Faculty of Science glossary of research and postgraduate terms

Please email details of any additional publications / links for inclusion on this page to the Manager, Research and Research Training.

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Language and Learning Services (LLS) : a division of the 'Centre for Learning and Teaching Support (CeLTS)'.

LIEF: see 'Australian Research Council (ARC)'.

Linkage-Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities (LIEF): see 'Australian Research Council (ARC)'.

Linkage-Projects: see 'Australian Research Council (ARC)'.

LLS: see 'Language and Learning Services'.

LPAS: see 'Faculty of Science Linkage – Project Application Support (LPAS) scheme'.

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M

Main supervisor: see 'Supervisor'.

Major sequence: a minimum of 48 'credit points' in a field of study or a 'discipline'.

Major thesis: a thesis that constitutes two-thirds or more of the requirements for a Master of Science by research program in accordance with the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) definition of a 'higher degree by research'.

Manager, Research and Research Training: an employee of the faculty who coordinates a number of key areas in research and higher degrees by research (HDR) for the faculty including postgraduate research scholarships, faculty scholarships, a number of faculty research grant schemes, and events for postgraduates including induction and careers development.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil): a course offered by the Faculty of Science.

Master of Science by research: a course offered by the Faculty of Science.

Master of Science Preliminary: a course offered by the Faculty of Science.

Masters preliminary: a preparatory course that may include a significant research component completed prior to admission to a masters by research course.

Masters by coursework: a course where less than two-thirds of its assessable content is by research. See also 'Master's by research'.

Masters by research: a course where a minimum of two-thirds of its assessable content is by research and the assessment process involves at least one qualified examiner external to the institution. These are requirements of the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST).

Maternity leave grant: see 'Faculty of Science 'Populate and Publish' Maternity Leave Grant'.

Mathematical Sciences : see 'School of Mathematical Sciences'.

MC2: see 'Monash Cluster Computing'.

MDS: see 'Monash Departmental Scholarship'.

MGS: see 'Monash Graduate Scholarship'.

MI: see 'Monash International Pty Ltd'.

Minor sequence: a minimum of 24 'credit points' in a field of study or a 'discipline'.

Minor thesis: a thesis that comprises less than 66 per cent of the requirements for a course.

MIPRS: see 'Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship'.

Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal: a medal that is awarded annually to the doctoral student in each faculty judged to have presented the best thesis in that year provided that the nominee meets an overall level of excellence required for the award of the medal.

Monash Cluster Computing (MC2): a joint research centre between the School of Mathematical Sciences in the Faculty of Science and the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering in the Faculty of Information Technology.

Monash Coursework Scholarships Office: an office that provides details of scholarships for coursework postgraduate students.

Monash Departmental Scholarship (MDS): a type of scholarship offered by a school of the faculty.

Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS): a postgraduate research scholarship administered by the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS). The award is offered to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and international students and provides a yearly non-taxable stipend of $19,231 in 2006.

Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (MIPRS): a scholarship administered by the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS) that covers the 'course tuition fees' set by the university and payable by the awardee for each year of the course. The scholarship also meets the cost of basic 'Overseas Student Health Cover'.

Monash/King's College London Research Travel Grants: support for financial assistance for conference attendance an/or fieldwork/research at a Monash campus by a King's College (KCL) doctoral student.

Monash Postgraduate Association (MPA): an association that represents all students enrolled in postgraduate courses in the university.

Monash Research Graduate Centre: a centre housed over three floors in building 3E on the Clayton campus that offers postgraduate research students a congenial meeting place for study, social, leisure and cultural activities.

Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS): an administrative centre of the university responsible for admission to doctoral and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programs. The MRGS also administers a range of centrally allocated scholarships and coordinates annual progress reporting for doctoral students and masters by research students in receipt of a centrally allocated scholarship.

Monash Small Grants (MSG): a defunct university grant scheme that was modelled on the ARC Small Grants Scheme. As from 2004 faculties receive, direct to faculty budgets, their earned share of the 'Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS)' funding allocated to the university.

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC): an injury prevention and control research institute of Monash University in which Science 'Doctor of Philosophy' students may undertake their research.

Monash University Careers and Employment: an office of the university that offers a range of career services and support to the Monash postgraduate community.

Monash University Corporate Finance Division: a division of the university that provides accounting, taxation, treasury management, financial systems, payment processing, and related advisory services to all Monash clients.

Monash University Insurance Services: a part of the’ Financial Resources Management Division (FiRM)’ that provides insurance services to Monash clients.

Monash University International Student Admissions office: a division of Monash University that provides information to prospective and current international students, including application and course information, visa requirements, accommodation, fees and scholarships.

Monash University Malaysia: a campus of Monash University.

Monash University Postgraduate Research Scholarship: a centrally allocated scholarship such as an 'Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)' or 'Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS)'.

