Despite differences of institutional, disciplinary and individual contexts, a positive research student experience depends on a wellspring of motivation to progress towards completion.

In the University of Melbourne, the quality of support structures is not universal across faculties, departments and centres.  Structural inequities mean that financial and social capital will differ across research communities.

Structural inequities require navigation by both your representatives and yourself.  While your Graduate Student Association (GSA) is committed to addressing research student rights at University committees, we also encourage students to find out their specific context and to develop personal strategies that will assist completion.

Following Neumann (2003), specific strategies assisting completion goals are

-    strong motivations to produce scholarly work, and
-    supportive supervisory arrangements.

Over the course of this year, research student items posted here will be linked to both strategies.  Both the GSA and the University of Melbourne are invested in supporting your positive research experience.  Your voice matters.  With the GSA, research students have a voice in decisions made in the University and the wider community.  Welcome to your University of Melbourne.

Ms Maloti Ray
Research Education Officer
Graduate Student Association
Graduate Centre 1888 Building
research (at) gsa.unimelb.edu.au