Change of Research Higher Degree Program

A research higher degree candidate may transfer between the MPhil and PhD programs under certain conditions.

To transfer, the school must send a School Recommendation on an Application for Admission and Scholarship to the Research Higher Degrees Unit for final approval of their new research program, advisory team, commencement date and thesis topic by the Dean, UQ Graduate School, and for activation of student enrolment.

Transfer from PhD to MPhil program

A PhD candidate may transfer to the MPhil program at any stage of candidature as a provisional MPhil candidate. A confirmed PhD candidate can transfer to confirmed MPhil candidature at any stage of candidature following confirmation.

Transfer from MPhil to PhD program

An MPhil candidate who wishes to transfer ("upgrade") to the PhD program on the basis of work completed in a previous degree (such as a coursework masters or an honours degree) may transfer to the PhD program at any stage of MPhil candidature.

An MPhil candidate who wishes to transfer ("upgrade") to the PhD program on the basis of work completed in the MPhil program must have been confirmed in the MPhil program before they can transfer to the PhD program as a provisional PhD candidate. Confirmed MPhil candidates may transfer to the PhD program at any stage of the MPhil candidature following confirmation, as long as this decision is supported be the advisory team and school.

Confirmation in the PhD program can not be recommended on the basis of attainment of confirmation in the MPhil program. MPhil candidates should never be requested or expected to fulfil the requirements for confirmation in the PhD program while enrolled in the MPhil program. However, work assessed for confirmation in the MPhil program may be reconsidered as contributing evidence of progress towards completion of the project and development as a researcher, when recommending confirmation in the PhD program

There are two possible outcomes of the transfer process.

The written feedback to the candidate and advisory team must explain why transfer to the PhD program is inappropriate or unfeasible at this time. Possible reasons include: the candidate does not yet have the academic skills needed to undertake this PhD project; the candidate's MPhil project cannot be extended to meet the scope required for a PhD project; the school cannot provide the necessary resources (such as advisors, funding, or facilities) to support the proposed PhD project.

In all cases, the written feedback must provide sufficient detail for the candidate and the advisory team to know what they would need to do to meet the standard required for transfer to the PhD program. For example, if the candidate is academically suitable for admission to the PhD program but their proposed project does not have sufficient scope, the written feedback should identify this as the reason why transfer is not recommended, so the candidate and advisory team can if they wish attempt to develop a suitable PhD project that builds on the work already completed so far in the MPhil program.

The school must send a School Recommendation on an Application for Admission and Scholarship to the Research Higher Degrees Unit and includes this recommendation. In effect, it is as if the candidate had always been in the PhD program, and now requires an extension of provisional PhD candidature.