A H Pollard PhD Scholarship 2012 The Council of the Actuaries Institute founded a scholarship in 2002 in honour of the late Professor Alfred Hurlstone Pollard. Professor Pollard is widely acknowledged as one of Australia s most outstanding actuaries, having made particularly important contributions in the field of actuarial education. Recognising the financial hardship Professor Pollard had to endure to gain his own PhD, the Scholarship is intended to provide assistance to a member of the Institute who is studying for a PhD degree in an actuarial or related field. The Actuaries Institute invites applications for the 2012 Pollard Scholarship. Applicants who have applied previously are welcome to apply again. This includes present holders of the Scholarship whose tenure does not extend beyond the end of 2012. The Pollard Scholarship may take one of two forms: 1. a PhD supplementary scholarship of up to $8,000 p.a., for a maximum of three years, or 2. a travelling scholarship of up to a total of $8,000 available to a PhD student. Normally, only one form of scholarship will be awarded at any time. It is desirable that the applicant has already been awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award or similar scholarship, such as an internal university scholarship. To be eligible for a Scholarship, an applicant must be: a permanent resident of Australia, a Member of the Actuaries Institute, enrolled for a PhD degree in a recognised university in any country, and undertaking a PhD course relevant to actuaries or the actuarial profession. The conditions of award are attached. There is no formal application form. Applicants should supply: full details of their academic records from their undergraduate or other degree, including details of any prizes or awards won a written reference from, and contact details for, their honours/masters degree supervisor or other academic familiar with their previous studies and able to comment on their research potential details of any published papers an outline of their intended PhD research where relevant, a letter of support from their current PhD supervisor a standard c.v. including details of outside interests an indication of which form of scholarship the application is for (form 1 or form 2, described above). Applications must be submitted by 21 September 2012. The outcome will be notified in early 2013. Applications should be sent to: Jennifer Burns University Relationship Manager Actuaries Insitute Level 7, Challis House, 4 Martin Place E: jennifer.burns@actuaries.asn.au Sydney NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA T: + 61 2 9233 3466 F: +61 2 9233 3446 A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 1 of 8
A H Pollard Supplementary PhD Scholarship (Form 1) Conditions of Award A PhD supplementary scholarship of up to $8,000 pa, for a maximum of three years, may be awarded by the Actuaries Institute to a PhD student in a field that is relevant to actuaries or the actuarial profession. 1. Eligibility To be eligible for a Scholarship, an applicant must be: a permanent resident of Australia, a Member of the Actuaries Institute, enrolled for a PhD degree in a recognised university in any country, and undertaking a PhD course relevant to actuaries or the actuarial profession. The Scholarship is awarded on the condition that the student is enrolled in a PhD course. It is desirable that the applicant has already been awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award, an Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry), or a similar scholarship such as an internal university scholarship. 2. Tenure 2.1 Commencement The Scholarship stipend will normally become payable from the date on which the award is made by the Actuaries Institute, provided the student has commenced PhD research. Otherwise the commencement date will be negotiated by the student and the Institute. 2.2 Duration The duration of the Scholarship will the period stipulated in the letter of offer. This will normally be one year. In no case will the Scholarship continue for longer than three years. 2.3 Suspension A Scholar who becomes unable to pursue the PhD course should apply to have the Scholarship suspended. Suspension provisions are: The Actuaries Institute may approve a suspension on reasonable grounds, for a period that does not exceed 12 months during the tenure of the Scholarship. An application to suspend for more than twelve months will only be considered if there are exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the Scholar. 2.4 Termination A Scholarship terminates on submission of the thesis for examination, or on the expiry date of the Scholarship, or on the date on which the Scholar ceases to attend the university (other than for approved absences), whichever is the earliest. The Institute may terminate a Scholarship before this time if the Scholar does not fulfil his/her A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 2 of 8
3. Stipend obligations or if, in the opinion of the Actuaries Institute, the Scholar has not made satisfactory progress in the approved course. A stipend, as set out in the letter of offer is payable twice yearly in arrears. The stipend is paid directly to the Scholar by the Actuaries Institute. 4. Publication and reporting requirements At least one paper based on the Scholar s research supported by the Scholarship is either to be submitted for publication in the Australian Actuarial Journal or to be presented at an Institute convention or forum. The Scholar is required to provide a progress report to the Actuaries Institute at six monthly intervals until completion of the Scholarship. This progress report is to include a brief covering letter from the Scholar s supervisor (or, if there is a supervisory panel, the principal supervisor) and should include an explanation of progress made over the past six months. 5. Applications Applications for the Scholarship are invited in June, for tenure in the following calendar year. Applicants must include: full details of their academic records from their undergraduate or other degree, including details of any prizes or awards won a written reference from, and contact details for, their honours/masters degree supervisor or other academic familiar with their previous studies and able to comment on their research potential details of any published papers an outline of their intended PhD research where relevant, a letter of support from their current PhD supervisor a standard c.v. including details of outside interests. A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 3 of 8
