Chapter 4: Changes to candidature

4.6 Writing-up-away status

The thesis should normally be written and submitted before the candidate leaves the University. A candidate may, however, apply for ‘writing-up-away’ status, which may be granted for an initial period of three months with the possibility of a further request of up to three months. For such a request to be approved, the supervisor and head of department or academic unit must certify in writing that the candidate has completed a satisfactory first draft of the thesis. In those rare instances when a supervisor is unable to read and assess a complete first draft in reasonable time, the Steering Committee of the Research Graduate School Committee may seek the advice of the relevant head of department or others, in order to determine whether writing-up-away status may be appropriate. Where a satisfactory first draft has not been submitted, an application for transfer to external candidature may be more appropriate.

Where a candidate is relocating overseas/interstate or taking up full-time employment, up to three months of intermission may be requested before the writing-up-away status comes into effect. This three-month period of intermission may be in addition to the 12 months intermission normally permitted during candidature.

Candidates who leave the University without having obtained the Committee’s prior approval of writing-up-away may prejudice their candidature. Application should be made on the standard form, available from Monash Research Graduate School.

Candidates who have been granted writing-up-away status are required to maintain their enrolment at the University until the thesis is submitted.