Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

5. Duration
5.1 The candidate may undertake the program on a
full-time or part-time basis. Excluding any periods
of intermission as set out below, the duration of
candidature normally shall be:
5.1.1 36 calendar months for a full-time candidate
from the date of commencement.
5.1.2 72 calendar months for a part-time
candidate from the date of commencement.
5.2 In the case of a transfer of candidature as set out
in 3.2 the Committee shall determine what period
of master's candidature shall count towards the
candidate for the degree of PhD.
5.3 Where a candidate is permitted to transfer
between full-time and part-time candidature the
Committee shall determine the duration of
candidature.
5.4 A candidate may pursue the program on a parttime
basis only if the Committee is satisfied that
the candidate is able to devote sufficient time to
the program.
5.5 Where an applicant has been accepted as a
doctoral candidate the applicant shall enrol in the
University and pay the appropriate fees and
charges.
6. Intermission
After taking advice from the supervisor(s) and the Head
of Department, the Committee may grant a period of
intermission of candidature on such conditions as the
Committee sees fit. The total period of intermissions
granted during candidature shall not exceed 12 months
unless the Committee deems the circumstances to be
exceptional.
7. Supervision
For each candidate the Committee shall appoint, on the
recommendation of the faculty board, and on such
terms and conditions as the Committee determines,
one or two supervisors, one of whom shall be a fulltime
member of the academic staff of the University.
If the program is carried out within the University, at
least one supervisor shall be a member of the
academic staff of the department in which the
program is conducted.
Where two supervisors are appointed one shall be
designated the Co-ordinating Supervisor. The Coordinating
Supervisor must be a member of the staff of
the University. The Co-ordinating Supervisor shall have
werall administrative responsibility for the conduct of
programs.
If for any reason a supervisor is unable effectively to
supervise the candidate.for a period exceeding three
months, the Committee shall, on the recommendation
of the faculty board, appoint a replacement supervisor.
8. Progress
At the expiry of twelve months from the date of
admission to candidature and at such other times as
the Committee may decide, the Committee will request
a report on the progress of each candidate. The report
is to be prepared by the supervisor (or, where there is
more than one supervisor, the Co-ordinating
Supervisor). Prior to the preparation of the report the
supervisor (or Co-ordinating Supervisor) will be required
to interview the candidate. The candidate will be given
access to the report and will haw the opportunity to
comment to the Committee on the supervisor's
assessment of progress.
Where the Committee is of opinion that a candidate's
progress is not, prima facie, of a satisfactory level, a
candidate may be required to show cause why candidature
should not be terminated.
Failure on the part of the candidate to demonstrate
satisfactory progress may result in the Committee
terminating candidature.
9. Thesis
9.1 Three copies of the thesis shall be submitted to the
Registrar. At least two of the copies must be
bound.
9.2 The thesis must be typed 1% spaced, in English,
on A4 size paper, and conform to any other specifications
prescribed by the Committee.
9.3 One copy of the thesis shall, if passed by the Committee,
be lodged in the Swinburne Library, one
shall be held by the department in which the work
was done, and one shall be returned to the
candidate.
9.4 With the Committee's prior approval a candidate
may submit work other than in the form set out in
9.2.
9.5 The thesis shall be accompanied by a certificate
from the supervisor(s) stating that in their opinion
the thesis is ready for examination.
9.6 When submitting the thesis the candidate must
sign a declaration that the thesis has not previously
been submitted for a degree or similar award at
another institution.
10. Examination
The Committee shall appoint on the recommendation
of the faculty board, on such terms and conditions as
the Committee determines, at least two examiners in
respect of each candidate's thesis. The candidate's
supervisor shall not normally be appointed as an
examiner. At least one examiner shall be external to the
University.
The names of the examiners shall not, without the
approval of the Committee, be disclosed to the
candidate.
Each examiner shall provide a report to the Committee
on the standard of the candidate's thesis and
recommend one of the following courses of action:
(a) that the degree be awarded;
(b) that the degree be awarded subject to the
inclusion in the thesis of minor specified
amendments;
(c) that the degree be awarded subject to the
candidate passing a written and/or oral
examination in subjects related to the thesis;
(d) that the thesis be returned to the candidate for
major revision and re-submission within a specified
period;
(e) that an appropriate Masters degree be awarded;
(9 that the degree be not awarded.
Each examiner should indicate whether the report is to
be made available to the candidate in whole or in part.
In the case where an oral examination is requested by
an examiner, such examination shall be held in accordance
with procedures determined by the Committee.