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Glossary of Terms

Candidate means a person enrolled for a higher degree by research of the University of Adelaide. The terms ‘candidate’ and ‘student’ are used interchangeably in this document.

Committee refers to the Research Education Development Committee (REDC) established by the Academic Board.

Co-supervisor refers to a member of the supervisory panel who is a University staff member or titleholder and who is not the principal supervisor.

DEEWR refers to the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Domestic Applicant/Candidate refers to an applicant/candidate who is an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or who holds Permanent Residency status in Australia.

DIAC refers to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

ESOS refers to the Commonwealth Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 which provides consumer protection to international students and requires the University to advise DIAC if students breach their visa conditions.

External supervisor refers to a member of the supervisory panel who is not a staff member or titleholder of the University and who is not the principal supervisor.

Graduate Centre refers to the Adelaide Graduate Centre, namely the area responsible for the management and administration of research education at the University. The terms Graduate Centre and Adelaide Graduate Centre are used interchangeably in this document.

Head of School refers to the person who has overall responsibility, including the responsibility to certify theses for examination, for higher degree by research students within the ‘School’.

Half- time candidature refers to a half-time (0.5 time) study load.

Higher Degree by Research refers to any Master's or doctoral degree (PhD/professional doctorate) that comprises a minimum of two thirds of its assessable content by research.

International Applicant/Candidate refers to an applicant/candidate who is not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand and who does not hold Permanent Residency status in Australia.

Milestone refers to any task or review of progress, which a candidate is required to complete during their candidature.

Major Scholarship refers to Australian Postgraduate Awards, Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry), Divisional Scholarships, Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarships and Adelaide International Scholarships.

Master's by Research refers to a Master's degree that comprises a minimum of two thirds of its assessable content by research.

Panel refers to the candidate’s supervisory panel: a panel comprises the principal supervisor and one or more co-supervisors.

Parchment means the certificate of qualification awarded by the University following the conferral of a degree. The terms ‘parchment’ and ‘testamur’ are used interchangeably in this document.

PhD refers to the 100% research degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Postgraduate Co-ordinator refers to the person who, under the direction of the Head of

School, will oversee the work of all the higher degree by research students in the School.

Principal Supervisor refers to a member of the supervisory panel who is a University staff member or titleholder and who has been appointed by the Head of School to have the primary responsibility for the supervision of a candidate.

Professional doctorate refers to a doctoral degree that comprises a minimum of two thirds of its assessable content by research and which is specifically aimed at practitioners in the field.

Provisional Candidate refers to a person who is enrolled in a higher degree by research and is within his/her first twelve months of a higher degree by research, or half-time equivalent, and who has not yet satisfactorily completed the major review of progress.

Remote Candidate refers to a student who primarily undertakes his/her degree in an external mode of study.

The Research Training Scheme or RTS is the program under which DEEWR provides block grants, on a calendar-year basis, to support research training for domestic students undertaking Doctorate and Masters' degrees by research. Students supported under the RTS are exempt from payment of student contribution amounts and tuition fees for a maximum of four years for a doctorate or two years for a Master's by Research or half-time equivalent.’

Review of progress refers to any programmed review of progress undertaken by a candidate, including the major review, annual review, minor review and such other reviews that may be instigated by the Head of School or the Committee.

School refers to the academic organisation unit in which higher degree by research students are enrolled: this may be a School or Discipline, depending on the structure of the Faculty concerned.

Student means a person enrolled for a higher degree by research of the University of Adelaide. The terms ‘student’ and ‘candidate’ are used interchangeably in this document.

Testamur means the certificate of qualification awarded by the University following the conferral of a degree. The terms ‘testamur’ and ‘parchment’ are used interchangeably in this document.

Thesis means such materials and activities as are presented for examination by a candidate.

Timely Completion means the satisfactory completion of all the examination requirements of a higher degree by research within two (Masters') or four years (PhD) from the commencement of candidature or half-time equivalent.