Policy Academic Governance HDR Discontinuation of Candidature Procedure
HDR Discontinuation of Candidature Procedure
- Future Students
- JCU Global Experience
- International Students
- Open Day
- How to apply
- Pathways to university
- Virtual Open Day
- Living on Campus
- Courses
- Publications
- Scholarships
- Parents and Partners
- JCU Heroes Programs
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Marine Science
- Elite Athletes
- Defence
- Current Students
- New students
- JCU Orientation
- LearnJCU
- Placements
- CEE
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- Graduation
- Off-Campus Students
- JCU Job Ready
- Safety and Wellbeing
- JCU Prizes
- Professional Experience Placement
- Employability Edge
- Art of Academic Writing
- Art of Academic Editing
- Careers and Employability
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Career Ready Plan
- Careers at JCU
- Partners and Community
- JCU-CSIRO Partnership
- Alumni
- About JCU
- Reputation and Experience
- Chancellery
- Governance
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- Indigenous Engagement
- Education Division
- Graduate Research School
- Research and Teaching
- Research Division
- Research and Innovation Services
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- Anthropological Laboratory for Tropical Audiovisual Research (ALTAR)
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC)
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- AMHHEC
- Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Lions Marine Research Trust
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Boating and Diving
- Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab
- Centre for Tropical Biosecurity
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- CMT
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Fletcherview
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- MARF
- Orpheus
- TESS
- JCU Ideas Lab
- TARL
- eResearch
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Estate
- Work Health and Safety
- Staff
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Cyber Security Hub
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Services and Resources Division
- Environmental Research Complex [ERC]
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- General Practice and Rural Medicine
- Give to JCU
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- JCU Webinars
- JCU Events
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Sport
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Outstanding Alumni
- Pharmacy Full Scope
- Planning for your future
- Policy
- PAHL
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TREAD
- TropEco for Staff and Students
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Pay review
Intent
This procedure has been established to specify the process by which a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidature may be discontinued.
This procedure addresses HESF Standard 4.2: Research Education.
Scope
This Procedure applies to HDR candidates for the research higher degrees offered by the University, and University staff involved in the discontinuation process.
Definitions
Terms mentioned in this document and not defined here are defined in the Policy Glossary in the Learning and Teaching domain of the University Policy Library, and in the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Requirements.
Procedure
1. A HDR candidate may have their candidature discontinued at any time after enrolment and prior to conferral for the following reasons:
1.1 At the end of a period of being Under Review, if the HDR candidate has not fulfilled the agreed requirements of their Candidature Management Plan.
1.2 It has been recommended in the outcome of a Confirmation of Candidature, Mid-Candidature Review or Pre-Completion Evaluation milestone.
1.3 Failure to maintain contact with Advisors for a minimum of three months, following substantiation and attempts to make contact with the HDR candidate by the Graduate Research School (GRS).
1.4 Via a request to withdraw from the candidature by completion and submission of the VOC-FORM-01 Variation of Candidature form or by email.
1.5 The Research Education Advisory Committee has determined that a HDR candidate has failed the thesis examination process after review of the examiners’ recommendations.
1.6 The HDR candidate has breached the conditions set out in the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Requirements including the requirement to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct , the Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and other relevant University Policies.
1.7 The HDR candidate is no longer able to undertake the agreed research project for reasons such as but not limited to:
i. The University has determined on the basis of recommendations from two independent experts that the material being prepared for presentation in the thesis will not meet the requirements for the degree.
ii. The HDR candidate is no longer able to undertake the approved research project and an appropriate alternative cannot be found after reasonable efforts by the College.
iii. The HDR candidate is unable to be supervised by appropriate Advisors and alternatives cannot be found after reasonable efforts by the Dean of College.
iv. The HDR candidate has refused to abide by a reasonable formal notification from the University within the period nominated in the notification which must be at least 20 working days.
v. The University requires that the HDR candidate be discontinued as the result of a misconduct or complaint process.
2. The GRS will provide the HDR candidate with a Notification of Discontinuation, which will include the reason for the discontinuation. The notice will be sent to the HDR candidate’s JCU student email address.
3. A HDR candidate may appeal the Notification of Discontinuation unless their appeal is under Clause 1.1 or 1.2 of this procedure. To appeal the Notification of Discontinuation, a HDR candidate must refer to the Student Review and Appeal Policy.
4. If the candidate has not submitted a written appeal to the notification of discontinuation within 20 working days of the date of the notification, the GRS will withdraw the HDR candidate from their degree in the Student Management System.
5. In the case of discontinuation of an International HDR candidate, the GRS must inform the Academic Administration and Enrolments team so that any reporting required may be undertaken.
6. Following discontinuation, candidates do have the opportunity for external appeal via the Queensland Ombudsman.
Related Policy Instruments
Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Requirements
Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
HDR Confirmation of Candidature Procedure
HDR Mid-Candidature Review Procedure
HDR Pre-Completion Evaluation Procedure
Student Review and Appeal Policy
VOC-FORM-01 Variation of Candidature form
Schedules/Appendices
Nil
Administration
Approval Details
Policy Domain | Academic Governance |
Policy Sub-domain | Research Education |
Policy Custodian | Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research |
Approval authority | Academic Board |
Date for next Major review | 04/09/2025 |
Revision History
Version no. | Approval date | Implementation date | Details | Author |
24-1 | NA | 15/03/2024 | Administrative amendment to replace reference to International Student Support team with Academic Administration and Enrolments team (clause 5). | Manager, Graduate Research School |
23-1 | 04/09/2023 | 13/09/2023 | Major review. | Manager, Graduate Research School |
19-1 | 19/07/19 | Minor Change: Added reference to Student Appeal Procedure (General) in Clause 3. Moved reference to Student Complaint Policy and Procedure from Clause 3 to Clause 6. | ||
17-3 | 17/10/17 | 17/10/17 | Clause 1.f.iv added, approved in Res Comm. | |
17-2 | 09/08/17 | Administrative changes in response to ESOS Audit | ||
17-1 | 17/02/17 | 28/02/17 | Removed references to Merit Review |
Keywords | Discontinue, discontinuation |
Contact person | Dean, Graduate Research |