Cowan Grant Bursaries (Cairns campus), James Cook University

The Cowan Grant is a bursary which was established in 2008.

The value of the grant is for the amount of $8,000 and is to assist a student/s with financial support to manage general education or travel expenses associated with studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree within the School of Marine and Tropical Biology at JCU Cairns.

The grant will be available to full-time or part-time undergraduate or postgraduate student/s, who are able to demonstrate financial need and commenced in their current program of study delivered by the School of Marine and Tropical Biology at JCU Cairns within 2 years of leaving high school.

This grant was developed in consultation with The Faculty of Science and Engineering through the School of Marine & Tropical Biology at the Cairns Campus of James Cook University, together with the Directorate of Engagement and the Cowan Grant Trust.

The Cowan Grant Trust was founded by Marnie Cowan in 1994. Marnie and her husband Bill believed in the benefits of a tertiary education, and wanted to help students financially. The Cowan Grant is a private, non-government fund which gives some financial support to students. Thank you to the generosity of the Cowan Trust, which was established to support the role of education in building stronger communities.

Closing Date: 31 August each year.

Application form

Please ensure to read the scholarship details prior to downloading the application form.

The value of the grant shall be for an initial amount of $8,000 to be awarded for either one of the following options:

• General Education Expenses Grant

• Undergraduate Degree Travel Grant

• Postgraduate Degree Travel Grant

The grant will be awarded and determined by the absolute discretion of a selection committee.

The process and grant shall be subject to JCU policies and requirements.

The name of the grant to be awarded shall be known as the Cowan Grant.

• To provide funding support for a part-time or full-time student who commenced their study within 2 years of leaving high school and is able to demonstrate financial need.

• Available to a student(s) undertaking either an undergraduate or postgraduate degree within the School of Marine and Tropical Biology at JCU Cairns.

• Items included in such support are general living expenses, reference books, equipment such as special computer hardware and software, photocopying, interlibrary loans, telephone charges, travel expenses and other similar items of expenditure that can be reasonably expected whilst undertaking study

• Preference may be given to rural and remote students.

• Valued at $8,000.

• To provide funding support to a 2nd or 3rd year part time or full time student (s) who commenced in their current program of study within 2 years of leaving high school and is able to demonstrate financial disadvantage.

• To assist a research student (s) enrolled at JCU Cairns in a course delivered by the School of Marine and Tropical Biology.

• Items included in such support are costs associated with undertaking fieldwork for a research project as part of their undergraduate degree program.

• Must be studying within the areas of sustainability, biodiversity, conservation and tropical environments.

• Preference may be given to rural and remote students.

• Valued at $8,000.

• To provide support to a postgraduate student (s) who is studying part time or full time and is able to demonstrate financial need.

• To assist a research student(s) enrolled at JCU Cairns in a course delivered by the School of Marine and Tropical Biology.

• Items included in such support are costs associated with undertaking fieldwork for a research project as part of their postgraduate degree program.

• Must be studying within the areas of sustainability, biodiversity, conservation and tropical environments.

• Preference may be given to rural and remote students.

• Valued at $8,000.

The Selection Committee will, in the exercise of their absolute discretion, afford consideration to the following criteria:

• academic merit or potential;

• the character of the candidate for the award; and

• any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate, including whether the candidate has, or will receive any other scholarship assistance during their studies.

Applications must be submitted on the official form no later than 31 August each year.

Applicants will attach to the official form, where appropriate:

• a certified copy of their academic record from James Cook University and any other academic institution; and

• no more than three references attesting to the applicant’s good character and/or suitability to receive the scholarship; and

• their curriculum vitae; and

• any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion as to the merit of the application.

Applications submitted without the relevant documentation will not be considered.

The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant’s good character and suitability to receive the scholarship, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant’s academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the academic staff of this University or any other academic institution.

The award of the Grant shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee reserves the right:

• not to award a Grant in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no candidate of sufficient merit to warrant an award;

• to award a Grant for a period of one or more years; and

• to extend a Grant for the existing recipient.

The Selection Committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.

The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the Grant.

If the holder of an award fails to comply with any of these provisions or any provision relating to a particular award or with any conditions imposed under these provisions or the provisions relating to a particular award, the Council may terminate the award or withhold any further emoluments or take such action as it may deem necessary to enforce compliance with the provision or performance of the condition by the holder.

The recipient of the Grant shall continue to receive the award on condition that in the opinion of the Selection Committee, and on advice from the Head of the School in which the recipient is undertaking a course of study, that the recipient maintains a satisfactory level of performance. Where it is determined that the level of academic performance is unsatisfactory the Selection Committee may in its absolute discretion cancel the award or suspend the award for such time as it may determine and/or until academic performance is considered satisfactory. Where an award is cancelled pursuant to the provisions to this clause it may, for the remainder of the term for which the original holder would have been entitled to it, be awarded to another suitable candidate.

In the event the Selection Committee cancels or suspends the student’s grant, at the request of the student within 14 days, a review of the decision shall be undertaken by an Appeal Panel. The Grant shall not be awarded to another suitable candidate before the Appeal Panel makes a final decision on the review. The Appeal Panel shall comprise the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or nominee (Chair); two staff members of the appropriate Faculty appointed by the Executive Dean; and either the Student Association Academic Support Services Coordinator or the Student Association Welfare Coordinator. The staff members appointed by the Executive Dean shall have no association with the teaching of the subject(s) in which the unsatisfactory academic performance is alleged. Unless the circumstances are exceptional, the Appeal Panel shall consider only: the student’s grounds for requesting the review; any documents relevant to the finding of unsatisfactory academic performance; and the reasons for the decision by the Selection Committee.

The requirements of the Grant shall not make the awarding of the Grant conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.

In the event that the recipient suspends their study, the Grant shall be suspended. The term of the Grant with the Cowan Grant Trust shall be for a maximum of 3 years at which time it will be reviewed by the Selection Committee and can be terminated by either party.

The scholarship shall be administered by School of Marine and Tropical Biology at Cairns, on behalf of the Selection Committee.

The funds of the scholarship shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the officer of the University charged with administering the scholarship.

Where there is a fund maintaining the award, the annual value of the award shall be approximately equal to the annual income from the fund.

Income from a fund not expended on the award which it maintains, shall be added to and become part of the fund.

Moneys payable in any year to the holder of an award shall be paid at such times and in such amounts as the Registrar deems appropriate to the circumstance of each case.

Where a special provision relating to an award provides for the award to be paid in cash, the vice-chancellor may direct that in lieu of cash the award to be made in whole or in part in the form of books, instruments or equipment necessary to the awardee’s course to a value approximately equal to the stated amount of the award, unless the terms of any trust or the conditions laid down by the donor of the award expressly provide otherwise.

Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.

Unless there appears a contrary intention in these rules:

• "academic institution" includes University, Technical and Further Education College, private education provider, secondary school and any other institution that undertakes teaching or research;

• "academic record" means the official records of the University, or any other academic institution that details the levels of academic achievement attained by the person whose academic record it is;

• "award" means the scholarship;

• "awardee" means the recipient of a scholarship; and

• "candidate" means the person applying for the scholarship

Scholarships for the purpose of these guidelines exclude scholarships for project and stipend support of research higher degree students.