Annual progress reports

The annual progress report (APR) is a tool used by the University to review the progress of research students and their projects and to ensure that any problems being faced can be resolved as soon as possible. The report is designed for all involved with the candidature, ie the student, supervisor, postgraduate coordinator and Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies to consider the progress and resolve, where possible, any issues raised.

Students and staff in Sydney Medical School, the Faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy and Sydney Nursing School now have access to an online APR which will streamline the process and reduce the paperwork for all involved.

                                          Download the APR training guide (PDF)

Procedure

At the beginning of September each year (or end of April for Nursing students) all current research students (including those suspending semester 2 of that year (or semester 1 for Nursing students)) will be sent an email with login details to give access to the APR portal. Students are required to complete the first sections, covering details of their candidature, progress and any problems faced.

Once this component is submitted, the supervisor is emailed with login details to allow them to complete the next section of the APR (section 4) and comment on the candidate’s progress.

The APR should not be the first point at which a supervisor and student discover there is a problem and identification of difficulties on the form will not in itself make them go away. However, the APR is the place to put on record any difficulties which may or may not have been unavoidable including, for example periods of personal illness or misadventure.

At the same time Disciplines and Schools will be contacting all students to arrange the compulsory annual interview. Prior to the interview a pdf version of the student and supervisor comments can be downloaded by either the postgraduate coordinator or administrative staff. It should be noted that interview panels should NOT include the student’s supervisor or any other students and that all students MUST be given the opportunity to speak to the interview panel without the presence of the supervisor.
Notes from the interview can either be added through the portal (in section 5) by either the postgraduate coordinator or administrative staff or a scanned version of the notes can be uploaded.

Once this section of the form is completed the postgraduate coordinator (or head of discipline or deputy postgraduate coordinator in some cases) will receive notification and the login details to complete section 6. This section requires a recommendation to be made to the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies on the conditions of candidature to apply for the following year. It may be recommended that the candidate provide further evidence of progress at the end of one semester or such other period as the postgraduate co-ordinator considers appropriate.

The student will then be notified by email to review the comments and recommendations made and to complete Section 7 before it is forwarded to the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies. Students are requested to complete and submit this by the 1st of November each year.

The Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies will make a decision on the continuation of candidature based on the evidence provided and may require the candidate, supervisor or postgraduate coordinator to provide further evidence of progress or the provision of satisfactory facilities. Student Services will inform students and postgraduate coordinators, where appropriate, of the decision and any recommendations made by the Chair.