Chapter 2: Admission to doctoral candidature

2.4 Degree or institution transfer

2.4.1 Transfer from master’s to PhD, MD or professional doctorate

A candidate undertaking a research master’s degree, including MPhil, may apply to transfer to doctoral candidature. Since it is assumed that the scope of the research topic is substantially broadened while remaining essentially unchanged, doctoral candidature is normally backdated to the commencement date of the master’s candidature. Research master’s candidates considering a transfer to doctoral candidature are advised to undertake the relevant skills training and coursework components of the relevant doctoral degree. See Section 1.3.

In exceptional circumstances, a coursework master’s candidate who has demonstrated a capacity to undertake graduate research, either by completing a substantial part of the master’s minor thesis, or by providing equivalent evidence of research experience or competence, may be allowed to transfer to doctoral candidature. In this case, doctoral candidature is backdated to the commencement of the research component of the master’s degree.

A candidate should normally be enrolled for a minimum of nine months of equivalent full-time candidature before the transfer or confirmation process can commence. Transfer from master’s to doctorate will normally not be considered after 24 months of equivalent full-time candidature.

Candidates applying to transfer from a research master’s (or to have their candidature confirmed) are required to:

(a) make an oral presentation of at least 20 minutes on their research project before a departmental review panel which explores the research undertaken to date and the anticipated future direction of the research program; and

(b) submit a written progress report that includes:

• title of research report/thesis;
• statement of the research problem(s);
• procedures;
• timetable for completion;
• brief bibliography; and
• publications produced during master’s candidature (if applicable).

The progress report should be a minimum of 1000 words, but many faculties have additional requirements:

• Faculty of Art Design and Architecture requires a 3000-word minimum draft chapter of the exegesis/thesis;
• Faculty of Arts requires a progress report of 7000–10,000 words. Candidates transferring to a PhD must also provide a chapter of the thesis;
• Faculty of Education requires candidates upgrading from master’s to doctoral candidature to produce a more substantial report and research proposal of approximately 10,000 words with extended literature, theory and methodology sections;
• Faculty of Engineering requires a progress report of 5000–7500 words;
• Faculty of Information Technology requires a progress report of 7000–10000 words. This submission should be in the form of a progress report combined with a proposal for future research. Under exceptional circumstances, a shorter submission may be made (but no less than 2000 words), if accompanied by other evidence of significant progress, e.g. collected data, written code or publications;
• Faculty of Law requires a progress report of at least 1000 words and two solid draft chapters of the thesis of up to 10,000 words;
• Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences requires a progress report of 3000 words. Academic units with the faculty may have additional requirements.

Candidates should discuss the academic unit and faculty requirements for confirmation/transfer, including any coursework or training requirements, with their supervisor and/or graduate coordinator before commencing the written report.

(See Appendix D in this handbook for further information on transfer or confirmation procedures.)

2.4.2 Transfer from one doctoral program to another

Candidates may also apply to transfer from one doctoral degree to another, for example from a professional doctorate to PhD. In these cases, candidates are advised to undertake the skills training and coursework components that are relevant to the degree into which they are transferring . For the calculation of prior candidature, see guidelines applying to the transfer of doctoral candidature from another institution.

2.4.3 Transfer from another institution

When a doctoral candidate transfers from another institution, the period of time available to complete the research is determined on a case-by-case basis. For example:

• candidates who transfer with their supervisor and with no break in the continuity of the research will have the total period of research at the prior institution used to calculate the end date of candidature at Monash University
• candidates who retain their original research topic, but change supervisor, will have the period of Monash University candidature reviewed on a case-by-case basis
• candidates who take up both a new topic and a new supervisor will have no prior candidature taken into account, and the normal period of candidature will apply
• candidates who are currently enrolled in a doctoral degree with a coursework component will generally have the period of research and not the period of coursework at the prior institution used to calculate the end date of candidature.

These candidates will be expected to undertake the skills training and coursework components that are relevant to the degree into which they are transferring, unless credit has been granted by the Program Director and/or the Graduate Research Committee (GRC). See Section 2.3.

2.4.4 Readmission to a degree program at the same level

A former candidate (that is a candidate who withdrew from their candidature or failed to re-enrol in their candidature as required), may be re-admitted to candidature at the discretion of GRC.  
Re-admission within four years of the date on which the original candidature ceased will normally only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

Where readmission does occur, it may be subject to any conditions specified by GRC, including duration of candidature. The readmitted candidate will also be subject to the regulations, policies and guidelines in effect at the time of the readmission.

The principles in S2.4.3 apply.

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