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| Science home | Future students | Current students | Postgraduate | Research | Staff | Contact us |
| Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
Postgraduate research supervision
Both doctoral and masters students should consult the ‘Code of practice for supervision of doctoral and research masters candidates’ contained in Chapter 5 (‘Supervision’) of the Handbook for Doctoral and Master of Philosophy Degrees. It is important that postgraduate students and their supervisors consult this source on a regular basis. 1. AttendancePostgraduate students are expected to attend campus regularly to consult with their supervisor(s), attend school seminars, and to use the library or facilities. It may be possible, in exceptional situations, for arrangements to be made which allow a student to work away from the university. If you are a part-time student, it is recommended that you have contact with your supervisor for the equivalent of approximately one hour per week, no less than once a month. If you are a full-time student, it is recommended that you have contact with your supervisor for the equivalent of approximately one hour per week, no less than once a fortnight. It is your responsibility as well as that of your supervisor to arrange such contact time. Full-time students are allowed to undertake up to 15 hours of work on average in any one week, although a maximum of six hours only on average of this employment may be undertaken during normal working hours (9 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday). 2. Participating in academic lifeThe faculty hopes that students will contribute towards the building of a research community by participating in faculty and school / centre committees, meetings and seminars, attending and offering papers at research conferences, and submitting papers for publication in research journals. Sharing of ideas and progress is an essential and rewarding part of the process of becoming a skilled researcher. Staff and students organise a number of seminars and discussion groups in which students may participate, details of which are given on the faculty website and via faculty and school emails / newsletters. 3. Changing your supervision arrangementsPostgraduate students may need to change their supervision arrangements for a number of reasons, including when a supervisor goes on leave, resigns or retires, or interpersonal problems arise. In each case you should speak first to your supervisor first and school, and then contact the Faculty of Science research office should the problems continue. You become dissatisfied with your relationship with your supervisor While rare, it may happen that you become dissatisfied with your relationship with your supervisor. This could happen for reasons related to the content of your thesis your interests and your supervisor's may diverge during your candidature to the point where you feel you are not getting sufficient help or because of interpersonal difficulties. Whatever the cause, you should do something constructive about the problem until the matter is resolved, if possible, by frank discussions with your supervisor and/or your associate supervisor, or by referring the matter to the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies). 4. Appointment of supervisor(s)
5. Variation to supervision arrangementsIt is a requirement that supervisor details be changed if your main supervisor is going to be away for six weeks or more.
6. Problems with supervision arrangementsThe establishment of a satisfactory working relationship between supervisor and student should minimise many of the difficulties that may arise in relation to candidature. If, however, problems emerge which are either directly related to your research or which may indirectly affect your ability to continue, it is essential that you keep in contact with the faculty. As well as your supervisor and associate supervisor, research advisers, and the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) are available to give advice, interpret regulations, and ensure that your time in the faculty concludes with the successful submission of your thesis. If a difficulty arises that requires you to change your supervisor, take time off from study, take time away from home or that affects your enrolment in any way you will need to ensure that both the faculty (for Masters candidates) or Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS) (doctoral students) are advised of any changes to your enrolment status. 7. Research Supervisor Training for Faculty of Science staffAcademic staff members and research fellows who wish to be ‘main’ supervisors of doctoral students at Monash University need to be accredited as such with the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS). Click here for an overview of the accreditation procedures. Further information
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