Henry and Rachael Ackman Travelling Scholarships

About

Donor: The late Emanuel Percy Ackman, bequeathed to the University in 1965, the income of his residuary estate in perpetuity 'in the foundation of Travelling Scholarships in Medicine and Architecture’ to be known as ‘The Henry and Rachael Ackman Travelling Scholarships’ and in the foundation of Lectures to be known as ‘The Minnie Ackman Lectures’.

As a result of a generous bequest to the University of Melbourne, the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences is able to offer research travel awards, known as The Henry and Rachael Ackman Travelling Scholarships, to eligible early career researchers and graduate researchers from the Department of Paediatrics and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Newborn Health.

Benefits

Up to $5,000 for Graduate Research students

Up to $10,000 for Early Career Researchers

*Graduate Research student applicants will typically be awarded up to $4,000 and Early Career Researchers up to $7,500. Where circumstances require it a maximum value of $5,000 AUD for Graduate Research students and $10,000 for Early Career Researchers may be requested, however higher requested levels of funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis and granted at the discretion of the allocation committee.

For Round 1, 2024 funding round payments for travel previously undertaken will be considered for travel occurring after 01 February 2024.

_{Disclaimer: The benefit amount for this award is approximate. It will be confirmed at the time of awarding and determined by the committee according to the terms of the award.}

Eligibility

This scheme supports overseas research travel only (i.e. outside of Australia). The types of activities that are eligible for funding under this scheme include conference travel (airfare, registration and accommodation), research training and study tours at prominent overseas institutions, and other international research career development opportunities. Priority will be given to applicants who have relatively firm travel arrangements in place.

Two different categories of award will be offered:
1. Graduate Research (GR) students
2. Early Career Researchers (ECRs)

GR awards are designed to support single-year travel projects (i.e. travel activities that commence and conclude within a period of 12 months). This travel should commence within 12 months of notification of award. ECR awards can support either single or multi-year travel projects of up to 3 years’ duration. For ECR awards, a major component of the travel activities should occur within 12 months of notification of award.

An applicant may only ever be awarded one Ackman Travelling Scholarship within each category – that is, an individual may only receive one GR award and one ECR award. Previous recipients of an Ackman Travelling Scholarship are ineligible to reapply within the same category in which they were previously awarded funding. Only one application can be submitted per individual per year.

In Round 1, 2024 round funding may be made available retroactively. Applications for eligible travel expenses incurred after 01/02/2024 may be considered, at the discretion of the committee.

Please note: While the maximum value that can be requested for a single award (in either category) is outlined below, each Department has the right – based upon their priorities and the number of applications they receive – to award less funding than what was originally requested in the application.

Selection

Applications will be assessed by each Department, and a recommendation made to the Associate Dean Research.

Application

Ackman Travel Scholarship Funding Guidelines.

Please complete the application form via SmartyGrants.

Enquiries

Please contact Tim Crockett, Senior Research Initiatives Coordinator, Research Support & Evaluation team, via mdhs-grants@unimelb.edu.au

More information

Each recipient of an Ackman Travelling Scholarship  must present a full account of the overseas research activities that were supported through this travel award – this is to be known as “The Minnie Ackman Lecture”.

The recipient is also required to provide an annual progress and/or final written report of no more than 500 words. These reports should outline the international travel arrangements made possible through the scholarship, what has been gained from the experience thus far and what follow on activities and outcomes are anticipated as a result of the travel, in addition to a financial summary.  These are due on the annual anniversary of your award date and should be sent to: mdhs-grants@unimelb.edu.au

The report template can be accessed by clicking here

Recipients are required to acknowledge the support of the donor or trust on publications and in the thesis, provide a progress report or be asked to attend thank you, award, prize-giving or other ceremonies to acknowledge the generous support that has made the scholarship possible.