Faculty-specific milestone guidelines

The University is committed to providing a high-quality experience for all graduate research students and support through to the completion.

The University’s Progress Management Framework supports and facilitates a student’s progress to timely thesis submission through formal and  informal milestones and provides mechanisms to support student’s progress outside the Milestone Framework.

Milestones support and facilitate a student's progress towards their timely thesis submission, providing an opportunity to receive structured feedback on their progress and to highlight any issues affecting progress.

The Milestone Framework comprises three formal milestones: Confirmation, Progress Review, and Final Review. For doctoral courses, each of the three milestones must be completed. For research master’s courses, Confirmation and Progress Review must be completed. There is no Final Review.

The key purpose of each milestone is:

  • Review and student feedback

    Review and provide students with structured feedback from an independent academic panel on their research progress, comprehension, and academic writing, ensuring adequate resources (including supervision and facilities), sound direction, and appropriate methodologies are in place to enable timely submission of their thesis.

  • Progress tracking

    Ensure the research and program progress is on track, make recommendations and appropriate intervention can be implemented where required.

  • Administrative review

    Review administrative matters such as whether changes to IP are required.

  • Student queries

    Provide students with a formal opportunity to raise any issues and concerns affecting their progress for appropriate resolution.

Milestones by course type and faculty

Return to managing your milestones