Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) is a motivating and successful intellectual environment for Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates. The HDR training program attracts a diverse range of students interested in plants and the broader ecological systems that underpin them. This program has resulted in the Institute's strong reputation as a successful environment for the development of professional researchers by supporting and nurturing a large number of PhD candidates to create a vibrant postgraduate intellectual community.

Prospective Students:

Prospective HDR candidates can enrol in either a Master of Science (Honours) or Doctor of Philosophy program. For more information about admission to the University of Western Sydney's research student program and scholarships, please see our web site on Research Degrees and Scholarships.

Find and contact a prospective supervisor through our HIE Academic Summaries.  

Resources for Current Students:

The Institute endorses the principles outlined in the Research Higher Degree Candidate Essential Resources Policy, which specifies the minimum resources to be provided for HDR students. This statement of principles meets the minimum guidelines (Section 5) outlined in the policy (clause numbers shown in brackets below), and provides further detail for assigning resources to HDR students.

The resource allocation guidelines shown in the policy are:

• full-time HDR candidates are assigned a dedicated on-campus workspace and secure storage facility (clauses 15–20);
• full-time HDR candidates are assigned a leased desktop computer with software and the network capability available to staff (clauses 21–26);
• all HDR candidates have access to a telephone, stationery and other office materials (clauses 27–28);
• all HDR candidates have access to library facilities (clauses 29–33);
• full-time HDR candidates have access to $3,000 candidature project funds per annum (clauses 34–42).

And in addition, the Institute will provide HDR students:

• with personal shelving assigned to each workspace, and where possible, additional shelving for shared resources, eg. previous theses, computer software, journal subscriptions and books;
• access to the Institute’s latest equipment, and substantial indoor and outdoor laboratory facilities;
• access to the Institute’s laptop computer(s) for field work and presentations, and certain software appropriate to their research;
• access to additional project funds to support their research in any calendar year at the discretion of the Director. Additional funding will be nominal and allocated only after the candidate’s Principal Supervisor has submitted a detailed project plan and costing, including a statement on why the project cannot be completed within the usual candidature project funds allocation from research grant funds;
• up to $2,000 per national conference and $4,000 per international conference upon application. Candidates are supported for one international and one national conference or two national conferences during their candidature. Applications are assessed on merit;
• who hold a scholarship with an additional $5,000 stipend for the equivalent of three years’ full time enrolment.

Support for Students:

A range of academic and professional staff within the Institute provide each HDR student with administrative and/or technical support. They include:

Theme Leaders who provide academic leadership and direction for the research theme, which is consistent with the expressed aims of the theme, and within the broader context of the Institute. Each Theme Leader manages current research initiatives within their theme, and develops new initiatives and links with Government and semi-Government partners, industry, and other educational institutions. Theme Leaders mentor early career researchers, and monitor the progress of HDR students.

An Institute Manager who maintains a watching brief over the Institute's research training program, liaises with the Research Student team in Research Services on exceptional matters relating to the Institute’s HDR students, and liaises with the Research Scholarships Development Officer with respect to Institute scholarship recipients.

A HDR Coordinator who ensures that students are provided with an intellectually stimulating environment, and assists to develop and implement the Institute’s research training initiatives.

A Senior Administration Officer who provides HDR students with their first port of call, and specifically assists students with HDR and RTS allocations, travel, and financial management advice.

A Technical Manager who supports HDR students with OH&S matters, chemical and equipment ordering, laboratory induction, and plant and equipment maintenance coordination.