Mapping my degree

Becoming an effective researcher

Being an effective researcher means that you have planned your project, have clear motivations for pursuing your degree and are aware of potential career outcomes. Your motivations can change, so be flexible and realistic with your goals.

  1. Plan to complete your research within three years if you're a PhD graduate researcher, or one year and six months if you're a masters graduate researcher.
  2. Set realistic study goals (eg progress meetings, draft and chapter deadlines, submission date). You and your supervisors are required to formalise expectations to support your goals by completing the Supervisory Agreement [Word] when you start your degree and throughout your candidature as needed.
  3. Motivate yourself! Find out what works for you and use it to your advantage.
  4. Manage your time effectively. Again, figure out something that works with your schedule and keeps you on track.
  5. Your research support team is there to help! Talk to your supervisors and your peers, get involved in student clubs.
  6. Sign up for student newsletters.
  7. Participate in student seminars and symposiums.
  8. Complete courses and programs that help you with academic writing, research or professional development. These include those offered by the Researcher Development Unit and Academic Skills.
  9. Seek out reading groups, paper writing groups or thesis writing groups.
  10. Be aware of professional opportunities that reflect your career goals.
  11. Be flexible. Know that your motivation and energy can change and will probably fluctuate over the course of your degree.
  12. Register for an ORCID, an internationally recognised registry that helps you to establish and maintain your scholarly identity. Visit this University Library Guide for more information.

Key milestone dates

As a graduate researcher you are required to complete formal reviews of your progress at key milestones throughout your candidature.

You can view your next scheduled key milestone date, expected thesis submission date, supervisor details and other candidature details under ‘Research Summary’ when you login to my.unimelb (SSO login required).

If you take a leave of absence or change your study rate between full time and part time candidature, your review dates and expected thesis submission date will change accordingly.

If you are enrolled in a jointly-awarded degree with another university you are expected to meet the standard milestones as set out below. This will usually be through the completion of the relevant University of Melbourne forms. The head of department may decide that a process completed at the partner institution meets a University of Melbourne requirement (for example, a confirmation requirement). In this case you must send the relevant documents to your local graduate research administrator to be added to your University of Melbourne record.

You must still read and accept the University of Melbourne’s Enrolment Terms and Conditions every calendar year, regardless of where you are based during that year.

The standard milestones are outlined in Table 2 of the Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321).

Some graduate researchers may be required to complete additional progress review forms, for example Australia Award supported students (formerly AusAID).

For more information on progress reviews, candidature milestones and expected submission dates, visit Being a candidate.