Research Student Information
Lincoln University recognises that research students are amongst our most important research colleagues, and many of you will be facing uncertain times responding to COVID-19
Researcher Information
We know that many students continue to experience a range of challenges due to COVID-19, often making both the setting and achieving of research goals to be unusually difficult.
As a researcher, if you are concerned about what this means for your research, including your 6-monthly reporting, be assured that we will continue to apply a compassionate approach.
We have adopted a case-by-case approach to determine how the University can best serve you in these difficult times. This means that it is important for students and supervisors to discuss the implication of the restrictions around COVID-19 in terms of research plans, data collection, fieldwork and laboratory experimentation (to name a few scenarios).
So please continue to talk to your supervisor, postgraduate administrator, PG Chair or other postgraduate contacts within your faculty.
Keeping informed
Lincoln University is providing regular updates to staff and students via the web, SAFELU, social media, LU email and through the faculties and research centres.
The information on the Lincoln University COVID-19 page is important to read and understand the University’s overall response to COVID-19. In addition, the advice below is relevant to students who are conducting research as part of their PhD, Master of Science or other research-intensive courses such as a Postgraduate Diploma or an Honours degree.
Research under the different Alert Levels
The University follows the Ministry of Education’s guidelines for Tertiary Education Organisations on operating under the COIVID-19 Protection Framework.
Library support
The Library have online services available while off-campus. This includes the ability to search databases and also the use of relevant programmes for analysis and interpretation of data.
Financial and technology assistance
Level changes can put unexpected, additional demands on student financial circumstances. It’s important to let us know if COVID-19 has impacted your financial situation and is preventing you from doing things like connecting with your loved ones, eating well, researching or studying to the best of your abilities.
There is a Financial Assistance Fund managed by the LU Students’ Association that supports eligible students with a range of needs to ensure you can maintain an acceptable standard of student researcher’s life. If you are unsure if you qualify for financial help, we encourage you to contact LUSA.
Contact Kate Lindsay, LUSA Advocacy and Voice if you would like to discuss your financial circumstances in confidence. Phone 03 423 0582 or email students@lusa.org.nz.
Technology support
Research requires access to a computer with hardware and a reliable internet connection (a computer that can stream a video without interruption is a good test). If you do not have access to reliable technology and your learning is being affected, there are usually ways we can help.
The steps to take:
- Complete the Technology Health Check to troubleshoot issues
- If you need help, log a support request with IT here: www.lu.ac.nz/ithelp
- If you require urgent assistance, contact IT Help on phone: 03 423 0100.
If you’re unsure if you are eligible for support, please contact us anyway. We want to help you.
Student Health remains open and available to help students
Please phone Student Health on 03 325 3835 if you need medical care. They will first arrange for a nurse to call you back to discuss your needs, then arrange a consult either by phone or video call.
They can advise you on COVID testing and vaccinations as well. You can also contact the NZ COVID Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice.
If you would like to talk through your situation, your LU whānau is here to support you. It’s okay to need support.
Here are some other people who can help:
- LU wellbeing and sexual harm support: wellbeing.support@lincoln.ac.nz or ph/txt: 021 589 475
- Kairuruku Māori: dani.panirau@lincoln.ac.nz or ph/txt: 021 141 2361
- Kairuruku Pasifika, rebekah.immanuel@lincoln.ac.nz or ph/txt: 022 088 6715
- LU International Advisors: internationaladvisors@lincoln.ac.nz. Dee Hannam, ph/txt: 021 246 5233 or Denise Pelvin, ph/txt: 027 669 9248
- LUSA Voice and Advocacy: students@lusa.org.nz or ph: 03 423 0582
- Free call or text Need to Talk any time at 1737 (NZ only), to reach out to a trained counsellor
Students planning to start research at Lincoln University
Due to COVID-19 entry to New Zealand is strictly controlled. Information can be found here.
As a result, prospective PhD or Master of Science students will not be able to travel to New Zealand until the current restrictions are lifted. More information regarding how these restrictions are affecting students can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website.
If you have your visa and we are unable to physically accept incoming students, you should discuss a possible remote start with your supervisor. This is more feasible in some disciplines than others. International candidates can be based overseas for up to 12 months (including any time for fieldwork), without incurring international fees.
Students who had intended to start their research work are encouraged to contact their prospective supervisor and discuss potential arrangements for delaying the start of their degree programmes.
There may be an opportunity to start your studies remotely, without physically coming to Lincoln University. However, you will need to ask your supervisor to contact the postgraduate admission team to explore if this possibility is feasible in the current circumstances, and what processes need to be applied to facilitate this exception to remote working.
Research student FAQs around COVID-19
Lincoln University acknowledges that the outbreak of COVID‑19 may have an impact on the research of our postgraduate students. We would like to adopt a case by case approach to determine how the University can best serve you in these difficult times.
It is important for students and supervisors to discuss the implication of the restrictions around COVID-19 in terms of research plans, data collection, fieldwork and laboratory experimentation (to name a few scenarios).
Supervisors and students are encouraged to discuss:
- contingency plans
- focusing on data analysis and thesis/manuscript preparation
- off-campus computing and internet access requirements
- possible suspension of studies if disruptions to the student’s research are severe and sustained
Lincoln University has encouraged supervisors to keep regular contact with research students and to inform their Dean of Faculty or Director of Centre, regarding the possible impact of COVID-19 on their students’ research progression. Your supervisor has been requested by the Dean of Faculty or Director of Centre to forward completed documentation to them, which will capture information regarding distress and disruption caused by COVID-19 to research progression. This information will be collated by the Deans and Directors and passed to the University’s senior management group who are leading the initiative regarding response to COVID-19.
