Forms
Application
These forms are for prospective HDR Candidates to enquire and to submit an application for a Higher Degree by Research.
Complete this form if you are interested in applying for a Higher Degree by Research at James Cook University, but you do not currently have a Primary Advisor for your project idea. If you already have a Primary Advisor or one in mind you do not need to complete this form, and you should contact that person directly.
Please note that the Expression of Interest is an enquiry only and does not guarantee eligibility or acceptance to a higher degree by research at James Cook University, nor constitute part or all of an application for admission to a research degree.
Complete this form to apply for a Higher Degree by Research. It must be completed and submitted with the online application. It includes questions regarding the applicant’s research training, the research proposal and arrangements such as finance.
Applicants for a Higher Degree by Research are requested to forward the URL to this form to each of the referees nominated in their candidature application.
Alternatively, referees may prefer to complete the PDF version: Academic Referee's Report for Research Candidature
Prospective candidates for a Higher Degree by Research may use this checklist to ensure all necessary documents for an application for a Higher Degree by Research are gathered in preparation for submitting the application online.
This agreement is required to be completed by all Primary Advisors who are on a fixed term contract at JCU which is due to expire within 2/3 calendar years of being placed on Research Masters/Doctorate application (APP-FORM-01 Supplementary form for Higher Degree by Research Applications.
The purpose of this agreement is to ensure continuity of supervision for a HDR Candidate in the event that the Primary Advisor who is on a fixed term contract does not have their contract renewed.
This is a risk assessment form for Higher Degree by Research applicants from countries with a United Nations Sanction and/or an Australian Autonomous Sanction regime. The sanctions are Australian Federal law and substantial fines and penalties, including prison time apply for a breach of the sanctions. The sanctions regimes are managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and there are specific sanctions in place for each country. See https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/sanctions/sanctions-regimes for the current list of countries with sanctions.
Applicants or candidates for Higher Degree by Research Programs offered by the University may apply to the Graduate Research School for recognition of prior learning for components of the JCU Higher Degree by Research.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may apply to applicants transferring their Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidature from another university to JCU, or to current JCU candidates transferring between HDR courses. JCU MPhil graduates who begin a JCU PhD within two years of graduation may also apply for RPL for the Fixed Component of their PhD studies.
Supporting evidence, such as certificates or statements, must be provided to support the request.
This form should be completed for candidates who will have advisors from two or more Colleges. This form indicates the arrangements for this agreement in relation to support of the candidate and the division of EFTSL in calculating resource allocation and costs. This form should be completed with the candidate’s initial application or shortly thereafter, or in the case of an existing student whose arrangements are being altered, as soon as possible.
Candidature Commencement
The following forms are for commencing Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates.
The aim of this agreement is to enable the candidate and their advisory panel to maintain a productive relationship throughout candidature by having a living document that can be revisited as required to ensure it reflects relevant shared understandings of key expectations of the candidature.
The Indicators for Success in Higher Degree Research have been developed for the information and use of Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates at James Cook University. Each HDR candidate needs to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes to prepare and submit a body of work that complies with the standards of their College and the University. In order for this development to occur, candidates need to be independent learners, who take responsibility for their work.
These Indicators will help the HDR candidate to prepare for and work towards the submission of their thesis. Each of the Indicators is activity-based. However, each of these activities presupposes underlying knowledge and skills that will help the candidate complete their thesis successfully.
It should be noted that not every candidate will, or should, choose to complete every activity. It should be stressed that each HDR candidate should review these indicators in light of their own circumstances, and in conjunction with their advisors, to ascertain exactly what personal development is needed to promote the successful completion of their thesis. It should also be noted that the order of each Indicator does not necessarily indicate chronological order, or relative importance of the activity.
Candidature Progression and Management
This Progress Report is required during reporting periods 1 November - 30 April and 1 May to 31 October of every year UNLESS you have commenced candidature, submitted your Thesis for examination OR successfully completed one of the following milestones (Confirmation of Candidature, Mid-Candidature Review or Pre-Completion Evaluation) during the reporting period.
However it is recommended that everyone experiencing delays due to exceptional circumstances complete this report so that there is a record of delays.
The HDR Progress Report enables you and your Advisory Panel to reflect on your progress and to plan the remainder of candidature.
This document has been set up to assist candidates in preparing the text for their Confirmation of Candidature Research Proposal.
It is NOT intended as a document to guide you through your development of the content, but to assist you in formatting the work, in terms of text layout, section headings and sub-sections.
