11.1 Application to Vary Conditions of Candidature
11.1.1 A candidate may make application:
- for a course load change from full-time to part-time enrolment (or vice-versa) for the whole or any part of the course (excluding international candidates);
- for sick leave* from candidature;
- for maternity leave* from candidature;
- for a suspension of candidature due to illness or other personal issues;
- for an extension of candidature; and
- for periods of outside study (refer Regulation 12).
* Leave entitlements for candidates are set out in Appendix B.
11.1.2 An application must be made on the prescribed form and set out in full the reasons for the request, as well as provide documentary evidence as requested by the School/Research Institute/Faculty/Graduate Research.
11.1.3 Due to Commonwealth Government reporting requirements, retrospective applications to vary candidature will not be approved.
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11.2 Suspension of Candidature
11.2.1 Requests for a suspension of candidature will not normally exceed:
- a total of 12 months of full-time enrolment (or part-time equivalent) for a doctoral candidate; and
- a total of six months of full-time enrolment (or part-time equivalent) for a master-by-research candidate.
11.2.2 Requests for a suspension of candidature will not normally be approved until a candidate has been confirmed in their candidature.
11.2.3 Requests for a suspension of candidature that relate to a medical condition must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
11.2.4 The Associate Dean Research is responsible for approving requests for a suspension of candidature within the timeframes specified in Regulation 11.2.1.
11.2.5 The Dean of Research is responsible for approving requests for a suspension of candidature that exceed the timeframes specified in Regulation 11.2.1.
11.2.6 A candidate who has had a request for a suspension of candidature approved will not have access to their Supervisors, or University facilities, for the period of the suspension.
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11.3 Resumption of Candidature Following a Period of Approved Leave, Outside Study or a Suspension of Candidature
11.3.1 A candidate who fails to resume their candidature, in accordance with University procedures, following a period of approved leave, outside study or a suspension of candidature will have their enrolment terminated.
11.3.2 A candidate who has their enrolment terminated for failure to resume their candidature following a period of approved leave, outside study or a suspension of candidature may request a review of the decision (refer Regulation 23).
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11.4 Extension of Candidature
11.4.1 Requests for an extension of candidature will not normally exceed:
- six months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) for a doctoral candidate; and
- three months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) for a master-by-research candidate.
11.4.2 Requests for an extension of candidature will normally only be considered if the candidate’s academic progress is satisfactory.
11.4.3 The Associate Dean Research is responsible for approving requests for an extension of candidature within the timeframes specified in Regulation 11.4.1.
11.4.4 The Dean of Research is responsible for approving requests for an extension of candidature beyond the timeframes specified in Regulation 11.4.1. Such requests will not normally exceed a further six months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) for a doctoral candidate or a further three months of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) for a master-by-research candidate.
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