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Adelaide Graduate Centre
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The University of Adelaide
SA 5005
AUSTRALIA
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Changing the Conditions of Your Candidature

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By accepting an offer of admission to a higher degree by research, you are accepting the conditions of candidature prescribed in that offer. These include your attendance status, field of study, supervisors and your mode of attendance. To change the conditions of your candidature, you will need the permission of your principal supervisor, the Head of School or Postgraduate Coordinator and the Graduate Centre.

The existing details of your candidature are available for you to view on Access Adelaide under the 'Research candidature' menu item.

Autonomous Sanctions

(International students with citizenship of a sanctioned country only)

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The University is required to comply with the Autonomous Sanctions Act (2011). In practical terms, this means that if you are a student with citizenship of a sanctioned country, the University must ensure that any change of candidature you wish to make will not result in you undertaking research in a field or environment which could lead to a particular threat to, or breach of, international peace and security.

In particular, the University must seek to:

Prevent students from sanctioned countries from undertaking research that could provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to return to their home country and develop technology that is on the sanctioned list; and
prevent students from accessing facilities they are not entitled to as students from sanctioned countries.

Accordingly, any change of candidature which would affect your research project or environment (e.g. change of program, school or research topic) is subject to the provisions of the Autonomous Sanctions Act (2011).

Further information about Autonomous Sanctions is available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) - updated.

Applying to change a condition of candidature

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The application forms for any change to candidature that you may need to make are available on request from the Adelaide Graduate Centre or via the website. Completed forms should be lodged with the Adelaide Graduate Centre.

Changing Field of Study

Your research topic is detailed on your academic transcript and therefore it is important to ensure that the description of your topic is an accurate reflection of your area of research.

Changing Supervisor(s)

To ensure that the supervisory panel comprises those staff members with the greatest expertise and experience in your research area, a change (or addition) of supervisors may be appropriate to reflect changes in the direction of your research.

Changing Attendance Status (full-time/half-time)

Research students are permitted to enrol as either full-time (1.0) or half-time (0.5) candidates.

Changing Attendance Mode (internal/remote)

Following the commencement of candidature, you can apply to change from an internal to a remote mode of attendance after satisfactorily completing the core component of the structured program.

Transferring Between Degree Programs

You may under certain conditions transfer between degree programs.

You may wish to upgrade from a Master of Philisophy to a PhD, or
You may wish to downgrade from a PhD to Masters of Philosophy.

Transferring from a PhD to a Master of Philosophy

Whilst you may start your research in a PhD program, you should be aware that life sometimes gets in the way of the intensive 3-4 year full time commitment required to complete a PhD. Some students may come to realise that a research career, or the particular research project they have commenced, is not for them and others may find that the time and focus required to complete a PhD is simply not achievable due to circumstances beyond their control.

Changing from a Coursework Program to a Research Program

If you are enrolled in a coursework program at the University of Adelaide, it is not possible to simply transfer your candidature to a research program. You will first need to establish that you meet all the eligibility requirements to apply for admission to your chosen research program by consulting the relevant academic program rules.

Leave of Absence

It is preferable to progress your research program without interruption as far as possible. However, in some circumstances, for example in the case of illness, financial or family difficulties, it may be sensible to take a leave of absence until the problems have been resolved.

Study Leave

Study leave is intended for when you wish to undertake fieldwork, research or study towards your research degree whilst located outside the University for a limited period of time, not normally exceeding 12 months in total.

Complete Your Thesis Outside the University

After completing a minimum of two years of research towards a doctoral degree or one year of research towards a Master of Philosophy and (where applicable) all required experimental and coursework, you may apply for permission to complete the writing up of your thesis external to the University.

Extension of Candidature

If you do not expect to be able to submit your thesis by the candidature expiry date you can apply, with the approval of your School, for an extension of candidature for a maximum of 12 months if you are a doctoral student or six months if you are a Master of Philosophy student.

Extension of scholarship

If you are a Doctoral student, you may apply to extend your scholarship for a maximum period of six months beyond the three year tenure of the award.

Submission

After submission of your thesis for examination, your candidature remains active (with a load of zero) and you should be able to access University services and facilities as normal for a period of time.

Lapsed Candidature

If you do not submit your thesis for examination (nor apply for an extension) before your candidature expiry date, your attendance status will be recorded as lapsed. The Graduate Centre will remind you of your approaching candidature expiry date, approximately two months in advance.

Withdrawal

If you are considering withdrawing from your degree program, you should first discuss the matter with your supervisors to discuss the options available to you.