PhD (Law) Milestones

Purpose

• To check that you are on track for confirmation of your candidature;
• Ensure your advisory committee has been established;
• Assist you in formulating a framework for the research and estimate the time required for its completion;
• Identify activities of focus in preparation for your confirmation meeting, including discussing potential academic assessors;
• Identify any challenges early on or any additional skills or training you require;
• Identify three potential academic assessors for confirmation.

Online Pre-confirmation Form

Initial notification with a link to your online pre-confirmation progress review form will be sent to your university email address 12 weeks prior to your expected review date.

Your Responsibilities

• Arrange a time and date with your advisory committee for your progress review meeting;
• Prepare a brief thesis overview and research plan and submit documents online;
• Attend meeting with your advisory committee.

Thesis overview and research plan

The thesis overview should be a brief (300-word) description of your research project. This should be as clear, specific and focused as possible at this early stage in your candidature. It would be helpful if you could indicate:

1. the key question or theme of your project,
2. the area(s) of research, and
3. your approach.

The research plan should outline your proposed project structure and/or the research objectives to be achieved. Describe your plans for the next three to six months. Include timeframes for any regulatory approvals still required (e.g. ethics or copyright clearances, goods handling, police checks).

Submit your online form

Complete your online progress review form and attach relevant documents.

Please submit your online form at least five working days before your meeting to allow adequate time for review by your advisory committee.

Meeting

At the meeting your chair will complete the online form. After the meeting you will have an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns separately and in confidence with the chair.

Advisory Committee Responsibilities

• Make time to meet with the graduate researcher;
• Review documentation submitted by the graduate researcher;
• Attend meeting to discuss and complete online pre-confirmation progress review form, including noting the names of three potential academic assessors for confirmation in the comments section of the online form and outlining expectations prior to confirmation.

Purpose

• To identify whether the work completed in your course to date indicates that it will result in a high-quality thesis, completed in the required time.
• Assess your progress to date and your academic preparedness to complete;
• Assess whether you have a clearly defined, coherent and feasible research project and to contribute suggestions for its successful completion;
• Provide an opportunity to demonstrate written and oral presentation skills appropriate to graduate research study;
• Publicly acknowledge a major milestone in the project and inform others about your research project.

Online Confirmation Form

Initial notification with a link to your online confirmation form will be sent to your university email address 12 weeks prior to your expected review date.

Your Responsibilities

• If you haven’t already done so, discuss potential academic assessors with your supervisors and provide the Office for Research with a list of three people in order of preference;
• Prepare required written work;
• Complete RIOT (research integrity online training) and submit RIOT certificate with your online form;
• Complete your section of the online confirmation form and submit with the required attachments at least ten days before your oral presentation;
• Give a presentation in a public forum;
• Meet with your advisory committee and academic assessor.

MLS Confirmation Requirements

Melbourne Law School has specific report and sample chapter requirements for confirmation.

Graduate researchers are required to prepare:

1. Written report (approximately 3,000 words) comprised of:
1. An abstract of approximately 100 words, that includes a concise statement of the research question/problem/aims/hypothesis;
2. A critical summary and analysis of relevant literature; an explanation of the way in which the thesis will fit into the existing literature and an explanation of the significance of the study (i.e. what the thesis will add to the existing literature).
3. An explanation of the conceptual framework to be used and/or a summary of experimental methods and equipment requirements;
4. A summary of preliminary data, resources developed, etc;
5. A bibliography;
6. An argument for the relevance and importance of the study.


2. Thesis/Research Plan
1. Provide a plan outlining your proposed thesis structure and/or the research objectives to be achieved.
2. Describe progress made to date and plans for the coming review period.
3. Include timeframes for any regulatory approvals still required (e.g. ethics or copyright clearances, goods handling, police checks).


