Progress in your degree

As a research student at UTS, you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills, engage in our research community, contribute to knowledge in your chosen discipline, and ultimately make an impact to community, industry and society.

Graduate Research Education Framework

Graduate research programs at UTS are guided by the Graduate Research Education Framework (GREF).

The UTS GREF is a university-wide initiative that involves faculties, research centres and the GRS. The framework has two main aims:

  • to support the advancement of knowledge through original graduate research, and
  • to develop the graduate research student as a researcher prepared for a career in academia or industry.

This framework articulates the support students receive and are expected to engage with while undertaking a graduate research degree at UTS.

The UTS Graduate Research Education Framework:

  • Involves a panel of supervisors
  • Is guided by a Graduate Research Study Plan (GRSP)
  • Comprises three formal candidature stages including assessment
  • Includes mandatory and optional training components
  • Involves undertaking a program of research that adheres to research management best practice
  • Culminates with the submission of a final thesis for examination
  • Provides a supportive Research Environment

The Graduate Research Study Plan

The Graduate Research Study Plan (GRSP) is a structured agreement between you and your supervisor that supports your development as a researcher. It articulates the resources, knowledge and skills you'll need to produce your research output, as well as the capabilities you'll use to develop your career. It's a place to set development goals and track your accomplishments.

You must complete an initial GRSP in consultation with your supervisor within the first two weeks of enrolling at UTS. You’ll also need to revisit your GRSP at each stage of your candidature to ensure that it remains an accurate reflection of your research aspirations. 

An initial GRSP conversation should begin with an assessment of the skills that you possess and the skills you need to progress your research and career, using the HDR Capability Framework as a guideline. (Here are some suggestions on engaging with the GRSP and examples of appropriate goals and development activities.) 

The GRSP is an online form in ResearchMaster and can be accessed here, along with help guides.

Stages of candidature

Your research program will be divided into three stages. 

Each stage must be completed with a designated timeline, depending on your degree type and whether you’re studying full-time. Detailed information on stages of candidature and stage assessments can be found on the candidature progression page.

Stage 1: Confirmation of candidature

In Stage 1, you’ll undertake introductory activities in preparation for your research.

You’ll be expected to complete Stage 1 within the following timeframes:

  • Master’s degree (full-time): Within six months of enrolment
  • Master’s degree (part-time): Within 12 months of enrolment
  • PhD (full-time): Within 12 months of enrolment
  • PhD (part-time): Within 24 months of enrolment.
     

Stage 1 outputs

At the end of Stage 1, you should be able to write a detailed research proposal that contains:

  • a broad research question and aims
  • hypotheses that support your aim/broad research questions
  • a literature review and critical analysis that demonstrates how your proposed work will make a contribution to new knowledge
  • a proposal for implementation, including:
    • proposed data collection (what, how and why)
    • the development of a research data management plan in Stash
    • proposed methods of analysis (to support hypotheses)
    • feasibility and risk assessment
    • timeline
    • an understanding of research impact, limitations and ethical implications
  • preliminary results (if any).
     

Stage 1 assessment

You will be required to complete a formal oral and written assessment before you can progress to Stage 2. In some faculties, you may need to participate in an interview (viva voce) about your work – please check with your faculty for more information.

You will also need to provide evidence of having completed the following modules, which are compulsory and a requirement of your candidature:

  • Research Integrity Module for HDR students (within six months for PhD students and three months for master’s by research students). Click here to access the module (you will need your student login) .
  • Respect.Now.Always module on Consent Matters.  Visit the Consent Matters training webpage for further information and to complete the training.

The result of your stage assessment will be recorded in ResearchMaster by your faculty.
 

Stage 2: Confirmation of advanced progress

Stage 2 is the intermediate stage of your candidature. You’ll be expected to make substantial progress on your research and to start demonstrating the research skills required to work independently.

You’ll be expected to complete Stage 2 within the following timeframes:

  • Master’s degree (full-time): Within 12 months of enrolment
  • Master’s degree (part-time): Within 24 months of enrolment
  • PhD (full-time): Within 24 months of enrolment
  • PhD (part-time): Within 48 months of enrolment.
     

