Frequently Asked Questions for HDR Candidates

Firstly it is important to document in detail all of your delays.  You should do this using your regular twice yearly Progress Report.

Secondly, it is important to work with your advisors on developing a safety net or “Plan B.”

Covid-19 has been a dramatic reminder of the need to be able to accommodate rapidly changing external environments, whilst continuing to move forward towards major goals, specifically, graduating with your HDR! For example, in “Covid times” those doing research projects involving international travel, or data collection requiring close proximity to human participants will have found themselves unable to progress their project in the way that was originally planned.

In order to progress towards the goal of completing the project, it is clear that a well-considered “Plan B” or safety net is required.  The idea is that the alternative plan would allow completion in the original time frame, rather than having to apply for an extension which should not be considered a safety net, but rather, a last resort. See here for more information.

Advisors are welcome to contact susan.gasson@jcu.edu.au if you would like to discuss those plans further to the information available online.

There are two discussion boards on LearnJCU. The main board is called “Candidature, pandemic and the whole damn thing”, and is available via the content menu in our LearnJCU Organisation. This forum is for sharing experiences as we all work our way through this challenging time. Please share your pandemic hacks, any great online courses you have found, ways to stay healthy and fit while self-isolating, any clever ideas you have about working as a PhD or Masters candidate that you think others would like to know. Some of our HDR Ambassadors will be leading the discussions, but we are keen for all HDRs to be involved. We will post anything interesting that we find too. We are all in this together, and learning about how to do this as it unfolds. This discussion board is not the place to ask questions about the administrative aspects of your candidature. If you have a question like that, please send it to the GRS team at grs@jcu.edu.au and they will be able to help you privately.

There is also a discussion board especially for new HDR candidates, titled “Induction Chat”. Please join this discussion board to interact with other new HDR candidates, share ideas and ask questions. How are you settling in? How are your advisory meetings going under the new conditions imposed by the pandemic? Do you have a question for one of our HDR Ambassadors, who are HDR candidates who assist incoming candidates to settle in? Again, this is not the place to ask questions about the administration of your candidature. If you have questions of that nature, please send them to the GRS team at grs@jcu.edu.au

There is also a Teams community which has been established, entitled “Global Cohort” which acknowledges the geographically dispersed cohort and enables information to be shared.  If you do wish to join this group on Teams, please email grs@jcu.edu.au

For interstate travel details please see the Government website.

For international border arrangements please see the Home Affairs website

If it becomes apparent that there has been an impact on your progression due to COVID-19, please document this in your usual Progress Reporting which is required twice annually. This documentation can then be used to support an application if it becomes apparent that an extension to your candidature due date may be required.  A candidature extension can by applied for by using the HDR Variation of Candidature Procedure.

In 2022 requirement for an “external presentation” for the MCR can be any oral presentation of the research deemed appropriate by your college ADRE.