Global Utilities

Research Students

Courseload Change Applications

  • Please read this page before clicking the link (near the bottom of this page) to the Courseload Change Application form.
  • If you have any questions about changing your courseload please email Research Services on teamsrgso@latrobe.edu.au.

Instructions and notes

Complete this form if you need to change from full-time to part-time enrolment or the opposite, part-time to full-time.

If you are employed for more than 8 hours a week (not including weekend work) you are advised to apply to change your courseload to part-time. Otherwise you risk failing to complete your degree within the time allowed.

If you are an International Student you usually cannot change to part-time study because visa conditions require you to be enrolled full-time. If you are an International Student and your visa will allows you to change to part-time study please download and complete a hard copy of the change courseload form.

Part-time Australian Postgraduate Awards (APAs) can only be approved if the student has "significant caring commitments or a medical condition which limits the student’s capacity to undertake full-time study" (Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2010; see 1. below). Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) recipients with heavy care commitments or a medical condition which limits their capacity to undertake full-time study may apply for continuation of their scholarship.   If you wish to apply for continuing your scholarship and change to part-time study include your reasons for applying to continue your scholarship in the "Statement" box and attach a  copy of the medical certificate and any other supporting documentation. Note that you have to provide original copies of your medical certificate and documents to the Research Students Office before approval can be finalised. Approval of changes to Scholarships are determined by the Higher Degrees Committee (Research).

If you have a scholarship that is not an Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) or a Trobe Postgraduate Research Scholarship (LTUPRS) check the conditions of your scholarship and check with your scholarship provider (which may be your Faculty, or university staff with research funded by ARC, NHMR or other external source and through Research studentships) before applying to change courseload.

Procedure

Use your own logon. Do not complete the form for a friend or colleague using your logon because it uses your logon to add your name and email and will send replies to the wrong person.

In the text box please write the detailed reasons for your application to change courseload and briefly describe the stage you have reached with your research. You may also attach any documents necessary to support your application.

When you click the submit button this form is sent to your supervisor, to provide him or her with the opportunity to discuss it with you and for his or her agreement.

Your supervisor will send the form to your department’s Postgraduate Coordinator (or Head of School if there is no Postgraduate Coordinator) for approval. You will receive an email telling you when it is approved (or with the Postgraduate Coordinator's decision).

 

La Trobe University respects the privacy of your personal information.  We collect personal information about you on this form to apply to change your enrolment.  For this purpose, we will use this information and disclose it to the Department of Education Science and Training when required by that Department.  You have the right to access your personal information that we hold about you subject to any exception in law. For enquiries and requests to access your personal information contact (03) 9479 2971.

Go to the Courseload Change Application form

 

Appeal

The Higher Degree Committee (Research) has delegated the approval of change of courseload to Heads of Schools (often further delegated to Postgraduate Coordinators). If you wish to appeal against a refusal to approve your change of courseload you should put it in writing and send it to the Manager Research Students, Research Services with 21 days of receiving the email stating that the application is not approved.

General notes:

  • Meet with your supervisor regularly (at least once a month; once a fortnight is a good guideline for full time students; more often at the beginning of your study for an HDR).

  • Tell your supervisor if you have any problems that affect your study or research. If you cannot tell your supervisor talk to your postgraduate coordinator or the chair of your Research Progress Panel.

  • Complete your ‘Notice of Intention to Submit’ your thesis at least three month before you expect to have it completely finished.
Content Approved by: Director, Research Services
Page maintained by: Research Office Web Administrator
Last Updated: 18 June, 2012