Course coordinator
Dr Aparna Hebbani
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 6
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Candidates will research & write an original thesis on a topic in communication relevant to their field of study. Students enrolling in the yearlong course commencing in Semester 1 enrol in COMU7007 for two semesters.
Students commencing in the yearlong course in Semester 2 enrol in COMU7008 for two semesters.
Students enrolling in the course as a semester offering enrol in COMU7009 for one semester.
This course (for part-time thesis students only - completing thesis over two consecutive semesters of study) offers project management skills to assist you with the production of your thesis. It is the culmination of your Master of Communication program. The course offers you the chance to conduct original research on a topic relevant to your elected field of study. You will individually carry out original research in a field or fields of communication.
Throughout the course, you will work with an academic advisor from the School of Communication and Arts over two consecutive semesters. The course offers two options:
Option 1: Thesis that reports an original communication research project.
Scope: The following approaches are considered suitable for a 12,000 word thesis:
- A discursive, critical or reflective extended essay that focuses on a relevant communication issue.
- An extended, critical literature review about a particular communication topic.
- A small-scale case study.
- A replication of an appropriate research study.
Option 2: Communication project and exegesis (6,000 word exegesis + output - see assessment section for details).
Scope: Examples of suitable communication projects include:
- A strategic public relations plan.
- A corporate social responsibility policy.
- A social marketing campaign.
- A participatory communication project.
- A media campaign.
- A crisis communication plan.
- Visual research project (such as long-form photographic essay or video documentary).
The selection of your preferred option must be made at the start of semester in consultation with your academic advisor. Students must approach potential advisors to discuss their proposal and supervision arrangements prior to or during the first week of semester. Profiles and contact details of academic staff are available from the SCA website: http://communication-arts.uq.edu.au/our-people/academic.
Structured workshops will be offered throughout the semester to assist with the progress of your project.
Ethical Clearance, Risk Assessment and Travel Advice
If your thesis or project will involve any interaction/data collection with human subjects (online or face-to-face) AND if you plan to publish any data from your thesis in the future, you will need to apply for and receive ethical clearance via MyResearch site, BEFORE you commence your field work.
This may be a fairly time-consuming process so if you need to undergo this step, please contact the course coordinator at the earliest (approval can take a weeks/months).ﾠ
Please visit http://www.uq.edu.au/research/integrity-compliance/low-and-negligible-risk-reviews and see Section titled 'Does a student assignment or activity require research ethics review?' to understand which student project needs ethical clearance, and which does not.
If your project involves local travel please discuss with course coordinator and note that before you collect data, you must undertake a risk assessment. You must complete the online risk assessment form as well as the UQ online Travel Form. Please note that to travel anywhere overseas for purposes of collecting data for your thesis or project, you are required to check the travel advice provided by Smartraveller: The Australian Government Travel Advisory and Consular Assistance Service (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/).
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students enrolling in this course should have good background knowledge on research methods and/or be prepared to read extensively on research methodology, having completed the pre-requisites. It is also assumed that students have basic computer literacy skills and are able to useﾠ Blackboard, email applications,ﾠweb browsers, and software for word processing,ﾠdata processing and creating presentations.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
GPA of 5.5 required, with a grade of 5 or above in a postgraduate research methods course.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
COMU7002, COMU7004, COMU7005, COMU7006, COMU7008 and COMU7009
Restrictions
Availability of a supervisor and permission of the Course Coordinator/Program Convenor is required to enrol in this course.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Aparna Hebbani
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
A total of 6 workshops are scheduled, and you will be required to attend the first 4 workshops in your first semester of enrolment into this course in Weeks 1, 2, 3, & 7, and rest of the workshops in the following semester (S2 since you are enrolled part-time). The first workshop commences in Week 1.
In addition to these workshops, you are expected to arrange weekly or fortnightly meetings with your supervisor. The course coordinator is also available for student consultation by appointment.
Additional Timetable Information
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team: timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is ﾠto enable students to undertake an original, indepth research project (12,000ﾠ words maximum) on a relevant and approved communication topic. Students will be assisted in this task through participation in regular seminar presentations which are designed to provide them with peer support, a collegial learning environment, a greater sense of community, and interactions with academic staff. Each student will conduct the research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor from the School of Communication & Arts. The research report should have a solid theoretical basis, an indepth literature review,ﾠ the description of a validﾠmethodology, and evidence of analytic thoroughness.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Theorise by designing, positioning and justifying a project that addresses gaps within your specified field of practice or research.
