Frequently Asked Questions for HDR Candidates

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree provides training and supervision to build your capacity to conduct independent research at a high level of originality and quality. As a PhD candidate, you will uncover new knowledge though the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative interpretation of known data and established ideas.

In the Doctor of Philosophy, you will undertake a supervised research project and develop a written thesis in your chosen discipline.

Visit the Doctor of Philosophy course page for more information.

To approve your application into a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Western Sydney University must be satisfied that you are able to commence independent study at a doctoral level.

The preferred pathway into a PhD at Western Sydney University is through the Master of Research.

Approved qualifications for entry in the Doctor of Philosophy are the attainment of the following:

Approval of prior experience or qualifications for all higher research degrees is at the discretion of the School or Institute Dean or Director.

Applications for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are made to the Graduate Research School via the online application form. Applications are accepted all year round.

To apply for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), you will need to ensure that you meet the minimum entry requirements for admission at Western Sydney University. You will also need to contact a suitable supervisor(s) in your area of interest, prepare documentation to support your application and write a research proposal.

Ideally, you should identify one or more potential supervisors before submitting an application. This will help to streamline the application process as your School or Institute must confirm that they are able to provide suitable supervision before you will be offered admission.

You can search for potential supervisors via the staff profiles or talk to the relevant School or Institute HDR Director.

Yes, there is a main scholarship round run each year, as well as a range of project scholarships offered throughout the year.

Visit the research scholarships page for more information about how to apply.

The minimum length of a PhD candidature is 3 years full-time (or part-time equivalent).

It is possible to apply for early submission for examination. You should talk to the HDR Director in your School or Institute if you are interested in early submission.

The maximum length of a PhD candidature is 4 years full-time (or part-time equivalent).Extensions are only considered in exceptional circumstances. It is the responsibility of you and your supervisory panel to ensure that you are able to submit for examination on time.

In most cases, it is preferable that you are available on campus to work closely with your supervisory panel and attend seminars and other events. If you are considering undertaking a PhD by distance, please contact the School or Institute HDR Director to find out if this will be feasible option for your proposed research project.

If you have completed your undergraduate or postgraduate study overseas, you will need to provide evidence that the language of instruction was in English or provide English language test results (IELTS or TOEFL).

Visit the International entry requirements page for more information.

The Master of Research is a research training degree that provides you with a pathway to PhD study and a research career.

In the first year, you will undertake an intensive research training coursework program and engage with peers and academics in an interdisciplinary environment. The first year will help you to build your skills as a researcher, master the art of knowledge translation and develop a strong research proposal.

In the second year, you will take on a research project under the supervision of a specialist in your field – culminating in the production of a 25,000 word research thesis.

 Visit the frequently asked questions for more information.

The Master of Philosophy is a supervised program of original research and provides an opportunity to develop and enhance analytical and research skills through independent investigation in a specific field. The Master of Philosophy is completed within 1-2 years full-time candidature.

Visit the Master of Philosophy course page for more information.

The Doctor of Creative Arts (DCA) provides professional artists with recognition of both their practice and the contribution they make to professional and scholarly knowledge.

In the Doctor of Creative Arts, you are required to undertake the development of a body of original creative work within your chosen discipline. This must be supported by a written exegesis explaining the contextual and theoretical underpinning of the creative work.

Visit the Doctor of Creative Arts course page for more information.

The Doctor of Cultural Research (DCR) is designed to produce future professional leaders in a range of industry settings where culture is an important dimension of the typical issues and problems faced in that workplace or organisation.

In the Doctor of Cultural Research, you are required to produce an examinable portfolio of work that provides evidence of significant conceptual development and professional capacity relevant to the better understanding of significant problems in practice. You will also be expected to actively participate in seminars, conference presentations, workshops and other research training and development activities.

Visit the Doctor of Cultural Research course page for more information.

The Doctor of Education (EdD) is a degree in practice-led research and research-led practice and aims to produce graduates capable of conducting independent research at the highest level of quality and originality.

Candidates are required to produce an examinable portfolio of work that will normally be text based, but will allow the inclusion of other communication mediums such as video or internet resources. You will also be expected to actively participate in seminars, conference presentations, workshops and other research training and development activities.

Visit the Doctor of Education course page for more information.

Yes, the Graduate Research School hosts regular orientation sessions for new HDR candidates. Orientation is a great way to meet your fellow researchers and find out more about life as a research student.

Information about upcoming orientation sessions and invitations to attend will be sent directly to your student email account.

