School of Medicine Research Higher Degree Policies

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FLINDERSUNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RESEARCH HIGHER DEGREE POLICIES

These policies complement the University's Research Higher Degree Policies and Procedures (URHDPP) (Section M of the Student Related Policies and Procedures Manual and at They address aspects of: eligibility to enrol as a research higher degree candidate, supervision, progress reports, upgrading of candidature (Masters degrees to PhD) and outline some specific requirements which apply to research higher degree candidates in the School. Appendices to the policies contain details of the membership and terms of reference of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee (FHDC) and sources of further information and assistance. The FHDC has established these policies and is responsible for monitoring their implementation. The policies reflect the increased accountability placed upon universities by the Commonwealth Government with the introduction in 2001 of the Research Training Scheme (RTS), with its emphasis on timely completions and an improved research training environment.

The maximum RTS entitlements are 2 years full-time equivalent for Masters candidature and
4 years full-time equivalent for PhD/MD candidature. There will be adverse consequences for the University if candidatures exceed these entitlements. The maximum total period of intermission permitted within a candidature is 12 months.

Appendices A–D ( of the URHDPP define the responsibilities of the candidate, supervisor, Academic Organisational Unit (AOU), and University, respectively, in research higher degree candidature and supervision.

1Eligibility for Enrolment and Admission Requirements

The University prescribes that applicants who wish to enrol as research higher degree candidates must hold certain qualifications. These requirements are outlined in the Postgraduate section of the University Course Information Handbook.

Applicants for Masters, MD (only available to medical graduates) or PhD candidature must normally have one of the following qualifications:

an Honours degree at 2A level or above; or

a BMBS degree with credit average; or

a coursework Masters degree with distinction average; or

a research Masters degree (for PhD candidature).

In the School of Medicine, applicants for direct entry into MD/PhD candidature must meet these admission criteria and must additionally have undertaken at least 18 units of research, or equivalent, at a satisfactory level of achievement. Applicants who meet the University’s admission criteria for entry to MD/PhD candidature, but who have not undertaken at least 18 units of research, or equivalent, may be admitted to Masters candidature, and will be advised of the requirements for upgrading to MD/PhD candidature. Notwithstanding this, an applicant in this category who has obtained a competitive scholarship which only supports PhD candidature may be admitted to PhD candidature with the written support of the principal supervisor. Applicants who do not meet the University’s admission criteria for direct entry to MD/PhD candidature but who have some evidence of research experience may be admitted to Masters candidature.

The School also has two special schemes whereby applicants who do not hold these qualifications may seek enrolment as a candidate for the degree of Master of Science. These schemes are for applicants from the following backgrounds;

1. applicants who hold the degree of Bachelor of Speech Pathology, or equivalent, who gained a credit average in the topics comprising their final year of study and who have had three years of full time clinical experience since graduation; or

1. applicants who hold an undergraduate degree in an area relevant to biomedical science or health (normally with a credit average in final year) and who have had at least three years experience of full time research work (five years part time) in a biomedical laboratory or in a health-related area.

• Prior to an application for higher degree candidature, the applicant and the proposed principal supervisor must confer to determine whether the applicant has a need for training in particular areas that, unless met, may jeopardise a timely completion. Any such needs must be documented and forwarded to the FHDC as part of the application process, with an indication from the principal supervisor of what needs can be met from within the Cluster. The FHDC will take steps to ensure that, where possible, other needs will be met by the School, Faculty or University.

• Each application for higher degree candidature must include a statement (of approximately 500 words) describing the research problem, its background, and the methods initially proposed to investigate it. The statement must be agreed upon and jointly signed by the applicant and the principal supervisor.

• Each applicant for higher degree candidature is required to provide a written statement of his or her hours of paid employment, indicating how much of the paid employment, if any, is thesis-related. The FHDC will take this into account during consideration of the application for admission. The FHDC will only approve part-time or full-time candidature when a candidate has at least 20 or 40 hours per week available for thesis-related research and study, respectively. A candidate who is in full-time employment may be admitted to full-time candidature only if a significant proportion of the full-time employment involves thesis-related research and study. Candidates are required to notify the FHDC of any changes to their employment conditions involving any increase in their hours of paid employment. The FHDC may require a consequential change to the conditions of candidature.

• External candidature (i.e. outside Adelaide and not at an affiliated institution) is permissible provided that the proposed principal supervisor and Associate Dean can confirm, to the satisfaction of the FHDC, that the candidate has access to the resources necessary for successful and timely completion (form FHDC2). (Candidature at a Flinders campus or affiliated institution outside Adelaide, e.g. the NT Clinical School, is regarded as internal.)

• Each newly enrolled student must, unless there are exceptional circumstances, attend the University’s research higher degree induction program that is held early in each semester, during their first year of candidature. Those students who are remote from the University will be provided with a videotape and/or PowerPoint presentation of the induction program proceedings where possible. Those students unable to attend the induction program in their first year for a valid reason must attend the program in the following year.

