Postgraduate Coursework Higher Degrees Information
Resources and support
Induction for commencing Development Studies Masters Coursework students in 2007 will take the form of a Welcome Party commencing at 4pm on Wednesday 7 March in the tea room located on the second floor, 221 Bouverie Street.
Download induction information in pdf format - Development Coursework students
Building Access Card
The building access doors require the use of a swipe card which provides you with access to the building 24 hours a day if needed. You can obtain an access card from the reception office in the Centre for the Study of Higher Education which is located off Monash Road on the main campus. Once you have the card you will need to bring it to Tina Soundias in reception who will organise with the Security Office to have the card activated.
Common Room
Master of Development Studies students have a common room (Room B1.12) located in the basement of the building. Your building access card is needed to enter the room. Choose a desk space as they are available and make it your own. All facilities are there to enable you to use a laptop. It is not advisable to leave valuable or personal items in the room unattended.
Computer Labs
SSEE has a postgraduate computer laboratory (room B1.14) located in the Basement of the building.
Development Student on-line network
The current and past graduate students of Development Studies have formed an on-line network in which they keep in contact with each other, share information about latest development issues, job opportunities, internships, and conferences. It is easy to join the group. Just follow the prompts on the website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SSEE-DN/
Discussion group
Also, our current postgraduate and masters students have formed a Development Studies Discussion Group which meets regularly (once a month usually). This is organized entirely by students who want to explore readings and discuss ideas and debates relating to development in a supportive and intellectually engaging way. The students have also formed a yahoo-group email address which is the principle way that they keep each other informed about the discussion group program/ activities: UniMelbDevStudies@yahoogroups.com
Email Account
You need to go to http://home.student.unimelb.edu.au and select the accounts setup page option and then proceed from there to establish your email address and email account. This also establishes your login name to access the system. It is vital that all students check their emails regularly as most of the communication from the University, our School and from individual subject coordinators is via email.
Ethics Procedures for Honours and Masters Coursework minor thesis students
Research that is deemed to be of low risk to participants and researchers may be approved by an expedited process in departments that have established a Human Ethics Advisory Group (HEAG). In SSEE, this process is available only to Honours and Masters by Coursework minor thesis students. If you are intending to complete a research project or thesis, then make sure you are aware of the procedures for submitting your ethics application by visiting the following link: courseinfo/ethics.html.
Financial support for research students
Our School allocates a set amount from its own budget to assist each postgraduate student with research costs. Depending on individual needs, IRGs may cover stationery, mail, photocopying, fax and long-distance telephone costs.
The range of facilities and resources that our School provides varies according to the proportion of the degree constituted by research. The IRG allocation for all master by coursework students is $250 in total over the duration of the course. This allowance can be used at any time during your course but must not be exceeded. Students have full access to facilities. Use of these facilities (where a cost is involved in providing them, e.g. photocopying, telephone, vehicles) will be deducted from your IRG allocation.
Navigating your studies - written work
The SSEE booklet Navigating Academia is available free and contains an essay writing guide, an outline of the preferred referencing system in SSEE, procedures for submitting essays and more. Download Navigating Academia in pdf format
If you are undertaking a research project or minor thesis, SSEE Research Paper No 14 'Writing theses: a manual for honours and masters students' by Michael Webber is an invaluable resource.
You can purchase a bound copy of this manual for $10 from Tina at SSEE' office or download Writing theses: a manual for honours and masters students
The Learning Skills Unit (LSU) is a University service dedicated to assisting students to improve their study and learning skills in areas such as critical reading, memory, oral presentation, time management, academic writing etc. For more information please check out the website: www.services.unimelb.edu.au.
The Baillieu Library also runs regular information sessions for students. Enquire about these at the Information Desk in the library or visit the Library homepage.
Photocopying
Our School has two high quality photocopiers – one in Room 208 on the second level and one on ground level. Students are given a certain limit (1,000 copies) and usage is recorded by the photocopier and then deducted from the overall allowance for resources that is provided for each student. Students must give priority to teaching and administrative staff especially in the ground level copy room. In order to gain an access password for the photocopiers, please contact Tina in reception.
Seminars and Workshops
There are various seminars, public lectures, workshops and conferences which occur throughout the school, faculty and university as a whole which we try to keep you up to date about. All graduate level students are expected to attend the Development Studies seminar series. For a list of the speakers in the upcoming semester contact Dr Violeta Schubert violetas@unimelb.edu.au or visit the development studies website. Alternatively, check SMAG magazine on the SSEE home page.
The Anthropology Seminar Series, the Geography and Environmental Studies Seminar Series, and the Australian Indigenous Studies seminar series, and the Melbourne Human Geography Reading Group are well established regular events to stimulate intellectual engagement and many interesting international and national speakers regularly present papers.
Visit the SSEE home page for more details.
SMAG (The School Magazine)
Ms Kate Marks produces a regular on-line magazine - SMAG. SMAG is an excellent way to keep up with the latest events within the school. Current and past issues are downloadable via the link to the SMAG Magazine.
Staff
The SSEE Course Guides contains contact information and a listing of the administrative and teaching staff of the school. This is a large school with administrative, academic staff, visiting scholars, research and masters students.
Staff room/ tea rooms
The staff room is located on the second floor. There is a microwave oven, refrigerator and facilities for tea and coffee. SSEE provides tea, coffee and milk. Every individual who uses the facilities must clean up their own mess. You should not leave dirty plates, cups, cutlery etc on the benches or in the sink.
The staff room is also used for official functions and meetings. The staff room is not a study area and should not be used by students as a meeting room. There are other facilities for such purposes. It is primarily a place to have your tea/coffee break and lunch and generally gives you an opportunity to get to know staff and students.
There are also smaller tearooms on the ground and second floor.
Social Events
We have a very enthusiastic postgraduate student body which organise various social and other events amongst themselves. Events include slide-nights, soccer matches, reading and discussion groups and social gatherings at local pubs and cafes.
In the beginning of each semester Dr Violeta Schubert organises a Development Studies Welcome Party to introduce you to teaching, administrative staff and students of SSEE. Students will be advised of the dates.
SSEE holds a pre-Christmas end of year barbeque for staff and students and their friends and families.
Getting Around the University
Please visit http://www.pb.unimelb.edu.au/CampusMaps/Parkville.pdf for a map of the University of Melbourne, Parkville campus.