Graduate Research Waivers Process
1. Overview
1.1. This process supports the Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321) and the Intellectual Property Policy (MPF1320) by setting out how waiver requests to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (PVC) for graduate research are submitted and managed.
2. Purpose
2.1. Waivers are afforded to manage exceptional requests for individual candidates within the remit of the Graduate Research Training Policy and the Intellectual Property Policy (MPF1320). Waiver requests are decided by the PVC for graduate research or their delegate.
3. Process
3.1. The PVC for graduate research will maintain guidelines and criteria against which waiver requests will be assessed.
3.2. Waiver requests may be initiated by candidates, supervisors, viva chairs or chairs of examiners, depending on the type of request.
3.3. The following requests should be directed to faculty graduate research administrators initially:
- a) place a candidate at an institution not on the approved outside institutions list
- b) grant a partial or full waiver of the residency requirement
- c) waive the requirement for a graduate researcher to assign intellectual property to the university
- d) grant readmission to the course
- e) grant approval for a thesis to be written in a language other than English.
3.4. The faculty graduate research administrator will ensure the required information has been provided before they forward the request, via the relevant online form, to the PVC for graduate research.
3.5. Waiver requests relating to the following aspects of thesis submission and examination should be made through correspondence with the Graduate Research Examinations office:
- a) permit submission of a thesis prior to the minimum candidature period
- b) permit a thesis to exceed the maximum word limit
- c) approve submission of a dissertation more than six months after examination of the creative outputs
- d) approve submission of a thesis that is substantially similar to a thesis or work previously examined or assessed and rejected
- e) waive examiner eligibility requirements where the examiner’s experience is considered essential
- f) make reasonable adjustments to the viva procedure
- g) waive the requirement for an examination to be held by viva
- h) extend the final deadline for submission of thesis revisions
- i) approve thesis embargoes.
3.6. The Graduate Research Examinations office will ensure the required information has been provided before submitting the request to the PVC for graduate research via the relevant online form.
3.7. The PVC for graduate research will decide on exceptional matters regarding particular examinations including to:
- a) determine whether a thesis may proceed to examination
- b) excuse and replace any examiner or annul their report
- c) redact inappropriate content from examiner reports
- d) appoint an adjudicator
- e) authorise an examination result based on an adjudicator report and examiners reports
- f) award a fail result if revisions to final thesis are not satisfactory
- g) permit a failed doctoral degree (research) thesis to be resubmitted for consideration for a masters degree (research) award.
3.8. The Graduate Research Examinations office will forward to the PVC for graduate research any examination matters requiring decision.
3.9. The PVC for graduate research will communicate the outcome of the waiver request or decision to the faculty graduate research office or examination office as appropriate and maintain a record of decisions made.
Graduate Research Waivers Process version 1.
Authorised by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate and International Research), 11 June 2025.