2Supervision

• Section 7 of the URHDPP requires that a principal supervisor and at least one
  co-supervisor be appointed for each research higher degree candidate. The School additionally requires that a three person assessment panel be appointed for each candidate. The assessment panel will comprise the principal supervisor, a co-supervisor and a third person (who may be a co-supervisor). one of the three panel members must be external to the assigned research discipline of the candidate, (but not necessarily external to the School or the University). The supervisory/assessment panel for each prospective candidate must be agreed upon, in writing (form FHDC1), by the applicant, panel members and Associate Dean prior to consideration of the application by the FHDC. It is the responsibility of the assessment panel to review the progress reports required by the Faculty and the Annual Review of Progress reports required by the University. Where possible, the assessors should be unchanged throughout the candidature.

• Principal supervisors must meet the existing URHDPP provisions, in particular that they should have a satisfactory record of postgraduate supervision, which the FHDC interprets as having supervised at least one research higher degree student to completion within an unspecified period. In addition, at least one member of the supervisory panel must have had recent (within the previous 5 years) research higher degree supervisory experience. In order to be a principal supervisor, a staff member (or person with academic status) must have current demonstrable and relevant research activity in the proposed area of study. For example, an active researcher should have published in refereed journals, have been a principal investigator on a major research grant, obtained patents or undertaken consultancies in an area relevant to the student’s research in recent years.

• The prospective principal supervisor and Associate Dean must confirm that the candidate is accepted and has access to necessary resources, including study and work space and facilities, as specified by the FHDC (form FHDC1) before the candidate's application can be considered.

• Principal supervisors must have undertaken the postgraduate research student supervision workshops run by the Staff Development and Training Unit at least once in the previous 5 years. All new principal supervisors and co-supervisors are required to attend the supervision workshops before commencing supervision, or as soon as possible thereafter.

• A principal supervisor normally may supervise no more than 5 full-time equivalent research higher degree students simultaneously, including those enrolled at other institutions. Principal supervisors wishing to supervise more than 5 students may make a case to the FHDC explaining their supervisory strategy that will enable them to supervise more students yet maintain a high standard of supervision.

• The FHDC will take account of the performance of principal supervisors and may take appropriate action where performance is considered to be unsatisfactory.

3Progress Reports

In accordance with the terms of Section 17 of the URHDPP, the progress of each higher degree candidate is reviewed annually. Annual Review of Progress forms are sent out to candidates in August each year by the Higher Degree Administration and Scholarships Office. The forms must be completed by candidates, their supervisors and their Associate Dean (who is required to interview the candidate and supervisor) and then returned by the student by
30 September. The forms are initially reviewed by the Scholarships Office (for scholarship holders) and then by the Assistant Dean (Research Higher Degrees) who reports to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee.

Note that the Annual Review of Progress is only one component of a comprehensive progress review system, the other components of which are set out in the following sections.

3.1 For candidates first enrolled prior to 2001 (HECS)

(NB: Although this policy on progress reports applies only to candidates first enrolled prior to 2001, such candidates may opt to comply with the policy applying to candidates first enrolled after January 1, 2001, as set out in section 3.2. Candidates choosing to take this option should notify the Secretary of the FHDC.)

As part of the annual review process, each research higher degree candidate is required to submit written evidence of the progress of his/her work. The submission of this material is designed to promote more realistic assessment of progress and encourages candidates to continue writing throughout their candidature. The School requires this written evidence of progress to be in a particular form, described in paragraphs 3.1.1, 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 below. Responsibility for ensuring that each candidate has provided the required written evidence rests with the principal supervisor. Confirmation by the supervisor on the Annual Review of Progress form that the candidate's progress has been satisfactory will be interpreted by the FHDC as certification that the appropriate evidence of progress has been submitted by the candidate.

Two major reports on progress are required for PhD, MD (by thesis) and MSccandidates, the first report and the final report. Annual reports required in other years, for both doctoral and masters candidates, are outlined in section 3.1.3 below.

3.1.1First report

This report (of a minimum of 3000 words in length) shall be submitted within 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) after commencement of candidature and shall comprise:

•A literature survey of the research topic of suitable scope to form the basis for the introduction to a thesis; and

•A written report of the experimental/field work performed to that time; and

•A research proposal for further studies on the topic.

3.1.2Final report

The final report shall be submitted no later than two months prior to the anticipated date of thesis submission. The report may take the form of a draft thesis (if all assessors are agreeable to this) or a report of no less than 4000 words for a doctoral candidate or 3000 words for a Masters candidate. If submitted in report form, the following should be incorporated:

•a draft abstract of the thesis

•a draft table of contents of the thesis

•a summary of each chapter including an introduction, details of methods, results, and a discussion section. (The summary of each chapter may be replaced by published papers or papers submitted for publication if these are available.)

