Transferring Between Degree Programs

Upgrading from a Master of Philosophy to a PhD

In order to upgrade your candidature to a PhD, you must have demonstrated your ability to undertake research at a doctoral level and a suitable project, resources and supervision must be available.

Demonstrating your ability to undertake research at Doctoral level

If you had the necessary formal qualifications to undertake a doctoral program at the time of your enrolment into the Master of Philosophy, you may be permitted to transfer to a PhD after 12 months or half-time equivalent, subject to satisfactory completion of your Major Review of Progress and the submission of a revised research proposal.

If you did not have the necessary qualifications to undertake a doctoral program at the time of your enrolment into the Master of Philosophy, you can apply to transfer to the PhD after eighteen months of candidature or half-time equivalent, subject to satisfactory completion of the Major Review of Progress, provision of suitable evidence of research outcomes and the submission of a revised research proposal. Evidence of research outcomes could be a published literature review, peer reviewed conference paper, peer reviewed journal article, or creative work accompanied by a scholarly analysis.

For students in the mixed research and coursework stream of the MPhil, completion of a minimum of 12 units of coursework is also required.

The upgrade process

The process for applying to transfer to a PhD program is as follows:

After discussing the proposed transfer with your supervisors:

1. complete an ‘Upgrade Candidature from a Masters to a PhD application’ form and prepare your revised research proposal and evidence of outcomes where applicable
2. provide these documents first to your supervisors for consideration and then to the Head of School or Postgraduate Coordinator
3. after you have obtained the necessary endorsements and the supporting statement from your School (where applicable), return the completed documentation to the Graduate Centre, which will seek the endorsement of theFaculty Higher Degrees Committee and the Research Education and Development Committee
4. the Graduate Centre will advise you in writing whether or not the transfer of your candidature has been approved
5. where applicable, your maximum candidature duration and Research Training Scheme (RTS) entitlement will be reduced by the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) days for which you were enrolled in the Masters program.

Scholarship holders

When your transfer to a doctoral program has been approved, your scholarship duration will be extended up to three years less the number of days of Masters candidature previously completed.

International students

As an international student, approval to transfer to a PhD program is subject to the approval of your sponsor (where applicable) and to the granting of a new student visa from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Please contact the International Office for advice before lodging your application to transfer.

Transferring from a PhD to a Master of Philosophy

If you wish to transfer from a PhD to a Master of Philosophy or other approved Master by Research program, you may apply to do so on the form 'Transfer Candidature from a PhD to a Masters Application'. The application requires the approval of your supervisors and the Head of School or Postgraduate Coordinator. Steps (ii) – (iv) of the process described above for upgrading from a Masters to a PhD above are identical. On approval of the transfer, your maximum candidature duration and Research Training Scheme entitlement will be two years (or halftime equivalent) less the number of days of Doctoral candidature previously completed.

Note that if you have completed two or more years of candidature at the time of approved transfer, your candidature in the Masters program will lapse immediately. The lapse date may be extended by six months (or halftime equivalent) by lodging an 'Extension to candidature application', at the same time as your application to transfer.

Scholarship holders

The maximum duration of a Master of Philosophy scholarship is two years. Therefore, if you intend to transfer to a Master of Philosophy, it is advisable to do so within two years from the commencement of your PhD candidature, as you may be required to repay any scholarship payments you receive beyond the maximum tenure of the award.

International students

International students who are considering transferring to a Master of Philosophy level program should contact the Graduate Centre for advice in the first instance.