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1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student to undertake research funded by an ARC Grant headed by Buhui Qiu within the University of Sydney Business School.

b. The project will develop an innovative machine-learning-based approach for measuring, monitoring and evaluating bank lending activities and risk disclosures to take advantage of the big data available. It will use multidimensional data to produce more relevant metrics for assessing bank risks and risk disclosure quality and apply them in regulatory policy evaluation. The project findings will significantly advance the knowledge on mitigating banking misconduct. They will also equip regulatory authorities with an efficient monitoring tool and an early-warning device to promote better lending and risk disclosure practices, and foster a more transparent and stable financial system to support financial intermediation in Australia and worldwide.

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a PhD within the University of Sydney Business School at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into the ARC project mentioned above.

c. Applicants must have Dr Buhui Qiu and Dr Eliza Wu on their supervisory team within University of Sydney Business School.

d. Applicants must hold an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class upper) or a Master's degree in a related field with a substantial research component.

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit,

II. curriculum vitae,

III. a preliminary research proposal which demonstrates an understanding of, and interest in, the area of research

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship by the nomination of a selection committee consisting of the Buhui Qiu, an academic supervisor, and the Director of Doctoral Studies in the University of Sydney Business School.

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $35,000 per annum (fixed rate) for three years subject to satisfactory academic performance. An extension of 6 months is possible upon approval from Associate Dean Research.

b. The Scholarship will provide academic course fee for 12 research periods for a PhD student, subject to satisfactory academic performance. An extension of 2 research periods is possible upon approval from Associate Dean Research.

c. The Scholarship is for commencement in relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research.

d. No other amount is payable.

e. The Scholarship is subject to availability of funding.

a. Progression is subject to passing the annual progress evaluation, maintaining satisfactory progress in coursework and completing school research milestones.

a. Holders of the Scholarship receive up to 20 working days recreation leave every 12 months of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. Any unused leave when the Scholarship is terminated or completed will be forfeited. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading. The supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. Holders of the Scholarship may take up to 10 working days sick leave every 12 months of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with carer responsibility may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carers leave on presentation of medical certificate/s. Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

c. Holders of the Scholarship may receive additional paid sick leave of up to a total of twelve weeks during their scholarship for medically substantiated periods of illness where the student has insufficient sick leave entitlements available under Clause 6b above. Students applying for additional paid sick leave must do so at the start of absence or as soon as practicable. Periods of additional paid sick leave are added to the duration of the Scholarship.

d. Once female holders of the Scholarship have completed twelve months of their award, they are entitled to a maximum of twelve weeks paid maternity leave during the tenure of the Scholarship if she is the person who gives birth. Students applying for paid maternity leave should do so at least four weeks prior to the expected date of confinement. Periods of paid maternity leave are added to the duration of the Scholarship. Holders of the Scholarship who have not completed twelve months of their award may access unpaid maternity leave through the suspension provisions.

e. For non-birth giving scholarship holders, upon completed twelve months of their award, they are entitled to a maximum of 5 days paid paternity leave. Periods of paid paternity leave are added to the duration of the Scholarship. Holders of the Scholarship who have not completed twelve months of their award may access unpaid maternity leave through the suspension provisions.

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

a. Holders of the Scholarship cannot suspend their award within the first six months.

b. Subject to relevant VISA conditions, holders of the Scholarship may apply for up to 4 research periods suspension for any reason during the tenure of their award. Periods of suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval to suspend must be given by the Head of the Department/School concerned. Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

c. Subject to relevant VISA conditions, female holders of the Scholarship are entitled to up to an additional 4 research periods suspension (less any period of paid maternity leave) following each birth. The Scholarship holder should apply for the suspension within four weeks of the expected date of confinement.

d. Whenever an international student suspends his/her studies the university must report the suspension to immigration authorities and the student may be obliged to return to their home country for the duration of the suspension. Therefore, if an international student wishes to remain in Australia during a period of suspension of studies, they must contact the closest Australian immigration office within 28 days of the approval notice to seek approval to remain in Australia during the suspension.

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

a. The Scholarship will terminate:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the student from their research degree,

II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,

III. if the student ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,

IV. upon the student having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,

V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,

VI. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or

VII. If the student ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,

II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or

III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the students application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.

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The Machine Learning and Big Data in Risk Evaluation PhD Scholarship - News - The University of Sydney