For Supervisors

• Research Candidates: future researchers
• Good Supervision 
• Graduate Supervisor Register 
• Supervisors’ Forums 
• Admissions
• Scholarships 
• Research Higher Degree Rules and Policies

Research Candidates: future researchers

Research candidates are important members of the University research community and are encouraged to participate in the University research culture through conferences, workshops and seminars. UWS provides specific support for research education. There are scholarships, research seminars, workshops and funds to support research candidates.

The Dean of Research Studies maintains oversight of postgraduate research and its development.

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Good Supervision

Supervision of research higher degree candidates is a critically important and highly specialised form of academic teaching. Research candidates are exciting and can be challenging. Your role as a supervisor is to guide your students to success in their studies and to further their chosen career. The University recognises the importance of your role and UWS governance, policies and support units are focused on assisting you to succeed as a supervisor.

UWS uses a panel system of supervision. Panels introduce additional expertise as many research candidates are drawn to the interdisciplinary possibilities for research at UWS and they also provide a backup should the principal supervisor be absent for any reason. Panels also mentor new supervisors in a co-supervisory role and may involve experts who are external to UWS. Co-supervision is part of teaching workload at UWS. All panels have a principal supervisor who takes a leadership role in the management of the candidature.

The quality of higher degree graduates is related to the quality and intensity of supervision. There have been two broad measures undertaken to assist in the development of supervisor skills and expertise. These are the establishment of the Register of Graduate Supervisors and the implementation of ongoing supervisor forums. Staff must attend a forum at least once every three years to maintain registration as a graduate supervisor.

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Graduate Supervisor Register

Supervisors for research degree candidates must have been admitted to the Graduate Supervisor Register before being eligible to supervise any research higher degree candidates.

For information on requirements and an application form visit Graduate Supervisor Register.

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Supervisors’ Forums

The University supports research higher degree supervisors to ensure all supervisors have a positive and quality experience.  The aim of these forums is to ensure that research supervisors have the most recent information about national, international and UWS policies and processes for managing research supervision. The sessions act as an open forum for both experienced and inexperienced supervisors to share ideas and strategies for good supervision practices. The sessions are important in promulgating new policies and promoting discussion about best practice for supervision. The program is always evolving and accommodates the range of needs of research supervisors at UWS.

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Admissions

Applications for admission to a research higher degree are welcomed at anytime.  The Office of Academic Registrar accepts applications via an online portal. The Research Training Scheme place (RTS) is the mechanism under which the Australian Government funds research training.

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Scholarships

UWS offers outstanding local and international candidates Higher Degree Research (HDR) scholarships. All stipend scholarships are allocated centrally through the UWS Research Studies Committee. There are no College quotas.

The Yarramundi Scholarships Scheme strengthens and supports Indigenous participation in higher degree research at UWS. Scholarships are available to candidates seeking admission to higher degree research at either research masters or doctoral level.

For more information on admissions and scholarships see Future Research Students.

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Research Higher Degree Rules and Policies

The UWS Research Studies Committee is a standing committee of Academic Senate and is chaired by the Dean of Research Studies. The Committee is responsible for individual candidature management and policy and practice relating to higher degrees at UWS. For detailed information about rules and policies, including minimum/maximum completion times and how to seek approval for variation to programs see Current Research Students.

You can request a supervisor’s handbook by contacting Mary Krone in the Office of Research Services.

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