Melbourne Graduate School of Education Research

Candidature Information

Enrolment in additional courses
Candidates may not concurrently undertake any other course of study at the University or elsewhere without prior approval by the Associate Dean and the Manager, Academic Programs. Candidates should discuss with their supervisor any additional skills required to assist with the completion of their degree.

Transferring to PhD from Masters
Students who have completed 6 months or more of research for a Masters (by research) degree at this University and who are qualified for admission to the PhD program may be admitted to confirmed PhD candidature. Candidates are encouraged to apply within 6 to 12 months of Masters candidature and must lodge a Conversion to PhD form through the Graduate School of Education Research Services Unit. The PhD candidature will normally be regarded as a continuation of the same program of study, and the PhD commencement date will be backdated to the commencement date of the Masters degree. The application must be supported by the supervisor and the Associate Dean - Research and Research Training (or Dean, if the Associate Dean is also the supervisor) and forwarded to the Graduate School of Education Student Centre for approval by the relevant Committee. In supporting an application for conversion to PhD candidature, the supervisor and Associate Dean must assure themselves that the candidate has undoubted research ability and is likely to complete the PhD degree. International Masters candidates should check that their visa and sponsored funding arrangements do not impose any restrictions on undertaking the PhD.

Progress reports
The progress of each student's research is monitored with a Progress Report Form. These forms are sent to full-time students 6 months after commencement of their course and 12 months after commencement for part-time students. The form is designed to help you reflect on your research direction and progress, your supervision, and available resources and are therefore a compulsory part of your continued enrolment in the course. Students will be sent the appropriate forms when they are due.

Period of Candidature
Candidates should plan to complete the course and submit a thesis for examination within the time period set by the Graduate School (see below for individual courses). Students requiring further time to submit will be required to apply for an Extension.

Calculating the Candidature
For research classified courses the period of candidature is calculated from the commencement of your course, and your expected completion date will be calculated on a month by month basis. For example, a student commencing a one year full-time course on 1 February 2005 will be required to submit on 1 February 2006. For coursework classified courses the period of candidature is calculated on a semester basis. The commencement date will always be the date of the beginning of the commencing semester and the expected completion date will be at the end of each semester. For example a student starting a 1-year full-time course in Semester 1, 2005 will have their commencement date as 1 March 2005 and their expected completion on 31 December 2005.

Period of Candidature for individual courses: (RC-Research Classified, CC-Coursework Classified)

Recreation Leave
Candidates may take up to four weeks of recreation leave in each year by arrangement with their supervisor and the Graduate School. A recreation leave form is not required.

Unsatisfactory Progress
The Graduate School of Education expects students to achieve a certain level of academic progress every year. A thesis student is considered to be making unsatisfactory progress in a course if he or she has failed to progress through the thesis submission stage within the specified time limit.

Any students who fail to make satisfactory progress under these guidelines will have their progress reviewed by the Graduate School's Unsatisfactory Progress Committee. Students will be invited to explain, either in writing or at interview, any extenuating circumstances that may have led to their poor performance. After considering each student's case, the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee may recommend one of the following alternatives:

Students whose enrolment is terminated must apply and be re-selected into the course in competition with other applicants. It may be necessary for students to demonstrate academic rehabilitation in order to be re-selected into the course.

 

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