faculty of arts and social sciences

higher degree research student survival guide

“I’m a real advocate of social inclusion and I’m interested in trying to get through to kids from populations that wouldn’t be at university traditionally.”

Margaret BOulOsPHD CANDIDATE, SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL POLICY

contents

02 general infOrMatiOn02 Welcome message from the Dean03 Before you begin

04 YOur rights and respOnsiBilities04 Policies setting out your rights and responsibilities05 University policies — postgraduate research06 Other resources to ensure your time with us is a safe and positive one

07 research resOurces 07 The Postgraduate Arts Research Centres (PGARCs)08 Library services08 Writing support08 Scholarships and other funding opportunities09 Resources for international students

10 Managing YOur candidature10 Workload expectations10 Annual progress reviews11 Completion dates11 Human ethics approval12 Ethics guide for students13 Teaching and presenting in your department

14 Managing YOur thesis15 Faculty completion guidelines 15 Thesis submission and examination16 What happens after submission?

17 universitY services

19 students’ perspectives19 Study tips20 Studying from afar21 Hints and tips for conference papers and presentations23 Publishing24 Managing your health while studying

2 higher degree research student survival guide

Welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. We are delighted you have chosen to join us. For over 160 years, the Faculty has been home to outstanding research and teaching in the humanities and social sciences. We are deeply committed to the fundamental value of basic research in our disciplines and to disseminating knowledge for the public good.

You are joining one of the leading faculties of its kind in the world, with an outstanding reputation for its teaching and research in our disciplines. You will also be joining a diverse and dynamic academic community, home to more than 600 higher degree research students from around the world and more than 500 academic and administrative staff. We are particularly committed to providing you with the kind of intellectual community and support that will hopefully enable you to realize your ambitions in embarking on your degree. This includes a renewed emphasis on providing you with the training and opportunities you need to produce work of the highest quality, as well as prepare you for life after university.

Research students are, in many ways, the lifeblood of our disciplines. You push hard against the boundaries of existing methodologies and knowledge. And you push us to answer your challenging questions – and more often than not, when we can’t answer them, to work with us to find new answers (and ask better questions!).

The academic and administrative staff in the Faculty are here to help. Please do not hesitate to get in touch whenever you have a question or concern of any kind.

Best wishes for your studies at the University of Sydney.

professor duncan ivison dean, faculty of arts and social sciences university of sydney

Professor Duncan Ivison Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

WelcOMe Message frOM the dean

3faculty of arts and social sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Office

is located in the Quadrangle, A14

BefOre YOu Begin WHAT DO I NEED TO DO FIRST? WHO DO I NEED TO CONTACT TO GET STARTED?

Following enrolment in your higher degree by research award course, you should contact your thesis Supervisor to organise a regular meeting and research milestones schedule, and your department’s Postgraduate Research Coordinator to determine what departmental requirements you will need to follow.

YOur supervisOr

Please refer to your letter of offer to ensure you know who has been appointed your supervisor. Your supervisor should be your first point of contact for any enquiries regarding your studies and candidature. Get in touch with them as early as you can.

universitY iMpOrtant dates

sydney.edu.au/about/dates

facultY Office staff

sydney.edu.au/arts/about/contact_us.shtml

departMental/schOOl pg research cOOrdinatOrs and Other staff

sydney.edu.au/arts/about/departments.shtml

sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/postgraduate_research/coordinators.shtml

unikeY and eMail

When you enrol at Sydney you will be issued with a UniKey and password, which is your personal key to access the online services and electronic facilities provided to students. You will also be issued with a Sydney Mail email account. The University sends official electronic correspondence to your Sydney Mail email account, so it is essential that you check this account regularly or forward emails to an account you do check regularly. To access your inbox, log in using your Sydney Mail email address (which is in the format of yourUniKey@uni.sydney.edu.au). You can access the log-in screen via the quick link on the current students homepage: sydney.edu.au/current_students.

Further information regarding the UniKey and Sydney Mail email account is available at: sydney.edu.au/ict/student

4 higher degree research student survival guide

pOlicies setting Out YOur rights and respOnsiBilities

In this context the University has a number of documents which set out the policies, rules and guidelines. A list of the most relevant policies and guidelines is below. As a contributing member of the University’s community it is essential you familiarise yourself with those relevant to you and your candidature.

The two most important documents to be aware of are:

1. the code of practice for supervision of postgraduate research students. Because postgraduate research candidature involves a commitment from the student, the supervisor and the University which will extend over years, the University has here defined the minimum responsibilities of all parties concerned with the supervision of postgraduate research candidates; and

2. the code of conduct for students, which provides a clear statement of the University’s expectations of students in respect of academic matters and personal behaviour.

There are, however, other guidelines and policies which can help you manage your candidature, research, and supervisory responsibilities. They appear in the table opposite; and while the list may be daunting it is worthwhile to know where to find them and familiarising yourself with them.

These policies can be found on the Graduate Studies Office website at: sydney.edu.au/graduate_studies_office/policies/academic_conduct

and on the Policy Register website at: sydney.edu.au/policies.

There are a range of other policies that you may need to consult and abide by during your candidature. These are summarised in the table on the next page.

The University of Sydney is an institution of higher education at which research and research training of the highest national and international quality are pre-eminent responsibilities. The University has a responsibility to ensure that candidates for higher degrees work in an appropriate intellectual and academic environment.

1. YOur rights and respOnsiBilities

5faculty of arts and social sciences

title Of pOlicY Brief descriptiOn

supervision of higher degree research students policy 2013

This policy presents the University’s approach to supervision and requirements of supervisors in one clear policy. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Code of Practice for Supervision of Postgraduate Research Students and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Research Practice and Guidelines for Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct.

code of practice for supervision of postgraduate research students

This policy outlines the responsibilities of the University, the Faculty and Department, as well as the individual supervisor and student.

university of sydney (higher degree by research) rule 2011

This Rule provides a framework for all higher degrees offered by research at the University, i.e. Masters degrees by research, Doctorates by research, and Higher Doctorates by research.

code of conduct for responsible research practice and guidelines for dealing with allegations of research Misconduct

It is important that all students familiarise themselves with responsible research practice. In this Code, researcher means all staff members and students carrying out research under the imprimatur of the University.

student appeals against academic decisions rule 2006

The purpose of this Rule is to provide a mechanism for the hearing of Student appeals against Academic Decisions. It reflects the University’s commitment to fair academic decision-making.

research principles This document outlines the nine major principles which support research and research training at the University of Sydney

nature of phd Discussion paper on the length and nature of a PhD

intellectual property rule 2002 This Rule relates to the University’s policy on ownership and management of intellectual property

postgraduate: degree of doctor of philosophy policy

This policy details the process and requirements for examination of PhD candidates, including thesis submission, appointment of examiners, examiners reports, and possible examination outcomes

phd: guidelines for examiners of doctor of philosophy thesis

Guidelines for examiners of PhD theses which details the recommendations available to examiners.

phd: appointment of additional examiner as assessor

This policy clarifies the requirements regarding the appointment of an additional examiner for a PhD thesis.

proof-reading and editing of theses and dissertations

The purpose of this policy is to clarify the extent to which external paid assistance may be involved in the preparation of the final version of a thesis/dissertation prior to submission

code of conduct for students Provides a clear statement of the University’s expectations of students in respect of academic matters and personal behaviour.

harassment and discrimination prevention policy and resolution procedure

This University policy defines what constitutes unlawful harassment and discrimination and sets out the resolution procedures for handling complaints of this nature. More information can also be found in SUPRA’s Postgraduate Survival Guide.

