ANU Staff Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Overview ANU staff are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge under an initiative announced in 2009. The ANU Staff Undergraduate Scholarship program provides staff members (excluding casual and fixed term staff) with the opportunity to undertake a range of undergraduate coursework programs at ANU, and the University will reimburse student fees up to $1300pa from a centrally managed fund.  Programs offered ANU staff are invited to apply for admission to any ANU undergraduate program of study, and will need to: meet the normal entry requirements for the relevant course; and be accepted into that course.

Who is eligible to apply? The following staff members are eligible to apply for a scholarship under this program: Staff who are Australian citizens or eligible permanent residents; General and academic staff (full or part time) employed by The Australian National University on a continuing or continuing (contingent funded) basis; Eligible staff (as above) whose supervisor certifies that their performance is at least satisfactory or better (as determined via their current and past Statements of Expectations); and Eligible staff (as above) on parental leave.

Scholarship benefits

Staff will be required to pay the student contribution amount up front at the time of course enrolment, and the University will reimburse $650 per semester (or the amount of the student contribution actually paid, where this is less than $650), to a maximum of $1300pa on successful completion of unit/s of study. Where staff defer or partially defer payment through HECS/HELP, payment will only be made against receipts for upfront component actually paid. All other costs (including text books, reading bricks etc) associated with the course will not be funded by ANU, and must be funded by the staff member.

General staff may have access to study leave in accordance with the ANU Study Leave procedure.

HECS

Staff who choose to defer their student contributions to HECS/HELP are not eligible for reimbursement via this scholarship program; however staff who choose to make a partial payment to HECS/HELP of $500 or more, are eligible to have this payment reimbursed, as set out above.

Scholarship conditions

Staff Undergraduate Scholarships are awarded to staff members for a Program of Study. ANU reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship if:

• the staff member's academic progress is unsatisfactory; or
• the staff member's employment at the ANU ceases; or
• the University decides to discontinue the program

Staff Undergraduate Scholarships will be available from Semester 1 of 2009.  Staff part-way through their course of study may apply for reimbursement of course fees from Semester 1 of 2009.

How to apply?

Eligible staff should apply for reimbursement for student contribution amounts following confirmation of successful completion of the preceding semester's study using the Application for Staff Undergraduate Scholarship form.  The transcript of results and receipt for the actual student contribution fee paid should be attached.  These documents should be forwarded to the Business Manager, HR Division, Chancelry 10B, for approval and processing.

What are the tax implications?

The scholarship has been set at a maximum of $1300pa to ensure a Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) liability is not incurred. Staff should seek independent taxation advice in relation to whether they are able to claim an income tax deduction in relation to costs funded by the staff member (eg text books, reading bricks, field trips etc).