3. Sample of written work prepared in the first year, plus bibliography (7,000 – 10,000 words).


4. Research Outputs
1. If applicable, provide a list of publications (e.g. peer reviewed articles, conference proceedings), presentations, curated works or other research outputs either completed in this review period or planned for the coming review period (include details of your upcoming confirmation presentation).


5. iThenticate
   
   In preparation for your confirmation, you are strongly encouraged to use iThenticate for any substantial piece of writing (eg a thesis chapter, a section of a chapter, or the written progress report) early on in your studies. The value in doing this is to make sure that you have a solid understanding of scholarly norms and citation requirements from the beginning of your studies. Avoiding plagiarism is crucial for academic and professional success.

Submit your online form

Submit your online form, with attachments at least ten working days prior to your confirmation seminar to allow adequate time for review by your advisory committee and academic assessor.

Confirmation Seminar

Give a 20-minute presentation on your thesis, followed by 10 minutes for questions and discussion.

You are required to present your research in a public forum. Melbourne Law School requires Graduate Researchers to present at either our Milestone Presentation Day (February) or one of our Research Colloquia (usually June/October).

Please register your intention to present with the Office for Research.

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 confirmation seminar.

Confirmation Meeting

Your confirmation meeting will take place on the day of, or shortly after, your presentation. 

Your advisory committee, including the academic assessor, will first meet for approximately 30 minutes to discuss your performance against the confirmation criteria before you join the meeting. After the meeting you will have an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns separately and in confidence with the chair.

The Academic Assessor will provide feedback in a confirmation report, which will be distributed after the meeting.

Advisory Committee Responsibilities

• Review documentation submitted by the graduate researcher;
• Attend presentation;
• Attend meeting to discuss and complete the online confirmation form;
• Academic assessor to assess written materials and oral presentation;
• Finalise confirmation report by email.

Purpose

• Encourage discussion between the graduate researcher and the advisory committee;
• Monitor progress, highlight achievements, identify problems and set goals;
• Support the timely completion of the thesis.

Online Progress Review Form

Initial notification with a link to your online progress review form will be sent to your university email address 12 weeks prior to your expected review date.

Your Responsibilities

• Arrange a time and date with your advisory committee for your progress review meeting;
• Prepare required written work;
• Complete your section of the online progress review form and submit at least ten working days before the scheduled meeting;
• Attend progress review meeting.

MLS 2-year Progress Review Requirements

Melbourne Law School has specific report and sample chapter requirements for 2-year progress reviews. Please note, for part-time graduate researchers this meeting occurs in Year 4.

Thesis and Research Plan

The thesis and research plan must include the following:

• Title of the thesis and name of the candidate.
• Brief abstract (max. 300 words) that includes a concise statement of the research question, argument and approach.
• Chapter outline of the thesis, indicating the argument of each chapter and percentage complete.
• Timeline and plan for the completion of the thesis, stage reached in relation to overall research plan and work still to be completed.

Sample chapter

• A substantive and complete chapter of approximately 10,000 words (distinct from the chapter submitted for confirmation).

Research outputs

• Provide a list of publications (e.g. peer reviews, conference proceedings) and/or presentations made

Submit your online form

• Submit your online form, with attachments at least ten working days prior to your meeting to allow adequate time for review by your advisory committee.

Meeting

Attend meeting at which the advisory committee will complete the online progress review form.

The advisory committee will first meet for approximately 15 minutes to discuss your performance against progress review criteria before you join the meeting.

After the committee meeting you will have an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns separately and in confidence with the chair.

Advisory Committee Responsibilities

• Make time to meet with the graduate researcher;
• Review graduate researcher’s written documentation in advance of the meeting;
• Attend the meeting, at which the advisory committee completes the online progress review form.

Purpose

• Encourage discussion between the graduate researcher and advisory committee;
• Monitor progress, highlight achievements, identify problems and set goals;
• Support the timely completion of the thesis;
• Give graduate researchers an opportunity to apply to extend, lapse or apply for late submission, if applicable.

