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General Information

The Australian National University offers a number of Summer Research Scholarships in most research schools, faculties and centres during the summer vacation period (usually from mid-November to early-February). Offers are made subject to the availability of funding, appropriate supervision and accommodation.

Summer research scholars are expected to participate in an ongoing research project or to undertake a substantial piece of supervised research work, which may result in a report/paper, possibly for publication.

Scholarships are intended for currently enrolled undergraduate students in universities in Australia and New Zealand completing the third or fourth year of a full-time program leading to an honours degree. The University may also consider accepting outstanding second year students who are intending to complete an honours degree or undergraduate students enrolled at overseas universities.

Objectives

Summer Research Scholarships provide promising students with experience of research work. This is particularly useful to students considering undertaking postgraduate research to a higher degree. The scholarships provide contact with distinguished researchers and enable students to use facilities and materials for research that may not be readily available elsewhere. They offer a challenging environment in which students have an opportunity to evaluate for themselves, and to demonstrate to others, their potential for research work.

Tenure

The period of tenure of a Summer Research Scholarship will be specified in the letter of offer. The minimum period is normally eight weeks (although some areas may be prepared to consider applications for scholarships for shorter periods) and the maximum is normally eleven weeks. The period of tenure is normally broken into two parts to allow for the Christmas period when the University is closed and the weekly allowance is not normally paid during periods away from the University. Summer Research Scholarships may commence between mid-November and early December and normally conclude in early February.

Benefits

The Scholarship provides a contribution towards travel expenses to and from Canberra based on economy railfares at student concession rates (or, for people from more distant parts of Australia, and New Zealand, economy-class airfares), accommodation and all meals at a residential college on campus and a weekly allowance of $135 (tax exempt).

Health Cover for Overseas Students

New Zealand students in Australia as summer research scholars, and other overseas students, must have medical and hospital insurance. They can either take out medical and hospital insurance associated with travel insurance before they leave home, or they can obtain health coverage with the health insurance scheme, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), operated by Medibank Private after their arrival in Canberra. Proof of cover will be required upon commencement

Applications

Students who wish to be considered for a Summer Research Scholarship should submit their application online between 1 July and 31 August, along with references from two academic referees. Applications are not considered complete, and cannot be assessed, without the referees' reports.

Referees are requested to simply send a letter (or email) of support for the student’s application to the program. These are to be sent directly to the relevant contact officer, stating clearly that the reference is in connection with a Summer Research Scholarship application, and which thematic/administrative area the student is applying to.

Students can nominate up to three study areas in their application; they must, however, rank in numerical order their preference for each area. Supporting documentation (transcripts and references) must be included with the application (photocopies of original transcripts will be accepted).

Applications must be submitted using the online application form.