UNIvERSITY POLICIES (POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH)

6 HigHer degree researcH student survival guide

The University has a staff and student equal Opportunity unit, which is responsible for:

– providing policy advice to staff on harassment and discrimination;

– providing equal opportunity policy development, promotion and training for staff and students;

– coordinating and monitoring equity programs and initiatives – providing information and advice to staff and students on equal opportunity matters;

– resolving individual staff and student concerns about harassment and discrimination;

– overseeing the University’s Harassment and Discrimination Resolution procedure;

– monitoring and reporting to external bodies on the University’s progress in the equal opportunity area.

On their website (sydney.edu.au/eeo) you will find information about University initiatives, services and programs which foster a positive environment for work and study.

In addition, the University’s Work health and safety website (sydney.edu.au/whs) provides information on the University’s WHS policy as well as tips on safety on campus, setting up your workstation and managing your wellbeing. It is important that you read the information on the website about what to do in an emergency.

OTHER RESOURCES TO ENSURE YOUR TIME WITH US IS A SAFE AND POSITIvE ONE

7faculty of arts and social sciences

The Faculty and the wider University provide a range of resources to help you with your postgraduate research program. These include libraries, dedicated spaces for researching and writing your thesis, writing support, travel funds and the like. Some of the most important resources are set out in this section.

a. the pOstgraduate arts research centres (pgarcs)

introduction to the facilitiesThe PGARCs provide physical resources and a stimulating research environment for research students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney. There are four postgraduate centres associated with the Faculty. PGARC Fisher and PGARC OTC offer shared facilities to postgraduate research students in the early years of their candidature, and PGARC Woolley and a space in Wallace offer dedicated desks to students in the final stages of their research degrees. Information about the facilities and details of the eligibility requirements and the application process are below.

pgarc fisherPGARC Fisher is located on level 2 of the Fisher Library Stack. Access is gained via the door on the outside of the Fisher stack (behind the coffee cart). The Centre has 71 non-dedicated desks, lockers, a kitchen, a seminar room, a lounge space and access to printers and photocopiers. Each desk has a desktop computer than can run as either a Mac or PC. Entry to PGARC Fisher is gained via your student swipe card once you have applied for and been granted access. The card allows entry 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

pgarc Old teachers’ cOllegePGARC OTC was completed in December of 2011 and is located on level one of the Old Teachers’ College. This project was partially funded by a grant from the Federal Government’s Better Universities Renewal Funding (BURF) Scheme. This facility provides over 70 non-dedicated desks, lockers, kitchen, lounge space, and access to printers and photocopiers. Each desk has a desktop computer that can run as either a Mac or PC. Entry to PGARC OTC is gained via your student swipe card once you have applied for and been granted access. The card allows entry 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

pgarc WOOlleYPostgraduate research students in the final stages of writing their thesis are eligible to apply for a place in PGARC Woolley. PGARC Woolley is located on the fourth floor of the John Woolley Building (A20). It provides 39 dedicated workstations, each with a lockable file drawer. There are also kitchen and toilet facilities, a telephone and a lounge area. Access is by security swipe-card, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wallace hdr spaceIn addition to this, the University has also made available a space which holds 23 dedicated desks for our postgraduate research students in their final stages of candidature in Wallace Lecture Theatre Building (Level 1). It will be open between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday.

eligibility and application procedureStudents undertaking an MPhil or MA (Res) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences may apply for a dedicated desk when they are in the final 9 months of candidature, and PhD students may apply when they are in their final 18 months. These periods are calculated using students’ latest completion dates. Desks in PGARC are only available to enrolled students; this means desks are not available to students who have suspended their candidature. There is a short waiting list for dedicated desks.

for more information and to apply for pgarc access go to:sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/postgraduate_research/research_facilities.shtml

pgarc ManagementThe Director of PGARC is Dr Laura Ginters: (laura.ginters@sydney.edu.au), who is the first point of contact for any enquiries about the space. There is also a student committee, consisting of elected representatives from each of the PGARCs. Student committee members, in collaboration with students who use the facility, have a number of responsibilities, including:

– organising social and scholarly events;

– welcoming new students and giving orientation tours of the PGARC facilities;

– identifying issues with students or use of the facility to the PGARC Director; and

– notifying the Faculty Secretariat of any administration or infrastructure issues.

To get in touch with the Student Committee, email arts.pgarc.studentreps@sydney.edu.au.

It is strongly recommended that you join the PGARC Mailing list once you become a member of PGARC. You can do so by following the links at the website above.

2. research resOurces

8 higher degree research student survival guide

B. liBrarY services

For information about the University of Sydney Library, start here: sydney.edu.au/library

The Library has a range of specific resources to help you with aspects of researching, writing and publishing your thesis. Information about the most important of these research resources can be found here: sydney.edu.au/library/clients/research.html

The Library also has five specialist Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Liaison Librarians to help researchers. To find out which of them is the expert librarian for the School in which you are enrolled, go to: sydney.edu.au/library/contacts/subjectcontacts.html

c. Writing suppOrt

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers writing support for our postgraduate research students through the Writing hub. Students are also able to arrange a one-to-one appointment with the dedicated Postgraduate Writing Advisor, Dr. Bronwen Dyson, by emailing her at: bronwen.dyson@sydney.edu.au.

In addition to one-on-one support, there are now two semester-length courses for postgraduate research students. In semester one the course, ‘Writing a thesis chapter’, is intended for students in the second year of Higher Degree Research. It also targets students who require additional thesis writing support, particularly because English is their Second/Additional Language. In semester two the foundation course, ‘Introduction to thesis writing’ will be offered. If you are interested in either of these courses you need to speak to your supervisor who will have received more information about them. Only your supervisor is able to nominate you for participation in the course.

further information and resources specific to postgraduate research Writing can be found at: sydney.edu.au/arts/teaching_learning/pg_writing_support/index_resources.shtml

d. schOlarships and Other funding OppOrtunitiesi. university-wide schemesFor general information about funding opportunities for postgraduate research students consult the scholarships Office website, found at: sydney.edu.au/scholarships/research.

The most up-to-date information about currently open scholarships and funding opportunities for all students can be found here: sydney.edu.au/scholarships/updates/now_open.shtml.

