Author: Erica Walls-Nichols
Last saved by: Erica.Walls-Nichols
Company: University of Canberra

University of Canberra Higher Degree by Research Milestones Overview

Milestones | Who needs to complete this milestone? | When is the due date? | Who is responsible for what? | Who attends seminar/meeting?

Coursework requirement

Standard entry PhD – 12 credit points required

Master by Research & Professional Doctorate – as specified in the course outline

In the first 12 months full-time or first 24 months part-time

Doctoral Skills Portfolio Unit – Primary Supervisor finalises grade and provides to unit convenor. Presentation to be organised by Primary Supervisor. 

All other units - unit convenors assess completion of coursework.

Doctoral Skills Portfolio Presentation: All members of panel should attend. 

Host Faculty staff and research candidates should also be invited to attend.

Introductory seminar

All HDR candidates

Masters by Research – 4 months full-time or 8 months part-time

Doctoral candidates – 6 months full-time or 12 months part-time

Primary Supervisor is responsible for organising the seminar. Attendees will be invited to provide feedback. 

Primary Supervisor is responsible for sending completed Non-assessable Seminar Report to HDR Support for recording.

Seminar: All members of panel should attend.

Research integrity training

All HDR candidates

Research integrity training (and completion of the quiz) is required before Confirmation of Candidature can be approved. 

Masters by Research – 7 months full-time or 14 months part-time

Doctoral candidates – 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time

Candidate responsible for enrolling into Research Integrity Canvas to access the online materials and quiz. 

Candidate responsible for working through the course content online or attending one of the scheduled face-to-face training sessions. Candidate responsible for completing the quiz and achieving required mark to achieve this milestone (80% required, two attempts allowed). 

Completion of milestone recorded by HDR Support.

If a student achieves less than 80% in the quiz at both attempts, a meeting will be scheduled with a member of the Ethics and Research Integrity team.

Confirmation of Candidature

All HDR candidates

Masters by Research – 7 months full-time or 14 months part-time 

Doctoral candidates – 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time

Candidate to submit written research proposal. Primary Supervisor to organise seminar. 
Supervisor to appoint panel of assessors and provide them with the Assessment of HDR Confirmation Seminar & Research Proposal form. 
Candidate, supervisory panel members and assessors meet post-seminar to provide feedback. 
Primary Supervisor provides assessments and feedback to Faculty ADR, who considers recommendations and provides outcome (and relevant paperwork) to HDR Support by email.

Seminar: All members of supervisory panel and Faculty ADR (or their delegate). Panel of assessors.

Meeting: Candidate, panel members and assessors.

Research Plan/Review

All HDR candidates

Developed in the first 6 months of candidature and reviewed by end of March each year

Students commencing in Semester 1 should upload their first research plan in July-Aug of their first year, and review in March the following year.

Notification email sent to candidates and supervisors by HDR Support.

Primary Supervisor and candidate should meet to discuss and review progress to date. 

Research Plan to be signed by candidate and Primary Supervisor. Uploaded to RGrad by candidate.

Meeting to discuss progress: Primary Supervisor and candidate.

Milestones | Who needs to complete this milestone? | When is the due date? | Who is responsible for what? | Who attends seminar/meeting?

Annual Progress Report (APR)

All HDR candidates

Submitted by end of September each year 

Students who commence in Semester 2 are not required to complete an APR until the following year.

Primary Supervisor is responsible for organising a meeting to discuss progress with candidate (and other panel members) prior to completion of the APR. Candidate is responsible for completing appropriate section of report and submitting online to the Primary Supervisor. 
Primary Supervisor is responsible for completing required section and submitting online for candidate to review. Candidate submits online to Faculty ADR. ADR is responsible for reviewing the APR and providing a recommendation regarding progress. The ADR then submits the APR online to HDR Support.

Meeting to discuss progress: Supervisory panel and candidate.

Work-in-progress seminar

Doctoral candidates only

PhD & PhD, including Clinical PhD – within the first two-thirds of the total period of candidature.  

Usually towards the end of second year of candidature, based on course duration of three years.

Primary Supervisor is responsible for organising the seminar. Supervisory panel and candidate meet post-seminar to discuss.

Primary Supervisor responsible for recording completion of the WIP seminar in the next Annual Progress Report or Research Plan Review. 

Primary Supervisor is responsible for sending completed Non-assessable Seminar Report to HDR Support for recording.

Seminar: Supervisory panel members and Faculty ADR (or their delegate).

Meeting: Supervisory panel members and candidate.

Pre-submission seminar

All HDR candidates

3-6 months prior to submission

Primary Supervisor responsible for organising and chairing the seminar.  

Primary Supervisor is responsible for sending completed Non-assessable Seminar Report to HDR Support for recording.

Supervisory panel members and Faculty ADR (or their delegate).

Host Faculty staff and members of wider research and professional communities should also be invited to attend.

Definitions
Standard Entry PhD = PhD that requires completion of 12 credit points of coursework within the first 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time 
HDR candidate = a student enrolled in any Higher Degree by Research course, including PhD, Master by Research, Professional Doctorate and Clinical PhD
ADR = Associate Dean Research in the relevant Faculty 
APR = Annual Progress Report 
WIP = Work in Progress Seminar 

The milestones requirements for Higher Degree by Research candidates at the University of Canberra are detailed in the Higher Degree by Research Progress and Milestones Policy and the Higher Degree by Research Progress and Milestones Procedures, available here: http://www.canberra.edu.au/current-students/canberra-students/current-research-students/hdr-policy-and-procedures