Robb Scholarship for Regional Development

Background

The Robb Scholarship for Regional Development is co-funded by Octopus Investments, MAAS Group and Robb College Foundation.

Octopus Investments Pty Ltd is the investment arm of Octopus Group which is based in UK, one of the largest renewable energy project owners and managers in the world. They have commenced their projects in Australia with one of the largest solar farms at Darlington Point in NSW and are rapidly growing the renewable energy capability of Australia.

MAAS Group Ltd is a rapidly growing construction materials, equipment and services provider with diversified exposures across the civil, infrastructure, mining and property development markets. Based in Dubbo NSW, MAAS Group operates across Australia, with a strong presence in regional areas and a growing international presence.

Robb College Foundation Association is funding education and research at Robb College UNE for the betterment of rural enterprise & communities.

Details

Value per annum:up to $6,000
Payment method:Residential fee account
Number available in 2024:1
Duration:1 year
Study Mode:On campus 
Study Load:Full-time (48 credit points per academic year)
Course Type:Bachelor degree including Honours
New/Continuing Students:Continuing students in their 3rd or final year of study (completed minimum 96 credit points), including Honours
Residential Requirement:The recipient is required to reside in Robb College for the duration of the scholarship
Application Closing Date:1 January 2024

Who can apply?
  1. Open to Australian citizens, permanent residents and international students
  2. Student and Course Requirement: Open to continuing UNE students enrolled/enrolling in the 3rd of final year (including Honours) of their Bachelor degree
  3. Academic Requirement: Continuing students must have achieved a minimum GPA of 4.0 in their course to date.
  4. Living in College: The applicant is living in Robb College at UNE for the duration of the scholarship (see Conditions for specific requirements of this scholarship).
Supporting documentation / Required information 

The listed documents are acceptable forms of evidence in each of the following criteria:

  1. Statement of Case:
    1. Why are you studying your chosen course and what are your career aspirations?
    2. Tell us about your personal strengths, leadership, and community activities you are involved in. How have you used them to make a difference in the lives of others?
    3. What impact will NOT receiving the scholarship have on your studies?
    4. What special conditions or obstacles have you overcome in your path to study? e.g. financial, geographic, cultural, or other disadvantage. Tell us what you have done to address your situation, in light of the challenges you outlined.
Selection criteria (in order of importance) 

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of (in order):

Academic Merit

Then

Statement of Case.

Notes
  • Preference may be given to applicants who  express a preference for working in regional and/or rural Australia after completing their study.
  • Preference may be given to applicants not in receipt of another scholarship.
  • The scholarship shall be awarded on the recommendation of the Robb College Scholarships Committee and administered by the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team.
  • By applying for this scholarship you, the applicant, permit the University to give some personal details contained in your application to the Committee, who may not be UNE staff. All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  • The Selection Committee’s decision is final.
Conditions

General Conditions

  1. Undergraduate scholarship holders may not hold more than one UNE scholarship (excluding the Betty Fyffe Scholarship) if the combined value is greater than six thousand dollars ($6,000) per annum.
  2. The scholarship is intended for the nominated course and may not be deferred or transferred.
  3. The scholarship is payable into the recipient’s residential fee account in two instalments within 30 days of the Trimester 1, 2 or 3 census dates.
  4. Continuation of the scholarship, if applicable, is subject to:
    1. Achieving a Trimester GPA of at least 4.0. For continuing students, results for Trimester 2 and 3 will be combined for the purpose of calculating eligibility for continuation of the scholarship in Trimester 1 in the second and subsequent years. For Honours, sufficient academic progress as confirmed by a representative of the relevant Faculty.
    2. The student continuing to maintain eligibility in relation to their enrolment status as stipulated by the Scholarship Terms.
    3. Full-time students are expected to complete their course in the minimum period of candidature.
    4. Submission of brief Donor Report upon request each year reporting on progress with their studies and involvement in sporting, cultural and community activities as well as participation in university life, where applicable. In submitting this report, the recipient understands that some of the information and/or personal details contained in each report will be sent to the Donor/Trustee/Committee/School, who may not be UNE staff. All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  5. If you wish to make any significant changes to your enrolment (e.g. change of degree, study mode and/or load) you must notify the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team prior to doing so. If you no longer satisfy the criteria and conditions of the scholarship, you may not retain it.
  6. Any request to vary the terms and/or conditions of the scholarship must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships Committee (in consultation with relevant Donor/Trustee/Committee/School/Head of College).
  7. If at any time during the scholarship term the student is found to have committed behavioural misconduct  in accordance with the University’s Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules, or the Residential College Code of Conduct the scholarship will be terminated and any outstanding payments to be made under the scholarship will not be paid. You may also be required to repay any instalment already received.
  8. The student may be required to attend the annual scholarships donor event if they are invited to do so, and may be asked to participate in activities to promote this scholarship and other scholarships in general, including public speaking, donor liaison, media interviews and photographs.
  9. Some scholarships may affect other government payments (e.g. Centrelink). It is the recipient’s responsibility to seek advice from the relevant government agency.
  10. From time to time minor changes may be required to the administrative conditions of this scholarship. If this occurs recipients will be given advance notice in writing. Donors will also be consulted where appropriate.
  11. Failure to meet the requirements of these Terms and Conditions may lead to the termination of the scholarship and/or your being required to repay any instalment already received.

Enrolment Notes and Definitions

  • Full-time is defined at UNE as an enrolment of 48 credit points in the academic year.
  • Enrolment is required for Trimester 1 and 2 study periods (with Trimester 3 optional), where if there is no active enrolment in these periods and a request for a leave of absence from their scholarship is not made and approved to the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team, the scholarship may be suspended.
  • For full-time scholarships, payments will be made in Trimester 1 and 2 each year provided there is a minimum enrolment of 18 credit points in each period. If fewer than 18 credit points are undertaken in Trimester 1 and/or 2, payments will be deferred to the following Trimester.
  • For 1 year duration scholarships or for continuing scholarship recipients in the final year of their scholarship, the second payment will only be made when the 48 credit points (or the last remaining units for that course) requirement for that academic year has been satisfied.
  • For on campus required scholarships, students must be enrolled in all on campus units, subject to availability, not just registered in ON mode. Students unsure about this should contact the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team to discuss their situation.
  • If a problem presents in meeting the above requirements, the recipient must liaise with the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team to discuss their specific situation.

Scholarship Specific Conditions

  1. The recipient is required to reside in Robb College at UNE for the duration of the scholarship.
  2. If the recipient is also awarded the UNE Residential Financial Assistance Scholarship and/or is receiving reduced residential fees due to holding a leadership, academic mentor or other College office, the scholarship amount may be reduced to ensure the combined scholarship payments do not exceed the College fees for that academic year.
How to apply

Applications for the Robb Scholarship for Regional Development should be made through the Application for University of New England Scholarship/s Form.

Only complete applications will be processed, so please ensure that you have submitted all required documentation with your application. The Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team will notify you via email when your application has been processed.

Acceptance

In accepting the Robb Scholarship for Regional Development, the recipient acknowledges that they have read, understand and accept the Terms and Conditions specified above.