Independent Units

If you are interested in setting up an independent unit, that is, a unit that is not advertised on the AMS website, it is important that you attend the information sessions early in Semester 5 (there will be one session in which the following process is explained in more detail), and register your interest with the AMS office well in advance. There are two options:

International Independent Units: For the 2009/10 cohort please register your interest by April 9th 2008

Local (Australian) Independent Units: For the 2009/10 cohort please register your interest by June 1st 2008

For both local (Australian) and International Units, the process is the same:

• Introduce yourself to your prospective host.
• The initial contact should be made using the introductory email template available from the AMS office, ams-adm@ unimelb.edu.au.
• Include the AMS Administrator (ams-adm@unimelb.edu.au) in the Bcc of your emails so we are aware of whom you are contacting. Please only contact one potential host at a time.
• Be patient, these people are often busy and also may be away, so allow a couple of weeks for a reply.
• If the host has any initial questions that are simple, then reply, making sure that your answer is in fact correct. We can advise you if you have any doubts.
• This is where you can indicate your strong interest and begin to establish some rapport with your host.
• Notify the AMS Office if and when you receive a positive response (i.e. the host is interested and willing to host you).
• The AMS Office will enter into the negotiations, and formalise the agreement. This involves several steps, which we take care of.
• The unit description (projects, coursework, objectives, etc) is approved as for all local units.
• Confirmation of approval or feedback (via email) will be sent to both the student and the new unit coordinator.
• Student and Unit Coordinator are now on the AMS information distribution list and will be advised of the next steps towards the start of the AMS year along with the rest of the cohort of AMS students.

Any queries in regards to the above, please contact the AMS Administrator.