Progressing your MPhil or PhD

The education research field strongly encourages candidates and their panels to work towards the Milestones advocated by the University:

• PhD Milestones
• MPhil Milestones

The beginning

In consultation with the supervisor contact, students should arrange an ‘advisory panel’, which includes their supervisor (probably as the Chair of their panel, although this is not a forgone conclusion) and at least one other supervisor and advisor. The advisor(s) can be from within the ANU, but can be from overseas, in government departments, industry, or at another university, as long as they can offer the specific advice needed to successfully complete the research degree.

The constitution of the panel and a reasonably detailed thesis outline should be finalised within 6 months of enrolment. A ‘thesis proposal review’ takes place about 6 months (full-time equivalent) after enrolment. The written thesis proposal should be submitted to the student’s panel.

Students will also be required to give a seminar presentation (40 minutes) of their thesis topic followed by approximately 30 minutes of discussion to members of the department and at which their advisory panel will be present. This is a formal requirement of the ANU which need to be signed off by the Delegated Authority.

The middle

Annual reports

Each year all graduate students must complete an Annual Report of the previous year's progress and a plan for the coming year before the anniversary of their enrolment. Forms are sent out by the CASS Student Office about 6 weeks in advance. Each student and their supervisory panel are required to complete a section of the form, and their supervisor should discuss their written comments with them.

Mid-term seminar (PhD students only)

Between 18 months and 2 years after first enrolling, students must present their Mid-term Seminar. By this stage, candidates should have a reasonable amount of their thesis completed, and have a reasonably comprehensive outline for the remainder of their candidature.

The main requirement of the Mid-term Seminar is a presentation of a paper based on their thesis work to your department. See guidelines

The end

Approximately three months prior to the intended submission date candidates will be expected to make a presentation of their almost finalised dissertation to a departmental seminar including to their Supervisory Panel.

Check out the University guidelines for submission of PhD theses and Masters theses well in advance.

Note that while supervisors must advise candidates about the readiness of their thesis for submission, final responsibility for submission rests with the student. In other words, candidates are entitled to submit against the advice of their supervisor - although of course in general this is not advisable.