As a graduate research student, you are entitled to various types of leave throughout your candidature. Leave must be approved before it begins, and in most cases, you will need to submit a Leave Application with supporting documentation. Your Principal Supervisor must approve your request.
Below is a summary of the types of leave available and what they mean for your enrolment, scholarship and progress reviews.
Recreation leave
You may take up to 20 working days of recreation leave per calendar year. This leave:
- does not affect your progress review due dates or candidature/scholarship expiry dates
- must be pre-approved by your Principal Supervisor
- should be planned in line with your research timeline and discussed during progress reviews.
Any scholarship payments will continue as usual during recreational leave.
International graduate research students
Recreation leave does not affect your visa. However, if you plan to travel overseas, you must submit a Leave Application so the University can contact you in case of emergency.
Sick leave
If you receive a scholarship, you may be entitled to paid sick leave. Refer to your Scholarship Conditions of Award for your leave entitlements.
This leave can also be used for carer responsibilities. You must provide a medical certificate and have your Principal Supervisor’s approval. Your enrolment and stipend continue during this time, and your maximum candidature period will be extended accordingly.
If you do not receive a scholarship, you may still take sick leave for illness or carer responsibilities. You must provide a medical certificate and have your supervisor’s approval. Your program completion date will be extended by the number of working days you are on leave.
Cultural leave
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate research students may take up to 10 working days of cultural leave per year to meet cultural obligations. Part-time graduate research students are eligible on a pro-rata basis.
Cultural leave:
- must be approved
- cannot be accrued
- does not extend your maximum candidature period.
Leave of absence
Leave of absence is for extended periods when you are unable to continue your research. During this time:
- your candidature is paused
- you cannot continue research that forms part of your degree
- you are not insured to work on your research
- milestone dates may be affected
- your scholarship payments will be paused.
Common leave of absence reasons include jury duty, parental leave, personal leave, and administrative leave. The total leave of absence across your degree must not exceed 12 months, unless approved by the Pro Vice Chancellor – Graduate Research Training.
Leave is generally not permitted in the final three months of candidature, during an extension, or when revising a thesis for re-examination - except in exceptional circumstances such as illness.
If you are granted more than 12 months of leave, the University will try to support your return but cannot guarantee the same project or supervision will be available.
Scholarship holders may be eligible for paid jury duty and parental leave. Please refer to your Scholarship Conditions of Award. Medical or supporting documentation is required. Where relevant, your enrolment and stipend continue, and your program duration is extended.