The Scholarships Office is also responsible for the administration of the University’s grants in aid (gias) scheme. These grants are to support short-term periods of research overseas, and specifically exclude conference attendance. There are different conditions attached to different awards, however the basic criterion for application is that you are unable to meet your research funding through other means. They can be held in conjunction with other scholarships and awards. As well as there being general GIAs open to any postgraduate research student enrolled at the university there are some Faculty and Departmental specific GIAs, however only one application form is required for all of the awards. The applications generally close at the end of April, however check the website for details.

information about the gias can be found at: sydney.edu.au/scholarships/research/gia.shtml

In addition to the University and Faculty funding schemes your department may have Departmental Scholarships available specifically to its students. You should consult your departmental website and the Scholarships Office website listed above.

ii. faculty-specific schemesThe postgraduate research support scheme (prss) is a scheme that provides direct support for currently enrolled full-time and part-time postgraduate research students. Under the scheme, funds are allocated to Schools within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences based on their higher degree research enrolment figures in the previous year. The funds are awarded by Schools to eligible applicants on a competitive basis according to the University’s general guidelines. General, university-wide information about the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme is available Scholarships Office website at: sydney.edu.au/scholarships/research/prss.shtml.

The Postgraduate Research Support Scheme provides reimbursement for expenses (or proposed expenses) incurred during the calendar year of application only. Each eligible student can lodge only one application in any PRSS round. There is one application round each year. Applications usually open in April each year. You can find details about the application process on your School website:

– school of economics: sydney.edu.au/arts/economics/postgrad_research/prss.shtml

– school of languages and cultures: sydney.edu.au/arts/slc/prizes_scholarships/index.shtml.

– school of letters, art and Media: sydney.edu.au/arts/slam/prizes/scholarships.shtml.

– school of philosophical and historical inquiry: sydney.edu.au/arts/sophi/prizes_scholarships/index.shtml.

– school of social and political sciences: sydney.edu.au/arts/ssps/prizes_scholarships/index.shtml.

9faculty of arts and social sciences

advice and assistance relating to academic progress for international students, as well as administrative services including application, admission, fee payment and enrolment services (for Study Abroad and Exchange students only). The International Student Office also coordinates student exchange and study abroad programs and other inter-institutional links.

The International Student Advisers are available to help international students with questions regarding student visas, permission to work, enrolment and other related issues. The Student Advisers regularly liaise with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) on individual student matters. Students who are experiencing difficulty with their studies, or adjusting to life in Australia should contact the Student Advisers. For information on arranging an appointment: sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_services/international_student_advisers.shtml.

for support, visit the international Office website at: sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice. They can also be contacted via telephone on +61 2 8627 8300, or the office is located on Level 4 of the Jane Foss Russell Building, located on City Road (between the Wentworth & Wilkinson Buildings).

PRSS applicants can apply for funding for:

– Presenting at conferences; – Use of specialist services; – Field expenses; – Purchase of specialist books and software not otherwise available through the University;

– Computers or other equipment; and – Thesis production expenses (only for students who do not hold a scholarship that covers such expenses).

It is worth noting that PRSS is one of only a few schemes that provide support for conference expenses when the applicant is presenting a paper or poster. Also, please note the scheme is both retrospective and prospective. That is, you can apply for funding for expenses you have already incurred to date in the calendar year, and expenses which you envisage in the remainder of the year.

PhD candidates can receive three successful PRSS grants across their candidature, while MA (Res) and MPhil candidates can receive one successful PRSS grant.

There is also a doctoral research travel grant scheme administered by the Faculty Office. It is open to Doctoral candidates (PhD, D Arts and D Soc Sci) who have completed the equivalent of at least one year full-time in their current research candidature. Applicants must demonstrate that travel is essential to the completion of their research. Travel funding is not provided under this scheme for conference participation. Where ethics approval is required for the research involved in the travel scheme application, evidence of such ethics approval being granted will be required before any funds are allocated to students. The closing date for applications is usually late August or early September, and this scheme is prospective for the following year.

an information sheet and application form for the doctoral travel grants can be found at sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/scholarships.shtml#PHDTravelGrant.

e. resOurces fOr internatiOnal students

As a new international student a good place to start is Arrive and Thrive: The essential guide for new international students. It provides lots of helpful information to help you adjust to life and study at the University of Sydney. It can be found at: sydney.edu.au/current_students/orientation/guide.

The International Student Office is dedicated to assisting international students in their application to study at the University, and in their time while they are students at the University. The International Student Office provides

10 HigHer degree researcH student survival guide

There are many aspects to managing your candidature such as:

– Ensuring you are correctly enrolled and that the University has your correct contact details;

– Understanding what probation means; – Knowing the workload expectations; – Having your candidature reviewed; and – Applying for ethics approval for your research if necessary.

Some specific advice is offered here, however if you have any questions about your candidature, you should visit the Student Services Office, located in Lobby H of the Quadrangle. The office is open between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. A Student Adviser is always available to provide any support you may need.

a. WOrklOad expectatiOns

The Faculty has certain expectation about how much time you need to devote to your candidature:

– A full time research candidate is expected to devote a full working week on average to the candidature throughout the year and not less than four working days on average per week.

– A part-time research candidate is expected to devote not less than two working days on average per week to the candidature throughout the year.

If you are unable to devote the expected amount of time you may need to reconsider your attendance status. Of course you should discuss your circumstances with your supervisor before applying to change your candidature from full time to part time, or part time to full time. If you need to change your attendance status you must complete a Change in Research Attendance Status form. You will need to obtain your supervisor’s approval, as well as Head of Department’s or PG Research Coordinator’s recommendation, before you return the form to the Postgraduate Research Student Administration Section of the Student Services Office. You must return this form to the Office in time for it to be processed before the census date of the relevant semester (31 March or 31 august). Failure to return the form before this date may adversely affect your candidature, since changes cannot be back-dated.

B. annual prOgress revieWs

The candidature of all postgraduate research students must be formally reviewed at least once each year. The purpose of the Annual Progress Reviews is to provide an opportunity to discuss progress and plans for the next year, including the supervision relationship and any difficulties that may be affecting the candidate’s progress. The review is intended to be constructive for candidates and a source of support.

3. Managing YOur candidature

11faculty of arts and social sciences

– administers questionnaires/surveys;

– conducts interviews or focus groups;

– investigates or observes human behaviour;

– uses data; or

– any other experimentation involving human beings.

Ethics approval is important because it:

– protects the welfare, rights, dignity and safety of research participants;

– protects researchers’ rights to conduct legitimate investigation;

– protects the University of Sydney’s reputation for research conducted and sponsored by it; and

– minimises the potential for claims of negligence made against any individual researchers and the University of Sydney.

The Human Ethics website provides comprehensive information on:

– Deadlines for applications

– Guidelines (including determining whether the research is considered low or negligible risk)

– Step-by-step instructions on how to apply

– Legislation, codes and policy relevant to human ethics

These can be found at: sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/human/index.shtml

allow yourself plenty of time to obtain ethics approval from the hrec. Make sure you allow up to three months from the time you obtain your supervisor’s approval before the planned commencement of your research. Many candidates are also required to make minor adjustments and resubmissions to the committee in order to obtain final approval.

