Common questions asked by Science postgraduates

1. What are the research faculty research strengths?
2. What HDR courses are available?
3. What scholarships are available?
4. Where can I find information on supervisors and their research areas?
5. What are the minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a Higher Degree by Research?
6. What is the MRGS?
7. What is the Research Office?
8. What does the Faculty of Science office do for research postgraduates?
9. What are the attributes of a Monash University postgraduate student?
10. How often do I need to provide progress reports?
11. What deadlines do I need to meet in my first year?
12. Do I need to reenrol each year?
13. How long do I have to complete?
14. What is confirmation of candidature?
15. What are my obligations as a postgraduate research student?
16. What are the obligations of my supervisor (and the university)
17. How do I deal with any other issues or problems that may arise during my candidature?
18. Can I apply for research grant funding?
19. What happens if I vary my enrolment?
20. Do I get holidays?

1. What are the Faculty of Science’s research strengths?

The Faculty’s research strengths can be viewed at this link: http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/postgrad/restrengths.html

2. What HDR courses are available?

The Faculty of Science has four Higher Degree by Research courses available:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Master of Science Preliminary

3. What scholarships are available?

Information on Scholarships available can be found at this link: http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/postgrad/scholarship.html

4. Where can I find information on supervisors and their research areas?

Information on supervisors and their research areas can be viewed at this link:  http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/postgrad/supervisors/

5. What are the minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into a Higher Degree by Research?

Information on Monash University’s minimum English language proficiency requirements for entry into an HDR program can be found at: http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/research/doctoral/chapter2d.html

Please note that the minimum English language proficiency requirements for both the Master of Science and the Master of Science (Preliminary) are the same as for the Doctor of Philosophy and the Master of Philosophy.

6. What is the MRGS?

The Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS) is a central administrative body of the university that, for Science postgraduates, oversees Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) candidature. The MRGS also provides a range of services to research postgraduates, including:

• scholarships
• seminars and workshops, as part of the exPERT Program; and
• a range of grants and awards including Postgraduate Travel Grants, Postgraduate Conference Organisers' Grants, and Postgraduate Publication Awards

The MRGS also administers the following:

• variations to candidature for PhD students; and
• Annual Progress Reports for PhD students and for masters students receiving a centrally allocated scholarship

7. What is the Research Office?

The Research Office (formerly known as the Research Grants and Ethics Branch or RGEB) is a central administrative body of the university that oversees research grants and approval for human ethics and animal ethics.

8. What does the Faculty of Science office do for research postgraduates?

Among its responsibilities the Faculty of Science office approves admission to all research postgraduate courses within the faculty, handles variations to candidature for masters students, and holds a number of seminars and workshops for research postgraduates.

9. What are the attributes of a Monash University postgraduate student?

The twelve attributes of a Monash University postgraduate student are:

• Conducting research and professional engagement within an international context;
• Formulating and articulating a research question;
• Thinking critically, analysing and problem solving;
• Finding, sorting and assessing the current level of knowledge and information;
• Choosing and designing an appropriate methodology to answer a research question and recognizing the strengths and limitations of competing methodologies;
• Rigorously analysing, evaluating and interpreting research results and assessing the implications of the research;
• Working effectively with others as an independent researcher, able to display organisational skills and to plan, lead and manage a research project;
• Having the interpersonal skills to work collaboratively in an effective and efficient manner;
• Conducting research in a safe, ethical and culturally sensitive manner;
• Lateral thinking and open mindedness;
• Having the ability and enthusiasm to take the initiative and to handle responsibility;
• Communicating the research at a professional level appropriate to the discipline (to a range of audiences)

10. How often do I need to provide progress reports?

Please consult the section Progress reporting.

11. What deadlines do I need to meet in my first year?

PhD students

• Faculty of Science Research Plan: end of the first three (3) months (full-time) / six (6) months (part-time).
• Confirmation of candidature: first 12 months (full-time) / 24 months (part-time).

• Faculty of Science Research Plan: end of the first three (3) months (full-time) / six (6) months (part-time).
• MRGS Annual Progress Report: due in August of each year.

• Faculty of Science Research Plan: end of the first three (3) months (full-time) / six (6) months (part-time).
• Faculty of Science Progress Report: end of first 12 months (full-time) / 24 months (part-time)

For further information please consult the section Progress reporting.

12. Do I need to reenrol each year?

Yes, or you will lose your student privileges including library and Internet access. You will be required to re-enroll online via WES each year and shall be notified by letter and e-mail each October about the re-enrollment process.

13. How long do I have to complete?

PhD students

The maximum period of candidature is four (4) years of full-time or its equivalent in part-time candidature up to a maximum of eight (8) years of part-time study. However, the normal length of candidature is considered to be three (3) years full-time (six (6) years part-time). It is strongly recommended that students design a project that can be completed within three (3) years of the commencement of candidature.

MSc students

The masters is normally undertaken over a period of 18 months (or 36 months part-time) with a maximum of two (2) years full-time candidature allowed (or four (4) years part-time). Part-time candidature is not available to international candidates.

14. What is confirmation of candidature?

All PhD students are required by the MRGS to present their work in progress to a review panel and submit a confirmation of candidature report at the end of their probationary period. This process is expected to take place within the first 12 months of candidature.

Further information is given in chapter 3 of the Handbook for Doctoral and Master of Philosophy Degrees.

15. What are my obligations as a postgraduate research student?

There are a number of obligations that you have, including following Occupational Health Safety and Environment requirements and ensuring that you meet the requirements of your candidature (see Important publications and links for Science postgraduates) . Your school may have other requirements that you will need to follow.

16. What are the obligations of my supervisor (and the university)?

These are outlined in the section Postgraduate research supervision.

17. How do I deal with any other issues that may arise during my candidature?

In the first instance you discuss any problems with your supervisor. You may then wish to contact the following persons:

• Head of your school
• Postgraduate coordinator of your school
• Associate Dean (Graduate Studies)
• Postgraduate Committee representatives

18. Can I apply for research grant funding?

Yes, if you meet the criteria - see the section Research funding opportunities for Science postgraduates

19. What happens if I vary my enrolment?

Information on variations to candidature can be found at this link: http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/postgrad/variation.html

20. Do I get holidays?

Yes, you are eligible to take 20 days recreational leave each year.

Further information

• Faculty of Science, Graduate Studies Officer