Chapter 2: Admission to doctoral candidature

2.1 Admission criteria
2.2 English language proficiency
2.3 Credit provision for PhD, professional doctorates and MPhil degrees
2.4 Degree or institution transfer
2.5 Application for student visa (international students)
2.6 Application procedures
2.7 Research-related employment which overlaps candidature
2.8 Admission and commencement
2.9 Concurrent enrolment
2.10 Conditional candidature
2.11 Probationary candidature
2.12 Ethics approval 
2.13 Intellectual property (ownership)

2.1 Admission criteria

All applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity to carry out independent research and have adequate training and ability to pursue the proposed course of study. In all cases, the qualifications described below must be from Monash University or an equivalent institution in the opinion of the Graduate Research Committee (GRC).

2.1.1 PhD

2.1.1.1 Standard entry

The minimum qualifications for admission to PhD candidature are:

  • a bachelor’s degree requiring at least four years of full-time study in a relevant field, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year, leading to an honours 1 or 2A in a relevant field;
  • a course leading to a level rated by the relevant department, faculty and committee as equivalent to an honours 1 or 2A in a relevant field;
  • a master’s degree that entails work, normally including a significant research component, at least equivalent to an honours degree in a relevant field (a ‘significant research component’ in a master’s degree will vary from discipline to discipline). It is normally expected that a grade of honours 2A has been obtained for the research thesis or project. Where ungraded, examiners' reports will be taken into account; or
  • have qualifications which in the opinion of GRC are deemed equivalent.

2.1.1.2 Special provision for some Monash University academic staff

Where Monash University academic staff do not meet standard academic entry requirements as above, a prospective PhD candidate will be supported by his/her faculty during a period of pre-candidature in order to gain research skills for entry. Subsequent formal admission to candidature would be subject to successful completion of a confirmation process (see Sections 2.11 and 3.9).

2.1.1.3 PhD in the specialty of music performance

Admission to the PhD (Music Performance) will require one of the following qualifications in music performance or a related discipline as well as substantial documented professional experience in the field:

  • a four year Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree with an overall result of honours 2A or above with a research component in the fourth year; or
  • an Australian or New Zealand master’s preliminary qualification with a significant research component and with an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  • an Australian or New Zealand coursework master’s degree with a significant research component graded at distinction or above, and an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  • an Australian or New Zealand research master’s degree with an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  • a qualification considered equivalent to one of the above (a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with substantial professional experience in the field).
Applicants will be required to perform a 30-minute audition followed by a 30-minute interview. In the case of overseas or interstate applicants, a video recording of a performance will be accepted for consideration in lieu of an audition. The audition process requires the nomination of two references from referees who can speak to both an applicant's academic training as well as performance abilities.
Applicants must also submit evidence of practical work in the field which will include the following:
  1. A representative selection of the candidate's performance work, in the practice genre in which the candidate proposes to work (i.e. audio and/or audio-visual recordings and performance highlights).
  2. A research proposal of 2–3 pages addressing the following headings:
    1. Research question
    2. Background to the research
    3. Aims of the research
    4. Methodologies of the research
    5. Examples of comparative practice as research and associated literature
    6. Proposed structure of the performance project
  3. A cover letter explaining the candidate's interest in the degree and a curriculum vitae outlining the candidate's professional interests, previous performance projects, and publications, if any.

2.1.1.4 PhD in the specialty of translation studies

Admission to the PhD (Translation Studies) will require one of the following qualifications in translation studies, literary or cultural and intercultural studies:

  • a four year Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree with an overall result of honours 2A or above (normally with a research component in the fourth year); or
  • an Australian or New Zealand master’s preliminary qualification with a significant research component and with an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  • an Australian or New Zealand coursework master’s degree with a significant research component graded at Distinction or above, and an overall result of Distinction or above; or
  • an Australian or New Zealand research master’s degree with an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  • a qualification considered equivalent to one of the above (a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with substantial professional experience in the field).

2.1.1.5 PhD in the specialty of Journalism

Admission to the PhD (Journalism) will require one of the following qualifications in journalism or a related discipline as well as substantial documented professional experience in the field:

  1. a four year Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree or equivalent international qualification with an overall result of honours 2A or above (normally with a research component in the fourth year); or
  2. an Australian or New Zealand master’s preliminary qualification with a significant research component and with an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  3. an Australian or New Zealand coursework master’s degree with a significant research component graded at distinction or above, and an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  4. an Australian or New Zealand research master’s degree with an overall result of honours 2A or above; or
  5. a qualification considered equivalent to one of the above (a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with substantial professional experience in the field in the form of publications, performances and collaborations).

