Information About Candidature

A Description of Candidature is provided to each candidate at the time of admission. Contained therein is a description of those terms which shall govern candidature. In order to change any element (with the exception of the commencement date which is confirmed when the offer of admission is accepted), a Request for Change to Description of Candidature form, which has been endorsed by the Principal Supervisor and your Graduate Research Coordinator (GRC), must be lodged with the School of Graduate Research for approval by the Dean, School of Graduate Research (DSGR).

The following changes require approval:

• A change of status between full-time, part-time and internal, distance;
• A change of campus;
• When a change in the title of the thesis or a major change in the direction of the research is planned;
• A change in supervision whether at the candidate's request, or by necessity because of School/Institute changes;
• A change of School/Institute (normally necessitated by a change of supervisor).

Leave from your Research Program

Candidates may request a Leave of Absence (LOA) from their research program, which may not exceed 12 months.Candidates must apply using the Request for Leave of Absence for Postgraduate Research Candidature form, the application must be endorsed by the Principal Supervisor and GRC, and lodged with the School of Graduate Research for approval by the DSGR.

Progress Reports

All research higher degree candidates are required to submit a Progress Report, due 30 April and 30 September each year. The Progress Report is an important means of monitoring and evaluating candidature. It provides an opportunity for both the candidate and their principal supervisor to discuss formally the direction of the research and to note any problems or obstacles. The Progress Report must be annotated by the Principal Supervisor and endorsed by the GRC. Once a recommendation is determined by the DSGR, the School of Graduate Research will provide a full copy of the report to the candidate.

Provisional Status and Confirmation of Candidature

Research Higher Degree candidates are normally admitted to provisional candidature and require approval to proceed to full candidature. Candidates are required to complete a confirmation within the timeframe specified in the Rules governing the program. Candidates are expected to have formulated a thesis topic and developed a detailed program of research and study. Details on the confirmation process can be found in the "Guidelines for Confirmation of Candidature".

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the requirements of the School of Graduate Research for the preparation, submission and evaluation of their program.

Based on the assessment of the confirmation process, the supervisory team and GRC will make a recommendation to the DSGR about the continuing status of the candidature. This recommendation can be that:

• Candidature be confirmed;
• Provisional candidature continue with conditions or;
• Candidature be terminated.

A period of provisional candidature may be waived or reduced at the discretion of the DSGR in cases where advanced standing has been approved or the candidate has changed their program or transferred from another institution.