Candidature
Masters by Research candidates have a responsibility to be aware of and to abide by the Degree of Master Regulations, the advice contained in this information book, including the Code of Conduct for Research, and Departmental policies and requirements.
Student contact details
Change of address
It is the student's responsibility to notify the University within seven days of any change in their contact details, (that is, their Australian residential address and telephone number). Failure to notify the institution of current address could place an international student at risk of automatic visa cancellation. Candidates should use the service provided by the Student Portal to change their address on-line at http://portal.unimelb.edu.au.
Enrolment
Initial enrolment
Information and instructions about accepting an offer and enrolling is included with the candidate's offer letter. Before undertaking online enrolment, candidates should discuss with their supervisor(s) the specific commencement date indicated in the offer letter and contact their Faculty/Graduate School or MSGR as appropriate to have it amended if necessary. The commencement date cannot be changed after enrolment. Candidates with a conditional offer will not be permitted to accept the offer or enrol until all offer conditions are met. Documentation can be submitted by post or in person. Where certified documentation is requested, it must display the signature and stamp of an authorised official indicating that they have sighted the original documents.
Backdating of initial enrolment
The commencement date may be backdated by a maximum of two months from the date of receipt of the completed application form. This will apply only in cases where the department can show that the applicant has in fact been working in the department on the topic proposed. Please note that applications cannot be backdated prior to the preceding government census date (31 March or 31 August of each year) or over a calendar year.
Re-enrolment
Continuing Masters by Research students must re-enrol every year for the following academic year and information regarding re-enrolment is sent to all students who need to re-enrol.
Enrolment in additional subjects and courses
Masters by Research candidates may not concurrently undertake any other course of study at the University or elsewhere without prior approval by their Head of Department and the Graduate School, Faculty or RHD Committee as appropriate.
It is not uncommon for candidates, in consultation with their supervisor, to seek enrolment in additional coursework subjects to assist with their research program. Applications are made via the Faculty or Graduate School or MSGR as appropriate. The supervisor and Head of Department must confirm that the coursework subject should be regarded as part of the Masters enrolment. In this case, additional CSP fees will normally not apply. Candidates are permitted to enrol in no more than 50 points of additional coursework subjects across their entire candidature.
Candidates should discuss with their supervisor any additional skills required to assist with the completion of their degree. Programs involving personal, academic and professional development are offered through MSGR and other parts of the University. Short skills courses are offered to enrolled graduate students through MSGR. Information on short skills programs is available on the MSGR website.
Transfer to PhD
For many reasons students may enrol in the first instance as research masters candidates and later apply for conversion to PhD candidature.
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. An unfinished masters degree or other doctorate normally cannot contribute to meeting the eligibility requirements for admission into the PhD. Candidates are encouraged to apply within 6 to 12 months of Masters candidature and must lodge an Application for Conversion from the Degree of Masters by Research to Doctor of Philosophy through the department graduate co-ordinator. The application form is obtained from the Melbourne School of Graduate Research.
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 Head of Department (or, Deputy Head, if the Head is also the supervisor) and forwarded to the relevant Graduate School, Faculty or RHD Committee for research for approval. In supporting an application for conversion to PhD candidature, the supervisor and Head of Department must assure themselves that the candidate has undoubted research ability and is likely to complete the PhD degree.
Departments are asked to assess whether the student has the ability and skills necessary to do research at doctoral level, and whether the topic is demonstrably of doctoral dimensions. The questions Departments are asked to consider are set out on the application form available from MSGR.
There may be individual Faculty, Graduate School or Departmental requirements that must be complied with. For example, the Arts Faculty requires applications to convert from a Masters course to confirmed PhD candidature to include a sample of writing of 8,000-10,000 words, the content of which should be discussed with your department at an early stage of candidature.
International Masters candidates should check that their visa and sponsored funding arrangements do not impose any restrictions on undertaking a PhD.
Progress reports
Masters by Research candidates are required to submit six monthly progress reports. Completion of progress reports is required for the continuation of enrolment and any scholarship held. International AusAID-sponsored students will be required to submit end-of-semester reports to AusAID.
Recreation leave
Candidates may take up to four weeks of recreation leave in each year by arrangement with their supervisors and their Department. A recreation leave form is not required, however Department procedures may require the completion of a recreation form. Leave taken will not alter the submission date.