Changes to Candidature


Research Higher degree candidates can apply to make the following changes during their candidature:

Changing Between Full-Time and Part-Time

Candidates wishing to change attendance between full-time and part-time should be aware of enrolment restrictions and work patterns

International research higher degree candidates who hold a student visa are not eligible for part-time enrolment under the terms of their visa. Only international students who are remote, or residing in Australia under an alternative visa, can be part-time.

You may apply for permission to change your attendance at any time during your research higher degree candidature by using the Change of Candidature Status form. Your principal advisor and school must endorse your request before it can be considered by the Dean, UQ Graduate School. The Dean must approve your request before your enrolment is changed.

Interruption to Candidature

You may apply for permission to interrupt your candidature for any reason that prevents you continuing with your research studies (such as illness, caring responsibilities, or work commitments) by using the Change of Candidature Status form. Your principal advisor and school must endorse your request before it can be considered by the Dean, UQ Graduate School. The Dean must approve your request for an interruption before your enrolment is changed.

Candidates should be aware of all rules and requirements regarding interruption of candidature before making any request.

Change of Research Project

Applicants are required to provide a research title and some preliminary ideas of the research significance and methodology of the proposed study in the Application for Admission and Scholarship form. The enrolling school is then responsible for confirming that the proposed study is feasible as a PhD or MPhil project and can be resourced by the school (including funding and advisors).

It is the responsiblity of the School to ensure good practice is carried out by advisors and schools in discussing, negotiating, and recording information about research projects. The School then remains responsible throughout the duration of the candidate's program for ensuring that an appropriate research plan is established and agreed on by the candidate, advisory team and school. In cases where there are disputes about the agreed research plan, schools should be able to provide a "paper trail" (hard copy or email) of what was agreed and when.

If you wish to change your research project please contact your enrolling School office for advice on the required approval process.

Changes to the research plan, other than a title change, do not need to be reported to the Graduate School for approval.

Change of Field of Study

Each enrolling school and institute has a default field of study description, and graduates can request that the field of study description be changed to better describe their research project. This description can be up to 50 characters long: it appears on the academic testamur (degree certificate).

Key criteria when requesting a change to the field of study include:

  • will it be generally recognised by the wider academic community;
  • will it continued to be recognised into the future;
  • does it identify an area of research strength within the enrolling school/institute (or, in the case of interdisciplinary projects, the University); and
  • does it legitimately describe both the scope and degree of specialisation in the thesis.

Issues that sometimes arise with requests to change the field of study include:

  • implying broader expertise than that demonstrated by the thesis;
  • implying more limited expertise than that demonstrated by the thesis;
  • attempting to replicate the degree of detail and complexity contained in the title of the thesis; and
  • implying expertise in an area of research outside the enrolling school/institute (for example, a graduate from the School of Psychology requesting Cognitive Systems Engineering as their field of study).

Any request to change the field of study description so that it implies an interdisciplinary area or research or expertise in an area of research outside the enrolling school/institute also requires written endorsement from the postgraduate coordinator of the relevant school/institute.

Change of Enrolling School

Candidates may change enrolling School/Institute at any point during their candidature. Before considering a change in enrolling School candidates should discuss the requirements of their research project with the Postgraduate Coordinator from the proposed enrolling School and a clear agreement should be reached on the resources and facilities which will be available.

Change of Advisory Team

A research higher degree candidate may request a change of advisors at any time by using the Change of Advisory Team form. However, candidates must be aware that if they do not wish to continue with their current principal advisor and no other person is available or willing to act as principal advisor, the Dean will have to withdraw you from candidature because the University cannot meet its responsibility to provide adequate advisory support.
feedback