A H Pollard Travelling PhD Scholarship (Form 2) Conditions of Award A travelling scholarship of up to a total of $8,000 may be awarded by the Actuaries Institute to a PhD student to assist with overseas travel. 1. Purpose To permit students to travel overseas to attend a major international conference or summer school and/or to visit and work at a top institution to gain valuable research experience. The activities supported must be directly relevant to the PhD topic. Emphasis is on enriching and diversifying the Travelling Scholar s experience. 2. Duration The duration of the Travelling Scholarship will be the period stated in the letter of offer. The usual duration is up to three months. 3. Eligibility To be eligible for a Travelling Scholarship, an applicant must be: a permanent resident of Australia, a Member of the Actuaries Institute, enrolled for a PhD degree in a recognised university, and have been thus enrolled for a minimum of six months undertaking a PhD course relevant to actuaries or the actuarial profession. It is desirable that an applicant has an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or similar scholarship such as an internal university scholarship. 4. Value Up to $8,000 towards travel, accommodation and living expenses. 5. Publication and reporting requirements The Travelling Scholar is required to provide the Actuaries Institute with a detailed report on the activities pursued with support from the Scholarship, and to present at least one paper at an Actuaries Institute convention or forum, based on knowledge/understanding coming from those activities. A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 4 of 8
6. Applications Applications for the Scholarship will be invited in June, for tenure in the following calendar year. Applicants must include: a well-defined proposal, accompanied by a letter of support from their current PhD supervisor, including a budget and an explanation of how they would benefit from the experience full details of their academic records from their undergraduate or other degree, including details of any prizes or awards won a written reference from, and contact details for, their honours/masters degree supervisor or other academic (other than the present PhD supervisor) familiar with their research and able to comment on their research potential details of any published papers a description of their PhD research a standard c.v. including details of his/her outside interests if the proposal involves a period of time at another institution, evidence of the host institution's acceptance and the support it will be providing. A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 5 of 8
Australian Actuarial PhD Scholarships (Including the A H Pollard PhD Scholarship) Application Form (To be completed with reference to conditions of award.) Part A: Personal details Full name: Gender: Male Female Australian citizen? Yes No If not, permanent Australian resident? Yes No Date of birth: Contact details: Part B: Proposed project Email: Telephone number(s): University at which PhD will be undertaken (include department/centre/school): Proposed supervisor (if known): 100-word summary of proposed project: Part C: Other scholarship(s) held, or to be taken up Name or description of scholarship(s): Please attach documentary evidence of receipt of this/these scholarship(s), including evidence of the stipend payable. A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 6 of 8
Part D: Qualifications and experience Summary of academic record: Please attach certified copy of official transcript(s). Any academic prizes or awards received: Current study (if any): Summary of any research experience (e.g. during honours year or masters degree): Summary of any other relevant experience (e.g. in employment either fulltime or vacation/ job placement experience): Part E: Any other considerations in support of your candidature Describe, in no more than 100 words, any other salient factors supporting your application: Part F: Referees Provide contact details for at least two referees who have agreed to support your candidature and are in a position to advise on your suitability for undertaking research at the PhD level: Referee 1: Name: Position (including employer): Email: Telephone number(s): Context in which referee has become familiar with your work & capabilities (e.g. honours supervisor, supervisor in job): A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 7 of 8
Referee 2: Name: Position (including employer): Email: Telephone number(s): Context in which referee has become familiar with your work & capabilities (e.g. honours supervisor, supervisor in job): Referee 3 [optional]: Name: Position (including employer): Email: Telephone number(s): Context in which referee has become familiar with your work & capabilities (e.g. honours supervisor, supervisor in job): Part G: Applications/enquiries Address for applications: Jennifer.Burns@actuaries.asn.au Applications close 21 September 2012. Enquiries: Jennifer Burns Actuaries Institute Jennifer.Burns@actuaries.asn.au (02) 9233 3466 A H Pollard Scholarship 2012 Page 8 of 8