Stage 2 outputs

At the end of Stage 2, you should be able to demonstrate substantial research progress, including evidence that you have:

  • developed and refined the data collection instrument. This may require:
    • studying the research literature and the instruments that have been used
    • determining whether existing instruments can be modified or used
    • validating the (modified) instrument in consultation with experts
  • obtained ethics approval (if you haven’t done so already). To do this, you:
    • will need to provide a summary of your Stage 1 research, including relevance, methodology, sample size and feasibility
    • may need to modify your data collection methods/instruments
    • may need to revisit your research goals
  • collected your data
  • visualised your data and produced preliminary results
  • refined your research plan (if necessary), including your research questions, methods and timeline.
     

Stage 2 assessment

At the end of Stage 2, you’ll be required to complete a written piece of work (such as a draft conference or journal paper or a draft thesis chapter) along with an oral presentation before you can progress to Stage 3. If you’ve delivered a research presentation at a national or international conference during Stage 2, your faculty may accept this as fulfilment of the oral presentation requirement as long as it includes research results related to your thesis. Please check with your faculty for information on requirements. You may also be eligible for the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Fund to support your conference activity.  The result of your stage assessment will be recorded in ResearchMaster by your faculty.

 

Stage 3: Confirmation of readiness to submit your thesis for examination

Stage 3 is the advanced stage of your candidature. At this stage, your research should be almost complete, and you should be recognised as a researcher both at UTS and in the wider research community.

You’ll be expected to complete Stage 3 within the following timeframes:

  • Master’s degree (full-time): Within 18 months of enrolment
  • Master’s degree (part-time): Within 36 months of enrolment
  • PhD (full-time): Within 36 months of enrolment
  • PhD (part-time): Within 72 months of enrolment.
     

Stage 3 outputs

At the end of Stage 3, you should be able to demonstrate:

  • completion of your data collection to support your revised/refined research plan
  • an analysis of your results according to your analysis plan and testing of your proposed hypothesis
  • published papers
  • a final version of your thesis
  • a discussion of the impact and limitations of, and future opportunities for, your research, demonstrating that your work is worthy of a degree
  • consideration of next steps in your research career.
     

Stage 3 assessment

At the end of Stage 3, you’ll be required to submit a written piece of work and an oral presentation that represents a completed draft of your thesis. Your draft thesis should be appropriately structured; written in clear and cohesive terms; and use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation. You should also have a clear plan to complete your thesis before your EWS date. Your oral presentation should contain a well-argued description and defence of your thesis, and should demonstrate that your work makes an original contribution to knowledge. The result of your stage assessment will be recorded in ResearchMaster by your faculty.
 

Please email the Graduate Research School if you require assistance, have any questions or comments.

Your thesis

As a research student at UTS, you will develop an original thesis that makes a contribution to knowledge in your chosen discipline.

There are three types of thesis that will be considered for submission at UTS:

  • A conventional thesis
  • A thesis by compilation
  • A thesis by artefact, exhibition, portfolio or creative work.

Maximum time to complete (EFTSL)

The Department of Education sets a maximum time to complete for all graduate research degrees and is determined by a measurement called EFTSL (Equivalent Full Time Student Load). That means you must complete your degree within the following timeframes:

  • Doctoral degrees:
    4 years full-time or 8 years part-time
  • Master’s by research:
    2 years full-time or 4 years part-time.

For more information on the maximum time to complete, please refer to the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines.  Please also refer to our fees webpage regarding any fees and/or administrative levy you may be subject to, should you exceed your EFTSL.

Expected Work Submission date

When you start your research candidature, you’ll be given an Expected Work Submission (EWS) date. You’re expected to submit your completed thesis for examination on or before this date.

Your EWS falls within the maximum time to complete described above and is calculated based on a number of factors, including:

  • the date you commenced your degree
  • the standard student load of your course (EFTSL)
  • your study rate (i.e. whether you’re part-time or full-time)
  • the completion of any previous study (at UTS or elsewhere) that contributes to your current research
  • consideration of any approved leaves of absence or candidature extensions you’ve been granted.

You can access your EWS via My Student Admin – please log in, select the ‘Subjects’ tab and then select the ‘Enrolment Periods’ option of your thesis subject.

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For more information on the Graduate Research journey, please refer to the Graduate Research Candidature Management, Thesis Preparation and Submission Procedures.

 

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.