Part 2: Definitions

A number of terms used throughout this document are defined below. Please contact the Graduate Studies Officer should you require clarification of these or related terms.

Candidate: a person enrolled in the course Master of Science Preliminary. The term is synonymous with 'postgraduate student'.

Credit and credit grade average: the Monash University Grading Scale defines the grade of 'Credit' as corresponding to a level of achievement for which a mark between 60 and 69 per cent has been awarded for a graded coursework unit. A 'credit grade average' would correspond to an average mark of 60 per cent or more for graded coursework units.

Dean: the dean of the Faculty of Science. The dean oversees all operations of the faculty and chairs meetings of Faculty Board .

Faculty Board: a board of the Faculty of Science convened by the dean that among other responsibilities reviews and ratifies the actions and decisions of the Research Degrees Committee .

Faculty of Science office: the office located in building 19N, Clayton campus.

Graduate Studies Officer: an employee of the Faculty of Science who is the main contact person for prospective and current masters candidates enrolled in the faculty. See 'Part 18: Further information'.

Honours class or grade: please see the definitions for 'H1' and 'H2A' below.

H1: a First Class Honours degree or equivalent. The Monash University Grading Scale defines 'H1' as corresponding to a level of achievement for which an overall mark of 80 per cent or more has been awarded for an honours program (which usually comprises an additional year of study), or in the case of a degree that is awarded 'with honours' and does not involve an additional year of study, for the whole course or specific years of that course.

H2A: a Second Class Honours, Division 1 degree or equivalent. The Monash University Grading Scale defines 'H2A' as corresponding to a level of achievement for which an overall mark between 70 and 79 per cent has been awarded for an honours program (which usually comprises an additional year of study), or in the case of a degree that is awarded 'with honours' and does not involve an additional year of study, for the whole course or specific years of that course.

Intermission: a leave of absence from candidature. See 'Part 11: Variations to candidature.'

Minor thesis: a thesis undertaken as part of a Master of Science Preliminary program. The thesis will normally follow the requirements for an honours thesis in the school in which the candidate is enrolled.

Postgraduate Diploma in Science: an exit award for Master of Science Preliminary candidates who have completed the requirements of the course but not at the equivalent of a class 1 (H1) or class 2A honours (H2A) grade required for admission to the course Master of Science by research, or who are eligible to apply for that course but do not wish to do so (see 'Part 17: Award of degree').

Research Degrees Committee: a committee of the Faculty of Science that meets to review matters relating to postgraduate coursework and higher degrees by research (HDR) management and policy. The committee reports to Faculty Board .

Supervisor: a person, usually a member of the academic staff of the university, whose general role is to guide and assist a candidate during their period of research candidature. The main types of supervisor are described below.

Primary, main, or sole supervisor: a member of the academic staff who has appropriate research experience and a continuing active involvement in research. Such supervisors would normally be members of the school or centre through which the candidate is enrolled.

Co-joint supervisors: two or more main supervisors with equal supervisory responsibility.