Department of International Communication

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For Research Students

Welcome to a new semester at Department of International Communication!

The Department of International Communication offers research programs in a variety of areas including: Communication and Development; Communication & International Political Economy; Computer-Mediated Communication; Cross-Cultural Communication; Image Flows; Information Flows; International Public Relations; Media and East Asian Studies. IC research students are currently working in areas, which include health communication, identity, modernisation, public relations, and communication policy - in relation to Australia, Bosnia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Seminars: Please check the notice board regarding the venue for the Research Students' seminar. New research students are encouraged to audit the following MA courses: Communication Research Methodology; Communication & Economic, Political and Social Development; Communication & International Political Economy; Cross-Cultural Communication.

Thesis Lengths

MA Research: 32,000 to 50,000

MA Honours: 50,000 to 75, 000

PhD: 75,000 to 100,000

Typical 3-Year Completion Plan:

Year	Semester 1	Semester 2
1	Introduction Background Justification Objectives Research Questions Hypotheses Structure	Literature Review Start Methodology Seminar Presentation
2	Ethics Application Research Fund Application Literature Review	Field Research Write-up Results
3	Write-up Discussion	Finalise Submit

In your first semester, Associate Professor Chitty will assist you to design a schedule for completion.

ESL Support

ESL support, in the form of sub-editing your drafts, is provided by Dr Estelle Dryland,

edryland@scmp.mq.edu.au Honorary Associate, Anthropology Department, by arrangement through HDR support offices at ICpa@scmp.mq.edu.au.

Research at the library

Research Strategy: Research students are encouraged to arrange a meeting with Di Mitchell, Academic Outreach Librarian, in order to design tailor-made library research plans for their thesis projects.

Di Mitchell: dmitchell@library.mq.edu.au

Tel: 9850-7520; Fax: 9850-7513

IT Help

http://www.library.mq.edu.au/support/
ithelp/

Nvivo: www.qsrinternational.com

Endnote: http://www.library.mq.edu.au/support/
training/endnote/endnote.html

DIRECT FUNDING BY DEPARTMENT (DF-DEPT)

Policy & Procedures Related to Direct Funding of Research Activities

Total funds of $10,000, are available over 4 years Full Time (F/T), or 8 years Part Time (P/T) candidature for candidates commencing in Semester 2 of 2006 or after. Candidates who commenced prior to this will receive $2,500 per annum for every remaining ‘in-time’ FT year or $1,250 per annum for every remaining ‘in-time’ PT year from 2007 onwards. Specific applications will be considered in the light of the provisional budget developed at the time the Candidate-Supervisor agreement is negotiated and signed. The budget may be renegotiated if the need arises. The following tables take into account the standard model of student budgets for a field work based PhD in International Communication. Exceptional variations can be argued for by candidate and supervisor prior to budgeting in October for the subsequent year. FT MPhil students will receive $5,000 in all which will be subtracted from the $10,000 total if they articulate into a PhD program.

PHD	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8
FT	1000	4000	4000	1000
PT	500	1000	3000	3000	1000	500	500	500

MPhil
FT	2500	2500
PT	500	3000	1000	500

All expenditure must be pre-approved, based on a proposal, budget and supporting documentation.
Conference funding is not available until after the proposal has been developed fully, the Candidate-Supervisor agreement negotiated and signed and also it is not available in the last 6 months of candidature.
Exceptional circumstances can justify variations to the model

Activities that may be funded include but are not limited to the following :

International and local research travel
International and local campus visits for consultation by external students
Accommodation and living expense will be considered in exceptional cases particularly in relation to external candidate’s campus residence requirements
Research Assistant
Interpreter costs
Transcription
Language training
Payment to those consulted in field
Health Insurance for field research (if not covered by the University)
Purchase of equipment (note that equipment will belong to MU & must be returned at the time of completion of candidature)
Hire of vehicle for field research
Purchase of books, CDs and DVDs (subject to the MU policy on book purchasing through the Library. Books, CDs/DVDs purchased are the property of the University, not the individual student).
Research/conference travel (students are encouraged to apply to PGRF for these)
Photocopying
Thesis binding

Additionally, MUDIC provides a sub-editing service via Dr Estelle Dryland. Please consult Professor Chitty in this regard.