All human ethics applications are made online using the University system known as IRMA. Follow the ‘How to Apply’ webpage at sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/human/apply.shtml

To complete an application, you firstly must apply for access to the system by emailing (using your University email address) the following details to: research.support@sydney.edu.au:

– Your name;

– Your Unikey (but not your password);

– Your student ID; and

– Your email address.

The following information is meant as a general guide only. The process may vary slightly for your department. If you have any questions about the APR process, you should contact your department’s Postgraduate Research Coordinator. The reviews are usually conducted in October and November each year however some departments conduct formal reviews twice a year, with a review of recently commenced candidates towards the end of their first semester.

At the first step, candidates must complete all relevant sections of the Annual Progress Review form, which is sent out to them via their University email address by the Faculty Office. If you did not receive it, or for Semester 1 reviews, the form can be downloaded from the following website: sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/administration_research/higher_degree_by_research.shtml

The completed Annual Progress Review Form is then submitted directly to the departmental Postgraduate Research Coordinator prior to the review interview.

Candidates are then attend a 20-30 minute progress review interview. The Review Panel ordinarily consists of two or more academic staff members, often the Panel is chaired by the Postgraduate Research Coordinator but this is not a requirement. A candidate’s supervisor cannot be on the Panel for the candidate’s interview but may be in attendance for part of the meeting. All candidates must be given a time where they have the opportunity to discuss their work in the absence of both their supervisor and associate supervisor.

HDR candidates are considered to be “on probation” for their first year of candidature and the review process determines whether your candidature has been satisfactorily completed and you progress to non-probationary candidature.

c. cOMpletiOn dates

If you are due to complete in the first half of the year you will have until the HECS Census deadline of 31 August to submit your thesis for examination. If you are due to complete in the second half of the year you will have until the HECS Census deadline of 31 March the following year to submit. Please note, where the HECS census date falls on a day the University is closed such as weekend or Public Holiday), the deadline for thesis submission will be the last working day prior.

d. huMan ethics apprOval

All University of Sydney staff and students who intend to conduct research involving human participants as part of an Honours, Diploma, Masters, Doctorate or other higher degree must apply for approval from the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). The types of research considered to involve humans include projects in which the researcher:

12 higher degree research student survival guide

THIS ONE-PAGE WAS CREATED TO ASSIST YOU IN DETERMINING WHETHER YOU REQUIRE ETHICS APPROvAL AND TO PROvIDE GUIDANCE ON COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY STUDENTS WHEN APPLYING FOR ETHICAL APPROvAL.

When dO i need ethics apprOval?Human research is research conducted with or about people, or their data or tissue.

– Within the humanities this may involve:

• taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups;

• being observed by researchers;

• researchers having access to their personal documents or other materials.

– If in doubt – check.

the hrec cannot give retrospective approval.

cOMMOn Mistakes

general Mistakes – The participant Information Statement should be written as if you are speaking to the participant (e.g. “you will be asked to complete a survey”, instead of “participants will be asked to complete a survey”).

– Students cannot be Chief Investigators – this will be your supervisor. All public documents should be in your supervisor’s name.

– Don’t use personal contact emails – use a University of Sydney email.

– If you are conducting research off campus you will most likely need a safety protocol:

• See website for further details;

• You and your supervisor need to sign;

– Use the same project title on all public documents.

Mistakes relating to the application form – On completion of the study, where will the materials that were collected during the study (including files, audiotapes, questionnaires, videotapes, photographs) be stored?

– Study materials need to be kept for a minimum of 7 years, sometimes longer.

– You will probably not be here then…

– A copy Must be kept on campus at the conclusion of the study.

general nOtes

Our website (sydney.edu.au/research_support/ethics/human) has templates and guidelines which can be useful to you. Note that the template documents are designed to be used in a variety of projects, from various disciplines. Although they are good guides they may need to be customized to your project. For example, the template Participant Information Statement assumes the identity of the participant will be confidential, however if you are interviewing a famous artist this would not be appropriate. You need to discuss this with your supervisor.

ETHICS GUIDE FOR STUDENTS

e. teaching and presenting in YOur departMent

Each Department will have their own arrangements for research seminars, during which you can connect with staff and students both within your department, and also disciplinary colleagues. In some Departments, this is a weekly event, while in others the seminars are less frequent. You should ask your postgraduate research coordinator for information about how this works in your Department. It is a good idea to get into the habit of presenting your work early, and your cooridnator can also provide guidance about how to put your name forward for these seminars. There may also be research seminars organised by your School, where colleagues from different disciplines can come together and share research.

The over forty departments which make up the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are remarkably different in size and organisation, and so it is difficult to offer general advice about teaching within the Department. If you are interested in teaching, discuss this with your Chair of Department, as they will be best placed to put your name forward if opportunities advise. Don’t be backward about putting yourself forward; they will only know you’re interested if you tell them. The Faculty also offers a number of Postgraduate Teaching Fellowships to students in their final year of candidature. Information on these one-year, part-time positions will be distributed through postgraduate research coordinators in September.

“Sydney is one of the few universities in the world with a program that allows one to study the Internet from a philosophical and cultural viewpoint.”

cÉsar alBarrÁnPHD CANDIDATE, DIGITAL CULTURES

14 higher degree research student survival guide

4. Managing YOur thesis

MOdel 2

recognising that not all disciplines involve the same type of research progression, the steps proposed above should be seen as flexible in terms of clear milestones to be attained. a fieldwork/archival-based degree will clearly require a different implementation of these steps.

step 1: 3 MOnths

–review of topic and methodology –review of supervision relationship

step 2: 6 MOnths

–completion of all bureaucratic tasks, such as finding field site/locating archival material, securing visas, equipment etc –literature review –proposal of specific research questions –begin fieldwork/archive research –completion of any required coursework –probationary status reviewed –permission to continue approved by the Associate Dean

step 3: 12 MOnths

–most field recordings/transcriptions/archival date collection complete –a submission of chapter(s) or equivalent of 20,000+ words –presentation of research project in a conference setting

step 4: 24 MOnths

–submission of 50% of final thesis

step 5: 36 MOnths

–all data has been collected –all field work/archival work completed etc –all but the introduction and conclusion in draft –submission of complete draft

step 6: 39 MOnths

–Notice of Thesis Submission form sent to the Faculty Office –• supervisor reviews draft and makes final recommendations

step 7: 42 MOnths

–submission

The three to four years of candidature may seem like a long time and it is easy to make the mistake of underestimating how long it will take to do what you need to do. It is essential that you set yourself up early with a plan to manage your candidature appropriately. Speak with your supervisor in the first few weeks of your first semester to help develop your thesis management plan and then make sure you review it regularly with them to ensure you keep on top of any changing circumstances.