Extension to Candidature

Graduate researchers are eligible for two 6-month extensions (two 12-month for part time) to candidature. If you require an extension to candidature, you will need to schedule a progress review meeting with your supervisors and chair to complete a progress review form.

Please visit the Graduate Research Hub for further information.

Lapse in Good Standing/Late Submission

If your candidature was confirmed on or before 31 December 2017, you are eligible to apply for lapsed candidature.
If you want to apply to lapse your candidature, you will need to schedule a progress review meeting with your supervisors and chair to complete a progress review form. Please visit the Graduate Research Hub for further information.

If you were confirmed on or after 1 January 2018 you may be granted approval to submit your thesis after your maximum course duration date in limited circumstances. Please read the details about Finishing on Time on the Graduate Research Hub.

Online Progress Review Form

You will receive initial notification with a link to your online progress review form 12 weeks prior to your expected work submission date. If you intend to submit by your work submission date, you do not need to complete this progress review.

Your Responsibilities

• Arrange a time and date with your advisory committee for your progress review meeting.
• Complete your section and submit the online progress review form and any required attachments at least five days before the scheduled meeting.
• Attend progress review meeting.

MLS 3, 3.5 & 4 Year Progress Review Requirements

Thesis and Research Plan

The thesis and research plan must include the following:

• Title of the thesis and name of the candidate;
• Brief abstract (max. 300 words) that includes a concise statement of the research question, argument and approach;
• Chapter outline of the thesis, indicating the argument of each chapter and percentage complete;
• Timeline and plan for the completion of the thesis, stage reached in relation to overall research plan and work still to be completed.

Research outputs

• List of publications (e.g. peer reviews, conference proceedings) and/or presentations made.

Submit your online form

Please submit your online form and attachments at least five working days before your meeting to allow adequate time for review by your advisory committee.

Meeting

The advisory committee will first meet for approximately 15 minutes to discuss your performance against the progress review criteria before the you join the meeting.

After the meeting you will have an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns separately and in confidence with the chair.

Advisory Committee Responsibilities

• Make time to meet with the graduate researcher;
• Review written documentation in advance of the meeting;
• Attend the meeting, at which the advisory committee completes the online progress review.

Purpose

• Provide the opportunity for a public presentation of your research objectives, methods, findings and significance as required in the 3–6 months before thesis submission.

Your Responsibilities

• Review the prerequisites for submission;
• Approximately two months prior to submission, register your intention to submit;
• Discuss dates for your completion seminar and meeting with the Office for Research, your advisory committee and academic assessor;
• Prepare a thesis summary and chapter outline (<2,000 words) including a brief overview of thesis aims, scope and main results and a brief abstract (<100 words) to allow seminar to be publicised.
• Submit documents to the Office for Research for circulation at least five working days before your completion seminar and meeting;
• Present a one-hour completion seminar (40 minutes presentation and 20 minutes for questions) and attend your completion meeting.

Please note, you will automatically be sent a link to an online progress review form 12 weeks prior to your work submission date. If you intend to submit by your work submission date, you do not need to complete a progress review. If, however, you wish to apply for an extension, to lapse your candidature or apply for late submission, please read relevant the section above.

MLS Completion Seminar and Meeting Requirements

The 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.

Please register your intention to present with the Office for Research, as we will assist in arranging a venue and advertising your seminar.

Seminar

Give a one-hour oral presentation of your thesis in a public forum, at which your advisory committee, including academic assessor, are present.

Meeting

The advisory committee and academic assessor usually meet immediately after your completion seminar for 10-15 minutes to discuss your performance and written work before you join the meeting.

At the conclusion of the meeting, you will have an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns separately and in confidence with the chair. The advisory committee will write a completion report to be distributed after the meeting.

Advisory Committee Responsibilities

• Review graduate researcher’s written documentation
• Attend seminar and meeting, at which the advisory committee drafts a completion report.