During your Higher Degree by Research (HDR) you will enrol each year, take leave and may make changes to your candidature.
New HDR coursework curriculum
RMIT is introducing a new coursework curriculum into all HDR programs that will give candidates access to an increased suite of core and optional courses. Changes to College of Business and Law HDR programs come into effect from Semester 2 2022. Changes to College of Design and Social Context and College of STEM HDR programs come into effect from Semester 1 2023. For more information, go to New HDR Curriculum.
Candidature consumption
Candidature consumption refers to how the time left in your HDR reduces as you progress.
Your candidature will start consuming from your research start date. Confirm your start date with your supervisory team. If you complete your enrolment after this date, your start date will become the date you complete the online enrolment process.
As an HDR candidate you will consume candidature, except:
- During periods of approved leave of absence
- If you cancel your enrolment in the program
- If RMIT cancels your enrolment for any reason
- After submission for examination.
Enrolment
Enrolment in an HDR involves your initial program enrolment, enrolment in the research component of your HDR and enrolment in compulsory and optional coursework. You must enrol through Enrolment Online when you start your HDR and each year during the enrolment period (October to December).
Admission and initial enrolment
Once you accept your offer to study at RMIT, follow the Higher Degrees by Research Enrolment Guide to secure your place.
Research enrolment
You must enrol into the research component of your HDR in Enrolment Online. These courses represent your research and the time that you spend with your supervisors.
Full-time candidates must enrol into research courses with a total of 24 credit points per quarter (96 credit points for the year). Part-time candidates must enrol into research courses with a total of total 12 credit points per quarter (48 credit points per year).
The research courses will be preselected for you. All you need to do is click ‘Enrol’ in Enrolment Online during the enrolment period (October to December). Don’t change the courses yourself.
Coursework
Once you have accepted your offer, you’ll be asked to nominate any compulsory or optional courses you’d like to enrol in for that year. In particular:
Research methods/strategies
All HDR programs (Master by Research and PhD) at RMIT have a discipline specific research methods or research strategies course. This course must be completed prior to your Confirmation of Candidature (CoC) milestone (most candidates complete it in their first 6 months).
Research impact
All PhD level programs at RMIT, and Master by Research programs in School of Engineering and School of Computing Technologies, have a discipline specific research impact course. This course must be completed prior to your second milestone review (or prior to CoC in College of Business and Law PhD programs and prior to your third milestone review in College of Business and Law Master by Research programs).
Some HDR programs require additional compulsory coursework, such as PhD level programs in the STEM disciplines. Contact Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal for more information.
Optional coursework
There are several optional research courses available to all HDR candidates (except candidates enrolled in MR233 Master of Applied Science (Health & Medical Physics). You can enrol, with approval from your Senior Supervisor, after you have completed your research methods/strategies course. Forward their approval to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
University research electives
As well as optional courses, all HDR candidates – except those enrolled in MR233 Master of Applied Science (Health & Medical Physics) and College of Business and Law Master by Research programs – have access to a maximum of 12 credit points worth of University research electives.
A University research elective lets you:
- Add value to your program/degree
- Pursue an interest that will further your research
- Explore an area that is new to you.
List of University research electives
Click the title of the course to view the course guide.
- Delivered by School of Engineering in STEM College
- It is recommended that this course be taken after completing the 2nd milestone
- Delivered by School of Global, Urban and Social Studies in DSC College
- It is recommended that this course be taken after 'Doing Research' and before the 2nd milestone
Quantitative Research Techniques
- Delivered by School of Science in STEM College
- It is recommended that this course be taken after completing a discipline-specific research methods course
- Delivered by School of Architecture and Urban Design in DSC College
- This course can be taken prior to the 1st or 2nd milestone
- Delivered by School of Education in DSC College
- It is recommended that this course be taken before the 2nd milestone
Bioinformatics and Multi-Omics Data Analysis
- Delivered by School of Health and Biomedical Sciences in STEM College
- It is highly recommended that this course be taken at an early stage of your PhD candidature, preferably before the 2nd milestone
- Delivered by School of Computing Technologies in STEM College
- It is recommended that this course is taken before the 2nd milestone
To enrol in a University research elective:
- Explore the range of University research electives listed above
- Discuss your choice with your supervisory team
- Advise your Research Training Services Team which course you would like to take, and they will process your enrolment for you. You can advise your Research Training Services Team by logging a job via the Student Connect portal or phoning the appropriate number below:
- College of Business and Law Research Training Services: +61 3 9925 0504
- College of Design and Social Context Research Training Services: +61 3 9925 5111
- STEM College Research Training Services: +61 3 9925 9188
Non-HDR courses
Occasionally, your supervisory team will suggest you complete a course not available as a part of your program. If this occurs, contact Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal for advice.
Your coursework will be pre-allocated in Enrolment Online. All you need to do is click ‘Enrol’ in Enrolment Online during the enrolment period (October to December). Don’t change the courses yourself.
Credit transfer
If you completed coursework equivalent to your program’s compulsory coursework at another institution, we recommended you still complete the RMIT research methods/strategies course. These courses prepare you for research at RMIT.
To apply for an exemption from compulsory coursework, contact Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal and attach the following:
- Credit transfer and higher education recognition of prior learning application form (PDF)
- Copy of the course guide from the equivalent coursework completed
- Copy of your transcript showing equivalent coursework completed.
Leave
Annual leave
The academic year for RMIT HDR candidates is 48 weeks with 4 weeks annual leave. Annual leave does not change to your enrolment, your duration of candidature or affect your milestone due dates, unlike a leave of absence (see below).
