Flexible study options
Deakin offers flexible study options for those who are unable to study on-campus and/or full-time.
Part-time research degrees
Research Degrees can be undertaken on a part-time basis, which is treated as “half-time”. This will suit many candidates, but obviously it is going to take twice as long to complete the degree (up to 4 years for Masters degree and up to 8 years for a PhD). For this reason, and also because there is a risk of losing focus on the research topic over such a long period, candidates are encouraged to enrol full-time if at all possible. This is particularly helpful during the early stages of the project, because experience shows that the outcome is much more satisfactory for the candidate in the long run. Every effort should be made to get the research program “up to speed” by a full-time period at the start before considering part-time candidature. While true of all disciplines, this is especially so for experimental fields. The issue of part-time study should be discussed early on with any potential supervisor.
It is normally possible to switch your candidature from full-time to part-time or vice versa at any stage. However, part-time study is subject to university approval concerning the suitability of your proposed topic of research to this mode of study. In general the university will recognise the sometimes compelling needs of HDR students to enrol part-time.
Off-campus research degrees
Research students do not have to study on campus, and Deakin currently has a number of HDR students who reside in other states and in other countries. Students are required to have computer and internet access as a significant amount of university correspondence is sent in this way. Candidates are given a Deakin University email account and are expected to check this regularly. Email can be forwarded from this to another preferred address, but it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure this is maintained.
Off-campus study is subject to university approval concerning the suitability of your proposed topic of research to this mode of study.
Your faculty may also require that you attend certain events (e.g. colloquium or seminars).
Off campus resource information can be found on the current students and Library web sites.
