Chapter 3: Conditions of candidature

3.9 Milestones - Supporting and Monitoring Candidature

As it is important to ensure the level of support and advice for candidates is maintained and the momentum continued throughout candidature, a new system of candidature review was introduced for all commencing doctoral candidates from 1 January 2010.
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. The benefits of regular, formal review have long been recognised and valued by candidates and supervisors at Monash University with the well-established compulsory confirmation process. 

Candidates may be required to complete research skills training and research coursework requirements prior to each milestone. See Graduate Research Program Plans and Appendix J for more information.
Candidates now have the following milestones to mark the stages of progress during their degrees, based on equivalent full-time (EFT) candidature:

All candidates who commenced after 1 January 2010 (and other candidates in some faculties) will be expected to meet the additional milestone requirements. 

Candidates enrolled in joint award or cotutelle programs should complete milestone requirements or equivalent progress reviews which should be documented at the point of enrolment in the joint award.

Candidates enrolled in the following programs are exempt from this requirement:

• Staff PhD
• Doctor of Medicine (Unsupervised)
• IITB-Monash research program

Information about the individual milestones is outlined in the following sections:

Section 3.10 Confirmation of Candidature

Section 3.11 Mid-Candidature Review

Section 3.12 Pre-Submission Seminar

print version