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Library Services for Postgraduate Students

The Library has a commitment to support research and coursework undertaken by postgraduate students of the University.

  • Library resources and services are continually reviewed to ensure that they meet your needs as a postgraduate student.

Learn - Search

Library search

Search to identify relevant books, journals, DVDs and other resources

Some items are available online, and have a "go to resource" link. Click on these to go to the full text. eBooks can be viewed in full text but have limits on copying and printing.

Journal databases and other resources

Databases provide the full text of scholarly journals, conference papers, market research, legislation, cases and standards. You can access most databases on and off campus.

Use the subject starter guides which bring together subject specific databases, websites and selected journals.

When full text is not available in the databases, follow the links provided to find other sources for the document.

Search or browse online journals.

Google Scholar provides a way to search for scholarly material on the web. Full text links show in your search results when you search Google Scholar on campus. When you are off campus you will need to set your Google Scholar preferences to use Swinburne's full text service. Instructions to do this can be found here.

Update services

Keep your literature review up to date automatically by setting up an electronic alert. Two types are available:

  • Table of Contents: the tables of contents of selected journals are emailed to you as they are published
  • Saved Search: your search is run regularly in a database, and you are sent an email of new articles on your topic

Set up at: ../database/alerts

Research

Methodology

For books and other material about research methods

Search the library using words, such as:

Other useful resources can be found on the Study Skills Subject Starter Guide

Thesis writing

Swinburne Doctoral and Masters by Research theses published after 2004 are available online via library search.

A small number of Swinburne minor theses (Honours, Grad Dip, Masters by Coursework, etc) are online in the Swinburne Research Bank linked from the Library home page .

A guide to finding Swinburne, and other Universities, theses is available:

To find books on writing theses and research reports you can search the library using words such as: "thesis writing", "dissertations", "academic writing" or "report writing"

Bibliographic software

Bibliographic software allows you to organise your references and create bibliographies in hundreds of citation styles.

EndNote for Windows and Endnote for Mac software is available on CD from Swinburne campus libraries at the service desks. Please specify which software you require. You can install the software to any computers you will use in the course of your Swinburne-related research.

Staff can download the software to Swinburne machines from the NAL.

Offcampus students can request the software via off-campus-service@swin.edu.au - Please specify which software you require.
Note for overseas students: our license does not permit us to supply Endnote outside of Australia.

Liaison Librarians provide hands on training sessions in using EndNote, and follow-up assistance as you need it. Training notes and tutorials are also available.

Follow this link for more information on Endnote at Swinburne Library.

Training workshops

Liaison Librarians run free training workshops and seminars on information searching techniques, subject specific resources and EndNote bibliographic software.

Some are integrated in postgraduate courses or the Swinburne Research PREP program, others are advertised by email, and on the Library web site:

Borrow

Borrowing periods

Higher Degree by Research students (Master, PhD, Professional Doctorate) can borrow most books for 28 days .

Coursework postgraduates (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master) can borrow books for 14 days .

Loan periods for other materials vary.

Inter-Library Loans are available free of charge to all postgraduate students for material not held in the Swinburne Library. Some restrictions apply to Master by Coursework, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate students.

Other libraries' catalogues

These catalogues can be used to search for resources that we don't currently have in our collections. Check the website to see if you are eligible for Interlibrary Loans.

From the Swinburne Library website you have access to:

Libraries Australia, which is a combined catalogue of material kept in Australia's libraries.

Serials in Australian Libraries which is a catalogue of journals held in libraries in Australia.

Borrowing from other libraries

You can borrow directly from other university and TAFE libraries:

In Victoria through the CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Program. Some libraries offer longer loans to postgraduate students. Apply for a reciprocal borrowing card at any Swinburne Library Service desk.

Interstate through University Library Australia. Apply directly to the library you wish to borrow.

People

Liaison Librarians provide one-to-one consultation services to help you with search strategies and in identifying useful resources for your research.

Contact the Liaison Librarian for your discipline area, by phone or email, to make an appointment.

Contact us

Library staff are here to help you. We can answer your questions. Speak to us in person at the Service Desk, or contact us by: