Graduate Research Policy

The purpose of our policy

• To state our graduate research principles
• To state the governance-level responsibilities for our graduate research activities
• To provide authority to maintain our graduate research procedures.

Our policy applies to 

• Graduate research students
• Graduate research student supervisors and advisors
• Staff associated with the support, management and leadership of graduate research programs
• Examiners of graduate research students and their work.

Our policy does not apply to

• Adelaide University coursework students or research conducted as part of coursework programs.

Our graduate research principles

• We pursue research of the highest global standing, delivered through partnerships and collaboration with industry and the community that underpins our approach to research education.
• We offer excellence in research education to a diverse cohort of graduate research students and empower our graduate research students to transform themselves, their communities, and the world.
• Our graduate research students are selected for their potential to succeed in their chosen graduate research program.
• We offer scholarship opportunities that: attract high-quality domestic and international graduate research students, support our ambition to make a difference and that enhances equity and diversity in our graduate research student cohort.
• We provide high quality research degree supervision that supports excellent experiences and outcomes for graduate research students and for Adelaide University. We aim to facilitate, where possible, continuity of supervision for our graduate research students.
• We offer our graduate research students a comprehensive program of development activities to help them successfully complete their program and prepare them for diverse future careers opportunities.
• The work of our graduate research students will be assessed via internationally accepted best-practice methods to demonstrate attainment of the program learning outcomes.

Definitions used in our policy

Graduate research student means student enrolled in a graduate research program, such as the Master of Research, Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy. It does not include coursework programs with a research component, such as Honours.

Please refer to our Adelaide University glossary for a full list of our definitions.

Our researcher education and development procedures

The following procedures support our Graduate Research Policy.

[Joint PhD Award Procedure]
Graduate Research Admission Procedure
[Graduate Research Candidature Procedure]
[Graduate Research Industry Engagement Procedure]
Interim Graduate Research Scholarships Procedure
Graduate Research Supervision Procedure

How our policy is governed

Our policy is categorised, approved and owned in line with the governance structure of Adelaide University and the offices and officers listed below.

Legislation and other documents related to this policy

Adelaide University Act 2023

Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021

1 Student Participation and Attainment

4. Research and Research Training

History of changes

Note on structures, positions and position titles:

At the time of writing, the organisational structure, position titles and committees for Adelaide University have not been confirmed. Accordingly, square brackets [ ] temporarily enclose position titles in this procedure until position titles for Adelaide University are known.