Progress Milestones & Generic Skills
As Higher Degree Researcher (HDR), you are expected to manage your candidature and ensure successful completion of your degree.
Managing the candidature making sure you re-enrol in your degree each year and inform the HDR Support team of potential changes to your candidature.
Each year in March and September, you and your supervisor will also have to report on progress via the Research Plan Review (March) and the Annual Progress Report (APR) (September). These two reporting requirements offer an opportunity to take stock of where you are at, to evaluate what needs to be prioritised and to inform the university of problems (which we then hopefully can address).
Academic progress is also formally monitored and documented at four compulsory academic milestones.
Progress milestone time frames
| Introductory seminar | Confirmation of candidature | Work-in-progress seminar | Pre-Submission Seminar |
Masters | 4mths | 7mths | n/a | 3-6 months prior to submission of the thesis |
Professional Doctorate | 6mths | 12mths | 24mths | 3-6 months prior to submission of the thesis |
PhD | 6mths | 12mths | 24mths | 3-6 months prior to submission of the thesis |
PhD Clinical Psychology | 6mths | 12mths | 30 – 36 mths | 3-6 months prior to submission of the thesis |
PhD Clinical Physiotherapy | 6mths | 12mths | 24 – 30 mths | 3-6 months prior to submission of the thesis |
Note that dates referred to are dates by which the milestones have to have been completed.
For more detailed information on milestones refer to the HDR Progress and Milestones Policy and companion procedure.
The University recommends the presentation of an introductory seminar within the first 6 months of candidature (FTE) for PD candidates or 4 months (FTE) for Masters by Research candidates.
This seminar is not formally assessed and aims to provide an opportunity to introduce you, your topic and your research plans to colleagues. For detailed information on the process please refer to the HDR Progress and Milestones Policy and companion procedures.
The confirmation seminar has to be presented within 12 months of starting the degree (FTE) for PhD candidates or 7 months for Masters by Research candidates. A final research proposal also needs to be handed in at the time (to your supervisor, to seminar assessors). The confirmation aims to support you by
- Encouraging you to find a focus for your research early on
- Providing you with public feedback
- Helping you develop presentation skills, proposal writing skills
- Ensuring that adequate infrastructure, supervision arrangements and funds are in place
This seminar and the research proposal are assessed. The process has to be organised by your supervisor. For detailed information please refer to the HDR Progress and Milestones Policy and companion procedures.
Only doctoral students have to do this seminar, general presented within two thirds of candidature. The seminar aims to offer an opportunity for feedback and for testing major findings and conclusions from the research. For detailed information please refer to the HDR Progress and Milestones Policy and companion procedures.
To be presented 3-6 months prior to submission of the thesis.
For more detailed information on the pre-submission seminar please refer to the HDR Progress and Milestones Policy and companion procedures.