Purpose of Annual Progress Report (APR)
The Annual Progress Report (APR) is the means by which the University assesses whether the candidate will continue into the following year. An APR from a candidate and their supervisors is an important and formal means to monitor the research candidate's progress.
The Annual Progress Report is designed to:
- help staff at the university appreciate the challenges you might be experiencing that could impede your progress,
- enable staff at the university to address some or all these challenges,
- evaluate the level of support you are receiving from the university.
This exercise, although mandatory, is designed to assist HDR candidates. You cannot fail an annual progress report, for example. However, if supervisors do not feel you have progressed adequately, the HPS may recommend intensive supervision to facilitate your progress – in line with the HDR Progression Procedures.
Confidentiality
Importantly, from 2023 onwards, your responses will be confidential. That is:
- your supervisors will never be granted access to your answers,
- but candidates and supervisors are encouraged to discuss this report with each other,
- in general, only your HPS can access your answers,
- however, if complications unfold – such as complaints or other matters – other staff, such as the AD-HDR, Student Ombudsman, or Dean of Graduate Research, may be able to access your responses.
One warning rule:
HDR Candidates who do not complete the HDR candidate's report section of the APR by the due dates noted below will be given one written warning. Those candidates who have not completed the HDR candidate's report section by due date may have their candidature discontinued. Re-enrolment once discontinued, may only be possible by submitting a new application for admission through the online application process. Approval for admission in these cases will be at the Faculty’s discretion.
Candidates are responsible for checking if their APR has been submitted by the due dates.
Directions for completing an Annual Progress Report
An Annual Progress Report will be made available online each year via SOLS. This report needs to be completed on-line by both yourself and your supervisor.
All HDR candidates are required to complete an APR in order to qualify for re-enrolment in the following year. You must complete an APR even if:
- You are currently on Leave of Absence;
- You commenced your higher degree research in Spring Session, or
- You have submitted your thesis and have received a resolution from the Thesis Examination Committee to undertake a further period of study.
The Head of Postgraduate Studies and/or the Associate Dean (Higher Degree Research/Research) of the Faculty also need to approve the APR before it is returned to the Graduate Research School.
HDR candidates will not be re-enrolled without a completed APR.
New in 2023
From 2023, candidates and supervisors complete their sections of the APR concurrently, and privately:
- Candidates and supervisors are encouraged to discuss this report with each other, however, neither will see the other's responses.
- Only the HPS will see responses from the candidate and supervisor.
- If complications arise, such as complaints or other matters – staff, including the AD-HDR, Student Ombudsman, or Dean of Graduate Research, may be able to access your responses.
Once responses are received from candidates and supervisors, HPS's will review candidate and supervisor responses and provide their HPS comments.
Candidature variations (such as leave of absence, change of study pattern etc) will be initiated after the APR, by supervisors/HPS’s/candidates contacting the GRS with the relevant forms completed and signed by 24 March for Autumn Session and 24 August for Spring Session.
Annual progress review timetable
Action
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Actioned by
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Due Date
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Annual Progress Reviews (APRs) made available on SOLS – HDR candidates to begin discussing their APR with their Supervisor/s at this time
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Graduate Research School
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Monday 9 October 2023
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HDR candidates and their Principal Supervisors to complete and submit their sections of the APR to their Head of Postgraduate Studies
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HDR candidate & Supervisor
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Friday 27 October 2023
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Head of Postgraduate Studies to complete and submit their section of the APR.
Satisfactory APRs will be forwarded directly to GRS.
APRs with the recommendation of progress review by AD-HDR will be forwarded to the Associate Dean (Higher Degree Research/Research) for their review.
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Head of Postgraduate Studies
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Friday 1 December 2023
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The Associate Dean (Higher Degree Research/Research) of the Faculty to review and submit their recommendation in the APR.
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Associate Dean (Higher Degree Research/Research)
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Wednesday 31 January 2024
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Graduate Research School to process 2024 HDR re-enrolments
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Graduate Research School
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December 2023 to March 2024
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