MOdel 1

for a phd candidate who produces a 70,000-100,000 word thesis over 3.5 years (this model excludes fieldwork/archival research/extensive interviews).

step 1: 3 MOnths

–review of topic and methodology –review of supervision relationship

step 2: 6 MOnths

–submission of full chapter or equivalent (15,000 words, or as agreed with Supervisor

step 3: 12 MOnths

–completion of any required coursework –annual review –probationary status reviewed –permission to continue approved by the Associate Dean

step 4: 24 MOnths

–submission of 50% of final thesis

step 5: 36 MOnths

–complete full draft –all data has been collected –all field work completed etc –all but the introduction and conclusion in draft

step 6: 39 MOnths

–Notice of Thesis Submission form sent to the Faculty Office –supervisor reviews draft and makes final recommendations

step 7: 42 MOnths

– submission

15faculty of arts and social sciences

a. facultY cOMpletiOn guidelines

The Commonwealth funds students up to a maximum of 4 full time equivalent (FTE) years for PhD, DSocSci and DArts candidates, and 2 FTE years for MPhil, MMus and MA candidates. Thereafter the Faculty receives no funding. Under the terms of the Research Training Scheme (RTS), it is the Faculty’s expectation that students will complete PhD candidature within a minimum of 6 semesters (FTE). This is equivalent to the APA funding period.

At submission, you are required to present:

– PhD (over 7 semesters) – 70,000 – 100,000 word thesis

– MPhil (over 3.5 semesters) – 40,000 – 60,000 word thesis

– DArts and DSocSci (over 7 semesters) – 60,000 – 80,000 word thesis or 20,000 – 30,000 word thesis plus signigicant creative project.

– MA (Res) (over 3.5 semesters) – 30,000 – 35,000 word thesis

B. thesis suBMissiOn and exaMinatiOn

Candidates must complete a Notice of Thesis Submission form three months before the submission of their thesis. You complete Section A of the form and ask your supervisor to complete Section B. The supervisor forwards the form to the PG Research Coordinator to complete Section C and forward the completed form to the Postgraduate Section of the Faculty. This form can be found on the website: sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/administration_research/thesis_submission.shtml.

At the time of lodgement of the Notice of Thesis Submission form, the candidate’s supervisor should commence the process of finding potential examiners (four for PhD and three for Masters by research). Note that you as the candidate are allowed some input in the selection of examiners however the names of the examiners must not be disclosed to you.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to submit the required number of copies of the thesis and forms (Supervisor’s Statement and Lodgement of Thesis) to the Faculty Office. The Faculty requires four copies of a PhD and three copies of a Masters thesis. Both PhD and Masters theses can be submitted in either temporary (i.e. soft-cover) or permanent (i.e. hard-cover) binding. Temporary binding may be more appropriate as 75% of all PhD candidates are required by examiners to make emendations or corrections to their thesis.

the required form of temporary binding is the ‘perfect binding’ (thermal binding) system; springback, ringback or spiral binding is not acceptable.

University Printing Service (UPS) can both print and thermal bind theses for a reasonable cost. The thesis should have 1.5 or double line spacing and one-sided printing. Each thesis copy should have on the front cover or on the title page, the title of the thesis, the candidate’s initials and surname, the title of the degree, the year of submission and the name of the University of Sydney. On the final hardbound copy of the thesis only (submitted after the examination is complete), the lettering on the spine, reading from top to bottom, should conform to the above. Supporting material should be bound in the back of the thesis as an appendix or in a separate set of covers.

16 higher degree research student survival guide

submission of higher degree thesesThe Faculty has deemed that PhD theses should normally be between 70,000 to 100,000 words and Master of Philosophy theses between 40,000 to 60,000 words. These word limits exclude footnotes and the bibliography. An abstract of 250 to 300 words must also be submitted with PhD theses. The professional doctorate comprises two postgraduate research methods units of study and a thesis of 60,000-80,000 words for candidates not also submitting a significant creative project, or a thesis of 20,000-30,000 words for candidates also submitting a significant creative project. For MA (Research) theses, the word length is dependent on the amount of coursework that may be completed as part of the degree (refer to the Faculty postgraduate research website: sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/postgraduate_research/index.shtml).

When submitting the thesis at the Faculty office, a copy of the Supervisor’s Statement form, signed by the candidate, Supervisor and Postgraduate Research Coordinator, stating that the thesis is in a form of presentation suitable for examination, must also be submitted.

for all up-to-date forms, policies and procedures regarding submission, please check here: sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/administration_research/thesis_submission.shtml.

c. What happens after suBMissiOn?

Immediately after submission, you will lose access to PGARC spaces, and also lose Library borrowing privileges. If you have been working from a dedicated desk, please make sure that you are prepared to vacate it so that it can be reallocated to the next student on the waiting list. After the examination process is complete, you may need to reactivate your borrowing rights. The following form must be submitted to the Library, signed by your supervisor as well as your head of department: sydney.edu.au/arts/downloads/documents/forms/PostgradHonoursIndemnityApplication.pdf

Between three and six months after submission, the Faculty will receive your examiners’ reports and recommendations. A decision will then be reached as to the outcome of the examination. Depending on the nature of the examiners’ recommendations, the decision-making process may involve your supervisor, Postgraduate Research Coordinator and the PhD Award Sub-Committee.

There are four common outcomes of examinations:

award without qualificationIn this case, you will need to ensure that a permanent (hard) bound copy of the thesis has been lodged with the Faculty.

award subject to typographical correctionsIn this case, you will need to make the required typographical corrections and then lodge a permanent (hard) bound copy of the thesis to the Faculty.

award subject to emendationsIn this case, you will need to make the required emendations and then lodge a permanent (hard) bound copy of the thesis to the Faculty. You will be allowed three months to complete the required emendations to your department’s satisfaction.

revise and resubmitIn this case, your degree will not be awarded and you will need to re-enrol for one or (usually) two semesters to undertake the required revision. You will then need to resubmit the thesis for examination. If you do not agree with the decision of revise and resubmit you will be given the opportunity to provide comment on the decision.

17faculty of arts and social sciences

service MOre infO

sydney university postgraduate representative association – supra Level One, Wentworth Building, City Rd

SUPRA is run by postgraduates for postgraduates providing support both academically and personally. They also have helpful guides including a Survival Guide and Thesis Guide. For more information see: www.supra.usyd.edu.au/

library Fisher Library, Eastern Ave

The Library runs training sessions that will be useful. A calendar of these sessions can be found at: sydney.edu.au/library/skills/classes.html There is a Liaison Librarian for each School available for individual help. Their contact details can be found at: sydney.edu.au/library/contacts/subjectcontacts.html

counselling and psychological services – caps Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

CAPS aims to help students develop the skills to build strengths, improve well-being and achieve academic success. The services are free and confidential, and available to all enrolled students. As well as individual counselling they offer skills workshops. For more information see: sydney.edu.au/current_students/counselling

learning centre Level Seven, Education Building, Manning Rd

The Learning Centre provides workshops to improve academic writing, research and other skills. For more information go to: sydney.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/

careers centre Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

The University’s Careers Centre assists current and recently graduated students to: – Increase their employability skills through workshops – Plan their career – Look for workFor more go to: sydney.edu.au/careers

student it services You can contact ICT staff in any of the on-campus Access Labs. For information about your Unikey and email account as well as wireless setup and much more, go to: sydney.edu.au/ict/student

scholarships Office Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

To find out what scholarships you might be eligible for during your candidature, go to: sydney.edu.au/scholarships/research

the Write site The Write Site provides online support to help you develop your academic and professional writing skills. For more information go to: writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au

copyright and your thesis To find out what you need to know about copyright, go to: sydney.edu.au/copyright/students/research.shtml

5. universitY services

Once you get to Sydney, we will support you all the way. We offer a wide range of services to help you make the most of your time here, prepare for life beyond university, and help you if times get tough. Below are some of the major sources of support for postgraduate research students at the University. In the first instance, assistance can be found on the websites listed below. If you need to visit the offices in person, addresses are provided under the name of the organisation.

