3.3 Attendance for part-time and full-time enrolment
3.3.1 Level of enrolment: part-time or full-time
The student’s academic unit and the delegate of the Graduate Research Committee need to be satisfied that prospective and current students have sufficient time available during the University working week to devote to their research, as well as complete any mandatory program requirements (coursework or professional development activities), and participate in relevant academic activities and meet with their supervisory team.
The duration of the academic year for graduate research students is 48 weeks with 4 weeks’ annual leave (pro-rata for part-time students).
There may be restrictions on students enrolling part-time enrolment due to course requirements as published in the University Handbook. These may include restrictions due to campus or location requirements. Similarly, if the student is a recipient of a scholarship enrolment, is subject to the University’s RTP Scholarship Procedures.
Australian regulatory requirements mean that International students on Australian student visas must enrol on a full-time basis unless there are compassionate or compelling circumstances, defined as personal circumstances that:
- are involuntary and outside your control, such as medical, family, or wellbeing reasons, and
- present you with limited or no choice but to take leave from your studies.
International students enrolled through other campuses (such as Monash University Malaysia or Indonesia) should contact their faculty and/or relevant campus office for advice prior to submitting an application for part-time enrolment.
3.3.1.1 Full-time enrolment
Full-time enrolment requires the student to devote at least 4 days each week to the pursuit of their study program and related activities, including supervisory meetings and other research activities.
Students and their supervisory team should discuss, agree and document the schedule of work hours and days. This is required over a 7-day calendar week, recognising the need for flexibility in working/research training arrangements.
For reasons of security and safety in some research projects students will need to be reasonably available during University business hours Monday – Friday to undertake their research project. Students must note that there is no requirement upon supervisors to make themselves available outside of normal university business hours.
3.3.1.2 Part-time enrolment
In order to undertake part-time enrolment, a student must be able to devote at least two days each week to their study program. This is required over a 7-day calendar week, recognising the need for flexibility in working/research training arrangements.
Students and their supervisory team should discuss, agree and document the schedule of work hours and days, noting that any supervisory meetings will need to occur during normal University business hours, Monday- Friday). For reasons of security and safety in some research projects students will need to be reasonably available during business hours Monday – Friday to undertake their research project. Students must note that there is no requirement upon supervisors to make themselves available outside of normal university business hours.
3.3.2 No Backdated Variations
Backdated variation requests will not be approved. All requests must be future-dated and consider the approval and processing time-frames. For this reason, we recommend variations be submitted at least two weeks prior to their proposed commencement date, otherwise they will be effective from the date processed by the Graduate Research Office team.