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Candidature Milestones
Research Candidature at the Australian Catholic University is marked by a number of key events or milestones, which assist students and the University to ensure that students are on track towards the successful completion of candidature.
Below is information regarding these milestones with a brief description of their purpose and nature.
Commencement Date
After you have formally completed your enrolment, this will be the date from which you commence your candidature. This date will be noted in your offer letter and your expiry or thesis submission date will be calculated based on your commencement date.
Expiry or Latest Thesis Submission Date
This date is the latest date by which a candidate enrolled in a research degree must complete their studies and submit an approved thesis for examination.
Confirmation of Candidature
Each research candidate at ACU commences as a provisional candidate. The confirmation of candidature process is a review the provisional candidature and will take place before the end of the:
- first year of candidature (or part-time equivalent) for full time PhD and Doctor of Education candidates,
- first six months of candidature (or part-time equivalent) for Masters by Research candidates
The Confirmation of candidature requires the candidate to present a formal seminar. The presentation must demonstrate that you have clearly defined and described the field and topic of research related to your study and have developed the aims, and identified the purpose of the study. Candidates will also be expected to explain and justify the chosen methodology for the research, the data sources to be utilised, and to have identified the problems and/or hypothesis being investigated.
A concise research proposal with a maximum of 20 pages, including the above areas and a comprehensive literature review, will need to be submitted to your principal supervisor and the University Research Committee incorporating any changes resulting from the seminar. After receiving the advice of your Principal Supervisor, the Head of School and the Associate Dean (Research), the URC will review your academic progress and may take one of three steps:
- confirm your candidature,
- extend the probationary period,
- or take another course of action that is appropriate
Work in Progress Presentations
After the confirmation of their candidature, candidates are required to present seminars within their Faculty or School. These seminars are intended to provide an update of their research to the broader Faculty or School community and assist with the diffusion of research throughout the University.
Academic Progress Report
Candidates at the Australian Catholic University are required to complete an Academic Progress Report for each year of candidature between August and October. The report attempts to assess the progress which has been made in the preceding year.
Academic Progress Reports serve the purpose of allowing a clear mechanism in which to demonstrate the progress that you have made with your research work on a yearly basis. They also allow you to express any concerns that you have with your candidature or any other extenuating circumstances and set in place a plan to mitigate the effect of these on your candidature.
Notice of Intention to Submit
Three months prior to the expiry or thesis submission date candidates will be asked by the University to submit a Notice of Intention to Submit (NOI). The NOI allows the University adequate time to prepare for the appointment of examiners and allows the candidate to indicate that their thesis submission is imminent. The University will forward forms and information regarding what is required for the submission and approval of the thesis for submission.
Final Pre Submission of Thesis Seminar
The Final Pre Submission of Thesis Seminar is intended as a final seminar that is given by the candidate to the School/Faculty in the months preceding the thesis submission. It is expected at this seminar that the candidate will be able to define and defend the major results and conclusions emerging from the research.
Thesis Submission
The final stage in a research candidature is the submission of a thesis. A thesis is submitted according to the rules and guidelines as established in the Higher Degree Regulations of the University (PDF 97KB).
From June 2011, candidates will also be permitted to submit a Doctor of Philosophy or PhD thesis by publication. See PhD by Publication for information to guide your choice of a PhD by publication along with details as to the format for submission. Candidates will also be able to complete a PhD by Project.
