This phase can last 12-18 months for a Masters and 2-3 years for a PhD.
Now you have moved into a new phase of your project:
Review where you are and Set up for success
Review the Resources for HDR students
If you have not already made a close connection with your supervisor, now is the time to do it. But it may work differently to the way you expect. See Talk to your supervisors for some hints.
Depending on the type of research project you are undertaking, your research project may involve a number of activities such as those listed below.
Monash library has a number of resources to support research students. See:
Build connections with:
Professional communities such as: Monash Infotech Research Centres
Travel to meet with other researchers in Australia and overseas:
See information about Studying abroad
Apply for Postgraduate travel grants
There are many tools you can use to help you gain different perspectives on the area you are researching. See these suggestions for a start:
Language and Learning’s Thinking strategies
Mindmapping tools (visual thinking tools)
You will collect a lot of information during your research. See these hints and tools for storing research information so you can access it easily when you need it and make sure it is secure:
Hints on how to manage your information
Choose the right options for storage and backup
Endnote is a useful tool for managing references
Try the Sakai Virtual Research Environment
Keep in mind the best places for your work to appear. Take note of:
Your progress report must be submitted every:
To get further information and download the forms go to:
Annual Progress Report for Master students . You can also download a progress report form from the Forms page.
Annual Progress Report for PhD students . You can also download a progress report form from the Forms page.
Throughout your research process you are likely to find a number of personal stresses:
See Where am I now? for short video clips on past student experiences of the stages of a research project.
See Manage your relationships for hints on how to survive the personal pressures.
A number of Avenues are available for support including:
Monash Postgraduate Association (MPA), which provides a range of support for research postgraduates.
If you think you need intermission, leave of absence or an extension, see Changes to candidature for the rules that apply.
You need to apply using the appropriate form:
Masters - Submit a variation to candidature form.
PhD - Submit a variation to candidature form to MRGS via your supervisor.
Your thesis reflects your research work and is typically a major piece of writing. It helps to review other theses in your discipline to help you plan the structure and to appreciate what the examiners are looking for.
The following resources can be helpful in finding suitable theses to review:
How to find a thesis online
Review theses in the National thesis database
Look for theses in the International thesis database
In addition to reviewing the structure of other theses, see Structure your thesis.
It helps to understand what the examiners will be looking for. See the examination guidelines applying to the program you have enrolled in:
It also helps to understand that you only have to meet reasonable expectations. See:
You’re going to write your thesis - so What is a Thesis?
If you are a PhD student and need financial support to write up, consider applying for a Doctoral Completion Scholarship.
Use a Template to help keep consistent formatting.
Refer again to the Learning Support for HDR students for a variety of hints about writing your thesis.
Make sure you Edit your Thesis carefully.
Be careful to avoid plagiarism.
See Completion phase for the next steps you need to carry out to undertake your research and write your thesis.
Do you have suggestions for improvements to this page? Let us know by email to: Jack Sotiriou