The Second Milestone Review is the intermediate milestone in your Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program. It marks the mid-way point of your research degree.
You’ll now be starting to gain a sense of the ultimate shape of your project or thesis. This milestone review is an opportunity for you to take stock of your progress and to receive valuable feedback from your research community.
Successfully completing this milestone shows you’re on the way to finishing your HDR on time.
In your Second Milestone Review, you’ll produce a significant piece of work (written work and/or creative project) and present your research to your review panel and wider research community.
Discuss the requirements and expectations of your Second Milestone Review with your supervisory team and/or your HDR Delegated Authority (HDR DA) before submitting the written documentation. Your school or discipline may have added requirements.
Submit written documentation at least 15 days before your milestone presentation to give your panel time to review. You will be given instructions once your milestone is booked.
The written documentation for your Second Milestone Review must include:
- A research summary
- Work towards your research
- Evidence of any pending or completed research outputs, either sole or co-authored (if applicable)
- Evidence of ethics approval and institutional biosafety approvals, if needed
- Other requirements of your school or discipline.
Research summary
Your research summary must include:
- Your thesis/project title
- Abstract (summary of your research)
- The rationale, objectives and research questions you plan to focus on
- An explanation of how your research is situated in the context of your discipline or community of practice
- Updated methodology (how you will undertake the proposed project)
- Updated review of literature and references including a list of key readings and references
- Updated outline/summary of your progress against your research plan
- A summary of any changes to your candidature since your Confirmation of Candidature.
Work towards your research
The work required depends on your research.
If you’re developing a thesis, you must submit (as appropriate for your discipline):
- at least two draft chapters of your thesis or
- equivalent in draft or published papers.
If you’re doing creative project-based research, you must submit:
- a draft of your dissertation and
- a portfolio of work (a portfolio is a representation of your final project outcome, in images, recordings or text, depending on your project).