Scholarships terms and conditions for 2024
-
This document outlines the Terms and Conditions for all scholarships and grants administered by the Monash University (Monash) Coursework Scholarships Unit (CSU), including Commonwealth Scholarships. All scholarships and grants will be referred to as 'scholarships' herein.
You must read these Terms and Conditions in their entirety before you accept your scholarship offer. When you accept your scholarship offer, you are agreeing to and accepting these Terms and Conditions and any other requirements and conditions of your scholarship listed on the CSU website, outlined in your scholarship offer or subsequent scholarship agreement.
Some scholarships may require you to sign an additional agreement. Students must meet all conditions as outlined in the agreement, the terms and conditions and the scholarship offer email. (e.g. Information Technology Industry-Based Learning Placement Scholarship).
1.1 Coursework Scholarships Unit
The CSU is responsible for the administration and management of all coursework scholarships.
Further information is available on the scholarships website, and FAQs can be viewed online, where you can also submit your own question. You should contact your faculty first for course related enquiries (e.g. transferring courses, intermission etc.).
-
All students offered scholarships will receive a scholarship offer containing the details of the scholarship and these Terms and Conditions. You will be advised how to accept or reject your scholarship in your scholarship offer. If you do not complete the acceptance as instructed by the expiry date, your scholarship offer may be withdrawn and/or reallocated.
Once you respond to your scholarship offer, you will no longer be able to view your scholarship offer details online. You should print/save a copy of your offer along with these Terms and Conditions.
-
Monash administers scholarships in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, but nonetheless retains discretion in relation to scholarship payments.
3.1 Scholarship value
The total value of your scholarship is outlined in your scholarship offer. For scholarships paid per credit points, the total scholarship value is based on the minimum number of credit points required to complete the degree you are enrolled in at the time you receive your first scholarship payment.
This does not include advanced standing. Your scholarship will be terminated once you have been paid the total scholarship value or become ineligible to continue receiving payment under these Terms and Conditions.
- Please refer to section 3.3 below for information on how your payment is calculated.
3.2 Payment dates
You must accept your scholarship offer by the expiry date, as instructed in your scholarship offer, to be eligible to receive payment. You will be sent instructions separately on how to receive your scholarship payment, along with information on when you can expect to receive it. Failure to comply with these instructions by the due date, may result in your scholarship being terminated.
Your payment date will depend on the census date of your units.
Unit census date payment dates:
- Between 16 Feb and 30 Apr - Late April/May
- Between 1 May and 30 Sep - Late September
- Between 1 Oct and 31 Dec - Late December
- Between 1 Jan and 15 Feb - Late January
Note: Some students with certain scholarships may be eligible for an early payment in March. All Exchange units (1-60) will be paid in January of the following year. This is due to the census date falling between the summer payment period. Full year units will be paid in the month of their respective census date, where this does not align with the above dates. Access Monash Mentors with hurdle requirements, are not paid based on the census dates listed above and will have different payment dates.
3.3 How your payment is calculated
Depending on your scholarship, any payment to you will be administered in accordance with one of the below calculation methods. All options are subject to the enrolment requirements outlined in section 5.2.
3.3.1 Credit point calculation
Your scholarship payments will be calculated according to the number of credit points you are enrolled in at the census date.
For example:
- $6000 for a full-time study load (48 credit points) paid per year until the minimum points required to complete the degree are completed
- Enrolled credit points in one semester = 18
- Scholarship payment
$2250 = ($6000/48) x 18
You will not be paid for units that are studied at another university or that do not form part of your degree (e.g. Diploma of Languages units). Students awarded scholarships commencing in semester one will not be paid for any units completed prior to being awarded the scholarship (e.g. Summer B).
3.3.2 Per annum calculation
Scholarships paid 'per annum' are paid at 50 per cent of the yearly value in semester one and 50 per cent in semester two, regardless of your enrolled credit points. If you enrol in full-year units, your payment for those units will be made in semester one. One-off scholarship payments, industry or course-based, or students enrolled in trimesters, may be paid differently. This will be outlined in your scholarship offer.
3.3.3 Enrolling in more than one degree
If you are enrolled in two degrees concurrently, you will only receive payment for study in the degree for which the scholarship was awarded. For example, if you are in receipt of a scholarship paid for study in the Bachelor of Arts, you will not receive payment for study in the Diploma of Languages.
3.3.4 Full-year unit calculation
If you are awarded a scholarship in semester 2 and are enrolled in full-year units, you will be paid a pro-rata amount.
