Stage 2 - Research proposal completion

What is the Stage 2 milestone?

If you are a PhD student you will refine your research proposal under the guidance of your supervisory team.

It is an opportunity to demonstrate:

• the critiquing and research skills that you have developed in the early months of candidature
• the original and significant contribution to knowledge that the project will make
• your readiness to take increasing responsibility for the project.

We expect that this will be a living document that will evolve over your term of candidature, and provide a structure for the confirmation document and final thesis.

If you're enrolled in the research master's program do not complete this milestone.

When is it due?

We expect the Stage 2 proposal to be submitted within three months after commencement for full-time candidature or within 6 months after commencement for part-time candidature.

What form does it take?

The proposal must normally be no more than 3,600 words, excluding the appendices and reference list.

We have set this length to:

• ensure consistency in student expectations about the submission requirements
• ensure reviewers are able to read and provide feedback in a timely way
• provide an academic writing experience that is specific and restricted to a word limit.

The Research Students Centre has prepared guidelines that provide a structure for the document and provide detail on how to lodge the document through the online process.

Guidelines for the submissions of the Stage 2 proposal (PDF file, 91.69 KB).

Who reviews the proposal?

The principal and associate supervisors and the Director of Higher Degree Research Studies will review the proposal.

If you do not have an associate supervisor prior to submitting your Stage 2 document, there may be technical problems during the on-line process. To change or add a supervisor, use the Change of Candidature form at the Research Students Centre forms page, obtain the signatures of the old and new supervisors, and submit the form to the Research Support Office for further processing.

How do I submit the proposal?

When your Stage 2 proposal is ready to upload, log onto Virtual under your student ID. The pathway is Virtual/Services tab/Postgraduate research. The submission process is on-line and will move through several sequences. At the conclusion of the process, you will be able to see the form through the same pathway (see Recent Submissions). Please always look here as there may be important feedback for you.