Research
Welcome to research at UWA. Our dedicated Graduate Research School (GRS) provides training and development while you’re undertaking your research degree. You can also find support, information and guidance through your supervisors, graduate research coordinator (GRC), discipline chair or other relevant school staff. Your GRC has an important role in the governance and management of research training and is the authority for these matters in your school. Your GRC is responsible for assessing and approving all formal submissions related to candidature, scholarships and examinations for students in courses administered by the GRS.
In addition to their governance role, your GRC is often your first point of contact and can assist you by:
- distributing information about opportunities
- developing and coordinating activities to help you develop your skills and form networks
- facilitating your orientation
- providing information about, and referring you to, support services
- providing confidential counsel where necessary and following up matters of concern
Within the GRS, you have a candidature officer who assists with the management and administration of your candidature including:
- enrolment
- changes to candidature
- your research proposal, annual reports and other milestones
- travel awards
- transfers or changes to your course
Contact your candidature officer at PGhelp@postgraduate.uwa.edu.au.
Contact your scholarships officer at researchschols@uwa.edu.au.
Get involved
The Postgraduate Students’ Association (PSA) is the representative body for postgraduate students at UWA, providing services and events throughout the year to foster a sense of community among students. Membership is free and automatic for all postgraduate students upon enrolment.
Enrolment
You are a research student if you’re undertaking any course managed by the GRS or a postgraduate course that includes two thirds or more research that is managed by a faculty. You are required to manage all changes to your enrolment and candidature with either the GRS or your faculty.
Your re-enrolment in subsequent years depends on the lodgement and approval of satisfactory annual and interim progress reports, research proposals, confirmations of candidature, travel reports and payment of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and any other debts by the re-enrolment period at the end of each year.
If you are in a course managed by the GRS you will be re-enrolled automatically each year if all your milestones have been submitted to the GRS as required and you have no debts to the University. We are unable to re-enrol you if you have any financial encumbrances such as unpaid parking fines or library fees.
Concurrent enrolment
If you're in a research-only course, you may enrol in up to 24 points of coursework units during your candidature if you have the approval of the GRS with the endorsement of your coordinating supervisor and GRC. To apply, submit an application for
Managing your candidature
If you’re enrolled in a course administered by the GRS, you have a series of dates, known as milestones, which provide a framework for the management of your candidature.
- Each milestone is associated with paperwork you need to complete in consultation with your Coordinating Supervisor and submit to your GRC and then the GRS.
- The due dates for these are in
Checking your details and milestones in studentConnect
Visit
Key milestones
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DELNA
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Research proposal
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Annual Progress Reports
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Confirmation of candidature
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Ethics approval
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Thesis submission and examination
Other information and resources
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sCHOLARSHIPS
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Finance and resources
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Research internships and other external engagements
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Travel
Researcher training and development
UWA has a range of services to help you develop and enhance your skills.
Contact the Graduate Education Officers in the GRS, who provide a variety of
Other support available
Academic staff within your faculty
If you need specific help related to your research or clarification of concepts, you should talk to your supervisors. Before you meet with your supervisor, consider the type of feedback you require and communicate this clearly so that you can get the most out of the meeting.
Statistics Clinic
The UWA Centre for Applied Statistics offers free statistical advice all year round for PhD and master’s by research. Clinic sessions are by appointment only. Request an appointment or email consulting-cas@uwa.edu.au. The centre also provides short courses on statistics, which are subsidised for research students.
Research Integrity Advisors
Research Integrity Advisors (RIAs) can assist you in addressing ethical and procedural issues. They can help you understand how to obtain ethical review, publication and dissemination of research findings, authorship, conflicts of interest, and management of data and primary materials. They can advise about research practices and the process of making an allegation of a breach of the codes of ethics and conduct.
Confidentiality, intellectual property and copyright
In conducting your research, you may receive assistance or information from funding agencies and companies. The entity giving you that assistance or information may require certain restrictions on the publication of that information or of the research results or information produced in the project. Intellectual property at UWA is dealt with according to the University Policy on Intellectual Property.
The University Library provides copyright support for postgraduate research students so you can understand and conform to the copyright obligations. Early in your candidature it is important to become aware of the issues relating to the inclusion of copyright material in theses and plan to obtain the relevant copyright permissions where required.
Fieldwork and safety
Visit UWA’s Safety, Health and Wellbeing website for information and policies which you should become familiar with.
Your responsibilities
- You must take reasonable care of your own safety and health and that of others.
- You are required to report all known hazards, incidents and injuries.
- You must comply with the Safety Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and School Rules. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
Training and risk assessments
Your School is required to inform you of its own safety and training arrangements. This is particularly important should you be required to undertake laboratory or fieldwork or other activities where you may be exposed to significant hazards. You should always carry out a risk assessment to identify the known and potential hazards of an activity or operation before beginning work. Access a Fieldwork Safety Plan to get started.
Fieldwork in remote and rural areas
- You should receive appropriate first aid training from your school before embarking on fieldwork.
- Always follow instructions given, avoid risks and do not go out alone.
- Always let someone know your intended route and destination and when you expect to return.
- Report in when you get back.
- If you are going off-road, the University four-wheel drive course will need to be completed.
- All incidents and injuries must be reported to the Safety and Health Office.
- Before embarking on fieldwork, you are required to read the Fieldwork in Rural and Remote Areas Policy.
Working in isolation
- A risk assessment will need to be made prior to working to determine the risk of working in isolation.
- Never work alone when carrying out potentially hazardous work.
Policies and processes
There are many University policies relevant to research and research training.
Satisfactory progress
To remain enrolled, you must make satisfactory progress in your course of study. You will normally be deemed to be making satisfactory progress if you have:
- submitted a satisfactory research proposal within the agreed time
- completed agreed confirmation of candidature requirements to the required standard within the agreed time to the satisfaction of your supervisors and GRC
- continued to complete sufficient written and technical work of an acceptable standard to your supervisors and GRC within agreed periods of time
- submitted all reporting requirements satisfactorily to your school and to the GRS/faculty, within the required time
Final assessment of research courses is partly or entirely via the examination of the research thesis. The thesis is sent to either two or three external examiners, depending on the course. The examiners recommend to the University what the classification of the thesis should be and the final classification is made by either a faculty committee or the Board of the Graduate Research School, depending on the course.
Appeals against assessment
You have the right to appeal an academic decision or assessment.
For more information, contact the GRS or your faculty office.
Complaints
If you have a serious concern or complaint which you have not been able to resolve directly, you may approach your GRC or the Graduate Research School for advice and/or lodge a complaint.