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Doctoral and MPhil handbook
    		 

    Chapter 1: Introduction

    1.10 Administrative structures overseeing the doctoral and MPhil programs

    1.10.1 The Research Graduate School Committee

    This committee is the body responsible for administering the doctorate and MPhil regulations and for advising the Academic Board on all matters of policy relating to these programs. It has final responsibility for approving admission to PhD, higher doctorate, MD, MPhil and professional doctorate candidature and for such matters as course and unit approvals and amendments for all research degrees, changes to candidature, questions of supervision, progress, submission and examination of theses. The committee also deals with the allocation of scholarships, awards and grants to postgraduate research students.

    The chairman of the committee is the director of the Monash Research Graduate School. The main committee meets monthly and all faculties are represented. Two student members represent both the humanities/social science and science/technology disciplines. The executive committee meets weekly to consider individual student matters. As convenor of the steering committee, the deputy director coordinates the day-to-day activities of the committee.

    The Research Graduate School Committee is particularly concerned to encourage excellence in research training and the timely completion of theses and programs of study.

    1.10.2 Monash Research Graduate School

    The Monash Research Graduate School was formally established on 1 November 1999. The school’s inaugural director is Professor Max King who is also the university’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training).

    While it is recognised that the faculties undertake the primary research training role, the school, as the coordinating body, assumes several key functions including:

    • setting University policy on research training and postgraduate scholarship matters
    • approving research course and unit proposals
    • developing University-wide orientation, induction, and research and employment training programs of relevance to all research candidates
    • overviewing and enhancing postgraduate research supervision
    • identifying and disseminating examples of best practice
    • ensuring the equitable provision of postgraduate research support, resources and facilities across the University’s campuses (eg statistical and travel support, postgraduate centres)
    • establishing a graduate school forum which provides a focus for the evaluation of research programs and identification of issues of particular relevance to postgraduates
    • ensuring Monash can attract and retain quality research students, both domestic and international, and
    • implementing the research training strategies and targets of the Monash Research and Research Training Management Plan.

    Details of these functions and the school's annual report are available on the Monash Research Graduate School website (see chapter 11 for related links).

    Facilities and services coordinated by the Monash Research Graduate School are outlined in chapter 10 of this handbook.