renewal and may be held for not more than the normal duration of the course when completed by full time or part time study.

(25) Any approved leave of absence will not be counted when calculating a student's progression in a course.

(26) Scholarship holders are subject to the Rules governing the degree for which they are enrolled.

(27) Once granted, the scholarship and any associated benefits are not transferable to another institution.

Part E - Benefits

(28) The scholarship shall provide an allowance in cash, and such other benefits as the Academic Senate may approve, and shall be paid according the arrangements determined by the Academic Senate. Scholarship funds will only be paid to the recipient.

(29) Full-time students will be paid the total value of a Scholarship and part-time students will be paid 50% of the annual total value providing part-time study is no less than 20 credit points in each Autumn and Spring teaching session, unless otherwise stated.

(30) Where the scholarship holder is in receipt of Centrelink benefits the scholarship holder is advised to inform Centrelink of any income received.

Part F - Termination of Scholarships

(31) UWS will terminate a scholarship:

1. if the student ceases to meet the criteria of the specific scholarship; or
2. once the full value of the scholarship has been paid in respect of the scholarship; or
3. if the student does not resume study at the conclusion of a period of leave of absence (Intermission) normally 12 months; or
4. if the student is suspended or excluded from UWS for serious misconduct; or
5. the student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress as detailed in the relevant scholarship; or
6. on graduation from their degree; or
7. on the death, resignation or withdrawal of the student from UWS.

(32) Recipients may have their scholarship benefits withdrawn and may forfeit their eligibility for future scholarships and prizes if they are found to have:

1. breached University policies, rules and/or regulations;
2. breached relevant Commonwealth or State laws;
3. engaged in proven academic or non-academic misconduct.

(33) The termination of scholarship provisions in this clause do not apply to the termination of Commonwealth Learning Scholarships. For guidelines regarding the termination of all Commonwealth funded scholarships, see Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines .

Part G - Appeals

(34) Recipients who have had scholarship benefits withdrawn may appeal to Academic Senate, which shall convene a panel to hear the appeal. The appeal panel shall include:

1. The Chair, Academic Senate or nominee;
2. The Academic Registrar or nominee;
3. A student representative;
4. The Director Equity and Diversity or nominee.

Section 4 - Procedures

(35) Nil.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(36) Nil.