1. The purpose of our procedure
Our procedure outlines the requirements and processes for the establishment and administration of joint PhD awards between Adelaide University and its research partners in Australia and globally.
Please read this procedure in conjunction with:
- Admissions Policy
- Graduate Research Policy
- Graduate Research Admissions Procedure
- Graduate Research Scholarships Procedure
- Graduate Research Supervision Procedure
- Graduate Research Candidature Procedure
- Conferral and Graduation Ceremony Policy
- English Language Proficiency Requirements Procedure.
2. Who our procedure applies to
2.1. Inclusions
This procedure applies to:
- PhD graduate research students
- PhD supervisors
- staff associated with the support, management and leadership of PhD programs
- research partnerships which deliver joint PhD awards
2.2. Exclusions
This procedure does not apply to:
- Research partnerships which deliver dual PhD awards.
3. Our Joint PhD Award Program Procedure
3.1. How we establish joint PhD awards
A joint PhD award will be established only when it is evidenced that there is alignment with the strategic directions and priorities of Adelaide University.
The academic standards of joint PhD awards must be equivalent to those of the comparable research degree offered solely by Adelaide University.
Partner institutions must have the academic standing to deliver joint PhD awards to the required academic quality standards of Adelaide University; the financial standing to sustain them; the legal authority to confer them, and the comparable standing in international rankings with Adelaide University.
These academic quality standards include:
- quality assurance processes for monitoring graduate research standards
- PhD structure and duration consistent with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
- requirements consistent with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
3.2. How we set up joint PhD award program agreements
There are two types of joint PhD award agreements: institutional and individual.
3.2.1 Institutional joint PhD award agreements
Where an opportunity for an overarching institutional joint PhD award is identified, Global Partnerships and Strategy must arrange for appropriate due diligence to assess the extent to which the intended collaboration meets Adelaide University’s strategic objectives.
Global Partnerships and Strategy manage the establishment of the agreement, which must be reviewed by Legal Services and requires approval by the Vice Chancellor and President (Vice Chancellor) (or delegate), on the recommendation of the Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC), Graduate Research Training, and endorsement by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) - Research and Innovation.
The Director, Graduate Research, will arrange the execution of the graduate research student schedule for each graduate research student under the Institutional Joint PhD award agreement. This will include the details as stated in 3.2.3. of this procedure.
3.2.2 Individual joint PhD award agreements
Where an opportunity for a single joint PhD award is identified, the Adelaide University Graduate Research School (AUGRS) must arrange for appropriate due diligence to assess the extent to which the intended collaboration meets Adelaide University’s strategic objectives.
The AUGRS manage the establishment of the agreement, which must be reviewed by Legal Services and requires approval by the PVC, Graduate Research Training, and endorsement of the Dean of the School (or delegate) and the Dean of Research (or delegate).
Where the proposal (institutional and individual) involves an international partner institution, the supporter of a proposed agreement must complete a submission detailing the collaboration for a Foreign Compliance Review (FCR). This will, in turn, initiate a Foreign Arrangements Scheme notification if necessary for the purposes of Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020. A joint PhD award agreement cannot be signed on behalf of Adelaide University until it has received FCR endorsement from Global Partnerships and Strategy.
3.2.3 All agreements referring to an individual graduate research student must explicitly address:
- graduate research student management
- admission requirements
- the indicative time to be spent in each participating institution, which will comprise at a minimum 12 months of full-time study in each institution
- application of rules and regulations
- stipends, scholarships, issue of fees (as applicable)
- supervision
- candidature management
- research skills training
- thesis/research project requirements including the nature and language of the thesis, submission requirements
- examination procedure including selection of examiners, ensuring Adelaide University quality standards and academic requirements are met
- completion/qualification requirements and award management
- intellectual property, ethics and authorship
- indemnity and insurance
- student complaint resolution process.
- partnership management
- coordination of agreement
- promotional and marketing materials
- alterations to agreement
- dispute resolution between institutions
- termination of agreement.
3.3. About admission, enrolment and candidature
Our graduate research students:
- must satisfy the entry and admission requirements for admission to the PhD at both institutions
- will typically complete the requirements for the PhD within four years’ full-time equivalent study, with a minimum of two years’ full-time equivalent candidature required
- will be enrolled concurrently at both institutions for the duration of the candidature in the joint PhD award
- can transfer from a single degree into the joint PhD award within the first 12 months of candidature.
- must apply to both institutions for consideration, and be approved by both institutions, for any change in candidature such as leave of absence, or extension of candidature
- must have their confirmation of candidature approved by both institutions.
Each of our graduate research students will have their own graduate research student schedule or individual joint PhD award agreement. This schedule or agreement will detail the dates when they will be at each institution, supervisors, and any other arrangements and responsibilities relating to their candidature which is signed by all parties. The schedule needs to be consistent with the arrangements outlined in the institutional joint PhD award agreement, if applicable.
