Candidates
Administrative Requirements | Academic Requirements | Lines of Responsibility
Research candidates need to meet administrative and academic requirements to make satisfactory progress in their higher degree by research program. Information is also provided on how research students can provide feedback on their experience of the course, and on formal and informal procedures to address problems that may arise during candidature.
Administrative Requirements
Candidates in Research degrees are required to:
- maintain satisfactory progress through the completion of an Annual Progress Report (APR). The APR will be used for your continuing candidature and re-enrolment.
- complete the course within the time limits of their funding and the maximum duration for the type of degree (PhD, professional doctorate by research or masters by research)
Academic Requirements
Timeline for candidature in PhD and Professional Doctorates and timeline for Masters by Research
Candidates in Research degrees are required to:
- Obtain Ethics approval (if applicable to their research)
- Complete a Learning Plan
- Complete a Progress Report every year
- Complete special conditions of admission, supporting studies, or coursework components of the research program, if required
- Obtain approval of the final research proposal within six months (FTE) of commencement
- Present a Confirmation research seminar during the first year (FTE) of candidature, which must be assessed as satisfactory before the candidate is granted approval to proceed with the program, and a later work-in progress seminar for doctoral candidates only
- If possible, prepare a publication of at least one peer-reviewed paper and attend a conference
- Undertake a public presentation of the research at the conclusion of the program, on or after submission of the thesis.
Lines of Responsibility
Throughout the many stages of a candidate’s degree there are various people who will be involved with helping the candidate progress. The table below outlines the many aspects of candidature and who is responsible to work with the candidate to complete the task.
| ASPECT OF CANDIDATURE: | RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH: |
| Application and Enrolment | |
| Initial admission enquiry | Associate Dean (Research)/Director of relevant Faculty/Centre, Course convenors and potential supervisors |
| Application for admission | Research Students’ Office (RStO) – Associate Dean (Research)/Director – Dean/Director |
| Application for scholarship | RStO – Associate Dean (Research)/Director – University Research Committee |
| Enrolment - during coursework stage of a research degree | Course convenor and or Chair to advise candidate, candidate completes unit registration form, RSO processes enrolment |
| Appointment of supervisory panel | Associate Dean (Research)/Director – Dean/Director approves appointment on Section B Faculty Assessment Form |
| Orientation/Induction |
Faculty Orientation - Chair and supervisory panel/ADR or Director/Business Manager University Orientation – Convenor of the Research Education Program |
| Milestones | |
| Ethics proposal/Approval | Chair and supervisory panel – Committee for Ethics in Human Research/Committee for Ethics in Animal Experimentation |
| Learning Plan | Chair and panel – candidate provides copy to Research Education Program Convenor and RStO |
| Annual Progress Report | Chair of panel – Associate Dean (Research)/Director – RStO to process |
| Confirmation Seminar and Final Research Proposal | Chair of panel to organise seminar – Academic seminar assessors– Chair to collate responses – Associate Dean (Research)/Director – RStO to process |
| Work in Progress Seminar (PhD candidates only) | Chair to organise – chair to ensure that this milestone is reported to RStO |
| Final Seminar | Chair to organise – chair to ensure that this milestone is reported to RStO |
| Conference/ research-related funding | Candidate to enquire with Chair to be directed to the correct Faculty/Centre contact |
| Changes to candidature | |
| Change of candidature (F/T – P/T) | RStO to update Callista |
| Leave of absence/intermission | Chair of panel – Associate Dean (Research) - RStO to process form, update Callista |
| Change of supervisory panel | Chair and panel – Dean/Director – RStO to process form, update Callista |
| Upgrade or transfer between research degrees | Chair to organise – Academic seminar assessors (including one external to the University) – Chair to collate – ADR/Director – RStO to process |
| Transfer to another Faculty/Centre | Chair of panel and supervisory panel – Dean/Director approval, and RStO to process application |
| Recreation leave | Discuss with Chair of panel and follow Faculty/Centre procedures |
| Discontinuation from course | RStO who then advise supervisory panel/Associate Dean (Research) |
| Termination of candidature | Associate Dean (Research) - RStO to process and inform candidate |
| Exclusion from course of study | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) – RStO to process and inform candidate |
| Thesis Submission and Examination | |
| Application for Overtime Sponsorship | Chair of panel – Dean/Director – RStO to process |
| Appointment of Examiners | Chair of panel – Associate Dean (Research)/Director – RStO to organise examination |
| Thesis submission | Chair of panel |
| Thesis examination outcome | Associate Dean (Research)/Director – Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (for resubmissions and fail results only) – RStO to process and contact candidate/chair |
| Lodging an appeal against a thesis result | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) – RStO to process and contact candidate/chair |
| Conferral of award | University Council |
| Graduation | Student Progress and Graduations Office |