3.3.5 Failed Units
You will not be paid for any failed units that you have already been paid for and are required to repeat, or for any units for which you have been granted advanced standing.
3.4 Payment of Travel grants
Monash awards travel grants to encourage and support students undertaking international study programs for credit towards their degree.
3.4.1 Travel commencement
Travel grants must be used in the same calendar year in which they were awarded. Travel must commence in the calendar year the scholarship was awarded, although travel may extend into the next calendar year. Exceptions in special circumstances may be considered for use of the grant in the following year. Requests must be made in writing and submitted online.
3.4.2 Payment
Payment is ordinarily made in the payment period closest to when you are enrolled to travel.
3.4.3 Enrolment
Travel must be for an international study program, that is for credit towards your course (i.e. you remain enrolled as a student at Monash). You must maintain an enrolled status while you are travelling in order to be eligible for the travel grant. If your enrolment does not show as overseas, you must provide confirmation of your travel arrangements. Evidence must be submitted via email to ebs.csu@monash.edu
This can include the following:
- Monash Abroad's approval to travel
- Confirmation from overseas host University
- Faculty's approval to enrol in an overseas exchange unit
3.4.4 Multiple travel grants
Only one travel grant may be awarded per international study experience. Normally this is on the basis of one travel grant per calendar year. However, if you are undertaking two separate international study programs in the one calendar year, you may be offered more than one scholarship. However, this should be confirmed in writing with CSU.
3.5 How your scholarship is paid
- Scholarships that have a cash benefit - payment will be made into your nominated bank account.
- Scholarships that have a tuition fee benefit - payment will be made directly towards your course fees.
- Scholarships that have a Monash Residential Services (MRS) benefit - payment will be made directly to MRS.
Payment to your course fees is only paid after the census dates for each fee period. If your course fees are less than the scholarship payment amount due, the balance will be paid directly to your bank account. (refer also section 3.3.1).
3.6 The effect of an encumbrance on your scholarship
If you do not pay course fees, charges or fines, Monash may place an encumbrance on your Monash account. If you have an encumbrance placed on your Monash account at the census date, you may not be paid your scholarship until the encumbrance is removed. If you do not return any overpaid scholarship monies, or scholarship monies paid in error by the specified timeframe, the University may place an encumbrance on your Monash account that suspends certain services (e.g. access to results, ability to graduate).
-
You may be permitted to hold more than one scholarship. A summary of Monash scholarships which you can hold at the same time is available on the scholarships website. You cannot receive two scholarships at the same time that both pay your course fees.
If you are offered two scholarships of different values that cannot be held concurrently, the scholarship of higher value will be retained. If you are offered two scholarships of the same value that cannot be held concurrently, you will be given the choice of which one you would like to retain.
-
5.1 Specific criteria
Scholarships are awarded based on published eligibility criteria. You must meet the eligibility requirements to receive your scholarship payment. The eligibility requirements for each scholarship are outlined on the CSU website.
You will be reassessed for eligibility prior to each payment. If Monash determines that you do not meet the eligibility criteria or scholarship conditions at this or any other time, your scholarship may be placed on probation, suspended pending further investigation or terminated.
5.1.1 Scholarships events
If you attend any scholarship events, photos of you at the event (along with your name and scholarship), may be forwarded to your secondary school or used for Monash promotional purposes. If you do not wish Monash to forward or use these photos, you must notify the Coursework Scholarships Manager in writing prior to the event.
5.1.2 Privacy
If you are offered a scholarship, your scholarship details may be passed on to your faculty. Details of achievement scholarships you have received may also be given to your secondary school. Details of the selection process or reasons you were awarded the scholarship will remain confidential. If you do not wish for Monash to forward these details to your secondary school, you must notify the Coursework Scholarships Manager in writing.
5.1.3 Donor scholarships
If you are in receipt of a donor funded scholarship, you may be required to provide a report to the donor. Monash will contact you with details of when you will be required to provide the report. Scholarship details and other information relevant to your scholarship application or enrolment may also be passed on to the scholarship donor.
Donors may choose to withdraw or not offer a scholarship in a given semester/year. This is entirely at their discretion and outside of the control of the University.
5.1.4 Monash Staff members
You are not eligible for coursework scholarships and grants if you are, or become, employed full-time by Monash on a continuing basis or a fixed term contract for 12 months or greater. You must notify the CSU if you are or become a staff member.
5.1.5 Indigenous scholarships
If you have received an offer for an Indigenous scholarship, to be eligible you must provide a Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Heritage certificate or a certified Statutory Declaration form to the William Cooper Institute. This can be emailed to wci-study@monash.edu. If you have any queries please contact the William Cooper Institute on 9902 4972.