LO2.
Critically engage in or contribute to the understandings of communication research and/or practice.
LO3.
Evaluate and use appropriate and ethical methodologies to complete your project.
LO4.
Position your project within the literature relevant to your project.
LO5.
Communicate complex ideas clearly and fluently, using conventions relevant to your topic.
LO6.
Critically reflect on your project and its contribution to contemporary communication practice/s and/or disciplinary knowledge.
LO7.
Work independently and critically reflect on your capacity to assume leadership in the field of communication research or practice.
Assessment
Assessment summary
Option 1 - Thesis
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Thesis Plan
|
2% 1,200 words (min.) |
24/04/2025 4:00 pm |
| Thesis |
Thesis Draft
|
3% 6,000 words (min.) |
30/05/2025 4:00 pm |
| Thesis |
Communication Research Thesis (Final Submission)
|
95% 12,000 words (max. incl. refs) |
31/10/2025 4:00 pm |
Option 2 - Project & Exegesis
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project |
Thesis Plan
|
2% 1,200 words (min.) |
24/04/2025 4:00 pm |
| Project, Thesis |
Thesis Draft
|
3% 3,000 words (min.) exegesis + project |
30/05/2025 4:00 pm |
| Project, Thesis |
Communication Project and Exegesis (Final Submission)
|
95% 6,000 words (max. incl. refs) exegesis + project |
31/10/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Option 1 - Thesis
Thesis Plan
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 2% 1,200 words (min.)
- Due date
24/04/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Option 1: Traditional Communication Thesis - Thesis Plan
The first assessment task in this course is a plan/proposal. It is an assessment task that is critical to the quality of the final thesis submission. All students, whether undertaking a thesis or a communication project, need to submit a plan/proposal which outlines:
- Your project/research aims and objectives;
- How you intend to complete the project/research;
- The means, methods or modalities adopted;
- Your timeline for completion (including agreed meeting schedule);
- Scope: A reflection on your capacity to complete your project/research in the specified timeline.
You must use the template for this assessment task which is available on Blackboard. Given the diverse array of projects that can be undertaken in this course, you have the opportunity to negotiate some criteria and standards beyond those specified on Blackboard. A copy of the negotiated criteria, signed by you and your supervisor, should be submitted with your plan.
Please note that your plan will be read/marked by your academic advisor who will give feedback during their regular meeting with you and/or via Turnitin.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Thesis Draft
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Weight
- 3% 6,000 words (min.)
- Due date
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Option 1: Traditional Communication Thesis - Thesis Draft
This assessment task requires you to submit your draft thesis. The more you have written, the better it is for you as this is a great opportunity for you to get feedback on your written work from your advisor.
The purpose of the draft is to ensure that you have made significant progress towards achieving your aims and objectives as negotiated as per your plan.
Your draft must follow the final thesis template (posted on Blackboard) and include:
- a clearly identified research topic;
- chapters that one would normally see in a traditional thesis such as Introduction, Background, Aim, Research Question(s), followed by substantial progress towards the literature review and theoretical framework;
- identification and justification of your process/methodology (particularly in reference to craft/technical skills needed to complete project);
- preliminary results, if applicable.
The feedback from this assessment task is valuable and will inform successful completion of the thesis.
Your draft should conform to the template available on Blackboard. You should submit your draft via Turnitin on the Blackboard site. This submission will be read/marked by your advisor, who will provide you feedback during your regular meeting and/or via Turnitin.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Communication Research Thesis (Final Submission)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Weight
- 95% 12,000 words (max. incl. refs)
- Due date
31/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Option 1: Traditional Communication Thesis - Final Submission
If you elect to undertake a research thesis, you are required to conduct original research into a topic relevant to communication, thereby contributing to our understanding of communication studies and practice. The thesis expands on your research plan and should include:
- an introduction which sets out your research aims and objectives, a rationale for your approach, a problem statement, and an outline of your thesis;
- a theoretical framework and review of literature relevant to your project that also theoretically locates your project within the field of study;
- a section on methodology and a rationale for the methods you have adopted, and ethical considerations;
- a section that outlines your results, findings and analysis;
- a section that discusses and critically positions your results, findings and analysis and reflects on the limitations of your approach;
- a section that sets out your conclusions and critically examines your research contribution in the field; and
- a section in which you have listed in alphabetical order all sources cited in your project, followed by an appendix where relevant
Your thesis should not exceed 12,000 words (including references). Title page, abstract, acknowledgements, and appendices are excluded from this word limit.
