The lucrative and prestigious John and Eric Smyth Travelling Scholarship is aimed at supporting applicants who show potential as a researcher or teacher. It offers a stipend as well as travel, accommodation and tuition fees (if applicable) for a period of one year to a maximum of two years. The recipient can use the scholarship to support a study program overseas.

Applications open

15 Feb 2018

Applications closed

16 Mar 2018

Application type

Application required
How to apply

Benefit type

General allowance
Tuition fee exemption
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student

Applicable study areas

Education, teaching and training

Number of scholarships awarded

1

• “The scholarship allowed me to spend time in Bristol and London and encounter first hand some exciting new work and theories that were important influences on my later research.”
  Read Professor Lyn Yates’s story

• Eligibility & selection criteria
  Eligibility

  To be eligible for this scholarship, you need to:

  • be under 30 years of age on the specified closing date
  • have completed a teaching degree OR have completed a Masters degree in education at the University of Melbourne
  • demonstrate an aptitude in teaching and an ability to research education (note: this may be demonstrated through strong performances in Professional Practice subjects completed as a part of your teaching qualification)
  • be keen to make an exciting career move, and
  • would like to pursue research or teaching interests at an overseas institution or setting.

  Selection criteria

  To assess your potential as a researcher or teacher, the selection panel needs to evaluate your teaching and/or research potential.  Some applicants will have a strong background in teaching, and others in research.  Equal weighting will be given to each.  If you have strengths in both areas, each of these will be taken into account.

  The following criteria will apply:

  If you are applying for this Scholarship via the research route

  • You will be assessed according to academic marks and grades received in your most recent University qualifications.  You would need to have an average of H1 / 80%.
  • Ideally, you will also have some teaching experience.

  If you are applying for this Scholarship via the teaching route

  • An average of at least H1 or 80% would be preferred, but this minimum grade/mark may be waived for those who show potential as an outstanding teacher.  The panel needs to be confident that the applicant would be capable of writing a high quality report (see ‘The Project’ below).
  • Ideally, you will be able to demonstrate an ability to research the field of education.

  It is a condition of the scholarship that you are expected to return to Australia within three years of the termination of the scholarship and hold a position in the field of education for a minimum of two years.

  If you do not undertake formal study at a university overseas, you will write and present an 8,000 to 10,000 word report to MGSE.

• Application process

  The following guidelines outline what you need to do to make an application for this Scholarship.

  1.EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

  • Check that you meet the Criteria
  • Write an Expression of Interest of 500 words that outlines the kind of project you would like to do.  To get an idea of what you might like to do, read the section on Project below.
  • Email this to [email protected] . Expressions of Interest (EOI) must be received by midnight (AEST) 15 March 2018.
    Within two weeks you will receive a response indicating whether you have been invited to submit an application

  2.APPLICATION

  • If you are asked to submit an application, you will be put in touch with the MGSE’s Assistant Dean (Research Training) to discuss what your Project might look like.  This will help you to prepare an application – a document that that outlines the Project (read the section on Project below) and a Budget.
  • You will need to submit your application by the nominated date as directed by MGSE.

  After you submit your application, you may be contacted by the Selection Officer to attend an interview or to provide the Selection Committee with extra information.

  THE PROJECT

• you will need to think carefully about what your project will be. At the Expression of Interest stage you could think about what your main researchable idea is, and which overseas universities or systems of education you could plan to visit to develop your idea.
• One possibility is to align your idea with the research strengths and directions of the MGSE.  This will give you an opportunity to tap into the extensive overseas networks we have built up.  Find out about these areas of research:
  https://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/
• If you are invited to submit an Application, you will have the opportunity to discuss the topic you would like to research with the Assistant Dean (Research Training) who will link you with a mentor with expertise on this topic.  The mentor will help you to frame your project.
• You will then devise a plan of visits/studies, and a (broadly) costed itinerary for the time you expect to be overseas.

THE BUDGET

The Scholarship will fund the major expenditure of your trip.  It will cover accommodation, tuition fees, and a stipend to cover day-to-day incidentals.

Elaborate the following in your budget:

• Travel costs
  – itemised to show the cost of each individual leg (economy-class)
• Accommodation costs
  – Cost per night in each place
  – Number of nights you are staying in each place
  – hotels that have no more than a 3-star rating.  (The only exception is if a female applicant is travelling to a location where her personal safety might be compromised.  In this case, you will need to make a special case for staying in other accommodation)
• Tuition costs – if applicable
• Dates for when accommodation and travel information were collected.
  – The selection panel understands that prices can change, especially travel costs.  If you are awarded the scholarship you can update this information for the selection panel, with reference to the firm bookings you have made.

The stipend can only be paid for the period that that you would be overseas.

• When will I know the outcome?

  Within two weeks of submitting an Expression of Interest you will receive a response indicating whether you have been invited to submit an application.

• About the donor
  John Smyth

  John Smyth was the first Professor of Education at the University of Melbourne.  He set up the John and Eric Smyth Travelling Scholarship to commemorate his son Eric, a medical student, who died from an accident when he was only 23.

What are the benefits?

The lucrative and prestigious John and Eric Smyth Travelling Scholarship is aimed at supporting applicants who show potential as a researcher or teacher.  It offers a generous stipend as well as travel, accommodation and tuition fees (if applicable) for a period of one year to a maximum of two years.  The recipient can use the scholarship to support a study program overseas:

• study education and allied subjects at a university
• study education systems
• study a subject related to the teaching profession

Interested in an undergraduate Melbourne Scholarship? Register now

Get more on scholarships and other information to help you succeed at the University of Melbourne.

First Name (required):

Please enter your first name.
Last Name (required):

Please enter your last name.
Email Address (required):

Please enter a valid email.
Date of Birth (required):
Date of Birth (required):
Day
Please select a day
Month
Please select a month
Year
Please select a year
Mobile
In Market Date
When do you wish to commence your studies at the University of Melbourne?
Year (required)
Please select a year
Semester (required)
Please select a semester
Get the latest news and information from the University (required):
Yes

No

The information on this form is being collected by the University of Melbourne for further communication regarding various courses, programs and events at the University in which you have expressed interest. Information collected will only be used by authorised staff for the purpose for which it was collected and will be protected against unauthorised access and use. You can access any personal information the University holds about you. Contact the Privacy Officer to find out more. The University’s Privacy Policy is available online.

or call 13 MELB (13 6352)
International: +61 3 9035 5511

For complete listings of faculty-specific scholarships, please see individual faculty websites.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners’ websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.

• About Scholarships
• Browse all scholarships
• Frequently asked questions
• Student stories
• Make a donation
• Australia Awards
• Contact us