Postgraduate checklist

The following is a checklist for international postgraduate students. This checklist is designed to give some information about the essential things you should know in the first few weeks of your study and research at La Trobe University.

Do you know about:	Explanation	Where to go
Endnote (Bibliographic package)	This is a computer program that will help enormously with your referencing and keeping your references organised and up-to-date. La Trobe University can provide you with a copy for your computer.	The Information Technology/Services Unit in your Faculty will provide you with the software. The Library runs workshops to teach you how to use the program.
Your faculty librarian	Each faculty has at least one specialist librarian in the Borchart. You can make an appointment with this person to discuss your research topic and the appropriate research tools for finding literature.	Go to the information desk in the library and ask about your faculty librarian. Alternatively you can view a list of Faculty librarians .
Research proposal requirements in your school	Some schools require PhD students to give a formal research proposal in the first 6-12 months of candidature. Some schools require only a written proposal, in others you have to present your proposal to a conference of postgraduates or at a school seminar.	Check with your supervisor about the proposal requirements for your school.
Postgraduate co-ordinators	You will mainly work with your supervisors over the time of your research here at La Trobe. However, you should be aware that each school also has a postgraduate co-ordinator. If you have any concerns that you may not be able to discuss with your supervisors, you can talk to the postgraduate co-ordinator.	Ask at the school office who your postgraduate coordinator is.
School seminars	Each school runs a series of seminars so students and staff can share their research. These are run during semester, either weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. They are useful to attend because they are models of how you present in your discipline and of how research is carried out. Later in your study, you may be expected to present at one of these seminars.	The seminars are advertised on your school noticeboard, on the website or in the University News, which can be accessed from the La Trobe University Staff homepage.
La Trobe University Thesis Template	This template has been designed according to LTU specifications for a thesis. You many find it useful. Some people prefer to use create their own from styles in Word.	The LTU Thesis template (DOT 37KB) is available for download. Make sure you save it as a document template - not a word file!