H1 Equivalence Assessment Procedures

Only H1 or H1E equivalent applicants are eligible for scholarships. H1E assessment is not required for applicants holding the following qualifications:

If an applicant does not hold one of the above qualifications and the academic unit and faculty believe that the applicant has qualifications and/or research experience equivalent to an H1 degree, the faculty may request that the student be assessed for H1 equivalence. Students holding the following qualifications, for example, require such assessment:

• bachelors degree with second or third class honours as highest qualification
• research masters preliminary degree without a formal H1 grade
• research masters degree without a formal H1 grade
• coursework masters degree
• graduate diploma
• overseas qualifications, except New Zealand (see above)
• other non-standard qualifications.

In deciding whether a student’s qualifications and/or research experience are equivalent to an Australian first class honours degree, a panel of academic staff convened before ranking takes place will consider an applicant’s:

• Academic record– for example, overall grade or GPA of qualifications; grade of research component and its % of overall program; thesis examiner reports (where available); coursework unit results; extent to which units relate to acquisition of research skills
• Research output – publications such as books, journal publications, conference proceedings, reports and working papers, including where relevant, title, number of pages, number of authors and % contribution of applicant, status of publication-accepted, in press or published, etc
• Prior research experience– nature and extent of research undertaken during relevant work experience.

Additional guidelines pertaining to application for H1 equivalence

Primary consideration for assessing H1E based on qualifications from European nations engaged in the Bologna Process Framework

The Bologna process framework is one whereby most European nations are moving to having three cycles of higher education qualification. These cycles are defined in terms of qualifications and European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits:

• 1st cycle: typically 180–240 ECTS credits, usually awarding a Bachelor's degree.
• 2nd cycle: typically 90–120 ECTS credits (a minimum of 60 on 2nd-cycle level), usually awarding a Master's degree.
• 3rd cycle: Doctoral degree. No ECTS range given.

Students who have completed a 1st  cycle degree under the new framework will be expected to have completed a 2nd cycle degree to be eligible for award of H1E.

Determination of H1 Equivalence

• Scholarship applicants cannot apply directly to MRGS for H1E consideration. This task is undertaken by the academic unit and faculty after the scholarship application closing date. H1 Equivalence Panels are held in November (end of year round) and June (mid-year round).
• Academic units and faculties may also nominate applicants for H1E consideration outside the main scholarship rounds. H1 equivalence nomination form.
• Applicants already granted H1 equivalence status by an H1 Equivalence Panel, need not be reassessed for H1 equivalence. 

A report of awardees granted H1E status from 2007 onwards is available to Monash staff from the on-line scholarship system.

Preparing H1E nominations 

• Summarise the case succinctly by dot points
• Use CEP online to determine institution 'quality' (eg section 1), how a qualification is regarded (eg masters equivalent) or how the grading scheme works
• Refer only to essential supporting documentation using a clear reference to the document name. Ensure all supporting documents have been verified.
• Provide full details of publications and their standing (especially important if not a journal publication) 
• Do not convert international mark scales to 'Monash equivalent'. Look instead for the level of accomplishment and standing in class.
• Do not include information that is not relevant to support the claim for H1E.

H1E information session podcast (Monash staff only)
Examples of H1E and English cases (Monash staff only)

Automatic H1E guidelines

Some Monash qualifications have been approved for automatic H1E. Graduates from selected overseas institutions may also be eligible for automatic H1 equivalence. For details click on the relevant link below:

Monash qualifications approved for automatic H1E
Overseas qualifications/institutions approved for automatic H1E (Monash staff only)