Chapter 2: Admission to doctoral and MPhil candidature

2.1 Admission criteria

All applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity to carry out independent research and have adequate training and ability to pursue the proposed course of study. In all cases, the qualifications described below must be from Monash University or an equivalent institution.

2.1.1 PhD

2.1.1.1 Standard Entry

• a bachelors degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year, leading to an honours degree class I or class IIA level, or
• a course leading to a level rated by the relevant department, faculty and committee as equivalent to an honours class I or IIA degree, or
• a masters degree that entails work, normally including a significant research component, at least equivalent to an honours degree (a ‘significant research component’ in a masters degree will vary from discipline to discipline). It is normally expected that a grade of HIIA has been obtained for the research thesis or project. Where ungraded, examiners' reports will be taken into account, or
• have qualifications which in the opinion of the committee are deemed equivalent.

2.1.1.2 Special provision for some Monash academic staff

2.1.2 Staff PhD candidature

Monash academic staff members who meet the following criteria may be eligible for staff PhD candidature under regulation Part 1, section 5 of the PhD regulations:

• have held a 0.5 level appointment or above at lecturer level B or above for a minimum of three years at Monash
• currently hold such an appointment at the time of thesis submission
• meet the normal entry qualifications for doctoral candidature, and
• wish to submit a thesis based upon published or unpublished papers, at least 75% of which should have been completed during the staff member’s employment at Monash.

A supervisor is not appointed for a staff candidate.

2.1.3 Doctor of Medicine (MD)

2.1.3.1 MD with supervision

• qualified at Monash for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and
• research training that the Research Graduate School Committee is satisfied is equivalent to honours degree class I or class II, division A, or
• other qualifications which in the opinion of the Research Graduate School Committee are equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.

2.1.3.2 MD without supervision

• the candidate must have qualified not less than five years previously for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Monash University or another institution recognised for this purpose by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (and in this latter case the applicant must normally be an academic staff member of the faculty), and
• the faculty board must be satisfied that the applicant has, since qualifying for the degree, been substantially engaged in either the practice and study of medicine or an allied field or scientific or other scholarly work relevant to the practice of medicine or an allied field.

2.1.4 Doctor of Education (EdD)

To be eligible for EdD candidature an applicant must have:

• the degree of Master of Education by research or Master of Educational Studies (by coursework and minor project), or
• a degree or its equivalent in education or a cognate field with honours class I or class IIA, or
• qualifications which, in the opinion of the faculty board and the Research Graduate School Committee, are equivalent to, or are a satisfactory substitute for, any of the qualifications above.

In addition to one of the above, applicants must have at least three years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as an educator in an educational or other institution approved by the faculty board.

2.1.5 Doctor of Psychology (DPsych)

To be eligible for admission to the DPsych program, prospective candidates must demonstrate suitability for work as a professional psychologist and must have:

• a masters degree in psychology, or
• a bachelors degree with honours class I or class IIA in psychology, or
• qualifications which are considered by the Research Graduate School Committee to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above qualifications.

2.1.6 Doctor of Public Health (DPH)

To be eligible for admission, prospective applicants must hold:

• the degree of Master of Public Health, or
• a degree of bachelor with honours class I or II division A, or
• qualifications and experience in the field of public health which are considered by the Research Graduate School Committee to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above qualifications.

Persons intending to undertake the program must have a minimum of two years of work experience in the field of public health and must satisfy the committee that they are suitable for the role of a professional working in public health.

2.1.7 Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)

To be eligible for admission, prospective applicants must hold:

• a degree of bachelor with honours class I or class II division A in Law, or
• four coursework Master of Laws units at a distinction level average, or
• qualifications which are considered by the Research Graduate School Committee to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above qualifications.

2.1.8 Higher doctorate

An applicant for admission to candidature for one of the university’s higher doctorate degrees must:

• have qualified, not less than seven years previously, for a degree of Monash University, and
• be a current member of the teaching or research staff of the University and have been so for not less than six consecutive years full-time or an equivalent number of consecutive years part-time, or
• have qualified, not less than seven years previously, for a degree of another educational institution, and
• have had a close research association with the University for not less than six years.

2.1.9 Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

An applicant for admission to candidature must have qualified in the university for:

• a degree of bachelors with honours I or honours II division A, or
• have qualifications which in the opinion of the committee are equivalent or a satisfactory substitute.