18 higher degree research student survival guide

service MOre infO

student accommodation services Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

Student Accommodation Services is the first point of contact for students who are looking for a place to live. They can help you search, give you advice about your options, and provide you with useful resources. For more go to: sydney.edu.au/current_students/accommodation/index.shtml

Multifaith chaplaincy centre Opposite Old Teachers’ College, Western Ave

Chaplains are professional women and men who have been appointed by their faith community and officially recognised by the University to provide spiritual support and pastoral care to students and staff on campus. For more go to: sydney.edu.au/chaplains/about/index.shtml

child care information Office Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

Five child care centres currently operate on or near two campuses catering to over 200 children aged from 0 to five years. The Office provides information about the child care centres on or near the Camperdown, Darlington and Cumberland campuses and other relevant government agencies. For more go to: sydney.edu.au/stuserv/child_care/

employment – sydney talent Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

SydneyTalent is an initiative of the University of Sydney that connects outstanding students and graduates with a wide range of employers and industries for part-time and full-time work opportunities. For more go to: sydney.edu.au/sydneytalent/

financial assistance service Level Five, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

The Financial Assistance Service provides support to students who are experiencing financial difficulty and whose academic work may suffer as a result. Loans can be up to $2,000 for essential living and study expenses and are available to full-time students who are Australian citizens and permanent residents, and in some instances, can be available to part-time students also. For more go to: sydney.edu.au/stuserv/financial_assistance_office

university health service – Wentworth Building,

City Rd (Monday-Friday) – Holme Building,

Science Rd (Thursday)

The University Health Service offers experienced general practitioner and emergency medical care services to all members of the University community including students. For more details go to: sydney.edu.au/health-service/services/index.php

international student advisers Level Four, Jane Foss Russell Building, City Rd

Our International Student Advisers provide support to international students on issues related to student visas, scholarship and general academic progression. They can help you by: – Discussing with you any concerns you have about these issues. – Referring you to appropriate support services on campus. – Generating supporting documentation so that you can apply for a student visa renewal. – Sending you periodic International Office newsletters, updates and event invitationsFor more details go to: sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_services/international_student_advisers.shtml

19faculty of arts and social sciences

a. studY tips

– You don’t have to know everything right now. You are building a body of knowledge.

– The other postgrads in your department are a huge resource: for advice, ideas or just to vent. Talking to people is an incredible source of strength and inspiration for everyone involved, so make use of it.

– This may sound obvious, but divide the things you need to do into pieces. Make a list and work through it. You might find that studying based on specific tasks, rather than time periods, is more productive - and also more rewarding. It is a really nice feeling to see how many things you’ve managed to cross off, and to remember that you are making progress.

– Set boundaries around spaces that you use to study - whether this is at home, at uni, another library, etc. If you can mentally make that space a work space, it will help you to click into the mindset that you need and to be more productive in the time that you do spend there. Particularly at home, it helps if you spend ‘break’ time away from the desk/area that you work in.

– Back-up! Back-up your work daily, to a USB drive, an external hard-drive, the university server, to a Gmail account, to a file-storage website… or all of the above. You can never back-up too frequently or in too many places. Eventually, something will go wrong with your computer and you will be thankful for your paranoia.

– For texts that you consider central to your work or likely to be central to your work, rather than simply writing annotations in the margins or writing notes (manual or electronic) it is worth preparing a document that firstly summarises the article, critiques the article and finally outlines how you consider it to be relevant or useful to

your thesis. This might mean thinking of ‘where’ it might go, for example Chapter One, or it might be more detailed in that you may nominate its location as Chapter One but you might also add what you consider the ‘function’ of the text. For example, you might write, “Useful in Chapter One to outline the basic assumptions on which this approach is based” or “Place in Chapter Two as part of the critique of this approach.” What is important is to try to understand and note not only ‘the idea, concept, argument, statistic, construct, example and so on’ but to try to consider the ‘location’ and ‘function’ it might serve in your thesis.

– When either you or your supervisor have identified a text as potentially important, it can be a valuable experience to arrange a supervision meeting where both of you have read the text and your ‘response to the text’ is used as the focus of the meeting. Preferably, you would have provided your supervisor with this ‘response’ prior to the meeting. This can help in sorting out whether you have understood certain ‘theories, constructs, notions and so on’ and whether you are able to articulate their relevance to your thesis.

– Write early, write often.

– Writing breeds more writing.

– When typing quotations, or ideas from another writer, get into the habit of noting the page number and text you are referring to. If you do this from the beginning you will love yourself when you’re madly referencing your thesis at the end!

– If you’re having a bad day, take a break, or fill in your study time doing something else that helps your work in the long run: finding new books, filing notes, cleaning your study space, writing study plans, editing old text, plotting a new chapter…

– Speak positively about your work and your progress to other people. It makes both of you feel good!

– Use seminars and conference presentations as small deadlines for specific pieces of work. If you can, try to use them to simultaneously develop work that can slot into a chapter of your thesis later on.

– Keep a notebook and pen handy. You never know when a random conversation with someone will fire off new thoughts and ideas that you want to hold on to.

– Once you’ve done a new reading, write a short summary of it somewhere that you’ll find it later – in a word document or just scribbled on top of the reading perhaps. This will mean when you come back to it two years later, you won’t have to read the whole thing again to find out what it’s about. It might also help you draft some chapter content too!

6. students’ perspectives

The following information was provided by postgraduate research students in the Department of Performance Studies. May-Brit Akerholt, Kath Bicknell, Jason Dietz Marchant, Robin Dixon, Chris Hay, Miranda Heckenberg, Janice Hinckfuss, Katie Johnson, Trish Roberts, Justine Shih Pearson and Kat Roma Greer.

20 HigHer degree researcH student survival guide

B. studYing frOM afar

A few of you, at one stage, may unexpectedly find yourselves studying from afar. Obviously, there will be many people who will need to spend time away from the home base as part of their research; there is usually much more support and infrastructure for studying from afar if it is part of your research requirements. If it wasn’t part of the plan then it can be difficult and isolating. Therefore, this section will focus on supporting those who wish to continue their studies from a distance due to circumstances beyond their control. There are some official channels you can follow to make sure you are making the best use of the resources available to you:

– Your first point of call is to speak to your supervisor and develop a strategy which will assist in communication and details of how you will progress in your research and study.

