Preliminary Information

Advisory Committee

Your advisory committee comprises your supervisors and the advisory committee chair (appointed by the Head of Department).

Academic Assessor

The academic assessor joins your advisory committee for confirmation and completion.

The role of the academic assessor is to read your written work, attend your confirmation and completion seminars and then provide general feedback, noting strengths and weaknesses, and how particular aspects of the thesis might be enhanced. You should discuss who might be an appropriate academic assessor at your pre-confirmation meeting. You may change your academic assessor for your completion seminar and meeting.

Due Date for Online Forms

You will receive an email to your University email account 12 weeks before your review due date with a link to your online progress review form. It is highly recommended that you contact your advisory committee well in advance to set a date to ensure their availability.

The following must happen before the due date of each form:

  1. A meeting for the progress review discussion is arranged by the student, except in the case of confirmation and completion which is arranged by the Office for Research.
  2. You complete your section and submit the online progress review form and any required attachments at least five days (and ten days before confirmation) before the scheduled meeting.
  3. Your advisory committee (includes your supervisors) review your form and attachments prior to the meeting.
  4. You and your advisory committee hold the meeting.
  5. Your advisory committee chair will complete the online form.

Arranging Meetings

Graduate researchers, in consultation with their advisory committee (chair and supervisors), are responsible for setting a date and time and arranging a room for all progress review meetings, except in the case of confirmation and completion.

If you need to book a room, please email the MLS Facilities team on Level 2 or on 8344 1111 for assistance. For confirmation and completion, the Office for Research will organise a venue for your seminar and meeting.

Candidature Management System FAQs

Review frequently asked questions about the Candidature Management System.  More streamlined processes  through new online forms and automated workflow processes have been introduced to manage your candidature.

Confirmation and Completion Seminars

Melbourne Law School requires graduate researchers to present at either our Milestone Presentation Day (February) or one of our Research Colloquia (usually June/October).

If it is not possible for you to present at one of these events, your principal supervisor or advisory committee chair should email the Office for Research with a case to request a stand-alone completion seminar.

Office for Research staff will assist in arranging the venue for your seminar, invite the advisory committee and academic assessor and advertise the event through Law Research Weekly.

Please either email through your PowerPoint the day prior to your seminar, or arrive in time to set up your presentation on the day.

Graduate Research Hub

Please refer to the Graduate Research Hub for resources and information to get you from orientation through to graduation including taking leave, study away and making changes.

Messenger Research Training eBulletin

Messenger is a monthly newsletter for academic and professional staff, and graduate researchers at the University of Melbourne. It features content related to graduate research news relevant to the research training community at the University.