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Chapter 3: Conditions of candidature
  

Chapter 3: Conditions of candidature

3.8 Progress reports

3.8.1 Annual reports

All doctoral and MPhil candidates who are undertaking the research component of their degree are required to submit an annual progress report. Comments by the candidate, supervisor and head of department are sought on a standard form, which is forwarded to departments in June each year.

Continuation of candidature and, where relevant, scholarship tenure, is conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory annual report. Those candidates who do not submit a progress report will not be re-enrolled for the next year of study and their candidature will be deemed to have lapsed. The Research Graduate School Committee believes that if a problem is indicated in the annual report, action should be taken as soon as possible to assist the candidate. There are many factors which may affect the progress of a research program, some of which are beyond the candidate’s control. These may include:

  • change in research direction
  • employment commitments
  • departure or absence of the supervisor
  • excessive supervisory load of supervisor
  • inadequate research resources and facilities
  • infrequent or unsatisfactory communication between candidate and supervisor
  • technical difficulties, including computing facilities, and
  • personal problems.

Where a concern has been raised, the faculty representative on the Committee will, in consultation with the parties concerned, draw up a plan of action to tackle the problem.

In some cases a candidate may have concerns that he/she does not wish to document in the annual progress report. In such circumstances the candidate should raise these concerns with the Associate Dean (Research Degrees) in the relevant faculty. The candidate may also submit a confidential report on any matters to the Monash Research Graduate School.

3.8.2 Interim reports

Interim reports allow the Research Graduate School Committee to monitor the extent to which the action taken by the candidate’s academic unit has solved problems reported in the previous annual report. These reports are generally dispatched in February or March, but may be called for at any time.