UWA and School specific policies and procedures for postgraduate research degrees.

UWA specific policies

The School supports and follows the University’s policies and procedures related to postgraduate research training. 

School specific policies

Graduate research co-ordinator

The Head of School has appointed a graduate research co-ordinator to handle all matters concerning postgraduate research in the School.

The graduate research co-ordinator for Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences is:

• Dr Allan McKinley
  Phone (+61 8) 6488 3165 or (+61 8) 6488 4453.

Students or supervisors are encouraged to bring any matter of concern related to postgraduate research training in the School to the attention of the co-ordinator.

In particular, all new PhD and Masters by research students must meet with the co-ordinator as soon as possible after they start their degree.

Supervisors

• All students undertaking PhD or Masters by research degrees in the School are required to have at least two supervisors, one of whom must be a member of UWA. 
• In addition, each student must have an advisory panel consisting of at least three members. 
• Should the candidate already have three supervisors, this group will constitute the candidate’s advisory panel, unless the candidate or supervisors wish to have additional members of the panel. 

Advisory panel

The role of the advisory panel is to assist the supervisors and graduate research coordinator in monitoring progress, advising and supporting candidates, and in recommending what generic skills development activities candidates should take each year or as part of a student’s Confirmation of Candidature.

The panel may also provide continuity of supervision in the case of extended absence of a supervisor or breakdown of the supervisory relationship.  

While there is no formal meeting schedule for the advisory panel, the panel is expected to approve the research proposal and all annual reports submitted by the candidate. 

The Panel may meet more frequently if the supervisors or candidates wish.

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Committee

• The School’s HDR Committee composes representatives from the disciplines and major centres in the School.
• The HDR Committee is chaired by the School graduate research co-ordinator, who reports to the Head of School.
• The role of the HDR Committee is to promote timely completion of HDR candidates, and to provide support to HDR students and their supervisors. 
• The HDR Committee will review all research proposals and all annual reports submitted by HDR candidates in the School. 
• The Committee will meet with all HDR students when they submit their research proposal, and HDR students may request a meeting with the HDR Committee at any time.
• The panel may meet more frequently if the supervisors or candidates wish.
• Each student’s HDR Committee will comprise three members but will not include members from the student’s discipline or the student’s supervisor.