Higher Degree by Research Scholarships

Australian Government Research training Program (RTP) Scholarships

RTP Scholarships are funded by the Commonwealth Government to provide support to candidates enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research at an Australian University.

The National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) conducts world-class research in grape and wine science, in the areas of plant pathology, vine physiology, fruit development, fruit and wine composition, sensory characteristics of wine and consumer preference.

Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent resident are encouraged to apply for AGRTP-NWGIC scholarships, which are awarded to postgraduate researchers with exceptional promise whose research area is relevant to the key research objectives of NWGIC. Further information regarding the Australian Government's Research Training Program is available on the Department of Education and Training website.

Projects available are:

ICHDR6: Rapid assessment of grapes prior to harvest to quantify fungal off-flavours and product composition (PhD)
ICHDR8: The impact of light on oxidative and reductive aging of wine (PhD)
NWGICHD1: Sensory & composition profiling of raw and processed almonds: the impacts of variety and growing location (PhD)
NWGICHD2: How does the fungal floral of the berry surface influence fruit quality? (PhD)
NWGICHD3: The interaction between rootstocks and cider apple varieties on carbohydrate dynamics and fruit composition (PhD)
NWGICHD4: The impact of canopy and crop management on perennial and temporary nitrogen sink dynamics with emphasis on must nitrogenous compounds (PhD)
NWGICHD5: The impact of the soil temperature on root physiology and metabolic pathways during grape maturation and on fruit composition (PhD)
NWGICHD6: Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevine: potential for cross-infection of horticultural crops in Australia
NWGICHD7: Ensuring the quality of grapevine plant materials for the sustainability of the wine industry
NWGICHD8: Factors influencing patulin contamination of apples and apple derived beverages
NWGICHD10: Abiotic constraints on the reproductive development of hazelnut bushes during establishment phase.

Eligibility

AGRTP-NWGIC scholarships are generally for full-time study towards higher degrees by research. These scholarships are highly competitive, and only applicants who meet the following eligibility criteria will be considered:

Commencing a CSU HDR program in 2019, or currently enrolled
Enrolling/enrolled as a full-time student, or in exceptional circumstances, granted CSU approval for a part-time scholarship in line with the CSU policy on AGRTP Scholarships
Undertaking research relevant to the key research objectives of NWGIC.

AGRTP-NWGIC scholarships will not be available to those who:

Are enrolled concurrently in any other program, unless it is essential to the success of the HDR, or exceptional circumstances exist and are approved.
Are receiving another Commonwealth-funded postgraduate research scholarship

CSU will rank scholarship applicants according to a specified criteria (see Scholarship Application Guide for further details)

Award Value

The scholarship provides the following benefits:

Stipend: $27,082 per annum, payable in fortnightly instalments.

Applicants seeking a scholarship associated with the CSU-based ARC-ITTC (Projects - ICHDR2, ICHDR6, ICHDR8) for Innovative Wine Production will be eligible for a stipend top-up to $35,000 per annum.

Tuition Fees: Fee exemption for a period equivalent to three years (six sessions) for PhD/Research Doctorate OR two years (four sessions) for Research Masters at full-time study.

Operating Funds: Scholarship recipients are allocated an allowance per session of enrolment to assist with the reimbursement of costs associated with the candidate's research.

Relocation Allowance: Scholarship recipients may be eligible to receive a relocation allowance for the cost of relocating themselves, their spouse, and dependants to a CSU campus, to a maximum of AUD$5,000.

Scholarship Duration

AGRTP-NWGIC scholarships are normally tenable for three years for Research Doctorate studies, and two years for Research Masters studies subject to satisfactory progress.

An extension of up to six (6) months may be granted for Research Doctorate candidates, where the candidate is making satisfactory progress and the grounds for the extension relate to the study and are beyond the control of the candidate.

Scholarship candidates are entitled to 20 paid annual leave working days per year, 10 paid sick leave days per year and may be eligible for up to 12 weeks paid maternity leave with the duration of the scholarship