For international graduate students where Adelaide University is the home institution, a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be issued for the full duration of their candidature. Where Adelaide University is the partner institution, a CoE will be issued for the specified period at Adelaide University unless the project or agreement indicates multiple research visits are required. In this case, a CoE will be issued for the full duration of their candidature.
3.4 How we manage conferrals
Joint PhD award parchment designs must comply with Adelaide University’s Marketing and Communications Policy and Conferral and Graduation Ceremony Policy and must be approved by the Vice Chancellor (or delegate). Conferral of the joint PhD award will not occur until Adelaide University is satisfied that all academic requirements, including successful examination of the thesis, have been met.
If one parchment is issued, the University's name and logo must be placed with equal prominence with the partner institution's name and logo. The parchment must include “conferred as a single degree under a jointly-awarded PhD between [name of Home Institution] and the [name of Partner Institution]”.
When a parchment is issued by both partner institutions, each parchment must include a statement recognising that it is “conferred as a single degree under a jointly-awarded PhD between [name of Home Institution] and the [name of Partner Institution]”.
3.5 How we review and monitor compliance with joint PhD award agreements
Once an institutional joint PhD award agreement has been signed, Global Partnerships and Strategy will:
- regularly monitor compliance with the obligations under the agreement
- in collaboration with the AUGRS ensure that the agreement is regularly reviewed for alignment with the program schedules for graduate research programs, the requirements of this procedure and any other relevant Adelaide University policy and procedures.
Once an individual joint PhD award agreement has been signed, the PVC, Graduate Research Training (or delegate) will:
- regularly monitor compliance with the obligations under the agreement
- ensure that the agreement is regularly reviewed for alignment with the program schedules for graduate research programs, the requirements of this procedure and any other relevant Adelaide University policy and procedures.
4. How we manage conferrals
Refer to the Delegation Policy for all delegations at Adelaide University.
4.1 The Deputy Vice Chancellor - Research and Innovation (or delegate), is required to:
- support the approval process for joint PhD awards
- oversee alignment of joint PhD awards with the strategic directions and priorities of Adelaide University
- oversee compliance with applicable legislation and university policies.
4.2 The Pro Vice Chancellor, Graduate Research Training (or delegate), is required to:
- provide academic advice to support joint PhD award approval processes
- ensure academic standards of joint PhD awards are equivalent to comparable awards offered solely by Adelaide University
- support alignment of joint PhD awards with the Australian Qualifications Framework and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
4.3 The Global Partnerships and Strategy team is required to:
- arrange appropriate due diligence for proposed institutional joint PhD award agreements
- support alignment of proposed agreements with Adelaide University’s strategic objectives
- coordinate the development and administration of institutional joint PhD award agreements
- support completion of required compliance processes, including Foreign Engagement Compliance Review where applicable, prior to execution.
4.4 The Adelaide University Graduate Research School is required to:
- coordinate the administration of individual joint PhD award agreements
- coordinate the completion and execution of individual graduate research student schedules
- support consistency of candidature arrangements with institutional agreements.
- Ensure and monitor compliance with admission, enrolment and candidature requirements at Adelaide University.
4.5 Deans of Schools and Deans of Research are required to:
- provide academic endorsement of individual joint PhD award agreements
- support appropriate supervision arrangements for joint PhD award graduate research students
- support compliance with admission, enrolment and candidature requirements at Adelaide University.
5. Definitions used in our procedure
Please refer to our Adelaide University glossary for a full list of our definitions.
Confirmation of Candidature is the structured review of the initial progress of a graduate research student’s research project, identifies any issues and ensures there’s a plan to successfully complete the graduate research degree within the specified time limit. It confirms the period of provisional enrolment has been successfully completed by the graduate research student.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is an official document issued by Adelaide University to international students to confirm enrolment status as required by the Australian Government for student visa holders.
Dual PhD award refers to one or more PhD programs that leads to the award of two separate qualifications. Where the program involves an arrangement between two institutions, two qualifications are conferred separately, each with its own parchment.
Foreign Engagement Compliance Review is Adelaide University’s process for ensuring international engagement is in line with Australia’s foreign compliance obligations and Adelaide University’s interests.
Graduate research student schedule means a signed agreement for a graduate research student to undertake their research with at the two institutions which includes specific conditions and requirements for the management of the PhD.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specifies the standards for qualifications in the Australian education and training system.
Home institution is the institution designated as the primary coordinating institution of a graduate research student undertaking a joint PhD program. Normally, it is the institution at which the graduate research student intends to spend the greater period of time.
Institutional joint PhD award agreement refers to an arrangement which provides an overarching agreement for the joint award of a PhD with a partner institution. Multiple graduate research students may enrol under this type of an agreement.
Individual joint PhD award agreement refers to an agreement between Adelaide University and a partner institution for a specific graduate research student.
Joint PhD award refers to a PhD for graduate research students, delivered jointly by two institutions. Upon completion, a graduate research student receives a single award conferred jointly by those institutions.
Partner institution is an institution in which Adelaide University has a joint PhD award agreement for a graduate research student to undertake a joint PhD.