Chapter 4: Enrolment and confirmation of candidature
4.7.4 Review panel
A review panel should be convened to review the candidate's review submission and oral presentation and to discuss them with the candidate. Based on the evidence presented to it, the review panel must complete a report and make recommendation in relation to the confirmation of masters candidature.
The review panel should comprise at least three members:
- The School Graduate Coordinator or nominee (Convenor)
- The candidate's supervisor (s)
- Another member conversant with the general area of research but not directly involved with the candidate's specific project (this third member may be drawn either from within the school or from outside it
A fourth member may be a research student who has either already been through the confirmation of candidature process or is well advanced in their own candidature (not compulsory). It is recommended that a person from another discipline be invited to sit on the panel.
4.7.5 Confirmation process
A reminder letter and report form will be forwarded to candidates 3 months (or 6 months for part-time candidates) before confirmation of candidature is due. Upon receiving this letter,the candidate is encouraged to contact the supervisor(s) to discuss the confirmation of candidature requirements and to make necessary preparation. Information on the notification and probationary period are available in Chapter 3.3 Probationary candidature.
Once the review panel has considered the candidates oral and witten submissions, it will make a recommendation in relation to the confirmation of candidature and complete a report on the candidate's submitted work.
4.7.6 Outcomes of confirmation process
After reviewing the oral presentation and the written submissiom, the review panel makes a recommendation in relation to the confirmation of candidature. There are four possible outcomes:
- confirmation of candidature
- confirmation of candidature after minor amendments to the research proposal
- confirmation of candidature to be reviewed within 10 weeks (ie. extension to probationary period)
- confirmation is not recommended
Where the review panel recommends a 10-week extension to probationary candidature, a list of achievable targets, relevant to the particular student's confirmation of candidature, must be set for the student. These targets must be met in order that candidature may be confirmed.
Where a probationary candidate does not meet the requirements for confirmation of candidature, the relevant faculty should make a recommendation for non-confirmation of candidature to the Research Graduate School Committee. This recommendation should be accompanied by the review panel report, which identifies the tasks or targets that were set for the students for confirmation of candidature and the outcomes of the student's attempts to meet them.
The HDR Termination of Candidature Policy (including Non Confirmation of Candidature) outlines the process that follows a recommendation for non-confirmation.