The work must be developed with your Advisory Panel. The length of the document will vary depending on your discipline and project but will be no less than 5 pages and no more than 20 excluding references and appendices. The first version of the project proposal is to be sent via your primary advisor for external review. Once reviewer comments are addressed the final version approved by your Advisory Panel is to be attached to the COC-Assessment Form and submitted via your Primary Advisor for approval.
The Confirmation of Candidature at JCU requires Candidates to complete a Research Proposal which must be reviewed by a person who has been published on the field of research of this proposal. The expert reviewer must be external to JCU.
This form is used to assess the Confirmation Proposal, Literature Review and Seminar Presentation. After the seminar, the Candidature Committee will complete this form and advise the HDR candidate of the recommendation of the Confirmation of Candidature Milestone.
This form is used to assess the seminar (if required), written work and professional development activities. The Candidature Committee will complete this form and advise the HDR candidate of the recommendation of the Mid-candidature Review Milestone.
The Pre-Completion Evaluation Milestone Seminar is an event that is designed to identify the capacity of candidates to successfully complete their thesis and make it ready for examination. This milestone should be a presentation of the candidate’s work in progress to an expert committee, their peers, and others interested in their research field.
The HDR Pre-completion Evaluation Seminar Template must be used for the presentation.
The Pre-Completion Evaluation Milestone Seminar is an event that is designed to identify the capacity of candidates to successfully complete their thesis and make it ready for examination. This milestone should be a presentation of the candidate’s work in progress to an expert committee, their peers, and others interested in their research field.
The HDR Pre-completion Evaluation Seminar Template must be used for the presentation.
Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination
These forms are for HDR Candidates that have past the mid-candidature and are planning for pre-completion.
Use this form to nominate examiners for your thesis examination.
Research Masters Degree: one (1) external examiner and one (1) internal examiner is required.
Doctoral Degree: at least two (2) external examiners are required (and is usual at JCU), but up to three (3) examiners may be used.
A replacement examiner must also be nominated at the same time as the other examiners but their availability need not be confirmed at this time.
This form is to be submitted to the Graduate Research School with your Higher Degree by Research thesis for examination and is required before the research thesis can be sent for examination.
This form may be completed and submitted with the SUB-FORM-01 Thesis Submission and Release Form in preparation for thesis examination.
Must be completed by:
- Candidates whose thesis contains publications derived from the research conducted during their HDR candidature, either as an author submitted/accepted manuscript or the final published version
And / Or
- Candidates whose thesis contains third party copyright materials for which permission could not be obtained for inclusion in the open access online version of the thesis
- Candidates whose thesis contains culturally or otherwise sensitive material that should be removed from the open access online version of the thesis
Intent and Scope: To outline how James Cook University Library receives and deposits theses into the University’s institutional repository, ResearchOnline@JCU and the conditions of access to online theses, including Candidate responsibilities throughout the process.
It is a requirement that James Cook University PhD, Professional Doctorate and Masters by Research theses are received by the Library for deposit to ResearchOnline@JCU
Candidature Variations
Use this form to make a variation to your candidature:
- Add/Remove HDR coursework subjects
- Extension to Candidature
- Extension to HDR scholarship
- Extension to Fee Exemption
- Extension of the due date of a milestone
- Take a break (includes leave of absence)
- Change Campus or between full-time or part-time
- Change Campus or between Internal and External
- Change HDR course
- Change thesis title
- Make changes to my advisory panel
- Withdraw from my HDR course
Any request for a Variation to Candidature must first be discussed between the Candidate and their Advisory Panel to ensure that the proposed variation is appropriate for the stage of candidature and the project plan, sufficiently justified, able to be supported by the Advisory Panel, and consistent with the availability of the required resources and supervision. This discussion should occur at a time that will enable completion of the procedure specified below and submission of the approved form to the Graduate Research School before the variation is to occur.
Please also refer to the HDR Variation and Extension of Candidature Procedure
Advisor of the Year & Advisor Register
These awards aim to encourage and reward Advisors on the Register of Advisors who excel in the supervision of higher degree by research candidates (Doctorate or Master of Philosophy by Research.)
Nominations for 2022 are now closed.
This form is for staff (including Adjunct appointments) of JCU who wish to supervise Higher Degree by Research Candidates. Complete this form to:
- Register for the first time
- Upgrade your level on the Register
Download the application form here.
For more information on registering as an advisor please visit Becoming an Advisor website.