Progress Reviews

Understanding Progress Reviews

Progress reviews are key checkpoints throughout your research degree. They help ensure you are on track to complete your program successfully and within the expected timeframe.

Your School will monitor your progress against the standards required for your degree, assessing your aptitude, skills, training and support needs. These open and constructive reviews are coordinated by the Graduate Research School and provide a structured way for you, your supervisors and the University to reflect on your progress and plan ahead.

Types of Progress Reviews

You will complete different types of progress reviews depending on your degree and study mode: 

Review TypeTimingApplies To
Initial Review

PhD and Master of Philosophy: 6 months FTE

Master of Research: 3 months FTE

All graduate research students*
Confirmation of Candidature ReviewPhD and Master of Philosophy: 12 months FTEAll graduate research students except Master of Research
Mid-Candidature Review**Due by 31 October each year following enrolmentPhD students only
Minor ReviewDue by 15 April annuallyRemote graduate research students only
Completion Review

PhD: 36 months FTE

Master of Philosophy: 21 months FTE

All graduate research students except Master of Research

 

* Graduate research students transitioning from the University of South Australia who completed a six-month progress review are exempt from the Initial Review. Graduate research students transitioning from the University of Adelaide who completed the Core Component of the Structured Program (CCSP) milestone are also exempt.
** If your Completion Review is scheduled close to your Mid-Candidature Review, the Completion Review will replace it.

Pathway to completion

This table outlines the typical timeline for completing your degree. If you are studying halfpart-time, double the timeframes listed for reviews, submission and completion.

Doctorate (max 4 years)Master of Philosophy (max 2 years)
0 months
Start Candidature		0 months
Start Candidature
0-1 month
Complete Local and Online Induction		0-1 Month
Complete Local and Online Induction
6 months
Initial Review (including research proposal)		6 months
Initial Review (including research proposal)
12 months
Confirmation of candidature review		12 months
Confirmation of candidature review
Year 2 and subsequent years as required
Mid-Candidature Review due 31 October		 
36 months
Completion Review		21 months
Completion Review
3-3.5 year
Thesis Submission		1.5-2 years
Thesis Submission
4 years
Expected completion		2 years
Expected completion

 

Remote graduate research students: In addition, you will complete a Minor Review on 15 April each year following confirmation.

What to expect

As each review approaches, you and your supervisors will receive an email reminder with instructions on how to access and complete the review. You can also check MyAdelaide at any time to view upcoming review dates.
 

Consequences of late or missed reviews

If a required review is not submitted by the due date and no extension has been approved, your candidature and any scholarship payments may be suspended.

To reinstate your candidature, you must:

  • submit the overdue review within 12 months of suspension
  • pay any outstanding fees
  • note that missed scholarship payments during suspension are forfeited
     

GRIT requirements

Graduate Research & Innovation Training (GRIT) is a core part of your development. You must:

  • track and record GRIT activities in GRIT Online
  • include GRIT progress in your initial, confirmation and mid-candidature reviews
  • complete all GRIT requirements before thesis submission
     

Ad-hoc progress review

If you or your supervisors have any concerns about your progress, you or your School may initiate an ad-hoc progress review. This is a formal process designed to support you in addressing challenges and continuing your degree.

The review includes:

  • a meeting chaired by the dean of school, dean of research (or delegate), or graduate research coordinator
  • an opportunity for you to discuss concerns and determine a way forward
  • the option to bring a support person (for example, another student, staff member, or education and welfare officer)

Following the meeting, the School may recommend:

  • no further action
  • a change of supervisory panel
  • a three-month conditional enrolment period
  • transfer to a master of philosophy (for doctoral candidates)
  • termination of candidature

If conditional enrolment is recommended, you will work with your School to agree on achievable tasks and timelines. Your progress will be reviewed again at the end of the conditional period.

Additional information

If you are on approved leave your review due date will be extended, except for the Mid-Candidature Review. For all other reviews, you will need to complete the review when you return to active candidature. 

Your review form is online, so your supervisor can access and approve it from anywhere before the due date. If they are on leave and unavailable, here is what you can do:

If the leave is short (less than one month)

  • Submit your review early so your supervisor can approve it before or after their leave, as long as it is still within the due date.
  • Ask your Graduate Research Coordinator to email the Graduate Research School to request a short extension.

If the leave is longer (more than one month)

  • Submit a Change of Supervisory Panel form to temporarily update your panel.
  • Once your supervisor returns, you can complete another form to reinstate the original panel.

If you are experiencing issues with your supervisor(s) or their approach to supervision, you can contact the Graduate Research School, the Pro Vice Chancellor, Graduate Research Training, or speak with an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) for confidential support.

If you can’t complete the review on time due to circumstances beyond your control, ask your Principal Supervisor to email the Graduate Research School requesting an extension. The email must include the reason and the length of extension (usually one month).

If your review is submitted late without an approved extension, your candidature and any scholarship payments may be suspended.

Suspension means you are no longer enrolled. You lose access to supervision, facilities, insurance, and any scholarship payments. A record of the suspension will be placed on your academic transcript, and you will not be permitted to submit your thesis for examination until the suspension is lifted. 

To reinstate your suspended candidature, submit your completed Progress Review within 12 months of suspension and pay any outstanding fees. Missed scholarship payments during suspension are forfeited.

If an independent discipline expert is contributing to your review and cannot access the online form, copy the contents into a Word document and email it to them along with your uploaded documents (e.g. your research proposal, Gantt chart etc.). Their feedback can be incorporated into the School’s evaluation.

 

Templates

Download Excel templates for your Gantt chart and Completion Plan below.

Once completed, save the file as a PDF to upload it. All templates are password protected. You can add or delete rows without a password, but other editing functions are restricted.

Document

3 year Gantt chart

Download
Document

4 year Gantt chart

Download
Document

5 year Gantt chart

Download
Document

6 year Gantt chart

Download
Document

Completion Plan

Download

Contact the Adelaide University Graduate Research School

Phone us

From within Australia

08 8313 5882

From outside Australia

+61 8 8313 5882

Email us

graduate.research@adelaide.edu.au

Visit us

250 North Terrace 
Adelaide, South Australia

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm