Research proposal, Progress report and Application to conduct research overseas
Research proposal
You must register your Research proposal 6 months from your first date of enrolment, whether your status is full- or part-time. Your enrolment may be terminated if you fail to do so. (Refer to the Theses Regulations in the Calendar (Publications website). You will receive a reminder before your Research proposal is due.
If you have a genuine reason for delaying registering your Research proposal, you must apply for an extension to the postgraduate-office@canterbury.ac.nz
Registration process
- The proposal requirements vary by department. Consult with your provisional supervisor and Head of School/Department to work on your research proposal until it is acceptable.
- Dowload and fill out the PhD Registration Form (Research Proposal) (DOC, 164KB). There are questions that you, your provisional supervisor and HOD/HOS need to answer.
- You, your provisional supervisor and HOD/HOS sign a supervision agreement (setting out expectations for supervision, resources and feedback)
- Send your full research proposal to the Postgraduate Office together with the completed Registration form.
You will receive notification from the Postgraduate Office once the Dean has approved your report. If your proposal isn't approved, you may be allowed a month or two to improve your proposal. You can then re-apply as above. If you are unable to get your research proposal approved, your enrolment will be terminated.
Progress reports
Following registration of the research topic, you must submit progress reports every six months.
You will receive a reminder before your progress report is due.
You must:
- Complete the PhD Progress Report form (DOC, 60KB). There are questions you, your supervisory team and HOD/HOS will need to answer
- Send your progress report to the Postgraduate Office, after all required signatures have been included.
You will receive notification from the Postgraduate Office once the Dean has approved your report. If your report is not satisfactory, the matter will be dealt with on an individual basis by the Dean in consultation with you and your supervisors.
Application to conduct research outside Christchurch
PhD students who are normally based in Christchurch must obtain the approval of the Dean of Postgraduate Research to study or conduct research outside Christchurch - either elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas. This approval is required only for periods greater than one month (therefore for most conference travel approval of the DPGR is not required). This approval is required because the duty of care that the University of Canterbury has to its students still applies when those students are conducting research away from Christchurch. We have mechanisms in place to assist students if emergencies arise.
If you wish to study or conduct research away from Christchurch, you must fill out the Application to study outside Christchurch (DOC, 60KB) and send this to the Postgradate Office, in advance of your departure. This form can be completed electronically and preference is for it to be submitted as an email attachment and sent to postgraduate-office@canterbury.ac.nz International students should discuss their plans with the Postgraduate Office staff as there may be visa and re-enrolment issues.