Negotiate annual leave with your supervisory team. No formal application is needed.
Leave of absence
You can take up to 12 months’ leave of absence during your candidature. This leave can be used to cover medical, compassionate or compelling circumstances. You can also take an additional 6 months of parental leave for each child born or adopted during your candidature.
If you have Scholarship or Sponsorship, ensure you check the terms and conditions before applying for a leave of absence.
Contact your Ethics Coordinator to discuss how your leave of absence might affect your ethics approval (if you have one).
Submit your leave of absence form and supporting documentation to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
Extensions
Extensions beyond maximum duration
If you are unable to submit by your final submission date, you can apply for an extension beyond maximum duration.
You can apply for up to three months (full time equivalent) extension to your candidature at a time. Multiple extensions are only granted in exceptional circumstances.
All extensions beyond maximum duration require a Candidate Action and Support Plan (CASP). A CASP makes sure you receive the support you need.
To request an extension beyond maximum, arrange a CASP in partnership with your supervisory team and HDR Delegated Authority Select “Candidate requires extension beyond maximum to the end date of this CASP” on the CASP form.
If you require a subsequent extension, you’ll need to arrange a new CASP. Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) approval is needed.
Scholarship extensions
You can view your scholarship end date in Enrolment Online.
If you’re receiving an externally funded scholarship, refer to the terms and conditions of your scholarship or contact your provider for information.
If you’re a PhD candidate receiving a RMIT scholarship, your scholarship will automatically extend if you’re making good progress. The scholarship will extend from 3 years Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) to 3.5 years EFTSL.
Extensions beyond 3.5 years EFTSL are rare and considered on a case-by-case basis. Discuss extending your scholarship with your Senior Supervisor. They will apply on your behalf.
Changes to candidature
Changing study load
An HDR can be either full-time or part-time (a half load). Full-time commitment averages at least four days per week and part-time commitment averages at least two days per week.
If you receive a scholarship, contact the Scholarships Team or your external scholarship provider to discuss the impact of changing study load.
The rules for changing study load vary according to your citizenship status.
Domestic candidates (Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents)
Submit a request to change load with written approval from your Senor Supervisor to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
International candidates
There are strict rules governing study load for international students. To move to part-time study for 6 months at a time, international students must demonstrate compassionate or compelling circumstances.
Submit the Request to Reduce Enrolment Load form with supporting documentation demonstrating compassionate or compelling circumstances to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
Changing supervisory arrangements
Learn about making the most of your supervisory relationships.
If you need to change to your supervisory team during your candidature, first discuss this with your current and proposed supervisory team and your HDR Delegated Authority (HDR DA).
Submit a Change of Supervisor form to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
Changing research topic, thesis title or Field of Research codes
Changing research topic
Sometimes during your research, you might find your chosen research topic needs to change. This could be for practical or personal reasons. Discuss the issues with your supervisory team and your HDR Delegated Authority (HDR DA). Changing your topic won’t change your milestone and final submission dates.
Address minor changes at your next milestone presentation.
Major changes require approval from the School of Graduate Research. Your HDR DA will apply for approval on your behalf. Candidates from sanctioned countries will need to undergo a sanctions assessment on their revised project.
Changing thesis title or Field of Research codes
To change your thesis title or Field of Research (FoR) code/s seek approval from your Senior Supervisor and submit evidence of their approval to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
Changing location
If you change your address during your candidature, update your contact details in Enrolment Online.
If you are moving interstate or overseas for a period of longer than 3 months, you must also submit a Change of Location form to Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
If you need to move offshore during your candidature, you should first:
- Talk to your Supervisory Team. They need to be confident you can receive proper supervision, support and resources in your new location.
- Contact the Department of Home Affairs (if you hold a student visa) to discuss any potential impacts to your visa.
- Contact the Scholarships Team or your external scholarship provider to find out if your move will affect your scholarship (if you have one).
Cancelling enrolment & readmission
Cancelling enrolment
If you want to withdraw completely from your studies, there are steps you must take before you cancel your enrolment:
- You must discuss your options with your supervisory team and/or HDR Delegated Authority (HDR DA).
- If you’re stressed, anxious or experiencing difficulties in your life that interfere with your studies, consider accessing RMIT’s range of support services to help. They include counselling, study support, legal support and financial support.
- Consider taking a leave of absence rather than withdrawing completely.
- If you’re receiving scholarship, contact the Scholarships Team or your external scholarship provider.
- Back up all files. You will immediately lose access to RMIT systems and RMIT student email.
- Review all the information on the Cancel your program enrolment page carefully.
If you have any questions contact the Research Training Services via the Student Connect portal.
Once you’ve completed all the above steps, cancel your enrolment in Enrolment Online.
Readmission
If your enrolment was cancelled, there are two possible pathways for readmission:
Readmission within maximum duration
If you had candidature remaining at the time of cancellation, you can apply for readmission within maximum duration. Discuss this decision with your supervisory team (or HDR DA if they’re no longer available) before applying.
Apply for readmission via the RMIT University Application Service with your supporting documentation. If RMIT approve your readmission, we’ll send you a new offer letter with instructions on how to accept your offer and complete the online enrolment process.
Readmission for the purpose of examination
You can apply for readmission for the purpose of examination within three years of your cancellation date.
Contact your former Senior Supervisor (or HDR DA if they’re no longer available) outlining that your research is ready for examination, still current and not superseded.
If approved for readmission, you will receive a new offer letter with instructions on how to accept your offer and complete the online enrolment process.
Need help?
Submit an enquiry to the School of Graduate Research