Monash University Prato Centre: a centre of the university located in Prato, a northern Tuscan town near Florence. Staff, postgraduate research students, and honours students may apply to use individual or shared office space at the centre on a casual or longer-term basis.

Monash University Procurement Services: a part of the ’Financial Resources Management Division (FiRM)’ that provides services relating to the university’s purchasing.

Monash University Research Committee (MRC): a committee comprising the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the Associate Dean (Research) for each faculty.

Monash University Staff International Travel Policy: the Monash policy applying to staff and postgraduate research students.

Monash University Travel Advisory Office: a part of the Procurement Services section of the ’Financial Resources Management Division (FiRM)’ that acts as a point of contact and provides advice to staff and postgraduate students on travel related matters.

Monash University Travel Diary: a detailed itinerary for international travel undertaken by staff and postgraduate research students that must be submitted at the end of the trip as a requirement of the ’Monash University Staff International Travel Policy’.

MPA: see 'Monash Postgraduate Association'.

MPhil: see 'Master of Philosophy'.

MRC: see ‘Monash University Research Committee’.

MRGS: see 'Monash Research Graduate School'.

MRGS News: the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS) news service, providing information on seminars, conferences, scholarships, research opportunities and other events relevant to postgraduate students.

MRRTMP: see 'Monash Research and Research Training Management Plan'.

MSc: see 'Master of Science by research'.

MSG: see 'Monash Small Grants'.

MUARC: see 'Monash University Accident Research Centre'.

my.monash portal: a personalised web page available to each student and staff member at the university. Students may register for 'exPERT seminars', check their emails, and change their contact details.

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National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC): a body of the Commonwealth Government's Department of Health and Ageing that provides advice on all aspects of health and health care delivery in Australia. A range of grants offered by the NHMRC are listed on the Research Office website.

National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR): an office of the Australian Government Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) that provides official information and advice on the comparability of overseas qualifications with Australian qualifications. This aims to help overseas qualified people work and study in Australia.

NHMRC: see 'National Health and Medical Research Council'.

NOOSR: see 'National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition'.

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O

Occupational Health, Safety and the Environment (OHSE): a range of programs and services offered by the university to reduce safety, health and environmental risks in research, teaching and all other university activities.

Off-campus distributed learning: Where teaching and learning is distributed with teacher and learners geographically separated from each other. (The term 'Off Campus Learning' has replaced the terminology previously used by the university including 'Distributed Learning' and 'Distance Education'.)

Order of Merit List: a list of ranked applicants for Monash University postgraduate scholarships.

OSHC: see 'Overseas Student Health Cover'.

OSP: see 'Outside Studies Program'.

Outside Studies Program (OSP) (login required): this program provides academic staff with a period of relief from normal university duties to carry out a cohesive program of scholarly work to enhance their development and extend the body of knowledge in their chosen field.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): compulsory health care for international students while they (and their immediate family) are in Australia. The health insurance fee must be paid before a visa can be issued, and OSHC must be renewed annually.

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Part-time: where a study program for a semester has an 'EFTSU' value less than 0.375. Students with more are defined as 'full-time'. Full-time / Part-time is not a reflection of the time of day classes are held.

PELS: see 'Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme'.

PhD: see' Doctor of Philosophy'.

Physics : see 'School of Physics'.

pmd*crc: see 'CRC for Predictive Mineral Deposits'.

Populate and Publish' Maternity Leave Grant: see 'Faculty of Science 'Populate and Publish' Maternity Leave Grant'.

Postgraduate: study undertaken following completion of a 'bachelor' or other qualifying course. Compare with 'undergraduate'.

Postgraduate Committee: see 'Faculty of Science Postgraduate Committee'.

Postgraduate Conference Organisers' Grant: a program administered by the 'Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS)' that allows groups of postgraduate research students to apply for a grant to help them initiate, plan and run a Monash University, state, national or international postgraduate research conference, seminar or workshop. The deadline for applications is 28/29 February and 31 August in each year.

Postgraduate coordinator: an academic member of staff who oversees postgraduate matters for a school of the faculty.

Postgraduate Course Guide: a comprehensive guide to postgraduate study and research at Monash University, including details of library and computing services and sports and cultural facilities.

Postgraduate Course Guide for international students: a comprehensive guide to postgraduate study and research at Monash University for international students, including details of entry requirements, 'course tuition fees', accommodation and student support, and details of living in Australia.

Postgraduate Publications Award (PPA): a scheme that provides a modest income to authors during the preparation of articles and books that are based on their theses submitted for a research degree.

Postgraduate qualifying or Preliminary: a preparatory course that may include a significant research component completed prior to admission to a masters by research course.

Postgraduate student: a person enrolled in a postgraduate course. The term is synonymous with 'postgraduate candidate'.

