VETERINARY HONOURS SCHOLARSHIPS

The School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences is making available 2 scholarships to encourage Murdoch Veterinary Science Students to undertake a one year Honours degree between their 3rd and 4th years of study. The scholarships will consist of a payment of HECS for the honours year (to the approximate value of $4600) and an additional stipend payment of $1500 to supplement the students’ income during the year. The Honours Scholarship is to be completed over two semesters of full-time study in 2010.

OBJECTIVES
The honours scholarships for Veterinary Students are being introduced to encourage students to consider research as a career option. The distinctive feature of honours study is that it provides training in research and the development of higher-level skills. This includes the development of organisational, writing, oral, analytical and problem solving skills to an advanced level, and the ability to work independently. The research training also forms a basis for determining the student's suitability for subsequent enrolment in a research degree, if that is the student's desired path.

PROCEDURES
The scholarships are open to Murdoch University students enrolled in Veterinary Science Degree, and have successful completed 3rd year prior to undertaking the honours year. The work must be undertaken in the School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science.

To initiate an application, students may approach a potential supervisor to discuss a project directly, or they may choose from the list of available projects that are advertised on the School Research Web page

Application is made via submission of the Application Form to the Office of Student Services (c/o Ms Rebecca Sawyer). Selection for the two scholarships will be by open competition, based on the students academic record, the merit of the proposal and brief statement on your previous studies or work experience which relate to the honours project, supporting why you think you will be a good candidate, and any other relevant information. Applications will be ranked and a final decision reached by the Divisional Research Committee or its representatives. A Murdoch University Honours Application Form for admission to the University Honours degree will need to be lodged separately to the Prospective Student centre before the relevant deadline (last Friday in November). This form is available from the honours chair (Associate Professor Una Ryan) or prospective student centre on Bush Court. The formal application form will come via the Faculty Executive Officer back to the potential supervisor, Chair of the Honours sub-committee and the Dean for final approval.

TENURE
The period of the Scholarship shall be for the 2010 academic year.

ADMINISTRATION
The School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science will undertake advertising, selection, forwarding letters of offer, acknowledging acceptance of offers. The Research Degrees and Scholarships Office will be responsible for the administration of the Scholarships.

Arrangements for payment must be organised through the Research Degrees and Scholarships office, as either regular instalments or the full amount at the completion of the honours degree.

The acceptance of offer includes a proviso that the candidate has read and understood the general conditions that apply to Honours Scholarship Regulations as well as any specific conditions contained in the letter of offer.

It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that HECS payments have been made on their behalf by the scholarships office.

OBLIGATIONS
The student will be required to fulfil the responsibilities of an honours student, as outlined in the Honours Code of Practice. (http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/admin/codes/honscode.html).

AUSTUDY
Unless otherwise specified scholarship benefits are regarded as income in determining the level of AUSTUDY benefits and may cause an AUSTUDY grantee's total income to exceed the current means test level.