Faculty of Arts

Travel for Research in Postgraduate Study (TRIPS)

Guidelines

What does the Scheme provide?

PhD candidates

The scheme provides enrolled and confirmed PhD candidates in the Faculty of Arts with a single entitlement for one of the following research-related travel options:

International travel

$1350 for research or conference presentation
$1850 for research and conference presentation

National travel*

$600 for research or conference presentation
$850 for research and conference presentation

*New Zealand is considered national travel for the purposes of the scheme.

Faculty offers this scheme as a form of enrichment for confirmed PhD candidates. The scheme provides assistance for periods of research in libraries and/or archives in order to access material that will substantially improve the PhD project or for presentation at a conference.

Normally, only confirmed PhD candidates will be considered eligible to apply for assistance with travel for research purposes.

PhD Candidates are eligible to apply to the scheme for travel only within three years from the commencement of the full-time candidature (pro rata part-time). Students can be awarded funds under the scheme once only during candidature.

Applicants to the scheme should not rely on such assistance to complete their doctoral research. PhD candidates with essential fieldwork requirements are directed to the PhD Fieldwork scheme.

Applicants who have received substantial funding for a research trip by a Faculty PhD Fieldwork Grant are not eligible for additional funding from this scheme for the same trip. Applicants may however apply to the TRIPS Scheme for funding for a separate trip.

Masters (research only) candidates

The scheme provides Masters (research only) candidates who have been enrolled for more than six months full-time (or part-time equivalent) with a single entitlement of the following:

$700 for either national or international conference presentation

Under this scheme, Masters (research only) candidates are eligible to apply for financial assistance for conference presentation only.

Funding for research undertaken by Masters candidates within Australia or internationally is not covered under this scheme, as it is not anticipated that travel overseas or within Australia is required to conduct research.

Masters candidates are eligible to apply to the scheme for travel only within 18 months from the commencement of full-time candidature (pro rata part-time). Students can be awarded funds under the scheme once only during candidature.

Additional notes

Applications rejected by schools will be forwarded to the Associate Dean (Research) for notice.

Candidates jointly enrolled in another Faculty (with Arts being the host Faculty) will receive pro-rata funding.

Candidates enrolled in another Faculty with co-supervision in Arts may be eligible to receive pro-rata funding. Support for funding must be obtained from the relevant Head of School in the Faculty of Arts.

Conferences, Workshops and Seminars

In accordance with Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) research and publication guidelines:

"meetings called 'workshops' or 'seminars' generally have lower status than meetings called 'conferences'." (1)

Thus, for the purpose of this scheme, applicants applying for funding for presentation at workshops or seminars must be able to demonstrate clearly that these have international significance by attaching hard copy evidence of this standing with their applications (hard copy evidence can include printed materials, web site page/s, a letter from the workshop/seminar convenor attesting to international significance etc).

(1) Melbourne Research and Innovation Office. 2004 Publications Collection Classification Guidelines. Version 11. Melbourne: MRIO, 2004.

When should I apply?

Ideally, applications should be made well before the projected trip. Applications are considered four times a year. Applications must be submitted by the close of business on the following dates:

Out-of-round applications will be accepted retrospectively and assessed as such during the following round of applications.

If you are a PhD candidate you should consider lodging a concurrent application in conjunction with the MATS or PORES Schemes. Attach a copy of the cover sheet of your completed MATS/PORES application form to your TRIPS application.

To be eligible for TRIPS funding, a PhD candidate must apply within 3 years from the start of full-time candidature (pro-rata part-time) and a Masters candidate must apply within 18 months from the start of full-time candidature (pro-rata part-time).

When and how will I be notified of the outcome of my application?

Please allow at least two weeks from submission of your application to formal notification of the outcome by electronic mail. At certain times in the academic year, and depending on the number of TRIPS and other grant/scholarship or course applications under consideration in the unit, this waiting period might be slightly longer.

Where should I lodge my application?

In person:

Please submit your application to the Arts & Music Student Centre (Room 104, Old Arts Building).

By post:

Please address your application to:
Arts & Music Student Centre
Rm 104 (Ground Floor) Old Arts Building
The University of Melbourne

Victoria 3010

Download TRIPS Application Form and Budget Pro forma

What should my budget include?

  1. School contribution

    Applicants for the scheme must show support from their School at a minimum of $250 (refer to your School web page for details of the matching grants available in your department).

    Documentary evidence of School support is to be provided with the application.

    NOTE: Applications for this scheme that do not include evidence of School support will not normally be considered. Refer to 'Additional Notes' above.

  2. Quotation for economy airfare/s

    Applicants are expected to obtain discount air and rail fares wherever possible.

  3. Travel insurance quote

  4. Accommodation quote/s.

Leave to Study Away

All TRIPS applicants are required to apply for leave to study away from the University (this condition of TRIPS funding applies to country Victorian, interstate as well as overseas travel). Transfer of TRIPS funding cannot normally be authorised until this condition has been met.

MA candidates

MA candidates should complete the Masters Leave to Study Away form and submit this with their TRIPS application.

PhD candidates

must not assume that SGR will forward any documentation to the Faculty for the purpose of their TRIPS application. Please refer to the School of Graduate Studies Forms page for details of SGR requirements for leave to study away. PhD candidates should obtain a copy of their Enrolment Record from SGR stamped "Leave to Study Away Approved" and attach that record to their TRIPS application.

What else should my application include?

Risk Assessment

All candidates travelling for the purposes of postgraduate research (including conference presentation) must complete and lodge a Guideline Form For Off Campus Travel and Work Policy with their School. This form assists applicants and their schools in identifying possible risks to do with their travel destination.

Candidates should only complete a Risk Assessment form (2D Model) [80Kb PDF] if the School assessment indicates a possible need.

PhD candidates must attach a copy of the Guideline Form For Off Campus Travel and Work Policy form or a copy of their enrolment record stamped by SGR with 'Leave to Study Away approved'.

Insurance – Student Cover

To accommodate the Travel Insurance needs of all University of Melbourne Students engaged on University Approved Travel, a NEW “Student” Travel Insurance Policy (No: 02.PP.014313) has been established.  Under this new Travel Insurance Policy, FREE Travel Insurance is provided for all University of Melbourne Students under one of 2 separate categories.  Please consider the Travel Insurance Policy carefully, and, if you are eligible, complete all formalities at least five (5) University Business Days prior to Departure.

Alternatively, you may obtain Travel Insurance cover from any other preferred facility of your own choosing.

Overseas travel to High Risk destinations

Faculty (Research Masters) and School of Graduate Studies (PhD) approval of TRIPS will be contingent upon the current Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) advice in respect to level of safety of overseas destination, available at this website: www.smartraveller.gov.au.

Applications for Special Circumstances approval will be referred to the Academic Registrar, who must be provided with documentation of the grounds for this special consideration.

Are there other schemes that I should know about?

Where eligible, PhD applicants to the TRIPS Scheme are encouraged to also lodge a concurrent application for additional funding from the Melbourne Scholarships Office, under the Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship Scheme (MATS) or the Postgraduate Overseas Research Experience Scholarship (PORES). Students seeking MATS funding must include a copy of the MATS application when submitting a TRIPS application. Further information regarding the current round is available from the Melbourne Scholarships Office on 8344 8747. General information is also available at the following web sites:

Conditions of the scheme

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