All work must be referenced using the 6th edition style guide of the American Psychological Association (APA).
You should submit an electronic copy of your thesis via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Please note that your thesis/project will be assessed by your supervisor and one other examiner whose identity will not be revealed. If needed, their assessment will be moderated by the Course Coordinator. Your final grade will be awarded upon completion of this process. Once your grade has been finalised, you will receive written feedback from both examiners.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You can apply for extensions for the plan and the draft assessment items, but please note that only in very rare cases will extensions be granted for the final assessment item (worth 95%). Extension requests beyond the grade finalisation period for the final assessment item may impact upon graduation times due to tight grade moderation deadlines as well as internal grade submission deadlines towards graduation checks.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Option 2 - Project & Exegesis
Thesis Plan
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
- Weight
- 2% 1,200 words (min.)
- Due date
24/04/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Option 2: Non-Traditional Thesis (Project and Exegesis) - Thesis Plan
The first assessment task in this course is a plan/proposal. It is an assessment task that is critical to the quality of the final thesis submission. All students, whether undertaking a thesis or a communication project, need to submit a plan/proposal which outlines:
- Your project/research aims and objectives;
- How you intend to complete the project/research;
- The means, methods or modalities adopted;
- Your timeline for completion (including agreed meeting schedule);
- Scope: A reflection on your capacity to complete your project/research in the specified timeline.
Given the diverse array of projects that can be undertaken in this course, you have the opportunity to negotiate some criteria and standards beyond those specified on Blackboard. A copy of the negotiated criteria, signed by you and your supervisor, should be submitted with your plan.
Please note that your plan will be read/marked by your academic advisor who will give feedback during their regular meeting with you and/or via Turnitin.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Thesis Draft
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Project, Thesis
- Weight
- 3% 3,000 words (min.) exegesis + project
- Due date
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Option 2: Non-Traditional Thesis (Project and Exegesis) - Thesis Draft
This assessment task requires you to submit your draft project work and draft exegesis.
The purpose of the draft report is to ensure that you have made significant progress towards achieving your aims and objectives.
Your draft must include (but is not limited to):
- a clearly identified project topic;
- substantial progress towards the literature review;
- identification and justification of your process/methodology;
- preliminary results, if applicable;
- preliminary version of exegesis.
The feedback from this assessment task will inform successful completion of the final assessment.
If your non-traditional thesis requires a different format for submission, then you should negotiate with the Course Coordinator and your advisor on the most appropriate way to present your results.
You should submit your draft via Turnitin on the Blackboard site. This task will be read by your advisor, who will provide you feedback during your regular meeting.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Communication Project and Exegesis (Final Submission)
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Project, Thesis
- Weight
- 95% 6,000 words (max. incl. refs) exegesis + project
- Due date
31/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Option 2: Non-Traditional Thesis (Project and Exegesis) - Final Submission
This option requires two outcomes:
- A professional communication project (50%); and
- An exegesis - 6,000 words, excluding references, bibliography, tables, table of contents, appendices (50%).
The option aims to promote reflective communication practice, which requires practitioners to examine and reflect on their practice and performance (Schon 1995).
Reflective practice will be evidenced by the following:
Communication Project (50%):
Extended works of professional communication produced within the semester. Your advisor will guide and help you to plan your project. This step is critical to ensure your work is completed within a semester and is of high quality.
Your work must demonstrate good story-telling and production techniques, a high level of creativity, and market/audience awareness. It is essential that you work in a medium with which you are familiar and experienced. Your project must be compatible with the computing resources available within the School. You will have included the resource implications of your elected project in your project plan. In other words, your project must fit within the resources available in the School. You are expected to canvass a range of sources to inform your project and must meet the deadlines and production standards specified in the assessment criteria. Also, you are strongly advised to attend MaPS classes (or watch them online) and use related sources that are offered by the School (see 3.5).
