Core Component of the Structured Program

The University of Adelaide structured program comprises "core" and "development" components. Further information about the development component of the structured program is provided later in this guide. The core component must be completed within six months (or half time equivalent) from the commencement of your candidature. Satisfactory completion requires that you have:

• attended a School induction program
• formulated a research proposal that is satisfactory to your School after explicit consideration of the ethical, intellectual property, and resource implications of your proposed research. The research proposal must be all your own work, except where there is clear acknowledgement and reference to the work of others
• presented your research proposal at a School seminar program
• regularly attended your School's seminar program and
• lodged the "Completion of the core component of the structured program" form and all other required documentation with the Graduate Centre by the due date.

In many Schools, students are also required to complete a literature review as part of their core component; your supervisors(s) or Postgraduate Coordinator will advise you where this is the case.

The process for the core component is as follows:

(i) the Graduate Centre will remind you, your principal supervisor and the Postgraduate Coordinator approximately one month in advance that your core component is due and direct you to the web site where you can download a copy of the form (a form will be mailed to you on request)
(ii) the due date for the core component will be the first day of the seventh month (or half time equivalent) from the commencement of your candidature*. e.g. for full time students who commence between the 1st and the 31st of January, the core component will be due on 1st August
(iii) if you fail to lodge the core component documentation by the specified due date and if no application for extension has been received from your supervisor(s), your candidature will be suspended. Refer to the “Suspension of Candidature” section of this Handbook for further information.

* approved period(s) of leave of absence will extend the due date.

If your School has concerns about your progress these will be discussed with you and documented during your core component review and a recommendation may be made for the termination of your candidature or, where applicable, transfer to a Masters program.

Note that students who upgrade to doctoral candidature having already completed the core component during their prior Masters enrolment are exempted from undertaking the core component of the structured program in the doctoral program.