You are also encouraged to read the HDR Candidate Handbook (PDF, 0.6 MB) which contains important information about your candidature.

The Graduate Research School offers a range of on-campus workshops open to all higher degree research candidates. The workshops are targeted to meet your needs at the various stages of your candidature.

Please visit the HDR Workshops calendar for more information and the current schedule.

Yes, the 'Research Training' vUWS site is available to all research candidates and provides access to a range of online programs, tools and resources. The site features videos, articles, handouts, suggested readings and other information to help you develop your research writing and presentation skills and supports the on-campus workshops program.

You can access the site via vUWS using your student ID and password.

Yes, you need to complete the online modules 'Postgraduate Essentials' and 'Responsible Conduct of Research' within the first three months of your candidature.

You will receive an email from the Graduate Research School with information about completing these online modules. They are accessed through the 'Research Training' vUWS site.

You must provide evidence of completion of these modules at your Confirmation of Candidature.

Yes, you can access a Turnitin submission link set up specifically for research candidates via the 'Research Training' vUWS site. It is recommend that all candidates submit their thesis through Turnitin to check for plagiarism and missing references and that you discuss the results of the report with your supervisory panel.

For more information, refer to the Guide for Checking your Thesis with Turnitin (PDF, 0.1 MB).

You should automatically have access to the Research Training site if you are currently enrolled in a research degree. If you are having trouble accessing this site, please check the following before contacting the Graduate Research School:

If you have a specific question or need further advice, please submit your enquiry here.

The Graduate Research School offers a range of on-campus workshops open to all higher degree research candidates. The workshops are targeted to meet your needs at the various stages of your candidature.

Please visit the HDR Workshops calendar for more information and the current schedule.

Yes, the 'Research Training' vUWS site is available to all research candidates and provides access to a range of online programs, tools and resources. The site features videos, articles, handouts, suggested readings and other information to help you develop your research writing and presentation skills and supports the on-campus workshops program.

You can access the site via vUWS using your student ID and password.

Yes, you need to complete the online modules 'Postgraduate Essentials' and 'Responsible Conduct of Research' within the first three months of your candidature.

You will receive an email from the Graduate Research School with information about completing these online modules. They are accessed through the 'Research Training' vUWS site.

You must provide evidence of completion of these modules at your Confirmation of Candidature.

Yes, you can access a Turnitin submission link set up specifically for research candidates via the 'Research Training' vUWS site. It is recommend that all candidates submit their thesis through Turnitin to check for plagiarism and missing references and that you discuss the results of the report with your supervisory panel.

For more information, refer to the Guide for Checking your Thesis with Turnitin (PDF, 0.1 MB).

You should automatically have access to the Research Training site if you are currently enrolled in a research degree. If you are having trouble accessing this site, please check the following before contacting the Graduate Research School:

If you have a specific question or need further advice, please submit your enquiry here.

The Candidature Plan is a compulsory milestone that must be completed within two months of your research commencement date. It establishes a framework that can be used to manage your project and evaluate your progress throughout the early stages of your candidature.

You must submit your Candidature Plan within two months of your research commencement date. This applies to both full-time and part-time candidates.

You cannot complete your Confirmation of Candidature (CoC) if you have not completed your Candidature Plan.

You need to complete your Candidature Plan using the online eForm available via ResearchMaster.
Step 1: Log in to ResearchMaster (using your student account).
Step 2: Create a ‘Candidature Plan’ eForm and follow the instructions.

The Candidature Plan eForm provides instructions and help text to guide you through the process. You will be required to provide information including:

You should arrange a meeting with your Principal Supervisor and/or your supervisory panel to discuss your project and current progress. At the meeting, you need to discuss roles, responsibilities and expectations and complete the Supervisor - HDR Candidate Compact. This document must be attached to your Candidature Plan eForm.

You also need to complete the compulsory online training moduels:

You will need to attach evidence of completion to your Candidature Plan eForm.

Your Candidature Plan will be sent to your Principal Supervisor via the eForm workflow for review. Your Principal Supervisor may send the plan back to you for amendments or further information.

When it has been approved by your Principal Supervisor, it will be sent to the Associate Dean (HDR) or HDR Director in your School or Institute for review and approval.

Finally, the Candidature Plan will be sent to the Graduate Research School for processing. The outcome will be recorded on your candidate record.

Your Candidature Plan provides a general overview of your project and establishes a plan that you can use to manage your project and evaluate your progress throughout the early stages of your candidature.

