Terminology explained
A | C | D | E | F | H | I | L | M | O | P | R | S | T | U
A
Absent Without Leave This status means the candidate has not submitted an Annual Progress Report by the due date and he/she has not applied to the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee for Leave of Absence.
Admission The process of verification that an applicant has the qualifications and academic background appropriate for enrolment into the University and the desired program. These are defined in the Rules for Doctoral and Master Degrees by Research. For International students, extra criteria relating to visa and fee requirements will be involved. The process of admission concludes with the University making an Offer of Enrolment.
Annual Progress Reports A report on the progress of a research project, due during the month of August. Students enrolled as at 1 July of the reporting year and supervisors must complete a report. Learn more about APRs
Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Training The Chairperson of the University Graduate Studies Committee, which has the University-wide responsibility for research students.
C
Candidacy The process in which enrolled candidates undertaking a higher degree by research have their research program, supervisory arrangements and on-going progress approved by the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee in accordance with the Rules for Doctoral and Master Degrees by Research.
Conditional status The candidate's enrolment is constrained by conditions determined by the Faculty or University Graduate Studies Committee.
Confirmed candidature Enrolment in the higher degree by research program following approval of candidacy.
Coursework An individual unit, or a program of study which may include a project.
CRC Cooperative research centres. A CRC is a company formed through a collaboration of businesses and researchers. The CRC program is an Australian Government funded initiative. CRC homepage
D
Doctoral degree The degree of Doctor of Philosophy or any other doctoral degree as approved by the Academic Board.
Doctoral research degree This involves an approved research program which may include advanced level coursework studies (not more than one third) and a doctoral level research program leading to a thesis (at least two-thirds). The program requires a minimum of two years full-time study, or equivalent, beyond a relevant bachelor degree with first or upper second class honours (or its equivalent), or a master degree.
Doctor of philosophy An award granted on successful completion of an approved, advanced research program, which requires a minimum of two years study full-time, or equivalent, beyond a bachelor degree with first or upper second class (or its equivalent) or a master degree. It is a degree by research and thesis, with an emphasis on a substantial and original contribution to the body of knowledge, together with any additional course work as prescribed by the Head of Enrolling Area.
E
Enrolment The process whereby an applicant who is judged to have met admission criteria then fulfils the current fee and other University requirements and is officially registered as a student of the University within a particular program of study.
ERA Excellence in Research Australia. A new, streamlined, internationally-recognised research quality assessment process using metrics or other agreed quality measures appropriate to each research discipline.
Exegesis The introductory and review section of the thesis is known as an exegesis. The exegesis is a small, stand-alone overview which presents the explanation of the submitted work and/or a description of the linkages between the works.
F
Faculties are the primary academic divisions in which teaching and research are conducted. There are five faculties that make up Curtin: Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin Business School, Health Sciences, Humanities and Science & Engineering.
Faculty Graduate Studies Committee The Faculty Committee responsible for the admission, enrolment, candidature and examination of higher degree by research candidates and which makes recommendations to the University Graduate Studies Committee during the period of the candidate's enrolment.
H
Head of Enrolling Area The Head of an area that is permitted to enrol higher degree by research students.
I
ICT Information communication technology. An umbrella term that includes all technologies for the manipulation and communication of information.
Interim Thesis Committee A committee of supervisors appointed by the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee at the time of approval of admission to the program and comprises at least an Interim Chairperson and an Interim Supervisor.
International Sponsored Student Reports (ISSR) A report on the progress of an international sponsored student's research project, due during the month of March. Students enrolled as at 1 January of the reporting year and supervisors must complete a report. Learn more about the ISSRs
An international student is a student required to hold a student visa to study in Australia. Any student who is an Australian citizen, Australian dual citizen, permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen studying in Australia is a domestic student.
IP Intellectual property. The term describes an idea for an invention, design or artistic work, to which the creator or author has exclusive rights.
L
Leave of absence A formally approved break in candidature which does not count against the minimum and maximum duration of study.
M
Master degree An award granted on successful completion of an approved program which normally requires a minimum of two years study full-time, or equivalent, beyond a bachelor degree. The normal route to a master degree is by successful completion of a bachelor degree with honours or a Postgraduate Diploma after which students normally enrol for a one year full-time equivalent program for the master degree. The master program may consist of course work (master coursework degree), research work leading to a thesis (master by research), or a combination of the two.
O
OASIS Curtin's online portal for students.
Overtime The term used to identify a candidate who is enrolled but has not submitted a thesis within the prescribed time limits as determined in the Rules for Doctoral and Master Degrees by Research.
P
Postgraduate coordinator A generic term referring to the member of staff in a Enrolling Area nominated by the Head to assist with the general support of postgraduate research students as directed. A Postgraduate Coordinator may provide a variety of services for the Enrolling Area.
Postgraduate diploma An award granted on successful completion of a program which normally requires one year full-time study or its equivalent beyond a bachelor degree and generally in the same field or discipline studied at the undergraduate level.
Provisional candidature Enrolment in the higher degree by research prior to approval of candidacy.
R
RPI Research Performance Index. An initiative run annually to reward researchers for research excellence and scholarship.
S
A semester is the academic teaching period of about 17 weeks in duration. At Curtin, this includes 12 teaching weeks, two tuition free weeks, one study week and two weeks of exams. Each academic year is divided into two semesters.
Supervisor A supervisor is a highly qualified research staff member dedicated to providing advice and guidance to a research candidate throughout the candidate's entire project.
T
Thesis The formal and substantial report of the research program and its outcome, which was investigated under supervision, and which is presented in a format, and examined, in accordance with the Rules for Doctoral and Master Degrees by Research.
Thesis Committee A supervisory committee formally appointed by the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee at the time of approval of candidacy and associated with a specific candidate as defined in the Rules. It comprises at least three persons including a Chairperson, Supervisor and one or more Associate Supervisors or a Co-supervisor or a combination of both.
Thesis Examining Panel The panel that is appointed prior to submission of the thesis:
- For doctoral students the panel comprises the Chairperson of the Thesis Committee (ex officio) acting as Chair, and two examiners both of whom shall be external to the University. Persons who are external to the University will not hold or have held an employment contract with the University within three months of nomination as an examiner or at any time during the examination process, nor will they be an Emeritus Professor of the University.
- For master students the panel comprises the Chairperson of the Thesis Committee (ex officio) acting as Chair, and two examiners at least one of whom is external to the University. An internal examiner must be external to the Enrolling Area in which the candidate is enrolled.
U
Under examination This is the status held by the candidate following submission of the thesis and prior to determination of the classification of the thesis by the University Graduate Studies Committee.
University Graduate Studies Committee A standing committee of the Academic Board which deals with the creation and revision of higher degree by research policies, rules and procedures, and which aims to ensure University-wide maintenance of high standards in research degrees.
