At Adelaide University, we are committed to supporting your success throughout your research degree. Your School will regularly assess your progress to ensure you have the necessary aptitude, skills, training and support to complete your research program.
Supporting your progress
Progress reviews are designed to identify and address challenges early so you can stay on track and thrive in your research. You will have regular meetings with your supervisors to discuss your progress, raise any concerns, and explore solutions together.
In addition to these meetings, you will take part in scheduled reviews at key stages of your candidature:
- Initial Review
- Confirmation of Candidature Review
- Mid-Candidature Reviews (due 31 October each year)
- Minor Reviews (due 15 April each year for remote graduate research students only)
- Completion Review.
All online review forms can be found on the Graduate Research Student Forms page.
If progress is unsatisfactory
If your School identifies significant or ongoing concerns about your ability to complete your degree, a formal review process will be initiated.
Before confirmation of candidature
If your progress is unsatisfactory during provisional candidature, your School may recommend:
- termination of candidature, or
- transfer to a Master of Philosophy (for doctoral candidates).
This recommendation is usually made during a scheduled progress review, but may occur at any time if serious concerns arise.
At time of Confirmation of Candidature Review
If unsatisfactory progress is identified at your Confirmation of Candidature Review, and your School recommends extending your provisional candidature, you will be given a clear set of tasks to complete - typically over three months. At the end of this period, a final review, known as the ‘Extended Confirmation of Candidature Review’ will determine one of the following outcomes:
- confirmation of candidature
- termination of candidature
- transfer to a Master of Philosophy (for doctoral students).
Post confirmation
If concerns regarding your progress arise after your candidature is confirmed, your School may initiate a period of Conditional Enrolment.
If conditional enrolment is recommended, you will work with your School to agree on a set of tasks and timelines. These will be achievable for a graduate research student working at a satisfactory level. The tasks and timelines will be reviewed and approved by the Pro Vice Chancellor – Graduate Research Training before a formal milestone is set. Normally conditional enrolment is for a period of 3 months but can be for up to 6 months.
At the end of the conditional enrolment period, your progress will be reviewed again. If satisfactory, the conditional enrolment will be lifted. If not, your School may recommend a further period of conditional enrolment (up to a total of 6 months), transfer to a Master of Philosophy (for doctoral candidates), or termination.
If you disagree with the recommendation
You may submit a confidential statement to the Pro Vice Chancellor Graduate Research Training. Your statement should:
- be no more than two pages
- clearly outline your perspective and preferred outcome
- include supporting evidence in an appendix (if needed).
You may also request a meeting with the Pro Vice Chancellor–Graduate Research Training and bring a support person.
Final review by the Pro Vice Chancellor–Graduate Research Training
The Pro Vice Chancellor–Graduate Research Training will review your School’s recommendation to ensure all relevant circumstances have been considered. This is not a re-evaluation of academic judgement, but a review of process and fairness.
You will be notified in writing of one of the following outcomes:
- Termination of candidature
You will be advised of your right to appeal under the Student Appeals Procedure. If no appeal is lodged within the required timeframe, your candidature will end. - Transfer to a Master of Philosophy (for doctoral candidates)
You will be advised of your right to appeal under the Student Appeals Procedure If no appeal is lodged within the required timeframe, or you accept the decision, your program will be updated. - Brokered settlement
If there are extenuating circumstances, the Pro Vice Chancellor–Graduate Research Training may negotiate a continuation plan with your School. You will receive written confirmation of the conditions required to continue your candidature.
