University Graduate School Board Statement

Guidelines: Support for Research Students Working Off-Campus.

Applications by individual students to undertake research degrees while based largely off-campus must be accompanied by a faculty statement which addresses how each of the components of support described will be provided and where responsibility for resource provision lies within UTS and Commonwealth policies. Arrangements need to be agreed by the student and the faculty before the application is submitted to the University Graduate School Board which will consider the arrangements proposed in the context of the application for candidature.

Where a faculty develops a program for delivery to a group of students off-shore, a proposal must be submitted to the University Graduate School Board with details of how support will be provided within the normal UTS and Commonwealth government requirements and policies for support of students.

Successful completion of a higher degree in a conventional campus setting requires a high level of student capability, strong motivation and expert supervision. Students located off-campus for significant periods of time also need high levels of capability and motivation. These students need to operate within an agreed plan of support and contact to maintain motivation and ensure they do not become intellectually isolated and lose impetus on their work.

In considering the necessary support for research students who are not living within easy reach of the UTS campus or who choose for personal or work reasons not be come regularly to the campus, faculties need to ensure the student has access to:

1. E-mail, Internet, fax, telephone or other means of easy communication with the University and Supervisor;
2. Library facilities including specialist research libraries as required;
3. Facilities such as labs, computing facilities or specialised equipment needed;
4. Opportunities for ready consultation with a Supervisor at, or close to, the location where the student is physically based. Ideally the student should be able to have regular face-to-face consultation with a Principal Supervisor. Once a working relationship has been established, face-to-face meetings might be less important than, say, phone or e-mail contact;
5. Mechanism to involve the student in the academic/research culture of UTS or another institution, e.g. participation in seminars or workshops conducted by the University Graduate School; involvement in computer-mediated discussions; and activities such as on-line debates and discussions; participation in faculty-based residential schools and other activities designed for research students;
6. Opportunity to attend conferences or workshops in area of research interest.

Endorsed Academic Board October 1999