5.2 Enrolment requirements
All scholarships are awarded on the basis that you will maintain an enrolled status in your course of study. Your scholarship may be terminated if your enrolment status is inactive or unconfirmed at census date, or if you complete your course.
5.2.1 Full-time enrolment
It is a requirement of some scholarships that you must maintain full-time enrolment. This will be outlined under the individual scholarship entries on the coursework scholarships website. To maintain full-time enrolment, you must be enrolled in at least 18 credit points per semester (equivalent to 0.375 EFTSL). If you are enrolled in less than 18 credit points a semester, or 36 credit points per year, you are considered part-time.
5.2.2 Part-time enrolment and taxation
If you are enrolled part-time (less than 18 credit points) you may need to declare your scholarship as assessable income in your tax return. All enrolled units studied at Monash and/or another university, will be considered part of your enrolment for tax purposes. You must provide proof of enrolment if studying units at another university. Scholarships that are paid to course fees will not be taxed.
Recipients of scholarships that are not income tax exempt, are responsible for declaring the income on their tax returns and are encouraged to seek their own personal tax advice.
Further information can be obtained from the ATO website and the Centrelink and Taxation webpage.
5.3 Deferring your scholarship
Your scholarship offer will outline if your scholarship can be deferred. If you are able to defer your scholarship you must also defer an approved course at Monash. For more information on deferring your course offer, refer to the enrolments website.
If you have received approval from your faculty to extend the length of your course deferral, your scholarship deferral will also be extended, up to a maximum of 1.5 years from the original awarded year. If you defer a scholarship offer and do not defer a course offer, your scholarship offer will be withdrawn.
5.4 Deferring and intermission
If your scholarship offer states that your scholarship cannot be deferred, you are not permitted to defer the scholarship in the first semester it is awarded.
If you intermit your course after your first semester of study, your scholarship will also be automatically intermitted. You will not receive scholarship payments whilst you are on intermission.
You can only intermit your scholarship if you also intermit the course which your scholarship is paid for. You must seek faculty permission to intermit your course. When you re-enrol at Monash, your scholarship payments will resume according to the Terms and Conditions outlined herein.
For more information on intermission, please refer to the intermission website.
5.5 Transferring your scholarship to another degree
If you transfer to a new course, you may also be eligible to transfer your scholarship. You are not required to contact the CSU to advise of your transfer.
Each semester, the CSU will identify and transfer eligible scholarships to approved courses. If you are not sure of whether your scholarship will transfer to a new course, please submit an enquiry online.
If your scholarship is transferable, you will only be paid (for scholarships paid per credit point) for the minimum number of credit points remaining for you to complete either the original course that the scholarship was awarded for, or the new course – whichever is of shorter duration.
For example:
- Original course - Bachelor of Laws (which requires 192 credit points, or equivalent four years full-time to complete)
- Transferred course - Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (which requires 252 credit points, or 5.25 years to complete)
- Outcome - Your scholarship would be paid for the minimum number of credit points to complete the Bachelor of Laws degree (192 credit points).
For scholarships calculated other than by credit points, you will still only be paid for the original duration of your course.
5.6 Discontinuing your course
If you discontinue your course, your scholarship will be terminated. If you return to Monash, you are required to re-apply for scholarships and there is no guarantee that you will be re-offered the same scholarship. If you are unsure how changes to your enrolment will affect your scholarship, you should submit an enquiry online.
-
In 2023, up to $9,174 of equity and merit-based scholarships are to be exempt from the income test.
This amount (which will be indexed each year), is allowed on top of any Commonwealth Scholarship monies also being received. Scholarship amounts in excess of the capped value will be assessed as income for the purpose of assessing your eligibility for Centrelink benefits. If your scholarship pays or waives your course fees your scholarship will not be considered income by Centrelink.
Please retain your scholarship offer – your scholarship details will be required by Centrelink. To request an additional letter outlining your scholarship payments, submit an enquiry online. Further information can be found via the Centrelink website.
-
To retain your scholarship, you must:
- maintain your residency status and advise the CSU within fourteen days if you change your residency status. If you are in receipt of an international scholarship, your scholarship will be terminated if you are granted Australian permanent residency or citizenship;
- maintain enrolment in an approved course at a Monash campus in Australia; and
- adhere to Monash's academic and administrative policies.
You must also meet all other eligibility criteria and retention requirements as outlined in your scholarship offer and listed under individual scholarship entries on the coursework scholarships website.
