PGSA Academic Conference Grant

Purpose

The purpose of the PGSA Academic Conference Grant is to provide current Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington postgraduate research students with funds to aid presenting research at international academic conferences (note that this includes international academic conferences hosted in New Zealand and includes domestic New Zealand conferences on indigenous Māori topics).

History

In 2010, the PGSA began offering travel grants for research students to gain experience presenting at international conferences (at the time they were called “PGSA Travel Grants”).

In 2015, the PGSA reconfigured the PGSA Travel Grants to ensure improved equitable distribution of funds and increased numbers of successful candidates.

In 2019, the PGSA restructured the PGSA Academic Conference Grants as untagged travel grants to provide successful candidates the freedom to utilise the funds to cover costs associated with international conference attendance.

In July 2020, the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, eligibility was temporarily extended to include domestic and remote/virtual academic conferences.

In 2024, the temporary extension to domestic conferences was rescinded except for international academic conferences hosted in New Zealand and domestic New Zealand conferences on indigenous Māori topics; furthermore, the temporary extension to remote/virtual conferences was rescinded.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must be:

• Presenting their research – as an oral presentation or a poster – at a conference, with the restriction to the types of conference specified in the Purpose above.
• Current postgraduate students enrolled in thesis research at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.

Selection criteria

• The applicant must be either a current masters student completing a thesis or a current doctoral student at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.
• The applicant must have submitted their thesis proposal and have had it approved (for PhD students, this means that they have moved to full registration).
• Applicants must be a member of  the Victoria University Postgraduate Students' Association.
• Applicants must be first author on a paper or poster that is to be presented at the conference.
• The topic of the paper or poster being presented must be aligned with the applicant’s thesis.
• The applicant must be supported by their supervisor.
• Māori and Pasifika students are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Preference will be given to applicants who:
  • are in the final year of a doctorate,
  • have not previously been awarded support for conference travel,
  • are giving an oral presentation.
• Applicants must be applying for an untagged grant with the value of up to $1,000 (subject to funds available) to cover conference travel-related costs only; and either be (a) applying for a conference occurring at most three (3) months prior to the date of application; or (b) applying for a conference due to occur within ten (10) months of the date of application.

Application process

A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.

Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.

Scholarship specific documentation

• A personal statement (no more than 1000 words) detailing the conference and its significance to the applicant's academic development, including a breakdown of the costs that the grant will cover, and enclosing proof of conference acceptance e.g., email advice of paper acceptance.
• A letter of support from a current Supervisor which includes confirmation that the accepted paper or poster is aligned with the student’s research degree (to be requested via the online application)

Selection process

The PGSA Executive shall shortlist applications for consideration by the University Research Scholarships Committee. If additional information or clarification is needed, the applicant will be contacted by the Scholarships Office.

Additional information

Recipients must ensure that they are registered members of the PGSA. In accepting a PGSA Academic Conference Grant, recipients are required to:

1. submit a short report to the PGSA, of 150 words on their paper and the conference they attended.
2. meet the requirement above within 8 months of the grant approval date or no later than 1 month after attending the conference, whichever is later, but also meet the requirement above before formally completing their qualification.

Failure to comply with these rules may result in the recipient being asked to repay the grant.

Regulations and conditions

1. A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4:30pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
2. All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being fully enrolled in a full-year programme (full-time will be at the level of points considered by Studylink as full-time) within the stipulated criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
3. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
4. The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other awards.
5. Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
6. Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
7. At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.

Contact

Postgraduate Students' Association
Victoria University of Wellington
Room 203, Level 2, Student Union Building
Phone: (04) 463 6973
Email: pgsa@vuw.ac.nz
Website: http://www.vuwpgsa.ac.nz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vuw.pgsa

Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04