Graduate research funding

The Faculty of IT allocates designated funding to each of the Faculty’s currently enrolled Graduate Research Students (PhD and MPhil) to support your candidature. These funds can be used for; Travel, Fieldwork and data collection, Specialised training and Specialised equipment to support research being conducted as part of your candidature.

• PhD students are allocated Faculty funding of up to $4000 in total for the duration of their candidature.
• MPhil students are allocated Faculty funding of up to $2000 in total for the duration of their candidature.
• An MPhil student who upgrades to a PhD additional funding is allocated to bring the total up to $4000.

1.1 Applications

Applications to use this funding must be submitted 6 weeks in advance. If you have accessed this funding previously you must first check if you have adequate funds remaining. These funds cannot be committed (i.e. used) until the expenditure is;

• supported by your supervisor/s and has their signed approval, and
• signed approval has been given by your Department Director of Graduate Research.  FIT GR Student Services will arrange this approval.

1.2 Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for this Faculty funding the applicant must:

• be currently enrolled as a PhD or MPhil candidate at Monash University
• have completed the Confirmation of Candidature process
• if a full-time PhD candidate be less than 33 months full-time equivalent enrolled in candidature, on the date of the conference.
• if part-time PhD candidate be less than 33 months full-time equivalent enrolled in candidature on the date of the conference
• if a full-time MPhil candidate, be less than 24 months full-time equivalent enrolled in candidature on the date of the conference.
• if a part-time MPhil candidate, be less than 24 months full-time equivalent enrolled in candidature on the date of the conference
• be presenting a paper or poster at a AStar or AConference
• be principal author of the paper being presented, which must cover original, ongoing research, be largely your graduate research work, report recent findings and be directly related to the applicant’s thesis topic
• be attending a conference, seminar etc. that can be clearly demonstrated as significant to your research (evidence of this will be required)

PLEASE NOTE:

If you wish to access funding for travel but do not meet all the eligibility criteria; and if the purpose of the expenditure is supported by your supervisor/s you can, with their support, make a case to have your application considered.

1.3 How to apply

1. Check your Eligibility
2. Discuss the proposed purpose of the funding with your Supervisor/s and seek their support and approval in writing
3. If you have already accessed this funding check if you have adequate funds remaining
4. Seek guidance on your application from FIT Graduate Research Student Services Team if required
5. Complete the Application Form (DOCX, 23KB)
6. Obtain all necessary signatures of approval – Supervisors and Department Director of Graduate Research
7. Ensure you have followed all Faculty and University guidelines that apply.

NOTE: University policy requires reimbursements to be claimed within six months of the transaction and within the same calendar year.

1.4 Purposes the funding can be used for;

1.4.1 Travel – to be used to support the costs of travel (including fares, accommodation and conference registration) for graduate research students who are travelling interstate or overseas in order to present papers at a conference, collect data or undertake other activities relevant to their research.

PLEASE NOTE: When planning to utilise the FIT Candidature Funds for Travel purposes and you are also applying for funding for a Monash University Graduate Education Postgraduate Travel Grant you are required to contribute a designated amount of your FIT Candidature Funding. For example:

if you are applying for a maximum central grant of $1175 you must also contribut $940 from your FIT funding.

For more information see Monash University Graduate Education Funding

When planning your travel other relevant information can be found at Travel at Monash

1.4.2 Fieldwork and data collection – Funds can be used to undertake fieldwork, surveys, data collection, interviews etc. Refer to the Eligibility criteria.

1.4.3 Specialised training – Funds can be used to support the costs of specialised training crucial to undertaking your research. Refer to the Eligibility criteria.

1.4.4 Specialised equipment – Funds can be used to support the costs of specialised equipment crucial to undertaking your research. Refer to the Eligibility criteria

1.4.5 Hardship funding – Students experiencing financial hardship which is jeopardising their ability to continue with or complete their candidature may be eligible for assistance. Please refer to your Graduate Research Student Services Coordinator in the first instance.

Please note, as per Monash Corporate Credit Card and Reimbursement Policy & Procedure (PDF, 0.11 MB) that it is against policy to purchase any IT equipment over $300.00 AUD in value. All such requests for items like these are to be directed to fit-operations@monash.edu.

The cost of any additional equipment such as personal IT equipment or home office furniture, required to set up a working space at home are personal expenses. The university will not provide reimbursement to you for these items, see Working from home Procedure (PDF, 0.16 MB).