ICS Commencement Program
ICS Commencement Program for Higher Degree Research Students
Consists of three components, as follows:
-
Induction Component
ICS Welcome Session: held on the 5th September 2008 from 1:30pm in C5C 236. Students will receive division-specific information, for example on divisional resources (e.g. technical services) and funding schemes, and will get to meet ICS staff and other postgraduate students. Conducted once per half-year. Attendance is compulsory for new students. -
Postgraduate Research Training Component
Students must be enrolled in one of the following course units, depending on the Department:- Computing and Electronics: COMP901 Writing and Presentation Skills(for more information please contact Prof Robert Dale) plus a series of courses and workshops about Research & Development Practice and Management. The first courses to be taken by new students are: the IP information session .
- Mathematics: MATH843
- Physics: PHYS801
These units are offered once per year. Attendance and satisfactory performance is compulsory for all new postgraduate students unless waived. Details of the units are available from the Departmental Director of Postgraduate Research.
Research Planning (Supervisor-led)
With the supervisors(s), the student will develop a research plan that leads to the thesis.The component includes literature reviews, review of theories and/or methodologies, revision of the research proposal attached to the candidature application (if necessary), development of a research plan that leads to the thesis, identification of milestones and a timetable.
This component should be completed and a written report should be submitted to the ICS Postgraduate Research Administrator within 6 months (12 months for part-time students) from the date of first enrolment. The student must submit the research plan accompanied by a Research Plan Submission Form, signed off by both the main and associate supervisor.
Note: In addition to the above Commencement Program, there is a Departmental Review process (see Progression). The progress of all ICS postgraduate students (except those who started very close to the review date) is reviewed annually, around June, by a process that includes a written document, a presentation to the Department and an interview with a Department Panel. In the case of new students, the Research Planning report (stated in Item 3 above) may duplicate as the written document required for this review.
Activities and Requirements
Activity |
Time limit |
Recorded by |
Assessment |
If failed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Commencement Program * |
Within 6 months EFT |
HDRO |
HDRU attendance records or WebCT records
|
Need to attend next offering or do online |
ICS Welcome Session |
HDR Administrator-Division |
Assessed by PGRC, based on participation assessed using ICS attendance records |
Need to attend next offering |
|
Postgraduate Training Coursework Unit * |
Within 1 year EFT |
HDR Administrator - Division keeps marks and records |
Assessed by unit conveners. Satisfactory (>50%) mark in each assignment and attendance at all lectures (unless waived) are required. |
Students who miss lectures and/or assignments due to unavoidable reasons will be allowed to complete the unit in the next offering. Students with unsatisfactory outcome will need to take it again in the next offering. |
Research Plan Report ** |
Within 6 months EFT |
HDR Administrator -Division records outcome |
Assessed by the Departmental Director of Postgraduate Research based on the report |
Students with unsatisfactory outcome will be reported to the PGRC. The Committee will give the student additional time, up to 8 weeks, to submit a satisfactory report and will review the case. Failure to submit a satisfactory report within that time will result in a recommendation to the University HDRC to issue a "show cause" notice to the student. |
|
Students who fail to complete satisfactorily BOTH the Research Planning and Postgraduate Training requirements within the timeframe above may not be given additional time. They will be reported to the HDRC with a recommendation to issue a "show cause" notice. |
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* Part of minimum requirement unless waived.
** Part of minimum requirement.
EFT = effective full-time candidature.
Students with an unsatisfactory outcome will be reported to the ICS Postgraduate Research Committee. The Committee will give the student additional time to remedy the situation and will review the case. Additional time given to prepare a satisfactory Research Planning Report will be up to eight weeks (EFT). Failure to achieve a satisfactory outcome within this time will result in a recommendation to the University Higher Degree Research Committee (HDRC) to issue a "show cause" notice to the student. The student will need to give reasons why candidature should not be terminated.
Reporting Documentation
Documents kept by HDRU:
- The student's Commencement Program Report is submitted to the HDRU. This report will include assessment outcomes of all activities, for example whether the student completed the activity satisfactorily, was waived from the activity, or was allowed to postpone it to a later offering.
- The Higher Degree Research Candidate's Annual Progress Report.
Documents kept by the Division:
- Attendance reports of ICS students at ICS Welcome Sessions will be kept for one year, to cross-check with Commencement Program Reports if necessary.
- The assessment marks and attendance reports of the Postgraduate Training Unit will be kept for a period of two years.
- The Departmental Review process includes a written document, a presentation to the Department and an interview with a Department Panel. The report of the Departmental Review Panel includes the decision and recommendations.
- A copy of the Higher Degree Research Candidate's Annual Progress Report.
- Other personal student records including letters sent to students regarding unsatisfactory progress, "Show Cause" notices issued, etc.