•Conclusions

Each candidate is required to present a seminar as a component of the final report. It is the responsibility of the principal supervisor to make all necessary arrangements for the seminar and to ensure the seminar is widely advertised throughout the Faculty so that interested staff members can attend.

3.1.3Other Annual Reports

In any year in which the candidate is not required to submit either a first or a final report (as outlined above), the written evidence of progress in research will consist of a report of at least ten pages in length (A4, 11/2 spacing), which documents work undertaken in the past year. It may take a variety of forms and may include a draft thesis chapter(s) or published papers.

3.1.4Submission of reports

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that reports are submitted to individual members of the assessment panel by the due date. Candidates and supervisors should confirm on the Annual Review of Progress form that the appropriate report(s) have been submitted.

3.1.5Assessors

The assessment/supervisory panel will review the candidate's progress each year and report on that progress via the University's Annual Review of Progress form. In the years in which the student is required to complete either the First or Final report, as described in 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 above, the assessment panel is asked to report specifically on the extent to which the candidate has met the appropriate requirements and exhibited skills appropriate to the degree undertaken. These skills are summarised below. In addition, in the case of the candidate's final report, the panel is required to complete a written report on Form FHDC4 (available from the Faculty Office). This additional form is a requirement because the timing of the University's Annual Review process may not coincide with the candidate's final report and seminar completion.

Skills required for a Masters Degrees by Research

These degrees generally have the objective of training students in research techniques, in critical evaluation of such methodology appropriate to their field of study, and in the application of the methodology by conducting a specified programme of research under appropriate supervision.

A candidate for a Masters degree by research should demonstrate:

(a)evidence of an original investigation or testing of ideas;

(b)competence in independent research or experimentation;

(c)a thorough understanding of the appropriate techniques in the field demonstrated both by their application and a thorough review of the literature;

(d)critical use of source material, experimental results (where appropriate) and published works;

(e)appreciation of the relationship of the special theme to the wider field of knowledge;

(f)capacity to present well written work.

Skills required for Doctoral Degrees

These degrees provide training and education with the objective of producing graduates with the capacity to conduct research independently at a high level of originality and quality. The student ought to be capable by the end of their candidature of conceiving, designing and carrying to completion a research programme without supervision. The PhD candidate should uncover new knowledge either by the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas.

A candidate for the degree of PhD or MD should demonstrate:

(a) to (f)as for Masters degree by research;

(g)a high degree of independence of thought and approach; and

(h)a significant original contribution to knowledge.

3.1.6Assessment recommendations (Final Report)

Form FHDC4 requires the assessment panel to make one of the following recommendations:

•Submit the thesis for the degree of candidature; or

•Submit the thesis for the degree of PhD, in the case of a Masterscandidate; or

•Resubmit the report following completion of further work; or

•Show cause why candidature should not be transferred to an appropriate Masters degree (in the case of a doctoral candidate) or

•Show cause why candidature should not be terminated.

3.2 For candidates first enrolled after January 1, 2001 (RTS)

3.2.1First year assessment task

MSc

• Within 6 months (FTE) of commencing candidature, each student must supply his or her assessment panel with a literature review and a research plan for the following 12 months. This should normally be about 3,000 words in length. The assessment panel must formally notify the FHDC that the literature review and research plan has been completed and whether or not the standard is satisfactory. A copy of the literature review and research plan must be submitted to the Secretary of the FHDC. The literature review and research plan will be reviewed by the Assistant Dean (Research Higher Degrees) who may seek independent advice.

• Each student, at the end of the first FTE year of candidature, must present a progress seminar that will be attended by the assessment panel. The seminar should be advertised widely through the Faculty. The assessment panel must formally notify the FHDC that the progress seminar has been completed, whether the standard is satisfactory, and whether the student’s progress is satisfactory for the stage of candidature. The assessment panel should discuss its deliberations with the student.

PhD/MD

• Within 12 months (FTE) of commencing candidature, each student must supply his or her assessment panel with written evidence demonstrating critical thinking and problem solving skills, and academic writing skills. The written evidence should normally be about 3,000 words in length and should comprise one or more of the following
• A literature review and research plan for the following 12 months.
• A manuscript written by the student as first author. (The manuscript may be in draft, final or accepted form).
• A research grant proposal written by the student as chief investigator or co-investigator.
• A substantial conference paper written by the student as first author.
• A conference abstract with accompanying poster written by the student as first author.

The assessment panel must formally notify the FHDC that the written work has been completed and whether or not the standard is satisfactory. A copy of the written work must be submitted to the Secretary of the FHDC. The written work will be reviewed by the Assistant Dean (Research Higher Degrees) who may seek independent advice.