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Research Funding

The Faculty of Economics and Business is committed to providing our research students with a supportive and well resourced environment in which to undertake their research. One of our commitments is to provide financial support. Currently, there are three research funding schemes in place to support PhD students in the different stages of their research candidature: the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS), the PhD Fieldwork Funding Scheme (FFS) and the PreDoc Funding Scheme (PFS).

Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS)

The PRSS was introduced by the University in 2001. The Faculty contributes a significant amount of funds toward this scheme each year. The PRSS aims to provide opportunities for currently enrolled Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students to:

  • present their research papers at international and local conferences
  • Collect data or conduct interviews
  • visit specialist facilities or to learn specialist technique/s
  • the purchase of specialist books
  • the purchase of software
  • the purchase of computers or other equipment
  • to facilitate theses production

PhD candidates are entitled to claim a maximum three times during their candidature up to a maximum of $3,000 per claim and MPhil candidates are entitled to have one claim. There are two application rounds per year April/May and September.

Applications for PRSS funding will open on Monday, 7th September 2009 and close at 5.00pm on Friday 9th October 2009.

Please ensure that you read through the PRSS Information for Students and lodge your original signed hard copy application with all relevant supporting documents listed in the PRSS Information for Students to the Faculty Research Unit (Room N412, Institute Building H03), by the closing date. Late applications can not be accepted.

If you have any queries regarding this funding scheme please do not hesitate to contact either:

The PhD Fieldwork Funding Scheme (FFS)

The Faculty Research Committee recently approved a scheme to help fund fieldwork for PhD and MPhil students. The scheme is designed to provide an additional source of funding to that of the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS) and is available at a Faculty level. As there are limited funds available, the awarding of funds is competitive and based on merit, with all submissions reviewed by a subcommittee of the Faculty Research Committee.

Students are eligible to apply to the FFS only within three years from the commencement of the full-time candidature (pro rata part-time). Students under suspension and examination are not eligible. There is one funding round per year April/May.

The Predoc Funding Scheme

The Faculty Research Committee has approved a scheme to help fund PhD and MPhil students to write research papers while their thesis is out for examination. The objective of the initiative is to allow students time to prepare papers from their thesis research as well as initiate new research projects with their supervisory team or other academics in the Faculty. As limited funds are available, the awards are competitive and will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the Faculty Research Committee.

Applications for the Predoc Funding Scheme have closed for 2009. The next application round will be in August 2010.