Office space
We try to find all postgraduate students a desk somewhere in the School, but normally you will share a room and the rooms are reallocated annually.
Postgraduate Common Room
You are welcome to use the postgraduate common room located at the south end on the 5th floor, Richardson Building.
Please be considerate and note that use of the staff room (4th floor) is restricted to staff and PhD students in the School
School of Geography seminars
School of Geography seminars are held approximately every 4 weeks on Wednesday afternoon. All graduate students are expected to attend. The seminars help you to keep up to date with a variety of current research topics and provide you with an excellent opportunity to hear visitors to the School. You may find some seminars specifically related to your own research area, and they offer an opportunity to get to know people. You are also encouraged to attend inter-School seminars organised by Geography staff. PhD students are required to give at least one full School of Geography seminar at some point during their training.
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Student representation
Postgraduate students are eligible to nominate up to four representative on staff-student Committees. Postgraduate representatives are eligible to attend and vote at staff meetings.
Postgraduate Committee
Dr Sarah Mager and Dr Ralf Ohlemüller (Co-Chairs) and members of the Postgraduate Committee have overall responsibility for the welfare and progress of all postgraduate students, and should be consulted by both supervisor and student in the event of any problems. In the case of 400-level courses, Professor Etienne Nel (Head of School) should be consulted.
Research and stationery costs
The School of Geography normally includes a small allowance for each student involved in postgraduate research and writing to help cover some of the routine costs involved. In order to assist with your general costs, the School of Geography provides you with a limited amount of photocopying in the Library. You are also given a limited amount of photocopying/printing within the School of Geography. You will need your supervisor's signature approving any School of Geography expenditure.
Technical assistance
When setting up new equipment you should consult with your supervisor, who is responsible for ensuring that equipment is available for your project. When minor changes or repairs are needed, you should report them directly to your supervisor or to the School of Geography Administrator.
The New Zealand Geographical Society (Otago Branch)
Students are warmly encouraged to become members, and to participate in the affairs of the Branch by volunteering to service on the Branch committee. Student membership is available for a reduced fee and entitles you to receive copies of the New Zealand Geographer. The Otago Branch organises regular events, which are open to everyone, such as talks, slide shows, teacher-academic contact meetings and field trips.
If academic problems occur
If you are unable to resolve difficulties by approaching your supervisor or Postgraduate committee members then consider the following options:
Consulting the Head of School, or other members of staff for advice or support.
Discussing matters with your fellow graduate students, including the postgraduate representatives, can help in problem solving and providing general support.
Disputes about academic or ethical matters, for example, the attribution of authorship to papers resulting from the thesis work, that are unable to be resolved by direct approach to a supervisor, may be referred to a University mediator.