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Faculty of Arts HDR Candidate Conference Travel Scheme (FACCTS)

The FACCTS is a scheme that allows candidates to seek funding from the Faculty for travel, accommodation and registration costs associated with attendance at key conferences relevant to their PhD/MPhil project. Funding is provided on a competitive basis to the level of funding available each year in the Faculty. Conferences must be of high standing and should benefit the candidate’s PhD/MPhil project in some way. Applicants should consult with their supervisor and Department HDR director before making an application, and comply with the Faculty requirements in relation to presenting a paper. The maximum grant available to each candidate is $3500 over the entire candidature. The FACCTS is not available to MRES students.

Eligibility

The applicant must be a candidate for a higher degree research program in the Faculty of Arts (full-time or part-time) and:

  • be within the first 3 (full-time equivalent) years of their candidacy, if undertaking a PhD program, or
  • 2 (full-time equivalent) years of their candidacy, if undertaking a MPhil program.

Candidates who seek funding:

  • must be able to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress towards timely completion of their research program in the current calendar year as assessed by the Principal Supervisor, Department and the Faculty;
  • must have appropriate ethics clearance approval where relevant; evidence of ethics clearance approval must be provided with the Application;
  • if traveling overseas, must obtain approval from the University to travel to the nominated destination;
  • cannot apply for funds to travel while they are on Leave of Absence from candidature;
  • must not have an outstanding financial liability to the University.

Assessment of Applications

Applications for FACCTS funding will be considered in three rounds per year by the Faculty HDR Sub-committee. Applicants must submit the FACCT application form to Arts HDR Office (Y3A 225) no later than the following dates;

Round 1:          20 April

Round 2:          20 July

Round 3:          19 October

Please note that the funding will cover the travel costs, accommodation and the conference registration fee only.  Other items such as food will not be funded.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Candidates should aim to apply in a round at least two months in advance of their conference in order to allow time for assessment and travel management. Travel and conference registration arrangements will be managed by Departments after candidates have been notified of their success by the Sub-committee.

Applicants must attach the following to their applications:

  • an abstract of the paper to be presented;
  • status of the conference (e.g. from conference website, ‘call for papers’ information, etc.);
  • evidence that the paper has been accepted, if available (applications for papers not yet accepted for presentation will be considered, but evidence of acceptance must be provided before any funds are released);

Supervisors are required to write a supporting statement commenting on:

  • the relevance of the conference or research activity to the applicant’s PhD and broader research area;
  • whether the applicant is at an appropriate stage in their research to present their research to their peers or to undertake the proposed research activity.

Candidates who seek funding must:

  • be able to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress towards timely completion of their research program in the current calendar year as assessed by the Principal Supervisor, Department and the Faculty;
  • if traveling overseas, obtain approval from the University to travel to the nominated destination;
  • not apply for funds to travel while they are on Leave of Absence from candidature;
  • not have an outstanding financial liability to the University.

Criteria for Assessment:

  • Demonstrable progress towards timely completion.
  • Strength of support from Supervisor and/or Dept. HDR Director
  • Relevance of conference to HDR project.
  • Standing of conference in the Discipline.
  • Potential for enhancing high quality publication opportunities.

The sub-committee reserves the right to seek further quotes for airfares and may decide to fund less than the amount requested.

Should applicants be unable to attend the approved conference, or should they wish to transfer their funding to an alternative conference, they must obtain approval from the Faculty Associate Dean, HDR.

Travel Policy 

All travel must comply with the University Travel Policy.

(https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/travel)

FORMS

The Faculty of Arts HDR Candidate Conference Travel Scheme (FACCTS) form

Notification of Approved Offsite Research (OSR) form

Final Report form