Milestones during your degree
During your time as a graduate researcher, there will be set points in candidature where you meet with your Progress Committee to assess your research progress. These moments are known as Progress Milestones.
There are two Milestones for Master’s by Research degrees (Confirmation and Pre-submission review), while for doctoral degrees there is also a mid-candidature review . These Milestones are governed by the Graduate Research Progress Policy.
Oral presentation
For all milestones an oral presentation is required. Giving an oral presentation is a great way to develop presentation skills and get feedback from a wider audience on your research. Your oral presentation must
- be 20 to 40 minutes in length
- take place at an appropriate La Trobe University forum
- be attended by at least one member of your Progress Committee.
Milestone: Confirmation (Masters and Doctoral Candidates)
Confirmation of Candidature is an important milestone where your Progress Committee meets with you to review
- your Progress Report
- your research proposal or plan (or similar description of your research if proposals are not usual in your discipline e.g. some creative arts), including your goals to be achieved by the Mid-Candidature review
- an update on your progress regarding any required coursework or clinical placements
- written work appropriate to your research project that demonstrates your ability to write at an appropriate level for the degree, for example a literature review, draft methodology chapter, or draft publication
- any additional disciplinary requirements.
Milestone: Mid-Candidature Review (Doctoral Candidates only)
Your Mid-Candidature Review is a milestone where you present your research progress to date and receive formal feedback from your Progress Committee to ensure your research is on track. You will need to submit
- a Progress Report outlining your progress against the goals you have previously set with your Progress Committee
- an updated research plan which includes a summary of the intended outline of your thesis or in the case of a practice-led thesis, the creative component and exegesis or critical component
- drafts of thesis, exegesis, or critical component chapters or publications, and, for practice-based research, a visual, creative or other record of your progress with any artefacts
- any additional disciplinary requirements.
Milestone: Pre-Submission Review (Masters and Doctoral Candidates)
Your Pre-Submission Review is an important milestone where your Progress Committee assesses your research progress to see whether you are on track for submission. You will need to submit
- a final Progress Report
- a substantial draft of your thesis or in the case of a practice-led thesis, the creative component and exegesis or critical component
- a visual, creative or other record of progress with any artefacts for practice-based research.