PhD milestones
Regular and thorough review of progress during candidature helps keep candidates (and supervisors) on track and focused. In particular, opportunities to receive input from their broader intellectual community and colleagues provide candidates with a platform on which to receive useful insights and feedback on their progress and research direction.
Formal progress reviews called milestones are compulsory for all Monash research candidates.
The MADA Graduate Research Office organises milestone presentations in collaboration with supervisors, and will contact you with the time and date of your milestone presentation.
Required documents are uploaded via the online milestone report system. An email prompt will be sent to students once the milestone has been scheduled. Specific requirements are detailed in Appendix J of the Monash University Doctoral Handbook.
Confirmation
Due: before 12 months candidature equivalent full-time (EFT) enrolment
Requirements:
- 20 minute oral presentation on your visual and written research to the review panel.
- 1000-word summary report including:
- discussion of the research question;
- summary of project progress and/or issues to date;
- project plan; and
- time-line to completion
- Draft Exegesis chapter (3000 words for practice-based, 5000 words for thesis-only mode candidates). Note: your draft chapter should be appropriately formatted and referenced as it would appear in its final form, including images of relevant visual work - see Sections 7.1.6-8 of the Doctoral Handbook
- Images of studio work (practice-based mode only).
Purpose:
- Determine whether the research project has been appropriately conceived as clearly achievable within 3 years EFT;
- Provide formal assessment of the candidate’s overall performance within the probationary period of enrolment, ensuring that the student’s research direction is sound, their methodologies are appropriate, the standard of their comprehension and writing is in accordance with the requirements of their degree, and that theory and practice are in alignment;
- Confirm, where relevant, that ethics and Intellectual Property (IP) arrangements are in place, ensuring that a plan of action is agreed to where there are issues;
- Ensure that the resources available to the student, including supervision and facilities, are adequate for the purpose of completion of the degree within the required timeframe;
- Provide students with the opportunity to receive peer review feedback on their research and oral presentation and development of presentation/communication skills from experienced researchers;
- Enable a formal recommendation to be made that the student has either met or not met the requirements of the milestone.
Progress Review (Mid Candidature Review)
Due: before 24 months candidature EFT
Requirements:
- 20 minute oral presentation on your visual and written research to the review panel.
- 1000-word summary report including:
- summation of progress from Confirmation;
- summary of project progress and/or issues to date;
- updated project plan; and
- time-line to completion
- Draft Exegesis chapter (3000 words for practice-based, 5000 words for thesis-only mode candidates), distinct from that presented at Confirmation, that addresses either a visual review of the practice work and its value (practice-based mode), or a review of how the research thesis is building. Note: your draft chapter should be appropriately formatted and referenced as it would appear in its final form, including images of relevant visual work - see Sections 7.1.6-8 of the Doctoral Handbook
- Images of studio work (practice-based mode only).
Purpose:
- The student’s progress since Confirmation remains satisfactory, and that they have met any requirements agreed to as part of the Confirmation process;
- The student remains on track to complete their research project by the thesis submission date;
- The student’s research and other professional skills are developing appropriately;
- The resources available to the student, including supervision and facilities, are adequate for the purpose of completion of the degree within the required timeframe.
Final Review (Pre Submission Seminar)
Due: before 36 months candidature EFT
Requirements:
- 20 minute oral presentation on your visual and written research to the review panel. The presentation should explore:
- For studio/project mode: a review of the studio/project work and how it will be exhibited for examination, as well as an outline of the final structure of the written exegesis;
- For thesis mode: a review of the final structure of the written thesis
- 1000-word summary report including:
- summation of project progress and/or issues to date;
- Statement of anticipated contribution the PhD is making to the field;
- outstanding work to completion; and
- updated timeline to completion
- Draft of the Exegesis' concluding chapter (3000 words for practice-based, 5000 words for thesis-only mode candidates). Note: your draft chapter should be appropriately formatted and referenced as it would appear in its final form, including images of relevant visual work - see Sections 7.1.6-8 of the Doctoral Handbook
- Draft Examination Exhibition plan, and images of studio work (practice-based mode only).
Purpose:
- Any issues identified at the Progress Review have been addressed;
- The student’s research project is at an advanced stage and should be ready for examination by the thesis submission date;
- The student is able to demonstrate command of their research in written and oral forms, and in their practice if practice-based;
- Appropriate feedback is provided to the student about the readiness (or otherwise) of the thesis for examination, providing feedback on any issues that need to be addressed prior to submission;
- The examination exhibition plan is feasible (practice-based candidates only) The student and supervisor/s have begun to discuss potential examiners.