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These guidelines are applicable to the following category of student/applicants:
- In the University General Rules for Academic Courses, under Rule 1.3.1.15(2) of the General Provisions for Research Higher Degrees (by thesis) enrolled PhD candidates are required to submit a Research Proposal within six months of the commencement of candidature for full-time students and within nine months for part-time students. The approval of a candidate's enrolment is dependent on the acceptance of this proposal.
- Under Rule 1.3.1.15 (1), Masters candidates are required to submit a Research Proposal within four months of the commencement of candidature for full-time students and within eight months for part-time students. The approval of a candidate's enrolment is dependent on the acceptance of a research proposal prepared by the candidate and endorsed by the supervisor(s) and the head(s) of the appropriate School(s).
- Late submission of the Research Proposal may result in suspension of candidature.
- Under Rule 1.3.1.22(2) details of proposed research must be supplied along with appropriate application material by candidates applying to upgrade (transfer) from a masters degree (at UWA) to a PhD (at UWA).
- Under Rule 1.3.3.1 (d)(ii) a Research Proposal must be supplied along with application material by new applicants for the PhD who have partially completed a research higher programme at another institution.
- From 2006 all new PhD candidates are initially enrolled as conditional candidates for the first year of Full-Time enrolment or equivalent. All new PhD candidates are required to complete designated tasks and meet agreed milestones, negotiated with their supervisors and Head of School/Graduate Research Coordinator, by specified deadlines in order for their ongoing candidature to be confirmed. These tasks are approved by the Graduate Research School as part of the approval of the formal Research Proposal.
All Research Proposals should be divided into sections and formatted as set out below.No more than fifteen pages should provide sufficient detail.
- Provide a title.
- For PhD: Rule 1.3.3.3 specifies that a PhD study must make a "substantial and original contribution to scholarship, for example through the discovery of knowledge, the formulation of theories or the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas". In what way is the proposed study expected to fulfil this requirement?
- For Masters: Rule 1.3.2.3 specifies that a Masters study must be a "substantial work generally based on independent research which shows a sound knowledge of the subject of the research, evidence of the exercise of some independence of thought and the ability of expression in clear and concise language". In what way is the proposed study expected to fulfil this requirement?
- If the proposed study includes a creative component, describe the creative component and show in what way the thesis and creative components may be linked.
- The specific aims of the project - the problem(s) it hopes to solve or particular question(s) it will answer.
- The methods to be used or the approach to be taken. What similar projects have been undertaken here or elsewhere; have similar methods been used before?
- What efforts have been made to ensure that the project does not duplicate work already done?
- Students should show familiarity with the research topic by including a bibliography giving publication details for the most relevant literature in the field.
- The supervisor should assist the student to prepare a framework for the research, with a general timeframe for completion of the various phases and a detailed timeframe for the next 12 months. Each Annual Progress Report will include an update of the general plan and a detailed plan for the next 12 months.
- All new PhD students are required within a period of twelve months to complete designated tasks and meet agreed milestones in order for their ongoing candidature to be confirmed. If you are enrolled in a PhD please identify your Confirmation of Candidature tasks and indicate the date at which they will be completed.
- In partnership with your supervisor(s), please undertake a skills audit to determine if you possess the generic skills required to bring your project to a timely completion. Please identify the special skills your project requires of you, and if you do not possess them map out a strategy for their achievement.
- Regulation 9.1 (d.) of the Code of Good Practice for Graduate Research Supervision states that students are expected to devote at least 30 hours per week (or equivalent if the candidature is part-time) to research higher degree studies. If your normal working hours are going to be anything less than 30 hours Monday to Friday 9am-5pm then please outline what they will be.
D. Facilities
- In addition to confirming that proper supervision is available for the project, please comment on any other requirements, for example:
- Special Equipment - if not already available, how it will be obtained.
- Special Techniques - may be required. If so, what are they and is expert staff available for communicating any special skills?
- Special Literature - if not available from the Library, how will access to it be obtained?
- Statistical Advice - is it available? If not available in the School, how will it be obtained?
E. Estimated costs
What funds will the School commit to maintain the project? Please include all contributions that the School will make, excluding staff salaries and building/infrastructure costs. Please give a breakdown of the costs, including, for example, items such as photocopying, telephone, computing and other administrative costs as well as costs specific to the research project.
F. Fieldwork
If you are conducting fieldwork as part of your research, you must read the Universityâs Field Work Policy as well as the Universityâs Insurance Policy.
G. Supervisors
Each candidate must have a supervisor who is nominated as the Coordinating supervisor. The Coordinating supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the administrative and reporting requirements of the supervisors are met. This supervisor will receive all correspondence from the Graduate Research School relating to the candidate, and is responsible for communication with and between other supervisors. The Coordinating supervisor must be a member of staff of this university.
If a candidate is enrolled in Joint Schools, there must be a Coordinating supervisor from each School.
Where a candidate has more than one supervisor, the supervisors and the candidate must discuss the relative roles of the supervisors, record this in writing and lodge the record with the Graduate Research School as part of the Research Proposal.
Please provide a list of your supervisors and their role, including percentages, as indicated in the Research Proposal Cover Sheet.
H. Confidentiality and intellectual property
If your thesis is likely to contain information of a confidential nature, the matter must be drawn to the attention of the Board of the Graduate Research School from the outset, or as soon as it becomes apparent.
The Board's attention must also be drawn to any intellectual property issues that need to be considered, including any existing intellectual property of value that is pertinent to the research and to any agreements that may affect the candidate's right to intellectual property arising out of the research.
A simple guide for research students as to confidentiality and intellectual property issues is available online.
Candidates who are likely to be affected by matters concerning confidentiality or intellectual property should familiarise themselves with Rules 1.3.1.24-1.3.1.30 of the University General Rules for Academic Courses, General Provisions for Research Higher Degrees (by thesis) and with the University's Intellectual Property Policy. Both are available on via our policies section.
I. Approvals
The Head of School is required to certify on the Research Proposal that all necessary approvals in relation to it have been obtained from the appropriate University of Western Australia committees (refer to relevant ethics contact details). Approvals will be required prior to the use of animals, the participation of human subjects, genetic manipulation, potentially biohazardous procedures and situations, the use and disposal of potent teratogens and carcinogens, the use of ionising radiation, or other matters of a hazardous nature. It is the responsibility of the candidate, the supervisor and the Head of School to ensure that appropriate approvals have been obtained. Similarly, it is essential that all required safety and other training is complete prior to the commencement of research.
J. Submission of the research proposal / details of proposed research
Having prepared the proposal:
- Enrolled candidates should complete a Research Proposal Coversheet and submit two copies of their proposal and coversheet through the supervisor and Head of School/Graduate Research Coordinator to the Graduate Research School.
- Prospective candidates applying on the basis of an incomplete PhD from another institution should complete the Application Form and submit two copies of the Details of Proposed Research and application form (plus other supporting documentation as required) through the proposed supervisor and Head of School/Graduate Research Coordinator to the Graduate Research School.
- Applicants applying to transfer (upgrade) from a Masters programme at UWA to the PhD should complete the Application to Upgrade Form and submit two copies of the Details of Proposed Research and Upgrade form through the proposed supervisor and Head of School/Graduate Research Coordinator to the Graduate Research School.
Candidates, supervisors and Heads of School must ensure that the coversheet is completed and signed, as it certifies that the assurances made therein have been made to the Board. No research proposal or application for candidature can be considered without these assurances.
