Monash University: University handbooks: Postgraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
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Masters by research and PhD studies by research

The faculty offers the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) degrees by research. These courses are currently offered at the Clayton, Malaysia and Gippsland campuses.

Master of Engineering Science (Research)

Full candidature

For admission to full candidature for the degree of MEngSc(Research), there must be clear and irrefutable evidence that a candidate has (a) a university honours degree (at least H2B) in engineering.

Preliminary candidature

A candidate who seems to have the potential but is deemed to be inadequately prepared for MEngSc(Research) studies may be considered for preliminary candidature. Such a candidate would be required to pass a preliminary prescription recommended by the head of the department or school; this will normally consist of undergraduate units for which credit towards the MEngSc(Research) will not be allowed. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department or school certifying that the preliminary prescription has been passed.

Full-time and part-time candidature

Candidature is either on a full-time or part-time basis as determined by a committee of the faculty board. The duration of the full-time candidature is normally 24 months, although regulations allow for a minimum completion time of 12 months in special circumstances. Every two months of part-time study counts as one month of full-time study for the purpose of calculation of duration of candidature. There are no levels of candidature other than part-time or full-time.

Part-time candidature is permitted under the following guidelines:

(a) The supervisor shall be a full-time member of the academic staff of the university. An associate supervisor may be an appropriately qualified member of an external organisation. If the associate supervisor is from an external organisation, frequent communication with the supervisor should be maintained.

(b) The topic of the thesis shall be decided by the candidate in consultation with the supervisor.

(c) (i) In order to undertake part-time candidature, a candidate must be able to devote the equivalent of a minimum of two days per week to the pursuit of the research project.

(c) (ii) Where the postgraduate’s research work involves the systematic use of the university facilities, the faculty may require that these two days be weekdays.

(c) (iii) Where the candidate is engaged in full-time employment, the head of the department or school will be required to certify that the head is satisfied that the candidate is able to spend the equivalent of two days a week in pursuit of the research project.

(d) The candidate must discuss progress with the supervisor in person at least once each calendar month.

(e) The candidate must attend the university frequently and on a regular basis; one day per week on average is considered the minimum necessary.

(f) The candidate must attend all such courses, seminars, workshops etc as are deemed necessary by the head of department (in the case of a regular seminar or lecture series a minimum of 80% attendance may be deemed adequate).

(g) The candidate shall be required to undertake the equivalent of three months of full-time study within the university (including its research stations and teaching hospitals); the apportionment of that attendance period should be determined by the faculty at the time of application but need not be continuous.

(h) Where the candidate is engaged in full-time employment, the head of department or school will be required to certify at the time of application that the head is satisfied that the candidate will be able to comply with the residency requirements of this regulation.

(i) The supervisor and head shall certify that the requirements for candidature have been met and an annual report of attendance and progress will be presented.

(j) The thesis is to be available for publication.

(k) Off-campus equipment and other facilities may be used with the permission of the head and supervisor. Whenever feasible, on campus facilities shall be used or developed in preference to those off-campus.

The manager (graduate student services) will maintain a master list of all candidates enrolled on a part-time basis.

There may well be circumstances in which to ensure equity with regard to duration of candidature, a supervisor may wish to recommend that a part-time candidate be registered as a full-time candidate who is undertaking field work (see regulation 7 of the MEngSc[Research] regulations).

Probationary candidature

A candidate whose preparation for the MEngSc(Research) and potential for MEngSc(Research) studies may be adequate, but for whom some doubt exists in respect of either or both, may be considered for probationary candidature.

Such a candidate will be required to pass a probationary prescription recommended by the head of department or school. This prescription may take different forms dependent upon the nature of candidature.

The prescription may consist of the requirement to prepare an adequate literature survey and research program proposal in the candidate’s chosen field of study. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department or school which includes examiners’ reports on the documentation submitted.

For all MEngSc(Research) candidates, probationary candidature will not normally exceed one calendar year.

External candidature

In special circumstances, external candidature for the MEngSc(Research) is available for interstate and international students. All external candidates are admitted on a probationary basis.

External MEngSc(Research) candidates must attend on-campus in Australia for the first three months of candidature. After this period, a minimum of 15 days of attendance per year at the department or school at Monash University for the duration of candidature is required. Apportionment of these days would be determined on a case-by-case basis (eg a single or the equivalent in several smaller blocks of time). A portion of this attendance could be off-campus, provided that the candidate is able to interact with the principal or associate (university) supervisor during this time (eg attending a conference). Proposals for programs considered equivalent to 15 days of residency would be considered by the faculty as they arose.

It must be certified that there are appropriate means by which the candidate could communicate with the supervisor on a daily basis, eg email, fax, telephone. Regular interactive communication between candidate and supervisor should take place at least once a month via telephone, video conference or other interactive communication.

Candidates may be permitted to transfer between standard and external candidature in special circumstances, as assessed on a case-by-case basis. External MEngSc(Research) candidates would be permitted to transfer to external PhD candidature under the same guidelines which apply to standard candidature.

Doctor of Philosophy

The guidelines for part-time PhD candidature are the same as the 18 points listed above for MEngSc(Research), save that part-time PhD candidates must also attend the department, faculty, centre, school or unit for not less than six of the first 24 months of candidature.

In Engineering, the six months attendance requirement for each candidate will be specified at the time of admission. Each case is considered in terms of the candidate’s demonstrated experience and aptitude for research.

All requests for admission to part-time candidature and for transfer from full-time to part-time candidature will be decided on their merits.

The duration of candidature is three to four years for full-time candidates and eight years for part-time candidates.

A candidate for a PhD will normally undertake the first year of studies on probation. During this probationary year, the candidate may be registered either for a MEngSc(Research) or for a probationary PhD. Candidates who do not possess an honours degree in either the first or upper second class must register initially for an MEngSc(Research) degree.

The transfer to full PhD status will be initiated by the Research Graduate School Committee in the case of a candidate who is registered for a probationary PhD or by the candidate’s department or school in the case of a candidate who is registered for a MEngSc(Research). In either case, on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department or school and the presentation of an account of the candidate’s progress during the first year of research and performance in the appropriate departmental/school transfer procedures together with assessors’ reports of the candidate’s performance in such departmental/school transfer procedures, the candidate will be permitted to transfer to full PhD candidature.

External candidature

In special circumstances, external candidature for the PhD is available for interstate and international students. All external candidates are admitted on a probationary basis. Those admitted directly to PhD must attend on-campus for the first six months of candidature.

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