Faculty of Arts

"... that the primary sources of data and information required for the research (or teaching) are not co-located with the principal location of research resources such as office, library, laboratory, museum, gallery, and that the data can only be obtained by undertaking work at a field location. The sources of data must be studied in their specific locational context, otherwise the purposes of the research cannot be achieved."

• Applicants must demonstrate that the primary data for their PhD requires fieldwork.
• Confirmation/Conversion to PhD: Candidates are required to submit a proposed fieldwork program (not an application) to their school at the time of their Confirmation of their PhD Candidature, or, concurrently with an application for conversion from Master's to confirmed PhD candidature.
• Students whose PhD candidature has been confirmed without reference to a fieldwork program as above are not eligible for support under this scheme.
• Candidates who apply for funding for a research trip under the scheme are not eligible for additional funding from the Travel for Research in Postgraduate Study Scheme (TRIPS) scheme for the same trip.
• Candidates awarded a PhD Fieldwork grant early in their candidature are not precluded from applying later in their candidature for further support for separate TRIPS to enhance their essential research through the Faculty's Travel for Research in Postgraduate Study Scheme (TRIPS) (guidelines) and Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarships (MATS) (guidelines).
• The experience of data collection and interpretation is considered an important part of the training of a PhD student. The scheme is designed to support this experience. Fieldwork funding awarded to a candidate under this scheme cannot be used to pay for data analysis by professional fieldwork companies.
• Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AUSAID) Students: PhD Fieldwork conducted by Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AUSAID) funded international students in their home countries receive limited support under this Scheme given the nature of Australian Government Overseas Aid Program and in-country resources available to these candidates. Australian Government Overseas Aid Program provides one return airfare to the student's home country. Australian Government Overseas Aid Program applicants must apply to Faculty in conjunction with their application to the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program Officer. Each application for funding from Faculty will be considered on its merits.

• Human Ethics: Applications for fieldwork funding for the purpose of research involving human subjects must demonstrate compliance with the University's code of conduct for research before any data gathering or interpretation can commence under the auspices of the University's PhD Fieldwork funding scheme.

  Candidates who intend to conduct any form of fieldwork involving human subjects that require review by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or its Sub-Committees must attach evidence of ethics approval as part of their application.

Candidates in the following schools should apply directly to their school for PhD Fieldwork funding using the guidelines on this page, and must provide a copy of their complete application to Faculty prior to departure:

• School of Philosophy and Social Inquiry
• School of Languages and Linguistics
• Archaeology (School of Historical Studies)
• Asia Institute

Candidates from other Schools within the Faculty lodge their application directly with the Arts and Music Student Centre (Room 104, Old Arts Building) based on the guidelines on this web page.

• Candidates who have received funding under the scheme are not eligible for further fieldwork funding through the Faculty's Fieldwork Funding Scheme.
• Candidates are eligible to apply to the scheme for fieldwork only within three years from the commencement of the full-time candidature (pro rata part-time).
• 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.

Funds are limited and competitive for this scheme.

Schools are required to contribute a minimum of 30% of the budget.

What the Scheme Funds

Projects in which the primary data for the PhD thesis can be collected only in a field location (for example, a fundable project may require access to particular communities, physical landscapes, indigenous languages, archaeological sites, or oral histories).

• The costs of return fares to the primary site of field research
• Local travel and transport costs
• Government Fees - evidence of fees must accompany application.
• Medical/Travel Insurance (arranged through the University's Risk Management Office, alternate arrangements may be made should a lower quotation be available)
• Access fees (i.e. Research Visas, National Park entrance fees) - evidence of fees must accompany the application.

What the Scheme Does NOT Fund

• Visits to libraries, museums, archives, and other forms of data collection or research (see the guidelines for the Travel for Research in Postgraduate Study (TRIPS) and Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarships (MATS) schemes).
• Visits to other universities, either to attend courses or to consult with academics.
• Data gathering or analysis performed by professional fieldwork companies or private individuals on behalf of the applicant.
• Applicants undertaking collaborative projects are referred to the Melbourne Research Research Grants and Contracts web page for further information on collaborative grant schemes.
• Living expenses, including accommodation (are expected to be covered by either the applicant's scholarship or other sources).
• Visas.
• The provision of mail costs, equipment, and consumables (eg. tapes and batteries) is the responsibility of the candidate and/or the school (in addition to its 30% contribution to the grant).

The application must include the following components:

• the thesis proposal
• the fieldwork methodology
• a timetable for fieldwork travel (including timetable of expenditure)
• a budget for planned fieldwork
  • the budget must be an itemised and justified budget
  • correspondence from the school to the candidate advising on the total allocation to the fieldwork program from the school must accompany the application submitted to the Faculty.

Applications from the School of Social and Environmental Inquiry, School  of Languages and Linguistics, Archaeology (School of Historical  Studies) and the Asia Institute must also include an itemised and justified budget and correspondence from the school to the candidate advising on the total allocation from the School.

All applications will be considered on their merits.

Grants will be approved subject to eligibility and the availability of funding.

Closing Dates

Applications from candidates in the four schools that have special fieldwork requirements (as nominated above) should consult their schools for application closing dates.

For all direct applications to Faculty, there are two rounds per year:

• 1 March for travel between April and September
• 1 September for travel between October and March

Applications lodged directly to Faculty are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Retrospective Applications

Out-of-round applications will not be considered but will be accepted retrospectively and assessed as such during the following round of applications.

Overseas Travel to High Risk Destinations

Approval of all PhD Fieldwork will be contingent upon the current Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advice in respect to level of safety of the overseas destination.

Applications which include travel to a destination issued with a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warning must also include a request for "Special Circumstances Approval." All such requests will be referred to the Academic Registrar and must be accompanied with documentation of the grounds for this special consideration. The University's "Overseas Travel Policy" and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advice can provide more information.

Candidates who intend to conduct any form of fieldwork involving human subjects that requires review by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or its Sub-Committees must attach evidence of ethics approval as part of their application.

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.

All applications, so long as they meet the eligibility criteria for the grant, will be "Conditionally Approved" in the first instance. A copy of the complete application, including Cover Sheet, Guideline form form Off Campus Travel Work Policy form, Special Circumstances Approval (if appropriate), final Travel Itinerary, Budget Proforma and Contact Details overseas must be forwarded to Faculty before departure.

Incomplete applications may result in a delay in assessment of your application.

Arts and Music Student Centre

Rm 104 (Ground Floor) Old Arts Building
T: +61 3 8344 5321/+61 3 8344 6395
F: +61 3 9347 0424
Email: arts-research@unimelb.edu.au