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Confirmation Year Requirements

 

Preamble


The University of Newcastle requires Research Higher Degree candidates who commenced candidature from 2006 onwards to undertake a confirmation process within twelve months of commencement of candidature on a full-time basis (or part-time equivalent).

 

The purpose of the confirmation process is to support students in the early stages of their candidature.  The process will allow students to receive objective confirmation that their research direction is sound, the methodologies appropriate and the standard of writing satisfactory.  Any difficulties that might impede successful completion can be identified and remedied.  The process also encourages students to start writing, which many find difficult early in their candidature.

 

Candidates are required to satisfy the following requirements within twelve months of commencement of candidature on a full-time basis (or part-time equivalent):

 

i.  Present to the Confirmation Committee a written document containing at least:

ii.  Deliver an oral presentation to the Confirmation Committee,

iii. Provide a verbal defence of the research proposal before the Confirmation Committee.

 

In addition, the issue of ethics approval, intellectual property and data retention and management must also be considered.

 

Process

 

Please note that the requirements listed on this website are a guideline of minimum expectations.  Faculties may have specific additional requirements which students will be expected to fulfill.
  1. Students will be advised of the members of the Confirmation Committee, the date of the presentation and the precise details of the format of the presentation by their Supervisor or Head of School/Nominee.
  2. The student completes section 1 (Candidature Details) of the Student Cover Sheet and signs the declaration. The Student Cover Sheet should then be attached to the student's written proposal and given to the Principal Supervisor who completes section 2. The Supervisor then gives the Coversheet and written proposal to the Chair of the Confirmation Committee, prior to the scheduled meeting.
  3. The Committee will determine an outcome following the presentation and consideration of the written submission and advise the Head of School of the recommendation.
  4. The Committee will write to the student and inform them of the outcome. A copy of the Confirmation Year Review Committee Proforma is included and the student is required to acknowledge receipt by signing and returning the Proforma to the School office. The School will then take a copy of the documentation and forward the Student Cover Sheet, signed Proforma and Student Letter of Advice to the Office of Graduate Studies for placement on the student's file. Candidates are strongly encouraged to keep a copy of all Confirmation paperwork including the Proforma. Please note: if a copy of the paperwork is not returned to the School by the student the process is not deemed to have been completed and the candidate cannot be confirmed.
  5. If the Confirmation Committee recommends that the candidate be confirmed into their candidature, once the documentation has been received by the Office of Graduate Studies the candidate's record in Nustar will be updated. The candidate will be advised via email that they have been confirmed into their candidature.

Possible outcomes of the Confirmation process

 

There are three possible outcomes to the initial confirmation process:

 

a) Candidature is confirmed;

b) The candidate is required to revise their work and undertake a second attempt at confirmation within 3 months;

c) A recommendation is made that the candidate should be required to 'Show Cause' as to why their candidature should be permitted to continue.

 

In the event that the Committee determines that candidature is not confirmed, the Committee will document the aspects that were inadequate, and the student will normally be required to undergo the confirmation process again within three months.

 

 

If, after the second presentation, the Committee determines that the proposal is unsatisfactory, the Committee will make a recommendation to the Assistant Dean Research Training (ADRT), or equivalent, concerning continuation of candidature.  The ADRT will request the Office of Graduate Studies to advise the student that they are required to Show Cause to the Research Training Sub-Committee (RTSC) as to why their candidature should not be terminated.  After due consideration of the submission, the RTSC may terminate the candidature or place conditions on the continuation.  Students may appeal the decision as detailed in the Rules Governing Research Higher Degrees.

 

It is important that students are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Code of Practice for Research Higher Degree Candidature.  All students are provided with a copy of the Code of Practice on enrolment, and can access a copy on the web from here.

 

Template documents

 

The Confirmation Year Review Committee Proforma and Student Cover Sheet are available to download from these links:

 

Confirmation Year Review Committee Proforma

 

Student Cover Sheet

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

I commenced my Masters program prior to 2006 but will be upgrading sometime after 2006, do I need to do Confirmation?

Yes. Ideally the upgrade process and the Confirmation process will be combined. In any case the Confirmation paperwork needs to be completed.

 

My School has set a date for my confirmation but I will not be ready and require an extension, what should I do?

Firstly you should discuss the situation with your supervisor. 

 

If the extra time you require will not take you outside of your first 12 months of full-time equivalent candidature you should see whether an alternative date can be set by the School.

 

If the extension will cause you to move out of the first 12 months you will require official approval from the Dean of Graduate Studies. Your supervisor must email the Dean of Graduate Studies with the request stating the reasons required for the extension and proposed date for the completion of confirmation. The Dean will consider the request and your supervisor will be informed of the outcome in writing.

 

I need some help to decide what my presentation and/or written document should include, who should I contact?

This is an academic matter and can vary between disciplines. Your supervisor should be your primary source of information for this. If your supervisor cannot provide you with all the advice you need please contact your Head of School or nominee.

 

I have completed Confirmation but have not received email advice from the Office of Graduate Studies, what does this mean?

It is possible that your completed documentation has not been received. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies.

 

Guidelines

The full Guidelines for Implementation of the Confirmation Year are available here.

 

A powerpoint presentation on the confirmation year process, presented by the Dean, Graduate Studies can be downloaded here. For further information concerning the Confirmation Year, candidates should contact their supervisor or the Office of Graduate Studies.