This instrument is the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) Amendment (No. 1) 2020.

(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provisions	Commencement	Date/Details
The whole of this instrument	The day after this instrument is registered

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

4 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017

1 Section i.v

Amend the following definitions:

the department means the Commonwealth department responsible for administering the Act

the Minister means the Minister responsible for administering the Act

2 Paragraph 1.4.15

In paragraph 1.4.15 replace the words “for the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Grant Years” with “for the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Grant Years”

3 Paragraph 1.4.20

Repeal existing paragraph 1.4.20 and substitute new paragraph 1.4.20:

1.4.20 Grant amounts for 2022 and future Grant Years

Subject to any adjustment that may be made under paragraph 1.4.30, for the 2022 and future Grant Years, each HEP’s RTP Grant Amount is equal to that HEP’s Basic Grant Amount calculated in paragraph 1.4.5.

4 After paragraph 1.6.5

Insert new paragraph 1.6.6:

1.6.6 COVID-19 extension

A HEP may approve an extension of up to six months to the Period of Support specified in paragraph 1.6.5 if a student is otherwise making satisfactory progress and the grounds for the extension relate to the student’s course of study being materially adversely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.

The following provisions apply to COVID-19 extensions:

(1) Eligibility is limited to students that were either enrolled in a course of study:

a) as at 1 March 2020; or

b) prior to 1 March 2020 and on a suspension or leave of absence as at 1 March 2020.

(2) All extensions must be approved by a HEP by no later than 31 December 2022.

(3) A HEP must inform a student in writing of the approval of an extension and the period of the extension.

(4) The maximum period of six months applies to students undertaking either full‑time student load or part-time student load.

5 Subparagraphs 1.6.45 (10) and 1.6.45 (11)

Repeal existing subparagraphs 1.6.45 (10) and 1.6.45 (11) and insert new subparagraphs:

(10) the grievance and review procedures for HDR students;

(11) arrangements for optional industry placements, research internships, professional practice activities or other similar enrichment activities undertaken as part of a HDR, including information on any impacts on duration in relation to subparagraph 1.6.5 and RTP Stipend rates in relation to subparagraph 1.6.10; and

(12) provisions that identify the circumstances and procedures in which a HEP will grant a COVID-19 extension in relation to paragraph 1.6.6.