Enrolment to Completion

Topics

Changes to duration, progress management and RTP procedures 2023
Managing your enrolment
Progress management
Attendance Schedule
Thesis examination

Effective January 1 2023, the standard length of candidature for current and future PhD students (currently 3yrs and 3mths) has been extended to 3 years and 6 months equivalent full-time (EFT; pro-rata for part-time) with greater ﬂexibility in applying for extensions up to 4-years (EFT).

Key changes are outlined below and are supported by FAQs included on this page.

Thesis Submission Date & Extensions:

PhD students will have the thesis submission date and RTP scholarship end date set to 3 years and 6 months from the outset, removing the need to apply for extensions. Current students who have not received an extension and are eligible to receive a scholarship extension will be automatically updated to 3 year and 6 months over the Dec 22-Jan 23 period
PhD students will be able to apply for extensions to their thesis submission date up to 6 months prior to the Thesis Submission Date, as long as the Final Milestone has been achieved.

Attendance:

The minimum number of days you must dedicate to your study can now be met over a 7-day calendar week as opposed to Monday-Friday.
While Monash permits flexibility, you should be mindful that your attendance schedule is ultimately subject to agreement between you and your supervisory team.

If you are looking for information on the enrolment process, please visit our How to Enrol page. This page explains what is needed to finalise your enrolment with us.

Further information on managing your enrolment, including entitlements can be found via the relevant Handbooks.

Unable to find what you're looking for? Search here for more general questions.

Making changes to your enrolment like applying for leave, extensions and converting your attendance mode is simple. Prior to applying, ensure your review your entitlements detailed on the Managing your Candidature website.
Enrolment variation applications can be made online and are found here.
Currently travel is being approved for essential research as part of the graduate research course. For details on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please see the Managing your Travel website.
All students are able to change their supervision if required throughout their enrolment. It is important that any changes to supervision are submitted prior to submission.
Prior to completing the change of supervision form, ensure you have:
- Consulted with all supervisors and your academic unit
- Checked that all changes are in accordance with Monash’s Graduate Research Student Supervision Policy and Procedure. Note: It is recommended that the assigned percentage for each supervisor is in increments of 5%.
- If adding an External supervisor – checked with your Faculty Graduate Research office that the individual you are seeking to add to your team has an External Supervisor ID.
- Scholarship holders only – referred to the RTP Scholarship Procedures for information and possible implications to your scholarship (in particular, Co-Funded Scholarships).
Please complete this form to request a change of supervision.
Note: This form will escalate to your Main supervisor for approval, followed by your Faculty Graduate Coordinator and Associate Dean (Graduate Research). For turnaround times, please refer to our Standard processing times.
Currently enrolled students can apply for an Enrolment Verification letter via our online form. Please note, if you have completed your course, you can request your letter via Monash Connect.
If you have been approved Permanent Residency, you will be required to change your residency status. In order to do this you must complete a Change of Residency Status Notification Form as soon as your visa has been granted.
You will then need to submit this form along with a copy of your newly acquired visa to Monash Connect.
It is important that you have advised your supervisory team and department of your intention to withdraw from your course. This will ensure that any administrative processes are completed prior to your withdrawal being processed.
In order to withdraw you will need to complete the online withdrawal form.

Understand the framework that governs the supervision of Graduate Research students at Monash

Milestone due dates are set at commencement. The number and timing of Milestones is dependent on your course of enrolment.
For PhD students, milestones are scheduled at 12, 24 and 36 months (EFT).
For Masters by Research students, milestones are scheduled at 8 and 16 months (EFT)
You can check your milestone due dates at any time via your Research Enrolment Summary.
You will also receive 3 central reminders of when your milestone is due to your student email account. These will be sent three months and one month before the milestone due date, and one month after the due date. Your Main Supervisor will also be notified.
Each faculty/academic unit manages milestones differently. Check with your supervisor and relevant academic unit staff on how Milestones are organised within your academic unit.
Yes. If you have the support of your supervisor and academic unit, you can complete your milestone earlier than the due date.
We recognise that scheduling your milestone by the due date can be challenging when attempting to ﬁnd a date that works for you, your supervisor and your panel. Please discuss any delays with your supervisor and relevant academic unit staff.
When you apply for leave your candidature clock stops. All future milestones will be moved by the period of leave.
If you take a period of leave after the due date of a milestone (e.g. you are 3 weeks overdue), that milestone date will not move. You will need to speak to your faculty/academic unit on your return to re-schedule that milestone as soon as possible. As mentioned above all future milestones will move.
No, Scheduling your milestone after the due date will not change future milestones or your thesis submission date.
Milestones provide a valuable opportunity to receive feedback and support to strengthen your research project and help you complete on time with excellent thesis outcomes. If you are overdue, please schedule your milestone ASAP and then contact your supervisor and relevant academic unit staff to provide them with the new scheduled date. Contact your academic unit if you have further queries.
You no longer need to apply for an extension to your milestone. Please discuss any delays with your supervisor and relevant academic unit staff.

You should discuss the schedule for your research training work hours and days with your supervisory team at your course commencement and whenever there are changes to your situation that require a revision of your schedule.
Requirements and flexibility provisions for your attendance schedule are outlined on the Managing your Candidature website. While Monash permits flexibility, you should be mindful that your attendance schedule is ultimately subject to agreement between you and your supervisory team.
If there is a change in your circumstances that requires a revision of your attendance schedule, you should discuss this with your supervisory team as soon as possible.
Whilst your attendance is not recorded in the student management system, it is important that you and your supervisors agree upon and note expected attendance, as well as any changes to regular meeting schedules or other facilities and resource access requirements.
No, milestones and supervisory meetings cannot be scheduled on weekends, as university staff members, including supervisors, are not obligated to make themselves available outside of normal university business hours.

Visit our thesis examination pages for comprehensive information and resources to assist you in preparing and submitting your thesis.

Information for Examiners can also be found here.

If you are unable to find the specific information you are after regarding thesis examination, please contact our Monash Graduate Research Office Examination team on mgro-thesisexams@monash.edu.

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