Chapter 2: Admission to research master’s candidature

2.4 Prior candidature

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

A candidate undertaking a research master’s degree 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.

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 a master’s degree to a doctorate will not normally be considered after 24 months of equivalent full-time candidature.

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

• 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
• 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 the 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 words minimum draft chapter of the exegesis/thesis;
• Faculty of Arts requires a progress report of 7000–10,000 words. Candidates transferring to PhD must also provide a chapter of the thesis;
• Faculty of Business and Economics requires Doctor of Business Administration candidates to address each research phase separately by submitting a report of 3000–5000 words that provides a statement of the research problem and procedure for each research phase (if applicable);
• 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 7000–10,000 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, eg 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 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 a doctoral degree to a research master’s degree

A candidate for a doctoral degree who has not submitted their work for external examination may apply to transfer to a research master’s degree. A probationary doctoral candidate may be permitted to transfer to a research master’s degree if their doctoral candidature is not successfully confirmed at the end of their probationary period.

A doctoral candidate whose thesis (or equivalent) has been submitted for examination and whose examiners have recommended that the thesis be revised or failed may not apply for transfer to a research master’s degree.

Where a doctoral candidate transfers to a research master’s degree, the candidate is required to complete the master’s degree in which he/she enrols before seeking readmission to a doctoral degree.

2.4.3 Transfer from another institution

When a research master’s candidate transfers from another institution, a minimum period of 12 months (full-time equivalent) candidature at Monash is required in order to qualify for a Monash research master’s degree. Beyond this 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 research master’s 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.

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 the Graduate Research Committee (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 2.4.2 apply.

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