Media and Communications Masters research funding
Research and Graduate Studies Funding Scheme (RAGS)
School research funds are available to assist the research of Masters by Research and PhD candidates, within the guidelines specified below. These funds may be used to support applications for MATS, TRIPS, ORES and the PhD Fieldwork Grant Scheme.
Benefits
PhD students are eligible to apply for $500 per year, with a cap of $1500 over the candidature. The total funding for which a full-time PhD student may apply will normally not exceed $500 per year.
Masters by Research students are eligible to apply for a total of $750 in two annual instalments of $500 and $250.
Eligibility
With the exception of three categories of support, PhD students are only eligible to apply for this funding after their candidature has been confirmed and Masters by Research students are only eligible to apply after their first progress report has been assessed as 'satisfactory'. Students must also be currently enrolled to be eligible for funding.
What the scheme funds
* Before PhD Confirmation or MA Progress Report 1 students may apply for these categories of research funding only.
- Photocopying*
Students can choose to use their funding towards a photocopying grant. A maximum of $50 will be awarded at each request (or $25 for part-time students) in the form of credit for the Unicard system used in the Baillieu Library. This allocation is deducted from the student's total available funding for a year. See your Research Students Administrator in person for this grant. - Memory sticks/external hard drives*
Students who wish to purchase their own memory stick or external hard drive may seek reimbursement up to $50. Apply directly to the School's Research Students Administrator. - SGR Upskills programs*
Postgraduates may apply for funding to cover fees of SGR Upskills programs. - Conferences
Conference attendance to present a paper either in Australia or overseas, with a ceiling of $500 (or $250 for a part-time student) per annum. Postgraduates who are funded for conference presentation are strongly encouraged to seek refereed publication. Please provide a hard copy of any publication that results from this paper to the Resources Manager. - Interstate and overseas travel for archival research
The School will normally only supply top-up funds for Arts Faculty and University travel grants, eg., TRIPS and MATS.
View further information on travel grants and candidature scholarships. - Fieldwork
The School’s contribution towards the Faculty of Arts PhD Fieldwork Grant Scheme will not exceed $1500, which represents the total allocation for a PhD candidature.
- Thesis expenses: research
Postgraduates may apply for funding to purchase items essential to their research, such as images. - Proof reading
Only in rare and exceptional circumstances; with the knowledge and support of supervisors and the Research Coordinator; in the final stage of thesis editing of a complete draft and with proof of having used University resources to improve language skills. If these conditions are met, students may apply for funding for paid editorial assistance from an outside source. The use of third party editorial assistance, either paid or voluntary, must be acknowledged in the preface and is limited to the guidelines adopted by the University. Applications of this nature must be discussed with your supervisors and presented by them to the Research Coordinator. - Thesis expenses: submission
Postgraduates not supported by a University funded scholarship are eligible to apply for a grant towards expenses incurred in the binding and printing of their theses. Scholarship holders should visit the Postgraduate Scholarships website to apply for a Thesis Allowance.
Conditions of the scheme
- Funding for part-time students is calculated at a 50% rate. Collaborative projects involving two or more research higher degree students of the School will also be funded on a pro-rata basis.
- Funding for students with an enrolment split across two Schools is awarded on the split enrolment percentage. For example, students enrolled 60% in the School of Culture and Communication can apply for 60% of the total funding available. The remaining 40% should be applied for through the other School.
- In exceptional circumstances, research higher degree students may make a case for requesting two years' worth of allocations in a single application. Due to uncertain budget forecasts the School cannot commit to funding cumulative, candidature-long claims.
- Funding requests not covered by these guidelines will be considered on their merits by the Chair of Research, provided they are in the spirit of the principles detailed below.
- The total amount of research funds available to a full-time research student will normally not exceed $500 (or $250 for a part-time student) in any one calendar year. Money allocated should be spent only on the project approved and, normally, in the year in which it was awarded.
- Applications for retrospective funding will be considered.
- Each application should include a brief statement of aims, budget and scheduling.
- Note that you may request, through your supervisor, that the Library acquire books relevant to your research, independently of this research funding scheme.
Deadlines
The deadline for the School/department contribution for the schemes below is ONE WEEK PRIOR to the other scheme's deadline and must be submitted to the Research Student Administrator
TRIPS
MATS
ORES or
PhD Fieldwork Grants
If your funding request is NOT tied to another funding scheme, you may apply at anytime on the Research Funding application form.
How to apply
- Download the School of Culture and Communication Research Funding application form
- Complete the form; attach the required supporting documentation; ask your supervisor to endorse and sign the application
- If this is your first research funding payment, complete an 'Application for student supplier' form
- Submit to the School Research Student Administrator. RAGS applications for matching funding for TRIPS or PhD Fieldwork MUST be submitted together with the full TRIPS or PhD Fieldwork Grant application. The Research Administrator will complete items 1 - 3 on the checklist for you and take the completed form to the Faculty office
- You will receive an emailed outcome from the Research Student Administrator
- Your bank account should be credited within two weeks for the approved amount unless you have applied for the TRIPS or PhD Fieldwork schemes in which case the funding for both schemes will be tranferred together once you have been approved for all funding.
- Please complete all necessary other paperwork, including:
- Leave forms - MA or PhD
- Insurance applications - Download Form (must be submitted two weeks prior to travel at the very latest).