1st Year Postgraduate Students - compulsory requirements

POSTGRADUATE COURSEWORK DEGREES

New Postgraduate Coursework students should contact their relevant degree coordinator regarding any requirements or the orientation processes for their course.

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREES

Orientation and Induction Checklist

An orientation is held to help new postgraduate research degree students familiarise themselves with the clinical school, expectations of their candidature, important university policies, and general introduction to staff and facilities. An information handbook is also available for new students containing useful information on contacts, library, resources, and policies.

The Induction checklist (DOC) is sent to all research students early in their first semester of candidature. The checklist covers a range of actions and topics that the student and the supervisor should ensure have been undertaken or discussed at the beginning of the candidature. New students should be aware of who their Postgraduate Coordinator is.

Thesis proposal and presentation seminar

Students are required to make a 25-30 minute oral presentation on their thesis proposal in the first calendar year. Presentations are to outline completed research and proposed future direction of research activity.

Each supervisor will invite an external reviewer and both will evaluate the presentation based on specified guidelines and complete an evaluation form. The form will be filed for future reference during the annual progress review.

Probation Review

All new research students commence candidature on a period of probation completed by a Probation Review. The probation review is intended to assist the students by identifying any difficulties in their research program, and providing timely advice on direction and content. After nine (9) months of candidature, the supervisor and Postgraduate Coordinator complete a Probation Report (PDF). The final decision will be made by the Combined Board of Postgraduate Studies.

During probation students must demonstrate satisfactory progress, develop a time line for the completion of their research degree, give a formal presentation of their research proposal, demonstrate satisfactory written English expression and undertake a progress interview.

Depending on the progress, possible outcomes of the probation review are:

• a recommendation that the candidate is confirmed as a PhD/Masters Research student,
• a recommendation that the PhD/Masters probationary candidature be further reviewed at a specified date,
• a recommendation that the student transfer to the MPhil/Masters (by research), and submit a master’s thesis instead (for PhD students only)
• a recommendation that the candidate is asked to show cause why their candidature should continue