Applicants will be required to submit evidence of practical work in the field in a portfolio which will include the following:

  1. A research proposal of 2-3 pages addressing the following headings:
    1. The research question
    2. The background to the research
    3. The aims of the research
    4. The methodologies underpinning the research
    5. The associated literature and any examples of comparative practice as research
    6. The proposed structure of the practice/creative based project
  2. A cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest in the degree; and
  3. A CV outlining the candidate’s professional interests, previous research and publications, if any.

2.1.2 Staff PhD candidature

Monash University’s academic staff members who meet the following criteria may be eligible for staff PhD candidature under Part 1, Section 5 of the PhD regulations:

  • have held an academic appointment at 0.5 fraction or above or an adjunct appointment;
  • have held that appointment at lecturer level B or above for a minimum of three years;
  • currently hold such an appointment at the time of thesis submission;
  • meet the normal entry qualifications for doctoral candidature; and
  • wish to submit a thesis based upon published or unpublished papers, at least 75% of which should have been completed during the staff members employment/adjunct appointment at the University; or
  • are otherwise approved by GRC.

Supervision is not mandatory for a staff candidate, however a suitably experienced supervisor (with at least Monash University Level 2 accreditation) may be appointed.

2.1.3 Doctor of Medicine (MD)

2.1.3.1 MD with supervision

An applicant for admission to the Doctor of Medicine with supervision must have:

  • qualified at Monash University for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; and
  • research training that GRC is satisfied is equivalent to honours 1 or 2A; or
  • other qualifications which, in the opinion of the GRC, are equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.

2.1.3.2 MD without supervision

To be eligible for admission to MD without supervision, the following conditions must be met:

  • the candidate must have qualified not less than five years previously for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Monash University or another institution recognised for this purpose by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (and in this latter case the applicant must normally be an academic staff member of the faculty); and
  • the faculty board must be satisfied that the applicant has, since qualifying for the degree, been substantially engaged in either the practice and study of medicine or an allied field or scientific or other scholarly work relevant to the practice of medicine or an allied field.

2.1.4 Doctor of Education (EdD)

To be eligible for EdD candidature an applicant must have:

  • the degree of Master of Education (Research) by research or Master of Educational Studies (by coursework and minor project); or
  • a degree or its equivalent in education or a cognate field with honours 1 or 2A; or
  • qualifications which, in the opinion of the faculty board and GRC, are equivalent to, or are a satisfactory substitute for, any of the qualifications above.

In addition to one of the above, applicants must have at least three years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as an educator in an educational or other institution approved by the faculty board.
Commencing candidates are not presently being admitted to this program.

2.1.5 Doctor of Psychology (DPsych)

To be eligible for admission to the DPsych program, prospective candidates must demonstrate suitability for work as a professional psychologist and must have:

  • a master’s degree in psychology ; or
  • a bachelor’s degree with honours 1 or 2A in psychology; or
  • qualifications which are considered by GRC to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above qualifications.

2.1.6 Doctor of Public Health (DPH)

To be eligible for admission, prospective applicants must hold:

  • the degree of Master of Public Health; or
  • a degree of bachelor with honours 1 or 2A; or
  • qualifications and experience in the field of public health which are considered by GRC to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above qualifications.

Persons intending to undertake the program must have a minimum of two years of work experience in the field of public health and must satisfy the committee that they are suitable for the role of a professional working in public health.

2.1.7 Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)

To be eligible for admission, prospective applicants must hold:

  • a degree of bachelor with honours 1 or 2A in Law; or
  • four coursework Master of Laws units at a distinction level average; or
  • qualifications which are considered by GRC to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above qualifications.

2.1.8 Higher doctorate

An applicant for admission to candidature for one of the University’s higher doctorate degrees must:

  • have qualified, not less than seven years previously, for a degree of Monash University in a relevant field; and
  • be a current member of the teaching or research staff of the University and have been so for not less than six consecutive years full-time or an equivalent number of consecutive years part-time; or
  • have qualified, not less than seven years previously, for a degree of another educational institution in a relevant field; and
  • have had a close research association with the University for not less than six years.

print version