The Confirmation of Candidature (CoC) is a comprehensive process that reviews your project plan and your candidature progress based on a written document and a presentation. A review panel will provide you with comprehensive feedback. The Confirmation of Candidature should be completed within six months of your research commencement date and must be completed within your first year of candidature for both full-time and part-time candidates.

The Confirmation of Candidature (also known as the CoC) is a significant milestone in the first year of your research. It is a formal and comprehensive process that reviews the current progress of your candidature and your plan for completion. As part of the CoC, you will receive feedback about your research project and it is an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and further development.

The Confirmation of Candidature is a compulsory requirement for all first year research candidates. It is usually completed within the first six months of your candidature, and must be completed within your first year of candidature.

At the Confirmation of Candidature, you are required to submit a written document between 3,000 and 10,000 words. You will also be required to give a presentation to an expert academic committee and respond to questions from the panel.

Based on the feedback you receive at your CoC, you may be required to make changes to your CoC document and provide further details about your plan for completion.

The Confirmation of Candidature is designed to help you and your School or Institute to identify any issues that may impact the timely and satisfactory completion of your research project and the writing up of your thesis. The milestone is set to be completed within the first year so that you have time to take the necessary steps to adjust your research project or undertake development and still complete within the maximum candidature timeframe of your degree.

While the Confirmation of Candidature may feel like you are being assessed, you should keep in mind that a research degree is a joint venture between you, your supervisors and your School or Institute. You are working towards a common goal and everyone involved wants to see you succeed in your study.

The Confirmation of Candidature is important for a wide range of reasons and is a crucial milestone in your research degree.

The CoC allows you and your School or Institute to evaluate:

While it can be confronting to present your project at the Confirmation of Candidature, many candidates find the process to be affirming and even enjoyable. It can help you to feel more confident about your project and your ability to complete the degree.

Completing the Confirmation of Candidature is an achievement and an important milestone in your study. Your project will now be focussed and defined, and you will have a clear plan for the work that needs to be done to complete your thesis.

The Confirmation of Candidature requires the following:

You may be required to formally respond to feedback following your Confirmation of Candidature and submit changes to your written document.

You cannot enrol in the second year of your degree or submit your ethics application until your Confirmation of Candidature has been successfully completed.

At the Confirmation of Candidature presentation, you will verbally present your research project and your current progress. Generally, this will follow a similar format to your written document and should demonstrate that you are confident in talking in detail about your research project.

The Confirmation of Candidature will be chaired by your School or Institute HDR Director, or equivalent, and will take around one hour. The format is at the discretion of the Chair, but in most cases the candidate will present for 15 minutes and this is followed by a questions and answer session. The committee will begin by asking you questions, but you are also encouraged to ask questions to the committee.

Confirmation of Candidature presentations may be held in an open forum and people outside the academic committee may be invited to attend. For example, some Confirmation of Candidatures are undertaken as part of other activities such as School and Institute conferences. In these cases, the audience does not contribute to the assessment of the candidature and feedback should be provided to the candidate in private.

You should see an open Confirmation of Candidature as an opportunity to present your work to the wider research community and the experience may generate interest in your project beyond your supervisory panel.

The Confirmation of Candidature advisory committee is not the same as your supervisory panel. It should always include your Higher Degree Research Director or equivalent, and additional expertise either from within your School or Institute or through other relevant Western Sydney University collaborators. External expertise may also be included in the advisory committee.

You must submit a final, paginated manuscript to your principal supervisor for review and approval at least one week prior to the Confirmation of Candidature. This will allow the advisory committee sufficient time to consider the material, prepare questions and understand your research project.

You should talk to your principal supervisor or HDR Director about the expected date for your Confirmation of Candidature early to ensure that you have sufficient time to prepare the document, your presentation and meet any other requirements.

In preparation for the Confirmation of Candidature, your principal supervisor is responsible for:

You will be provided with preliminary feedback following your presentation at the Confirmation of Candidature. The CoC Panel will then prepare a final report and submit a recommendation via an eForm in ResearchMaster.

There are four possible outcomes for the Confirmation of Candidature:

Western Sydney University Schools and Institutes are required to provide HDR candidates with access to funding to support their research under the Research Higher Degree Candidature Essential Resources Policy. The funds are available to assist you in meeting the incidental costs of your research project.

HDR candidates in humanities, social sciences, business and law disciplines may claim up to $2,000 per candidate, per full-time year enrolled at Western Sydney University.

HDR candidates in consumable-intensive science disciplines may claim up to $7,000 per candidate, per full-time year enrolled at Western Sydney University.