Postgraduate Travel Grants: a program administered by the 'Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS)' that provides assistance with the travelling expenses for conference attendance or fieldwork / research outside Victoria.

PPA: see 'Postgraduate Publications Award'.

Prato: see 'Monash University Prato Centre'.

Primary supervisor: see 'Supervisor'.

Procurement Services: see ‘Monash University Procurement Services’.

Progress report: see 'Annual progress report'.

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R

RDC: see 'Research Degrees Committee'.

REP: see 'Research Evaluation Programme'.

Research Degrees Committee (RDC): a committee of the Faculty of Science that meets to review matters relating to postgraduate coursework and higher degrees by research (HDR) management and policy. The committee was formerly known as the Committee on Graduate Matters (CGM) until 2004.

Research Evaluation Programme (REP): a programme coordinated by the Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) that monitors the outcomes of research supported by various higher education research schemes and the effectiveness of those schemes.

Research Graduate Centre: see 'Monash Research Graduate Centre'.

Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC): a committee of the university responsible for administering the university's doctoral and research award programs.

Research Grants and Ethics Branch (RGEB): the former name of the 'Research Office'.

Research infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG): RIBG is allocated according to the relative success of each higher education provide (HEP) in attracting research funds, as calculated from schemes in the 'Australian Competitive Grants Register (ACGR)'. The ACGR data used is averaged over the two most recent years. Grants are calculated annually (see Research Infrastructure Block Grants Scheme: Guidelines for 2004 (section 3: Allocative Mechanism).

ResearchMaster 4 (RM4): a range of research management software made available through the Research Office.

Research Office: a branch of the university that provides information, advice, and administrative services to academic and general staff who are involved in research and research related activities at Monash University. The branch was formerly known as the Research Grants and Ethics Branch (RGEB).

Research plan: all new candidates are required to submit to their school a detailed research plan (a minimum of 1500 words) and timetable at the end of the first three months of equivalent full time candidature (or six months part-time).

Research Quality Framework (RQF): As part of the Federal Government's Backing Australia's Ability II package the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) announced the development of a Research Quality Framework (RQF). The purpose of the RQF is to assess the quality and 'impact' of research in Australian universities. Further information is available here.

Research Strengths: see 'Faculty Research Strengths'.

Research Supervisor Training Program: a training program coordinated by the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS) that allows intending 'supervisors' to be accredited as main supervisors of doctoral students. This fast track model of supervisor training is an alternative to the apprenticeship model where trainee research supervisors need to first undertake the role of associate supervisor for the duration of a candidature, from admission through to submission of thesis, before they are eligible to be a main supervisor in their own right. An overview of the accreditation procedures is available here.

Research Training Scheme (RTS): a system that replaced the Research Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) Exemptions Scheme. It provides Commonwealth-funded higher degree by research (HDR) students with an 'entitlement' to a HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited HDR course, up to a maximum period of four (4) years' full-time equivalent study for a doctorate by research and two (2) years' full-time equivalent study for a masters by research.

Researchers' Online Projects Enquiry System (ROPES): a subset of the TARDIS web application that allows tracking of an individual's research activity.

ResX: the ‘Business Travel International (BTI) Australia’ online booking system for domestic travel.

RGEB: see 'Research Grants and Ethics Branch'.

RGSC: see 'Research Graduate School Committee'.

RIBG: see 'Research infrastructure Block Grants'.

RM4: see 'ResearchMaster 4'.

ROPES: see 'Researchers' Online Projects Enquiry System'.

RQF: see 'Research Quality Framework'.

RTS: see 'Research Training Scheme'.

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Sardinian Cultural Association (Vic) Inc Travelling Scholarship at Monash Prato: support from the Sardinian Cultural Association (Vic) Inc. in collaboration with Monash Prato is available to assist with travelling expenses of students undertaking study or research in Italy.

SCERH: see 'Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans'.

School: a school of the Faculty of Science.

School of Applied Sciences and Engineering: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Gippsland campus.

School of Arts and Sciences: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Malaysia campus.

School of Biological Sciences: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Clayton campus.

School of Chemistry: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Clayton campus.

School of Geography and Environmental Science: a school of the Faculty of Arts based at the Clayton campus.

School of Geosciences: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Clayton campus.

School of Mathematical Sciences: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Clayton campus.

School of Physics: a school of the Faculty of Science based at the Clayton campus.

Semester: either of the two usually 13-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided. The semester dates for Monash University are available here.

Sick / Maternity leave: Masters students may apply for a period of sick or maternity leave by making a written application to the Research Degrees Committee (RDC), including full documentation of illnesses and the support of their supervisor. Doctoral students must apply for intermission via the Monash Research Graduate School.

Smart Traveller: the ‘Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)’ travel advisory and consular assistance service.

Sole supervisor: see 'Supervisor'.

SPIN: see 'Sponsored Programs Information Network'.

Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN): a searchable database of national and international government and private funding opportunities.

Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans (SCERH): a committee of the Research Office that evaluates applications for research involving humans.

Statistical Consulting Service: a service funded by the Monash Research Graduate School and provided jointly by the School of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics in the Faculty of Business and Economics that provides up to 10 hours of free statistical assistance for postgraduate research students over the course of their candidature.

Steering Committee: usually refers to the Steering Committee of the Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC) that meets weekly (usually on Tuesdays) to deal with individual candidature and scholarship matters for students enrolled in the courses 'Doctor of Philosophy' and 'Master of Philosophy'.

Stipend: a scholarship or award that pays a living allowance.

Student Services Centres: Student Services Centres are located on each campus and act as an interface between university staff, students and the general public. They are responsible for academic transcripts, ID cards, student letters, and payment of invoices.

Study away from the university: Postgraduate research students often find that they need to spend some time studying away from the university due to the need to collect data, undertake fieldwork or make use of research facilities in another locations. Masters students who need to study away from the university should make an application in writing and supported by their supervisor to the Research Degrees Committee (RDC).

Supervisor: a person, usually a member of the academic staff of the university, whose general role is to guide and assist a student during their period of research candidature. The main types of supervisor are described below.

'Primary', 'main', or 'sole' supervisor
A member of the academic staff who has appropriate research experience and a continuing active involvement in research. Such supervisors would normally be members of the school or centre through which the student is enrolled.

'Co-joint' supervisors
Two or more main supervisors with equal supervisory responsibility.

'Associate supervisor'
A person who need not be an academic staff member but someone of recognised standing in the relevant research field(s). An associate supervisor would be appointed in addition to a main supervisor.

'External' supervisor
A person with appropriate expertise who acts as a supervisor to students based at locations outside of Monash University. An external supervisor would be appointed in addition to a main supervisor.

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TARDIS: see 'Total Access Research Data Information System'.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a test of academic English proficiency that may be used to satisfy Monash University 'English language proficiency' requirements.

TOEFL: see 'Test of English as a Foreign Language'.

Total Access Research Data Information System (TARDIS): a web application system that brings together data from SAP HR / Finance, Callista, and ResearchMaster to meet the reporting needs of senior school, faculty and central administrative staff.

Transfer from masters to PhD candidature: masters students who believe that the scope, depth and originality of their work might be suitable for a doctoral thesis may apply to transfer to PhD candidature. They will need to wish to have the approval of your supervisor and then apply for admission to PhD candidature using the standard form available from the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS).

Travel Diary: see ‘Monash University Travel Diary’.

Travel grants for staff: see 'Faculty of Science Overseas Travel Grants for Academic Staff' and 'Faculty of Science Postdoctoral Overseas Travel Grants'.

Travel Advisory Office: an office of the university that aims to manage the university's travel expenditure in an efficient and effective manner, and to provide co-ordination between staff and the university's preferred airline, travel suppliers, and corporate card provider.

Travel Plan: see ‘Faculty of Science Staff International Travel Plan’ and ‘Monash University Travel Plan’.

Tuition fee: see 'Course tuition fee'.

Tuition fee scholarship: see 'Faculty of Science International Tuition Fee Scholarship'.

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Undergraduate: study undertaken towards a 'bachelor' degree, diploma or certificate. Compare with 'postgraduate'.

Unit: any single unit of study in which a student enrols, and in which a grade is recorded (for example, ATM3010 Weather phenomena).

UpSkills Program: Monash postgraduates have the opportunity to attend the School of Graduate Studies, University of Melbourne UpSkills Program seminars if places exist. This agreement is part of the Monash-Melbourne Protocol that promotes cooperation in service areas between the two institutions.

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Variation to candidature: Research postgraduates may need to vary their candidature for a number of reasons, including transferring from masters to PhD candidature, taking maternity or sick leave. Doctoral students apply to vary their candidature through the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS), while masters by research students apply through the Faculty of Science office.

Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences (VIEPS): a co-operative education and research institution based in Melbourne, of which the School of Geoscience is a member.

VIEPS: see 'Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences'.

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Water Studies Centre (WSC): a research centre of the Faculty of Science based in the School of Chemistry.

Web Enrolment System (WES): an online system that allows students to update address details, emergency contact details, and to complete a 'HECS' or 'PELS' application form.

WES: see 'Web Enrolment System'.

Writing up away: Doctoral students are normally required to remain at the university until they have submitted their thesis. However a student may apply for writing up away status provided that the supervisor and head of school have certified in writing to the Research Degrees Committee (RDC) and the Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC) that the student has completed a satisfactory first draft of the thesis. Students who are granted writing-up away status are required to maintain their enrolment until the thesis is submitted even if this requires their re-enrolment during this period.

WSC: see 'Water Studies Centre'.

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