Candidates undertaking postgraduate research have unique needs, and navigating the complexities that arise along the way can be challenging.
At Bond University, we recognise it is critical to provide specialist advice, training, and support to higher degree by research (HDR) candidates throughout their journeys. We achieve this through a broad range of offerings, including academic support, assistance with budgeting and securing funding, wellbeing support, and more.
It is critical that all HDR students and supervisors share a wealth of knowledge to ensure the dissemination of effective research training and support. As a result, Bond offers significant opportunities for training, support, and information exchange every semester, beginning in Orientation Week.
Orientation is your gateway to Bond University! This series of events and activities is designed to introduce you to our campus, key support staff, essential services, research practices, and available resources. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow HDR candidates.
For more details, including the full Orientation schedule, visit the Orientation Week at Bond page. Don’t miss the HDR Welcome on Wednesday of Orientation Week and be sure to check the Orientation Guide and attend all compulsory sessions.
Commencing HDR students must also attend their mandatory faculty orientation session to better understand both general infrastructure support (including access to buildings, internet access, equipment, parking, workspace access) and project-specific support (including field work, testing, consumables, laboratory space).
You will receive information about your faculty orientation prior to Orientation Week.
The HDR Learning and Skills Program has been designed to aid HDR students and supervisors throughout the higher degree research journey. This program offers essential resources for managing and completing your degree successfully.
The program commences with a face-to-face workshop Tuesday of Week 4, followed by a sequence of online learning modules to be completed throughout the semester. Participation in the HDR Learning and skills Program is compulsory, and confirmation of candidature cannot be achieved without completing the program. More information will be provided to you at the start of the semester.
Bond University provides support with creating project budgets for HDR projects, as well as funding support to cover project costs.
An integral part of being a researcher is managing a research budget. As part of your research project, you will need to develop and submit a budget for assessment by the University.
Expenditure items may include:
• Data collection
• Laboratory and/or fieldwork consumables
• Record access
• Field work travel and subsistence for data collection
• Materials, practical projects, and films
Some project costs may be supported through existing University infrastructure, including:
• Access to literature and publication resources
• Access to databases and other relevant online records
• Large equipment
• Other equipment already owned and used by the University
Project funding requests will be reviewed and approved by the Chair of Graduate Research before any expenditure of funds.
Bond University provides financial support to all HDR candidates on a case-by-case basis to fund conference registration, accommodation, and associated travel costs where the candidate has been accepted for an oral presentation, paper presentation, poster, or other form of research dissemination.
To obtain travel funding, HDR candidates must consult with their supervision team and complete a HDR budget application form. The application must include all expected costs, including conference registration, transportation, and accommodation. The conference program must be submitted alongside the application, in addition to evidence of presentation at the conference.
This application will then be submitted to the candidate’s principal supervisor and the Associate Director of Research for approval. We recommend submitting applications at least three months prior to the required expenditure of funds.
Upon receipt of the required information for travel funding, the HDR Unit will:
• Make the bookings (travel, conference registration, accommodation) on behalf of the candidate in advance. Candidates will not be reimbursed if they pay for their expenses personally unless prearranged with the HDR Unit
• Keep records for the candidate and provide a report of funding commitments to the Associate Director of Research and the HDR Subcommittee
• Reimburse the candidate for any approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred during the trip upon presentation of tax invoices
Even at a postgraduate level, the benefits of personalised academic support and the right resources are endless.
The University’s Academic Skills Centre offers free academic support services to all students, regardless of discipline, throughout the semester. The knowledgeable advisors at the Academic Skills Centre are available to assist HDR students with writing, grammar, organisation and time management, academic style, referencing, and more.
The Main Library and Law Library both provide an extensive range of valuable resources for HDR students. Each faculty has its own designated faculty librarian, who will be able to assist you with research requests and sourcing resources relevant to your project.
The demands of postgraduate research are not to be underestimated, which is why we pride ourselves on providing excellent support that prioritises the mental and physical wellbeing of our HDR candidates throughout the entire study journey.
The University also runs a number of wellbeing initiatives and support services every semester to help mitigate the pressures of tertiary study and ensure good work-life balance.