Procedures

Initial Requirements

Candidate-Supervisor Agreements (MUDIC-HDR-1) need to be signed within 2 months after a candidate first enrols. A Provisional Overall Budget needs to be approved and attached to this document (MUDIC-HDR-2). It is the Principal Supervisor’s responsibility to have these documents completed. S/he should hand a copy to the candidate, retain copies for her/himself and pass on a copy to the MUDIC HDR Officer, Trish Kench. Trish will forward copies to the Division HDR Administrator (Ammy - Kochakorn Kotesrimuang) while retaining copies in the Department in a folder accessible by the Finance Officer, Lyn Baveystock.

Candidates should read the Policy Related to Direct Funding of Research Activities (MUDIC-HDR-3) very carefully.

Approval for Projected Expenditure (Pre-Approval)

All expenditure needs to follow University guidelines and standard accounting procedures. All expenditure needs therefore to be pre-approved based on an expenditure proposal and budget with supporting documents. Pre-Approval of Expenditure Under MUDIC Direct Fund form MUDIC-HDR-4 should be completed in consultation with your Principal Supervisor and signed by the Principal Supervisor. The completed form should be handed to the HDR Officer. Trish Kench will attach the Record of Payment Approval (MUDIC-HDR-6) to the documentation and seek endorsement by the Finance Officer and Head of Department. Following this the Candidate may proceed with the expenditure. The signed document will be retained in the Department Office in a folder that is accessible to the Finance Officer. A copy will be given to the Candidate after all the signatures have been obtained.

Approval of Payment for Expenses Incurred (MUDIC-HDR-5)

Once expenses have been incurred, receipts should be provided by the Candidate to the Principal Supervisor along with MUDIC-HDR-5. The receipts should be accompanied by a spread sheet detailing what the expenses incurred (an example of a form is attached). After the Principal Supervisor has completed Section A of the format and signed to signify approval, s/he should forward the completed form and receipts to the HDR Officer Trish Kench. Trish Kench will attach the Record of Payment Approval (MUDIC-HDR-6) to the documentation and seek endorsement by the Finance Officer and Head of Department. Following this the Candidate may seek reimbursement. If pre-approval has not been provided Trish Kench will return the application to the candidate.

Being Away

A candidate enrolled in a HDR is required to seek the permission of the HDR Committee to undertake a period of research overseas. Such application is required 6 weeks prior to departure from Australia in order for the item to be included on the next available agenda for the Committee's next meeting. Such a request for Committee approval is to have the formal support of the candidate's supervisor and Head of Division. Any absence for four weeks or above requires prior permission

Important Offices

Research Office: http://www.ro.mq.edu.au/

Postgraduate Research Fund (PGRF): [Check next closing date on Research Office Website]

For PGRF - http://www.ro.mq.edu.au/fund/internal/

For Ethics - http://www.ro.mq.edu.au/ethics/human/

Macquarie University Postgraduate Research Association (MUPRA) : http://www.mq.edu.au/mupra/

Higher Degree Research Unit

Mr Eddy Dharmadji,
Completion Officer, HDRU
Email address: eddy.dharmadji@mq.edu.au
Telephone: 02 9850 7345
Fax: 9850 6198
Dean of Higher Degree Research

The Dean of Graduate Studies, Research forms part of the University's Research Office. The Dean, Professor John Hooper, provides a professional and integrated approach to Higher Degree Research studies across all Divisions and Departments. The Dean is the senior academic responsible for postgraduate research study, with a role spanning policy development, administrative procedures and practices, supervisory arrangements and support structure. It also includes a strong commitment to client service, principally through provision of general advice and pastoral care to postgraduate research students and liaison with postgraduate student organisations. Higher Degree Research students enrolled in a Doctoral or Research Masters programs are invited to contact the Dean through his Personal Assistant, Ms Gail Zissermann. Email: Gail.Zissermann@mq.edu.au

IC Office

Trish Kench

Email address: mucicpa@scmp.mq.edu.au

Telephone: 02 9850 7900

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