For this assessment (Option 2), examples of suitable communication projects include:
- A strategic public relations plan.
- A corporate social responsibility policy.
- A social marketing campaign.
- A participatory communication project.
- A media campaign.
- A crisis communication plan.
- A visual research project.
N.B. It is your responsibility to ensure that all items of the package can be opened and viewed using the software available on computers within the School of Communication and Arts, or it may affect your mark for this assessment item.
Exegesis (50%):
Your exegesis must explain how you have approached your work with a personal conceptual framework; stood back from situations to see the 'whole picture' rather than part of it; analysed and applied theory and methodology; and identified areas for practice development. You should be able to:
- identify and contextualise the personal assumptions underlying your project;
- stand back from your project and position your approach within contemporary communication practice by explaining your choices;
- explain how the chosen media helped you to tell the story;
- position your approach within relevant theories and literature;
- explain raking of facts, concepts, sources and production choices;
- identify, evaluate, and make recommendations in relation to potential areas for practice development; and
- critically evaluate ethical and legal issues relating to your approach.
The exegesis must be referenced using the 6th or 7th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA). See Central Library for more details. Please note that your project and exegesis will be assessed by your advisor, and one other examiner, who must remain anonymous through the marking process. If needed, their assessment will be moderated by the Course Coordinator. Your final grade will be awarded upon completion of this process. Once your grade has been finalised, you will receive feedback from assessors.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You can apply for extensions for the plan and the draft assessment items, but please note that only in very rare cases will extensions be granted for the final assessment item (worth 95%). Extension requests beyond the grade finalisation period for the final assessment item may impact upon graduation times due to tight grade moderation deadlines as well as internal grade submission deadlines towards graduation checks.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Additional information on other learning resources and information will be posted on the course Blackboard site.
UQ has more traditional academic writing support available to students:
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
All student activities
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 1: Course Orientation This workshop provides general information to students undertaking the thesis in SCA. It canvasses what is expected of you as a P/T thesis student. It will introduce you to the key elements of, and stages in managing your project, and how these relate to the assessment criteria. In mid-semester break, you must submit an outline of your proposal, so it will get you started on a project concept. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 2: Research Proposal & Ethics (Cancelled due to Cyclone Alfred) THIS WEEK'S CONTENT WILL BE COVERED IN WEEK 3! The workshop will look at strategies for developing a research proposal. We will also discuss the ethics that inform decisions at every step of the research process: choice of research topic, choice of methods, data collection strategies, analysis and reporting. Work on refining research question and overall project design. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 3: Proposal & Ethics + Lit Review & Theory The week's workshop will combine content from Wk 2 & 3 (due to Cylcone Alfred)! We will look at strategies for developing a research proposal. We will also discuss the ethics that inform decisions at every step of the research process: choice of research topic, choice of methods, data collection strategies, analysis and reporting. Work on refining research question and overall project design. This week, you will also be introduced to guidelines on how review the literature in your area of study, define a theoretical framework and ensure both are linked to RQ/s. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Workshop |
Week 6: Research Methods & Analyses This workshop will revisit various research methods and software for qualitative methods of analyses. GUEST LECTURE! Learning outcomes: L03 |
Week 22 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Workshop |
(SEMESTER 2) Week 9: Doing Data Analysis (COMU7007 part-time students must attend) Data Analysis: This workshop will be a hands-on exercise in how to come up with themes from qualitative data. Please note that exact date might change depending on the timetabling of thesis courses in S2, 2025. Readings/Ref: Weerakkody; Wadsworth Learning outcomes: L03, L05, L06 |
Week 24 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Workshop |
(SEMESTER 2) Week 11: Production of Final Thesis (COMU7007 part-time students must attend) This final session focuses on the production of your final thesis and submission due Friday by 4 p.m. in the last week of S2. You should bring your near-complete project doc with you and be prepared to discuss it with your fellow students. Please note that exact date might change depending on the timetabling of thesis courses in S2, 2025. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.