– Contact Sydney University Student Services and find out if there are satellite campus’ or exchange programs in place with Sydney University at your intended location.

– Contact and join Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA). Inform them of your destination and request any contacts, networks or information they may have available in this location: www.supra.usyd.edu.au/.

– Research the local universities to see if they have a similar faculty/program that you could visit or observe classes.Contact the local university library to discuss the potential of an honorary or temporary membership for the library, use of resources, and connection to postgraduate bodies, and contact the local public libraries to discuss what resources, study rooms etc are available for use.

– Speak to the librarian at the Sydney University Library. You will have limited access to hardcopy documents and publications once you leave, which can be extremely difficult (you may find yourself having to borrow what you need before you leave and posting it back to the library at your own cost). The librarian will ensure that you understand how to retrieve and access soft-copy information for the periods when you can’t access the University library.

– Make sure you take the time to deal with culture shock: There are lots of online texts available through the University of Sydney Library relating to this. Search “Dealing with Culture Shock”. For quick reference:

• worldwide.edu/travel_planner/culture_shock.html

• www.myglobaleducation.com/article/v/16126/dealing-with-culture-shock-when-studying-abroad/

There are also a few insider tips which can help you manage this process:

– Consider where you will base yourself to study. Will it be in your home? In some cities this may not be possible (small apartments, expensive rent, flat or room sharing etc.), in which case you should research and find some appropriate cafes, parks, libraries etc. where you feel it would create a good environment for study once you arrive. It’s really important to set this up before you leave otherwise you will disrupt your study patterns and lose time. It is also helpful to maintain your routine for stability at such a disruptive time (see Culture Shock).

– Maintain close contact with your supervisor. Provide at the vey least, detailed monthly reports on the same date every month.

– Ensure you are signed up to all the appropriate technology so make communication and retrieval of information easier. Eg. Skype, Dropbox, video conferencing facilities etc.

– Schedule an appropriate amount of time for packing, moving, finding a new home, adjusting to a new place, unpacking, finding work, finding a social life and experiencing culture shock. This can be an exhausting and time-consuming period. This needs to be considered when timetabling deadlines.

One of the hardest things about studying from afar is a sense of isolation. Maintaining contact with a community where you can share thoughts, motivate each other and support each other is essential. develop an online community of peers where you can meet, exchange work and provide feedback to each other. stay in touch with your department!!

21faculty of arts and social sciences

paper can also be a precursor to a conference paper, in at least two ways. You can use it as an opportunity to try out a paper you think is very close to finished, so you can work on presentation, timing, use of pictorial material, etc; or you can present a few ideas you are still not totally sure about and ask for feedback.

Enjoy yourself up there! Not everyone is an actor and good at presentation, but if you can convince yourself that you enjoy telling your colleagues about this topic you know so much about, you will have a captive audience.

iii. how to chair a panelThe role of a chair is to introduce and facilitate the panel. A good chair can make the session – ensuring a friendly, communicative and fair atmosphere, drawing connections between papers, and summarising the thread(s) of discussion for the audience and presenters. A bad chair can do just the opposite – have you ever been to a session where the chair spent ages introducing themselves, was disorganized and then dominated question time with comments related to their own interests? Hmm… don’t do this.

In a nutshell, you need to welcome the audience, introduce the speakers, watch the time, and moderate the discussion (making sure questions can be heard; interjecting with questions yourself if the discussion gets sluggish).

c. hints and tips fOr cOnference papers and presentatiOnsi. conference papersIt is important to appear extremely confident about your paper and its argument when you deliver it. You do not think you know, you know you know. This does not mean you are arrogant, merely that you are positive when it comes to your own research. It does not mean that you don’t have questions about it. The secret of a great conference paper is that it presents its argument as a question as well as a statement; that is, it interrogates as well as affirms. The paper should suggest that although you are assured about your ideas and lines of reasoning, you are also interested in hearing your peers’ thoughts and impressions about them.

ii. seminar presentations Your Department and/or School here at Sydney will offer you ample opportunities to present at informal research seminars, often held as collaborations between staff and students. A seminar paper is different from a conference paper in that you know most people there, if not everyone, and it is also an opportunity to present unfinished ideas. That is, you can say up front that you are struggling with this particular angle, or that you are excited about an idea, and this is how you’re attacking it at the moment – and you may get a lot of interesting and helpful feedback. Of course, a seminar

22 HigHer degree researcH student survival guide

iv. chairing at conferencesBefore the session:

– Email the presenters and let them know you will be their chair.

– Ask for a short bio so that you can introduce them on the day, and an abstract (or paper if available).

– If you are nervous about having to come up with emergency questions, read through the papers beforehand and/or ask the panelists if they have specific questions they would like to be asked.

On the day: – Arrive early to make sure that the room is set up and the equipment is working – know who to contact if you run into technical problems.

– Make sure there is water for the presenters.

– Identify and introduce yourself to the presenters. Let them explore the speaking area so they can become comfortable with the space and equipment.

– Let the presenters know if you will introduce them all at the beginning of the session or individually before each paper.

– Remind the presenters about time limits, and discuss how you will notify them during the talk:

– Some chairs will tell a presenter the remaining time, but this can be somewhat intrusive and can disrupt the flow of the talk.

– Writing the remaining time on a white board or black board is another method of notifying the presenter about the time, but this method only works if the session room is properly equipped and if the presenter can see the board.

– Prepared cards with the time remaining (eg. 10min, 5min, and Conclude) can be held up within the presenter’s line of sight. This is the least intrusive method of time notification as it allows the presenter to see the remaining time without aural interruptions.

– Tell the presenters how you will interrupt them if they begin to run over time. It is up to the chair to ensure that each presenter has their allotted time, so if one person is running overtime the chair should politely tell them to conclude their talk or let them know through other means.

– Remember to leave enough time for questions – discuss with presenters if they would like to hold questions until the end or address each speaker separately.

– Notify the presenters about the exact time their talks will begin, and ensure that they are present.

– For conferences which have set times for individual presenters to begin, ensure speakers start at their assigned times so the people who wanted to observe specific talks can. If the speaking order is rearranged there is the possibility that various audience members will miss the presenter they wanted to see. Other conferences only provide the start time of the session which allows you to be flexible with the order of speakers.

– If one speaker is not present the order of presentations can be moved at your discretion. However, keep the audience in mind before you do this. Will they still be able to make it to the other presenter’s talks, or will they miss out due to the new time?

showtime: – Start by briefly introducing yourself (with affiliation) and welcoming the audience to the session (by name – someone is inevitably in the wrong room).

– Give a rundown of how the session will proceed – order of the speakers, when questions will be taken etc – and introduce the presenters.

– If something goes wrong – the presenter is inaudible, equipment fails – it is up to you to facilitate fixing it.

– Keep track of time, and don’t be afraid to interrupt if running over time.

