School of International Studies
Research Student Funding Guidelines
Research Student Support (RSS)
Students enrolled in a thesis of 18 units or more are entitled to Research Student Support (RSS). This is to assist with
photocopying, stationery, thesis binding and sundry items. The entitlements are as follows: full-time (full year)
candidature $200, part-time (part year) candidature $100 per year. The funds will be allocated by the School at the
beginning of your candidacy. The following rules apply:
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RSS is allocated automatically.
RSS will not be carried over at the end of the year (or accumulate from year to year) but students can
access their RSS entitlement in each year (or part of the year) of their candidature.
Students will not be funded for RSS whilst on intermission. Intermissions and other changes of candidature
will be taken into account in future allocations.
No RSS is available to students after their expected completion date.
Eligibility
Students enrolled in theses of between 18 and 108 units. An 18 unit thesis will be treated as a part-time candidacy.
Applicants must be enrolled in an Honours degree or a higher degree in the School of International Studies.
Scope
Research Student Support can be used for expenses such as: printing, photocopying and stationery (such as paper,
data storage (e.g. USB, USB adaptor card, computer ink cartridges), interlibrary loans where a fee is charged.
The RSS does not cover the purchase of publications. Students should use the other South Australian libraries or the
Document Delivery services of the Flinders University Library to access books that are not in the library. Thesis
binding is included in this amount to a maximum of $100.
Payment of allocation
Recipients can access their RSS funds by claiming a reimbursement. Documentation including finance forms and
original receipts must be delivered to the School Manager, (Robyn Shepherdson) – School of International Studies
Office Room 393 SSS.
Research Student Project Funding – Competitive Scheme
Two rounds of funding will be held annually, normally in February and September. Please check the website for
closing dates. Submit a complete electronic PDF of your application to Sonja Yates, Research Committee Secretary,
sonja.yates@flinders.edu.au. Application will be ranked by the School Research Committee whose decision will be
on based on merit. Applications may only be partially funded.
Applications consist of the following documents:
 Student Conference Support form
 Student Project Form
Attach a project overview of no more than two pages to your project form. This document should give a brief
explanation of your project in lay terms, what you plan to do, how you plan to do it and justification of the budget.
Application forms should be submitted to Sonja Yates, PA to the Dean of International Studies, Room 387SSS.
Research Student Funding Guidelines
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Students enrolled in research higher degrees (Master of Arts by Research or PhD) can apply for project funding to
support their research. Research Higher Degree (RHD) Project Funding is for contained and approved projects,
fieldwork or surveys. Amounts up to $4,000, but preferably up to $2,000, can be sought.
RHD Project Funding is available only once throughout RHD candidature.
Scope
RHD Project Funding can be used for expenses such as:
 fieldwork;
 surveys and questionnaires (and associated costs);
 student travel for data collection purposes;
Limitations
The RHD Project Funding is meant to support, rather than fully fund, the research projects undertaken for a
Research Higher Degree. Applicants must include any other project or fieldwork funding they have received and/or
applied for in their application.
The funding does not cover
 purchase of publications;
 computers;
 research assistant payments or associated costs;
 thesis preparation costs (including editing, proofreading or binding);
 attending conferences or workshops or intensive courses integral to research (see: Postgraduate Conference
Funding)
Payment of allocation
Recipients will be allocated a university account from which they can claim advances or reimbursements.
Documentation including finance forms and original receipts must be delivered to the School Manager (Robyn
Shepherdson, School of International Studies Room 393 SSS).
Ethics Clearances
The policy of the University requires that appropriate ethics clearances (e.g. Animal Ethics and Human Ethics) be
issued before research projects may commence. A condition of RHD Project funding is that, if Ethics Committee
clearances are required for any components of the project, you will seek and obtain the necessary approval prior to
commencing those components. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in funds for this grant being
reclaimed.
Ethics clearances can be sought from one of the following committees:
 Animal Welfare Committee
 Flinders Clinical Research Ethics Committee
 Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee
 Biosafety Committee
Research Student Funding Guidelines
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Research Student Conference Funding – Competitive Scheme
Two rounds of funding will be held annually, normally in February and September. Please check the website for
closing dates. Submit a complete electronic PDF of your application to Sonja Yates, Research Committee Secretary,
sonja.yates@flinders.edu.au.
NOTE: The School strongly encourages candidates to apply to the Higher Degree Administration and Scholarships
Office for conference funding.
Purpose
The SIS postgraduate conference funding scheme supports the writing of high quality applications with clearly
articulated and targeted outcomes that support both the professional development of applicants and the
completion of their research goals. Research Higher Degree candidates and Postgraduate Coursework students
undertaking a research topic of 18 units or more are eligible to apply to this scheme. Candidates may apply for
funding of up to $1000.
Scope
Conference funding can be used for expenses such as conference or workshop registration fees, economy travel and
modest accommodation.
 Funding is allocated to this scheme on a half-yearly basis to enable response to funding applications
throughout the academic year.
 Funding for National Conferences is capped at $500.
 Funding for conferences in Adelaide is capped at $200.
 Funding for Overseas Conferences is capped at $1000.
Limitations
The SIS student conference support scheme has limited funds available. Allocation for conference funding is subject
to funding availability. In addition, the following rules apply:
 Conference Support is awarded only once throughout candidature – unsuccessful applicants can re-apply in
the following round;
 Retrospective applications will not be considered.
Assessment of applications for support
This scheme is competitive and requests for support under the scheme will be assessed by the School Research
Committee on the basis of merit. Where appropriate, students should aim towards a publication in a high quality
refereed journal or equivalent output that will result from the conference presentation.
Responsibilities for support recipients
After attending the conference for which support has been provided by the School, recipients are required to report
to the School on the outcomes of their attendance at the conference, using the Student Conference Report form.
The completed form should be delivered to the School Manager (Robyn Shepherdson, School of International
Studies Room 388 SSS).
Accessing your Research Student funds – how to make a claim
It is crucial to retain all original receipts relating to your research student fund expenditure to enable claims for
reimbursement or acquittal of advances.
All forms must be signed by your Discipline/School supervisor.
Forms and relevant backing documents, i.e. original tax invoice/receipts, etc., are to be submitted to the School
Manager. The School Manager will arrange for the forms to be signed by Dean and send the forms to the Faculty
Finance Office for processing.
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To obtain an advance:
Submit a “Non Employee Advance Requisition” form (available online at:
http://www.flinders.edu.au/finance/forms.cfm, #ACC9) detailing estimated expenditure and attach your travel
itinerary, if applicable.
Payment will be made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) so make sure your bank details are included.
You must complete an “Acquittal (of an Advance)” form, available online at
http://www.flinders.edu.au/finance/forms.cfm, #ACC2. You must provide original receipts to cover the sum you
were advanced.
To make a claim for reimbursement:
You will need to complete a “Payment Requisition” form, available online at:
http://www.flinders.edu.au/finance/forms.cfm, #ACC4. Include your bank details on the form to receive the funds
by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). You must provide the original receipts before a claim can be reimbursed.
Note:
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All forms are to be typed, not handwritten, to ensure they can be scanned by the University finance processing
system.
UNIVERSITY FUNDING
Higher Degree Administration and Scholarships Office
The Higher Degree Administration and Scholarships Office has funding schemes available (in addition to the School
schemes) – check their website for details and closing dates
(http://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/scholarships_home.cfm) – such as:
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Overseas Field Trip Award
Overseas Travelling Fellowship
Research Student Conference Travel Grants
Thesis Write-Up Stipends
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Research Student Funding Guidelines
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