Part 2: Definitions

A number of terms used throughout this document and are defined below. Please contact the Graduate Studies Officer should you require clarification of these or related terms.

Candidate: a person enrolled in the course Master of Science by research. The term is synonymous with 'postgraduate student'.

Credit and credit grade average: the Monash University Grading Scale defines the grade of 'Credit' as corresponding to a level of achievement for which a mark between 60 and 69 per cent has been awarded for a graded coursework unit. A 'credit grade average' would correspond to an average mark of 60 per cent or more for graded coursework units.

Dean: the dean of the Faculty of Science . The dean oversees all operations of the faculty and convenes meetings of Faculty Board .

Faculty Board: a board of the Faculty of Science convened by the dean that reviews and ratifies the actions and decisions of the Research Degrees Committee .

Faculty of Science office: the office located in building 19N, Clayton campus.

Graduate Studies Officer: an employee of the Faculty of Science who is the main contact person for prospective and current masters candidates enrolled in the faculty. See 'Part 20: Further information'.

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) : a course leading to a doctorate by research (including a professional doctorate) or a masters by research 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).

Honours class or grade : please see the definitions for 'H1', 'H1 Equivalence', 'H2A' and 'H2A Equivalence' below.

H1: a First Class Honours degree or equivalent. The Monash University Grading Scale defines 'H1' as corresponding to a level of achievement for which an overall mark of 80 per cent or more has been awarded for an honours program (which usually comprises an additional year of study), or in the case of a degree that is awarded 'with honours' and does not involve an additional year of study, for the whole course or specific years of that course.

H1 Equivalence: where an applicant does not hold a minimum qualification of at least a bachelor's degree with first class honours (H1), the faculty will request that the applicant complete an Honours 1 Equivalence Assessment form as an attachment to their application for admission to candidature.

H2A: a Second Class Honours, Division 1 degree or equivalent. The Monash University Grading Scale defines 'H2A' as corresponding to a level of achievement for which an overall mark between 70 and 79 per cent has been awarded for an honours program (which usually comprises an additional year of study), or in the case of a degree that is awarded 'with honours' and does not involve an additional year of study, for the whole course or specific years of that course.

H2A Equivalence: where an applicant does not hold a minimum qualification of at least a bachelor's degree with upper second class honours (H2A), the faculty will request that the applicant complete a Documentation in Support of H2A Equivalence form as an attachment to their application for admission.

Intermission : a leave of absence from candidature. See 'Part 12: Variations to candidature.'

Major thesis : a thesis that constitutes two-thirds (66 per cent) or more of the requirements for a Master of Science by research program in accordance with the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) definition of a Higher Degree by Research.

Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS): an administrative centre of the university responsible for administration of doctoral and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programs. The MRGS also oversees a range of centrally allocated scholarships and coordinates annual progress reporting for masters by research candidates in receipt of a scholarship. Further details are available from the MRGS website . Please note that masters programs other than the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) are administered at the faculty level.

Postgraduate Diploma of Science: an exit award for Master of Science Preliminary candidates who have completed the requirements of the course but not at the equivalent of a class 1 (H1) or class 2A honours (H2A) grade required for admission to the course Master of Science by research, or who are eligible to apply for that course but do not wish to do so.

Research Degrees Committee: 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 reports to Faculty Board.

Supervisor: a person, usually a member of the academic staff of the university, whose general role is to guide and assist a candidate 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 candidate 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 candidates based at locations outside of Monash University (see 'Part 7: External candidature'). An external supervisor would be appointed in addition to a main supervisor.