While the restrictions on research working can impact on progression, supervisors and students are encouraged to concentrate efforts on data analysis, research writing, and critical evaluation of literature. By being proactive about focusing efforts on data analysis and evaluation of results while drafting your thesis or manuscripts, you may be able to use this break in research activities to your advantage.
Lincoln University hopes that the current situation is temporary and reprioritisation of research plans may reduce any impact on your research progression.
However, if you and your supervisor feel that the disruptions are severe and have an irreversible impact on the completion of your studies, you have options including:
- With the agreement of your supervisor, continue your studies documenting the difficulties you encounter on a weekly basis so that these can be referred to in the future. If at a later date, you and your supervisor decide that the impact of COVID-19 was greater than you had expected, you can apply for a retrospective suspension and this would be assessed sympathetically.
- Request your supervisor to apply for a suspension to your studies, explaining the impact COVID-19 is having on your studies. A suspension is for a minimum of one month and in essence, stops the clock on your research activities. A suspension will have an implication on any studentship you may have, so please discuss this with your supervisor. Any suspension can be extended (normally up to three months in any one year) if needed by submitting an application to the postgraduate admission team.
Please note, that if you are an international candidate, your visa only allows suspensions up to three months in any 12-month period. Universities New Zealand are requesting Immigration New Zealand to review this rule in the current situation, if this regulation is relaxed the university will inform all supervisors and postgraduate students.
If you are a student on a scholarship, the payments from that scholarship will continue during lockdown, unless you are on suspension. If you have requested a suspension, scholarship payments are not made for the time for which you are suspended.
Lincoln University recognises that the current situation may have a severe impact on the research progression of many of our postgraduate students. We have requested all supervisors to provide a statement regarding the impact that COVID-19 may have on individual students. At the same time, the University is investigating possible ways to reduce any burden on research students. Please refer to the Lincoln University home page for updates regarding these aspects.
Because of the uncertainty regarding our ability to extend scholarships, we strongly recommend re-scoping your project where possible to complete within the normal timeframe of the scholarship.
If you are funded by a research grant, you need to discuss possible impacts with your supervisor and the appropriate Research Advisor. Do not contact the funder directly.
The Research Management Office is currently liaising with key funders to ascertain any impacts.
All international travel for University-related activities is prohibited. The University will not allow any international travel without prior authority from the Vice-Chancellor.
We are aware that travel to conferences has had to be suspended. Lincoln University will work with students and their supervisors to determine whether funding will be available for future travel.
If you are currently overseas conducting research for your PhD or MSc, your Dean/Director should have already been in touch with you regarding your options. Please keep in touch with your supervisor and your Dean of Faculty or Director of Centre so that these records can be maintained.
In addition, please talk to your supervisor if you need to extend your time away from campus and New Zealand. Your supervisor should help you with any documentation (for example suspension form) you will need to complete.
Please remain up‑to‑date with the travel advice from the Government of the passport you are currently travelling on. The New Zealand government issued a travel advisory urging all New Zealanders currently travelling overseas to take steps to stay safely where they are. The most current up to date advice on returning home can be found here.
As a result of COVID-19, if you are an international candidate on documented research leave overseas, Lincoln University will permit you to be overseas for longer than 12 months and still maintain your domestic student fee status.
As international students can no longer travel back to New Zealand, Lincoln University will respond to requests regarding flexibility of remote supervision, writing up and examination.
It is essential that students and supervisors are in regular contact so that the University can provide assistance during the writing up and examination processes.
Submission of theses is acceptable electronically, and submission forms can be completed and forwarded to the Postgraduate Team Leader for processing to enrolment@lincoln.ac.nz. You will be asked to provide an electronic version of your thesis and completed declaration form where necessary.
PhD and MSc oral examinations are still proceeding. These examinations are to be conducted using Zoom, Skype or other video conferencing software. Please contact your supervisors and the convenor of the oral examination to confirm the time zones and dates of such examinations. If an oral examination using video conferencing software is not possible, please ask your supervisor and/or the convenor of your PhD examination to contact Postgraduate Admissions and Enrolments for further advice.
Postgraduate Chairs
If you are a PhD or master’s thesis student and require further assistance contact the Postgraduate Chairs of your Faculty/Centre for more information:
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Associate Professor Eirian Jones - eirian.jones@lincoln.ac.nz
- Faculty of Environment, Society and Design: Associate Professor Patricia Anthony - patricia.anthony@lincoln.ac.nz
- Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce: Dr Hafsa Ahmed - hafsa.ahmed@lincoln.ac.nz
- Bio-Protection Research Centre: Professor John Hampton - john.hampton@lincoln.ac.nz
- Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit (AERU): Dr Hafsa Ahmed - hafsa.ahmed@lincoln.ac.nz
Postgraduate Administrators
- Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce: Anne Welford, email: anne.welford@lincoln.ac.nz or phone: 03 423 0211
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Robyn Wilson, email: robyn.wilson@lincoln.ac.nz or phone: 03 423 0652
- Faculty of Environment Society and Design: Tracey Shields, email: tracey.shields@lincoln.ac.nz or phone: 03 423 0440
- School of Landscape Architecture, Douglas Broughton, email: douglas.broughton@lincoln.ac.nz or phone: 03 423 0465
- Bioprotection Research Centre: Sandy Wilson, email: sandy.wilson@lincoln.ac.nz or phone: 03 423 0940
More information
Email grow@lincoln.ac.nz with all enquiries, concerns or travel plans
Email us