Chapter 2: Admission to doctoral & MPhil candidature

2.3 Prior candidature

2.3.1 Transfer from masters to PhD, or MD or professional doctorate

A candidate undertaking a masters degree by research, including MPhil, may apply to transfer to doctoral candidature. Since it is assumed that the scope of the research topic is substantially broadened while remaining essentially unchanged, doctoral candidature is normally backdated to the commencement date of masters candidature.

In exceptional circumstances, a coursework masters candidate who has demonstrated a capacity to undertake postgraduate research either by completing a substantial part of the masters minor thesis or by providing equivalent evidence of research experience or competence, may be allowed to transfer to doctoral candidature. In this case, doctoral candidature is backdated to the commencement of the research component of the masters degree.

A candidate should normally be enrolled for a minimum of nine months of equivalent full-time candidature before the upgrade or confirmation process can commence. Upgrade from masters to doctorate will normally not be considered after 24 months of equivalent full-time candidature.

Candidates applying to upgrade from a masters by research (or to have their candidature confirmed) are required to:

(a) make an oral presentation of at least 20 minutes on their research project before a departmental review panel which explores the research undertaken to date and the anticipated future direction of the research program, and

(b) submit a written progress report that includes:

• title of research report/thesis
• statement of the research problem(s)
• procedures
• timetable for completion
• brief bibliography, and
• publications produced during masters candidature (if applicable).

The progress report should be a minimum of 1,000 words, but many faculties have additional requirements:

• The Faculty of Arts requires a progress report of 7,000 to 10,000 words. Candidates upgrading to PhD must also provide a chapter of the thesis.
• The Faculty of Business and Economics requires DBA candidates to address each research phase separately by submitting a report of 3,000 to 5,000 words that provides a statement of the research problem and procedure for each research phase (if applicable).
• The Faculty of Education requires a progress report of 5,000 to 7,000 words.
• The Faculty of Engineering requires a progress report of 5,000 to 7,500 words progress report.
• The Faculty of Information Technology requires a progress report of 7,000 to 10,000 words. This submission should be in the form of a progress report combined with a proposal for future research. Under exceptional circumstances, a shorter submission may be made (but no less than 2,000 words), if accompanied by other evidence of significant progress, eg collected data, written code or publications.
• The Faculty of Law requires a progress report of 1,000 words and an example of the candidate’s written work, negotiated with the supervisor, of up to 7,000 words: for example a draft chapter from the thesis, a literature review, a book chapter or article for publication, or a conference paper arising from the thesis.

Candidates should discuss the academic unit and faculty requirements for confirmation/upgrade with their supervisor and/or graduate coordinator before commencing the written report.

(See Appendix D in this handbook for further information on update or confirmation procedures.)

2.3.2 Transfer from one doctoral program to another

Candidates may also apply to transfer from one doctoral program to another, for example from a professional doctorate to PhD. For the calculation of prior candidature, see guidelines applying to the transfer of doctoral candidature from another institution.

2.3.3 Transfer from another institution

When a doctoral or MPhil candidate transfers from another institution, the period of time available to complete the research is determined on a case-by-case basis. For example:

• candidates who transfer with their supervisor and with no break in the continuity of the research will have the total period of research at the prior institution used to calculate the end date of candidature at Monash
• candidates who retain their original research topic, but change supervisor, will have the period of Monash candidature reviewed on a case-by-case basis
• candidates who take up both a new topic and a new supervisor will have no prior candidature taken into account, and the normal period of candidature will apply
• candidates who are currently enrolled in a doctoral or MPhil degree with a coursework component will generally have the period of research and not the period of coursework at the prior institution used to calculate the end date of candidature.

Note: Under the Research Training Scheme (RTS) guidelines introduced in January 2001, Commonwealth-supported funding for Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents is limited to four years full-time (eight years part-time) for doctoral students and two years full-time (four years part-time) for masters students. Where a student is transferring to an RTS-funded place in a degree at the same level, the receiving institution must deduct ALL prior candidature, where enrolment was in the last three years, from the maximum funding available. The receiving institution will only receive funding for the remaining entitlement.

2.3.4 Readmission to a degree program at the same level