7.1 Academic requirements
Your academic progress will be reviewed each semester, to assess your eligibility for your scholarship.
Students who are in receipt of an industry or course-based scholarship may have their scholarship terminated upon failure to meet performance requirements as outlined in their individual agreements. The academic requirements to maintain enrolment in your course may be different and this information is available from your faculty.
7.2 Assessment of Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
WAM is the average mark you achieve across all completed units in a course. For further details on how the WAM is calculated, refer to the exams website.
Your WAM for the most recent semester will be accessed as generated via the student administration system. If your semester WAM falls below that required for your scholarship, your overall course WAM will be assessed.
7.3 Procedure for students that fail to meet retention
Your scholarship retention requirements will be assessed each semester, and within two weeks of the release of results. If your academic performance falls below the required WAM (see 7.2), or you fail to meet any other retention requirement the procedure detailed below will be followed:
- If you applied for and were granted special consideration (or if other extenuating circumstances apply), and this was approved by your faculty and the Coursework Scholarships Manager, no action will be taken and you will receive your scholarship payment as per usual.
Otherwise:
- You will be notified in writing by the CSU that your performance is under review and that you are on probation. You will ordinarily be paid whilst you are on probation.
- a) If you meet the required minimum WAM in the semester you are on probation, the probation status will be removed in the following semester.
b) If you do not meet the required minimum WAM in the semester you are on probation, your scholarship will be suspended in the following semester. You will not receive payment while your scholarship is suspended. - a) If you meet the required minimum WAM in the semester you are suspended, your scholarship will ordinarily be reinstated in the following semester and payments will resume. No retrospective scholarship payments will be made for the period of suspension.
b) If you do not meet the required minimum WAM in the semester you are suspended, your scholarship will be terminated and no further payments will be made. - If you are on probation or suspension and do not meet the required minimum WAM after withheld or deferred results are released, any scholarship that is paid towards your course fees will be cancelled. You will be reissued with a new fees statement and are required to pay the balance.
-
8.1 Grounds for scholarship termination
The CSU may terminate your scholarship if you have:
- discontinued from your course, have inactive enrolment or complete your course
- failed to meet the eligibility criteria and conditions of your scholarship
- failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress
- failed to provide banking details by the due date
- been suspended or excluded under Monash statutes and regulations
- been made an incorrect scholarship offer as determined by Monash in its sole discretion
- been made an offer for a higher value scholarship.
8.2 Consequences of termination
If your scholarship is terminated, you will not receive any further payments. You may be required to repay some or all of your scholarship.
8.3 Repayment of your scholarship
You are required to repay your scholarship within four weeks of receiving notice from the CSU.
This will occur if:
- the payment is made to you in error or you have been overpaid
- you are no longer enrolled in the semester the scholarship is paid
- you do not meet the conditions of the scholarship or are ineligible for the scholarship (including situations where you have provided false information under 8.4); or
- you have been made a scholarship offer in error.
If you fail to repay your scholarship, your student account may be encumbered. This means you cannot access library, computer or enrolment services. You will not receive your exam results, request academic records (transcripts) or graduate. We'll notify you in writing if this happens. Clearing an encumbrance usually involves paying the amount owed to the University. It can take up to three working days to remove an encumbrance after payment is received.
8.4 Providing false information
The awarding of your scholarship is based on the information that you provide to Monash. Your scholarship may be withdrawn at any stage if you provide incorrect, false or misleading information or withhold relevant information. This includes circumstances where the false information is unrelated to the assessment in awarding the scholarship.
-
Monash is bound by Victorian privacy laws as set out in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. The Monash University Privacy Policy applies only to personal information that a person provides to Australian campuses of Monash. For information on the collection of your personal information, refer to the Student Privacy Collection Statement.
-
10.1 Grievances relating to Monash's Coursework Scholarships policies and procedures
You may lodge complaints about academic and or administrative matters under the Student Complaints and Grievance Policy available via the website.
10.2 Appeals
Initial inquiry
For issues concerning your scholarship first contact Monash Connect or call on +61 3 9902 6011. Monash Connect may be able to resolve your issue or assist with your inquiry.
Complaint
If the initial inquiry does not resolve your issue you can send a written complaint to:
Manager, Coursework Scholarships & Enrolment Services
Monash Connect
C/- Monash Connect, PO Box 197
Caulfield East VIC 3145Grievance
If you believe the complaint has not been addressed in a satisfactory manner, you may submit a written grievance to:
Associate Director
Academic Services Group
C/- Monash Connect, PO Box 197
Caulfield East VIC 3145Phone: +61 3 9902 6011