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Research Training Scheme

The Commonwealth Government's framework for Australia's higher education research and research training was set out in the White Paper, Knowledge and Innovation: A policy statement on research and research training, which was released in December 1999.

It announced two new performance-based funding schemes to be administered by the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) - the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS) and the Research Training Scheme (RTS). These schemes recognise and reward those institutions that provide high-quality research training environments and support excellent and diverse research activities. The schemes will strengthen Australia's knowledge base and research capabilities by enhancing the effectiveness of the research and research training system in the higher education sector.

The RTS replaces the Research Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) Exemptions Scheme. It provides Commonwealth-funded HDR students with an 'entitlement' to a HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited HDR candidature, up to a maximum period of four years' full-time equivalent study for a Doctorate by research and two years' full-time equivalent study for a Masters by research.

Period of RTS Support

RTS places will be granted for a maximum of four years' full-time equivalent study for students undertaking an eligible Doctorate by research and for a maximum of two years' full-time equivalent study for Masters by research. The maximum period of entitlement is calculated from the actual course commencement date.

Entitlements for RTS students may vary according to the scenarios outlined below.

a) Withdrawal from studies

Where a student, including pre-2001 students withdraws from studies, the following entitlements will apply if, at a later date, the student resumes study in the same course or another course at the same level.
* If at least three years have elapsed since the previous enrolment, the student may be granted the maximum period allowed for the course under the RTS.
* If less than three years have elapsed since the previous enrolment, the student will have the period of any prior enrolment deducted from the maximum period allowed for the course under the RTS. This restriction applies even if the student enrols at a different institution.

b) Changing course

Where an RTS student changes his or her course of study to another research degree at the same level, the period of entitlement will remain unchanged. For example, if a student has completed one year of a Masters degree by research and then changes to a different Masters degree by research, the student will only be entitled to an RTS place for the new degree for a further one year.

c) Progression to a Doctorate by research after completing a Masters by research

Where an RTS student completes a Masters by research and then progresses to an eligible Doctorate by research, he or she will be entitled to the maximum period of two years for the Masters study and four years for the Doctorate study. This entitlement applies whether or not there is an interval between the Masters and the Doctorate programmes. If a student completes a Masters by research in less than two years, the maximum entitlement for a subsequent Doctorate by research by that student will still be limited to four years.

d) Upgrade from a Masters by research to a Doctorate by research

Where an RTS student commences studies in a Masters by research and performs at a level that warrants conversion of the studies to a Doctorate by research, the student will be limited to a maximum period of four years' RTS funding.

e) Downgrade from a Doctorate by research to a Masters by research

Where an RTS student elects, or is required, for academic or personal reasons, to change his/her candidature from a Doctorate by research to a Masters by research, he or she will be limited to a maximum period of two years. If the student has already held an RTS place for more than two years at the time of downgrading, he or she will not be entitled to any further Commonwealth funding.

f) Suspension of studies

RTS students may apply to their institution for a suspension or an accumulated period of suspensions of their studies for up to a total of twelve months. The approval of suspensions will be at the discretion of the institution.

The University may approve suspensions for an accumulated period beyond twelve months if there are exceptional circumstances beyond the student's control, which warrant a further suspension.

g) Transfer to another institution

RTS students may transfer to another participating institution provided the new institution has an RTS place available or the student will be enrolling on a fee-paying basis. Where the student will be taking up an RTS funded place in a degree at the same level, the receiving institution will be required to obtain details from the student regarding his/her enrolment and consumption of RTS entitlement at the previous institution and determine his/her remaining entitlement. An institution must take disciplinary action should it determine that a transferring student had provided false or deliberately misleading information.

h) Termination of an RTS place

An RTS place must be terminated by an institution when the student:

*ceases to be an enrolled student and has not requested a period of suspension; * lodges a thesis and is not required to undertake any further tasks related to their course or research project;
* withdraws from study
* exhausts the maximum period of entitlement (four years' full-time equivalent study for students undertaking a Doctorate by research and two years' full-time equivalent study for students undertaking a Masters by research);
* does not resume study at the conclusion of a period of suspension or does not make arrangements to extend that period of suspension;
* fails to maintain satisfactory progress.