Research & Research Study

Application Forms

• HDR Candidature/Scholarship Application Form (PDF)
• HDR Scholarship Academic Referee's Report (RTF) or HDR Scholarship Academic Referee's Report (PDF)

Please note: if you are currently enrolled at Macquarie University  and you wish to apply for a scholarship to support the same degree, please contact  hdrschol@vc.mq.edu.au for advice on applying and whether you need to supply the application form and supporting documents, for example if you enrolled within the last year you may only need to get referee reports.

Government Scholarships

The number of government-funded awards on offer varies from year to year. For 2007, we received funding for 30 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for Australian/New Zealand Citizens or Australian permanent residents, and a further 5 full tuition-free Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (E-IPRS) for International students (excluding New Zealand). Given the number of applications received, there is intense competition for these awards. To receive a first round offer, or to be ranked on the reserve list, an applicant would normally need to demonstrate outstanding academic merit which includes equivalent research to an Australian four-year Bachelor degree with high first-class honours. As an example, equivalent evidence could include research experience, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, academic prizes, the completion of a Master degree with a substantial research component. First-class honours equivalence cases need to be made on behalf of the applicant by the Division to which they have applied for postgraduate research or in which they are currently enrolled.

English Requirements for Scholarship Holders

Scholarship applicants needing to meet English language proficiency requirements are expected to have an overall IELTS score of 7.0 (or an equivalent overall score of 250 in Computer-based TOEFL ; 600 in Paper-based TOEFL or 100 in Internet-based TOEFL with 25 in writing and 23 in all other sections).

Advanced Standing for Scholarship Holders

Applicants who have been previously enrolled in the degree to which they are applying either at Macquarie University or another University have advanced standing in their course. Under the  conditions of award for most scholarships, this is deducted as advanced standing from the maximum scholarship tenure. For example, if you have completed 1 year of a PhD prior to commencing at Macquarie University on a scholarship the maximum tenure available of a 3.5 year scholarship would be 2.5 years.

Advice Regarding Part time Status for Scholarship Holders

Scholarship applicants wishing to be part time will need to outline their individual case for requiring part time status. A written statement should be included with your admission application.The request for part time status should not be work-related in nature, and International applicant requests are subject to their visa requirements.

Advice on Eligibility

Advertisements will list the eligibility requirements for application including citizenship, the minimum academic standard expected and appropriate areas for background experience for the project. Applicants for scholarship are considered on academic merit. Most scholarships require you to demonstrate  equivalent research to an Australian Honours First Class or Second Class Division One as part of their eligibility requirements. For International applicants this can be demonstrated for example, by a Masters thesis component awarded with a Distinction, evidence of peer-reviewed research or relevant work and professional experience. Macquarie University uses the National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) guidelines in assessing overseas programs for equivalence to the Australian programs.

Referee Reports

Scholarship Applicants are requested to obtain references from two senior academics who can comment on their research capabilities. If you do not have senior academics, then an academic or a professional who has been in a senior position to you and can comment on your research skills and capabilities would be appropriate. If they can not fill in some of the questions on the form, they can just leave this blank. If you wish to use your proposed supervisor as a referee that is fine, however in this scenario we would suggest you get a third reference.

All referees are welcome to attach further correspondence to the form should they wish to.

If you wish to know if your referee has forwarded your report, please check with them directly. If their email address was provided and a reference has not arrived by the time we process your application, your referee will be sent an courtesy email reminder. 

The Application Process at Macquarie University

Applications are assessed for completeness and eligibility before loading into the student system and forwarding to Division for consideration. This generally takes around 2-4 weeks, but can take longer at peak times. Time in the Division varies but we will advise on our current scholarships page when we anticipate having an outcome for specific scholarships. Once a scholarship nomination comes from Division the Higher Degree Research Committee reviews the applications for approval. Once a result is obtained we will advise applicants of the outcome.

Commencing Your Scholarship

When you are made an offer, shortly after you are advised a package will be sent to you with the offer letter, conditions of award, acceptance form and a living allowance claim form. The acceptance form should be returned asap advising your intended start date. If you wish to defer your start, then you need to request this in writing.

On your first day on campus you need to bring your completed living allowance claim form, signed by your supervisor, to the Higher Degree Research Office.  Macquarie University has fortnightly payroll and it may take two weeks to get you paid if you start just after the payroll closes for the fortnight. Any backpayments required are made in your first payment.

Under their scholarship conditions of award students relocating to Sydney, from outside the Sydney Metropolitan area to take up their first postgraduate research study, may be eligible for relocation allowances at the HDR approved allowance rate. ***PLEASE RETAIN ALL YOUR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS INCLUDING BOARDING PASSES IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR CLAIM.***

From 1 January 2008, the approved HDR relocation allowance rates are:

The relocation allowance is to assist towards: you and your dependants one way travel to relocate to Sydney and the costs incurred relocating your belongings to Sydney. Unfortunately we can not reimiburse visits your dependants make to Sydney, return airfares, investigative trips prior to your relocation, costs to collect belongings or move them around once they arrive in Sydney or new furniture and accommodation expenses when you arrive.

For further information about University accommodation options and free airport transfers for International students, please visit the Macquarie International Office website at: www.international.mq.edu.au/accommodation.