You may apply for funds up to the limits described above, however, your request is subject to approval by your School or Institute. Your School or Institute may apply the funds on a pro rata basis as per the requirements of your candidature.

You can apply for Candidature Support Funds to cover a range of costs including:

You can submit an application for Candidature Support Funds at any time during your candidature.

You should discuss the requirements of your project with your supervisory panel early in your candidature to establish what resources you will need and if these can be covered by under your Candidature Support Funds. At the very latest, this should be completed prior to your Confirmation of Candidature.

You must maintain clear records when claiming Candidature Support Funds, including original receipts, invoices, travel approvals and other supporting documentation.

You must ensure that your Candidature Support Funds application is approved prior to entering into any agreements with external providers.

Applications for Candidature Support Funds are made directly to your School or Institute using the Candidature Support Funding Application form (PDF, 0.08 MB). Your School or Institute may require other evidence or supporting documentation. Please contact your HDR Director for more information.

No. Candidature Support Funds are not a direct payment to you on the basis of your enrolment. You application and any supporting documentation will be carefully assessed by your School or Institute and funding will be distributed based on resource availability and the essential requirements of your candidature.

No. Purchases and acquisitions made using Candidature Support Funds remain the property of Western Sydney University and must be returned to your School or Institute at the completion of your study or at your withdrawal from your candidature.

No. Any changes to the direction of your work or the focus of your project will not automatically make you eligible for additional resources. You will need to apply to your School or Institute if your require additional funding.

Your Research Progress Report (or RPR) provides information directly to your School or Institute about your candidature progress, including your achievements, your plan for completion and any challenges that may impact your project.

Yes, all continuing candidates must complete a Research Progress Report. Failure to complete your report may jeopardise your program progression and you may be asked to show cause as to why your candidature should be allowed to continue. The Graduate Research School will contact you via your student email with advice about how and when to complete your Research Progress Report.

You must complete a Research Progress Report at least once every year after you have completed your Confirmation of Candidature. The Graduate Research School will contact you via your student email with advice about how and when to complete your Research Progress Report.

The Graduate Research School will contact you via your student email with advice about how to complete your Research Progress Report via the eForm in ResearchMaster.

Research Progress Reports include sections completed by both the candidate and the Principal Supervisor. These sections include a summary of the work undertaken in the previous 12 months, or since your commencement date. They will also contain a timeline and your plans for completion, comments on your progress in relation to your expected completion date and comments from your supervisory panel.

If your Research Progress Report indicates that your candidature is not progressing as well as expected or if your progress is considered unsatisfactory, your School or Institute may recommend specific actions to correct the situation. These actions will need to be performed within set timeframes and are subject to further review. In serious circumstances, your School or Institute may initiate a show cause process as a result of the Research Progress Report.

Yes, you have the option to submit your Research Progress Report directly to the Graduate Research School. You may consider this option if there is an issue between you and your supervisory panel that you would like dealt with confidentially. The Graduate Research School can act as an independent liaison between a candidate and their School or Institute.

Yes, Research Progress Reports will be considered if you apply for a candidature variation such as a leave of absence or an extension. It is important to provide details of any potential delays to your candidature when completing your Research Progress Report for future reference.

Yes, the Research Progress Report can be used to raise concerns about your candidature, however, it should not be first point at which your supervisors and your School or Institute are made aware of a problem.

It is not uncommon for candidates to experience challenges in their personal life or their research project. There are resources and assistance available to support you. When issues arise, it is expected that both candidates and supervisors will take active steps to rectify the situation with the support of their School or Institute HDR Director and the Graduate Research School.

Your research may require you to travel and carry out fieldwork and research overseas. This can be an exciting opportunity, however, it is important that you understand the risks involved and meet all the requirements before you can travel.

As a candidate, you are considered a Western Sydney University traveller if you are conducting work overseas that contributes towards your degree, irrespective of whether you are funded by Western Sydney University or otherwise.

International candidates must contact Western Sydney University International for advice about the validity of your visa if you plan to leave Australia for any period.

You make take up to 12 months field work overseas and continue to receive your scholarship. You must meet certain conditions in relation to supervision during the period and the work must be relevant to the completion of your degree.

If you are planning to travel overseas to conduct research, you must apply using the Application to Vary Research Candidature/Scholarship Form (PDF, 0.1 MB).

You must apply for permission to travel to your School or Institute HDR Director (or equivalent) at least three months before the proposed date of departure.