23faculty of arts and social sciences

Moderating a discussion: – Invite the audience to ask questions, however, the audience often needs a little digestion time and you can help kickstart the discussion by:

• Asking a couple of questions yourself – either from prepared questions the presenters requested or you formed, or from questions that arose in the session.

• Performing a discussant role – summarising the main points presented, drawing out points of connection between the papers and proposing several questions or lines of enquiry for the discussion to take up.

– Ensure questions from the audience can be heard – repeat the question if needed.

– As it is your responsibility to promote a fair and equal exchange of ideas, in the event of any inappropriate questions or comments it is your duty to prevent any escalation. You can politely ask that the questioner discuss their comment with the person at the end of the session to allow for other people to ask their questions, or you can rephrase/redirect a question so it is less offensive.

– Use tact and common sense in these situations, and always remember you are there as a facilitator and mediator. Try to avoid taking sides. Eg:

• Waffly questions: politely interrupt and ask the person to state or frame a question; you can also restate the question for brevity and clarity.

• Personal questions: personal questions to the presenters can be awkward. You can help deflect them by collecting several questions from the floor before directing back to the presenters – then it is up to them to answer or ignore it (make sure you keep note of the questions, in case the presenters ask for a reminder).

• Argumentative comments: like the waffly drones, try asking the person to state a specific question, and don’t be afraid to interrupt and rephrase the question more diplomatically for the presenter(s).

• All questions are aimed at one presenter: it is up to you to make sure none of the presenters are neglected. Throw in a question of your own, or rephrase a question from the floor to the entire panel if needed.

– Keep an eye on the clock, and thank everyone when it is time to wind-up.

d. puBlishingAn important part of your candidature is publishing academic articles. Your Department will have their own expectations of you around publishing during your candidature, but it is also a good idea to have your own goals in this area. Publishing your research will have a number of benefits:

– you will expose your work to the academic community and begin to enter into the ‘conversation’ of your particular field;

– it will make you a more attractive candidate when applying for academic jobs or postdoctoral fellowships. Research track record is something that universities take very seriously;

– you’ll get a kick out of seeing your work in a peer-reviewed journal and maybe being cited by other scholars; and

– universities are awarded ‘points’ for publication. Anything that you publish counts towards your Department’s research output which helps to strengthen the department and the work that everyone there does.

Publishing is a ‘win-win’ for both you personally and for your Department.

One Of the iMpOrtant skills YOu need tO learn aBOut puBlishing is dealing With feedBack

Academic articles are peer-reviewed by experts in the field. This is an anonymous process and, we’re afraid to say, some reviewers can use their anonymity to be quite harsh in their feedback. That being said, reviewing is something that academics do voluntarily as part of their contribution to their fields and they receive little kudos, apart from being a ‘good citizen’ for doing so. If you do receive a rejection and/or some negative feedback, the publishing group will be there to help mop up your tears and, more importantly, help you to get some perspective on the feedback so that you can use what’s helpful in it and discard the rest.

24 higher degree research student survival guide

e. Managing YOur health While studYing

Long hours at the computer, irregular workspaces, low income and our good friend, stress, can have a big impact on your health, happiness and the progress of your thesis. Also, the closer some students get to finishing, the more likely they might be to put their health on hold to spend more time on study. Be aware that this can be counter-productive. You can’t type much if you have RSI from a bad computer set up, you’re tired in the day because you’re sleeping badly at night, and your iron levels are so low from all the 2-minute noodles you’ve been eating that you’re dizzy when you stand up! There’s a couple of things you can consider to make sure you stay healthy during candidature:

health servicesThe University offers a broad range of services at prices students can afford and are staffed by people who are aware of the (mostly awesome!) lifestyles we lead. Services include physio, counselling (this is free), medical, disability support, travel vaccinations, optometry, the whole shebang. Try some of the links below to find out more:

– List of Health and Welfare Services: sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_services

– University Health Service www.unihealth.usyd.edu.au

– Peak Physique Physiotherapy www.peakphysique.com.au

It’s also worth finding a regular health practitioner somewhere close to where you live that may have a different skill set, more time, or a personality you click better with, to tackle a problem you are experiencing.

If stress, sickness or personal issues are affecting your productivity, it’s important to document this with a GP or counsellor in case you need to apply for special consideration, sick leave or extensions further down the track.

health and fitnessAs obvious as it may sound, make an effort to eat a balanced diet and get some regular exercise. Not only will regular, light exercise help prevent your body taking on the shape of a computer chair, it gives you time out from heavy thinking, helps maintain a better sleeping rhythm and wards off feelings of depression and isolation.

For on campus sport and fitness info check out Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness: www.susf.com.au

Also check the SUPRA mailing list for team sports with other postgrads.

ergonomic workstation set upAs the PGARC system doesn’t allow students to have a permanent desk until near the end of their candidature, and home or café study set ups can be erratic at best, it’s worth learning some basic rules of thumb that help prevent repetitive strain injuries, or a sore, grumpy body, after long hours at the computer.

a pdf guide for setting up your desk ergonomically is available from the pgarc webpage: sydney.edu.au/arts/current_students/postgraduate_research/research_facilities.shtml Use it to set up your study space at home as well.

OfficeWorks (opposite the University on the corner of Parramatta Rd and Ross St) stock a bunch of ergo accessories like little cushions with a hard surface on top for lap top work, document holders for typing up notes, mice that scroll quickly, and ergo keyboards. As these are study related purchases you can add them to your annual PRSS claim.

f. i’M six MOnths frOM suBMissiOn and i still need tO Be reMinded…

If something’s niggling and slowing you down, get on top of it quickly. It will cost you more time and money if you let it get really bad before doing something.

Have holidays, maintain a social life outside of the uni and do things that make you feel good and give you positive feedback about your work on the way to completing your larger project – eg. Conference or seminar presentations, sharing some writing with your supervisor or talking with other students about how their work is going.

Acknowledgements: This Guide was produced with the help of Diane Ferari, Joshua Boxx, Chris Hay, Carolyne Carter, Julie-Ann Robson and Rodney Smith. It draws on material from a range of other University publications.

CRICOS 00026AABN 15 211 513 464

Produced by Faculty of Arts and Social Sicences, the University of Sydney, 2006. March 2013. The University reserves the right to make alterations to any information contained within this publication without notice. 13/01

faculty of arts and social sciencest +61 2 9351 6673f +61 2 9351 2045e arts.postgraduate@sydney.edu.ausydney.edu.au/arts

school of letters art, and Media (slaM)e slam.enquiries@sydney.edu.ausydney.edu.au/arts/slam

school of languages and cultures (slc)e arts.slcadmin@sydney.edu.ausydney.edu.au/arts/slc

school of philosophical and historical inquiry (sOphi)e sophi.enquiries@sydney.edu.ausydney.edu.au/arts/sophi

school of social and political sciences (ssps)e ssps.enquiries@sydney.edu.ausydney.edu.au/arts/ssps

school of economics (se)e economics.enquiries@sydney.edu.ausydney.edu.au/arts/economics

facultY Of arts and sOcial sciences