All overseas travel arrangements are processed via the Travel and Expense Management System (TEMS). Applications must be lodged via the system at least 21 days prior to departure.

Refer to the Travel Policy for further guidelines.

If you are undertaking overseas field research, you are subject to Western Sydney University's Occupational Health and Safety obligations. You must also consider any travel advice issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

All travel approvals are considered on a case by case basis.

Travel to destinations where the DFAT travel advisory classification is "reconsider your need to travel" must be approved by the relevant Executive Dean or Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

If travel has been booked and the DFAT travel advisory classification escalates to "reconsider your need to travel", the Executive Dean or Deputy Vice-Chancellor must again approve travel before departure.

Western Sydney University will not approve travel where the DFAT travel advisory classification is "do not travel". In cases where the classification escalates to "do not travel" the travel approval is withdrawn.

If the DFAT travel advisory classification escalates after travel has commenced, the relevant School or Institute should make contact with the traveller and assist in their return if warranted. The Finance Officer should be notified for travel and insurance assistance.

Western Sydney University travellers approved to travel to destinations where a "reconsider your need to travel" classification has been issued must register with Smartraveller (DFAT) prior to departure. Irrespective of travel warnings, all travellers are encouraged to register their overseas travel plans with DFAT prior to departure.

Yes, you may use the services of a professional editor in preparing your thesis for examination. You must discuss this with your principal supervisor to ensure you have a clear understanding of the acceptable level of editing and how to evaluate editorial suggestions and recommendations.

Professional editing is not a shortcut in preparing your thesis for examination. It should be used for the purposes of detecting minor typographical, formatting or stylistic errors in your thesis. A professional editor does no correct systemic misunderstandings of grammar or language throughout your thesis and there is no guarantee the editor will identify all errors.

You are responsible for the final content, presentation and integrity of your thesis.

You should not use a professional editor to correct significant mistakes in your writing. If you need assistance with writing skills development and/or English proficiency, you need to raise this with your supervisors early in your candidature and proactively access the academic writing support available to you via your School or Institute and the Graduate Research School.

Western Sydney University does not provide professional editing support for higher degree research candidates.

The Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) is the national professional association for Australian editors. It provides information about editing research theses and maintains a directory of professional editors.

If you wish to use the services of a professional editor, you must read the document Editing of Research Theses by Professional Editors (PDF, 0.09 MB). The guidelines outline the extent and nature of editorial services that professional editors can provide when editing research theses.

These guidelines were developed by the Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies collaboratively with the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) and has been endorsed by Western Sydney University.

Yes, when a thesis has had the benefit of professional editorial advice, of any form, the name of the editor and a brief description of the service rendered, in terms of Australian Standards for Editing Practice, should be printed as part of the thesis list of acknowledgements or other prefatory matter. If the professional editor's current or former area of academic specialisation is similar to that of the candidate, this should be stated in the prefatory matter of the thesis.

The Higher Degree Research Examination Handbook (PDF, 0.3 MB) is your first reference point for all the information you need about how to prepare your thesis for submission and the thesis examination process.

The handbook explains each step in the process of a thesis examination, including what to expect, how to proceed and who is responsible for various tasks.

You should submit your thesis for examination electronically to the Graduate Research School. Your submission should be emailed to grs.exams@westernsydney.edu.au as a PDF with a maximum file size of 20MB. If your thesis exceeds this file size, you will need to upload the file to a cloud storage service such as Dropbox and email the access link to the Graduate Research School.

If your examiners request a hardcopy of your thesis, you will be required to provide this to the Graduate Research School and it will be posted to your examiners. You should refer to the Higher Degree Research Examination Handbook (PDF, 0.3 MB) for information about submitting a hardcopy thesis.

You need to submit a completed Examination Submission Form (PDF, 0.06 MB) with your thesis to the Graduate Research School. If possible, the form should be signed by your supervisor and the HDR Director when you submit your thesis. If it is not signed, the Graduate Research School will arrange this for you after submission.

The thesis examination process is lengthy and it can take 4-6 months for you to receive a final result. The Graduate Research School is not able to provide you with updates during the examination process and you must wait until the final results are confirmed with your School or Institute.

The Ethics and Integrity Team can help you with all ethics matters relating to your research project. This includes human ethics, animal ethics, biosafety and radiation safety, academic integrity matters and ethics applications.

The Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) is a concise online application system to facilitate the efficient and effect ethics review for research involving humans.

If you need assistance with completing the HREA, please contact the Ethics and Integrity Team.