Please ensure that you communicate early, and openly, with your supervisory team if you want to make changes to your enrolment.
They will do their best to assist and connect you with appropriate supports across UC. Below are forms related to various options available to you. Each form contains a detailed description of the process, and what might be required to request various options.
Discuss your application with your supervisory team, your Department/School Graduate Research Coordinator, or Kaitoko | Research Student Advisors in Te Kura Tāura.
Changes to:
Timeline Changes:
Course Changes:
Part-time/Full-time Study
You can request to change your mode of study. There are two usual modes of study for research students:
- 1.0 EFTS (full-time);
- 0.65 EFTS (part-time);
- 0.35 EFTS (only available in exceptional circumstances)
Please discuss any change to your enrolment with your supervisory team. It is expected that an application for a Change to Mode of Study will include a revised plan for thesis completion. This plan must have been reviewed by your senior supervisor.
A Change to Mode of Study will affect your thesis final submission date, as this date is based on a specified number of EFTS from first enrolment. You will be informed of your adjusted final submission date if your request is approved.
Please note that doctoral study is expected to be a full-time commitment (excluding EdD Part I and DHSc Part I which are part-time) unless circumstances prevent this.
You can book an appointment with a Kaitoko | Research Student Advisor within Te Kura Tāura to discuss your individual circumstances and obtain advice in relation to this change process.
Change of Supervisors
You can request a change to your supervisory team. This may be:
- an addition, replacement or removal of a supervisor (please note the supervisory team must have at least two and up to 4 members)
- a switch in role (ie.g. from senior to associate or vice versa)
If you add supervisors who are not UC staff, your Senior Supervisor will also need to arrange for an External Supervisor Agreement to be completed.
Change of Study Location
If you intend to spend one month or more outside of the greater Christchurch area to conduct part of your research (whether in another part of New Zealand or abroad), you must apply for extramural study by completing a Change of Study Location form.
International Students
While international students may travel overseas for data collection and other purposes, this should be for no more than 12 months over the duration of their qualification. Extramural study in excess of 12 months will incur international fees.
Deferral for doctoral students
If you would like to defer the start date of your doctorate, you will need to email Te Kura Tāura | UC Graduate School (graduateschool@canterbury.ac.nz) and include support from your supervisor with the proposed new start date. The new date will need to be approved by the Dean of Postgraduate Research after which you will receive confirmation of the change.
Before you ask for a deferral, please consider the implications this might have on any scholarships or other funding you might receive and your visa if you are an international student.
Suspensions
In addition to the days of university closure (including public holidays), you are entitled to 4 weeks of holidays every year. You do not need to formally “apply” for such holidays, but should arrange them by agreement with your Senior Supervisor. Please note you will not be granted a “suspension” for holidays. A summary of the types of leave can be found in the 'leave options' document below.
If you are unable to study for periods of a month or more you may apply for a suspension, during which you will not be required to pay fees. Note however, that scholarship payments will also not be made over such periods and that suspensions of three months or more may have consequences for international students who hold study visas. Please discuss any potential suspension with your supervisory team before submitting an application. Applications should be approved prior to the period of suspension. If you would like to know more about applying for a suspension, please make an appointment with a kaitoko | Research Student Advisor.
Extensions
If you would like to request an extension to a milestone (supervisory agreement, confirmation, thesis submission), you can do this by completing the Extension to Milestone Form. Extensions can only be applied for in whole months, and for a minimum period of one month. Please submit your application as soon as possible and prior to the current milestone due date.
Please note that being granted an extension to the completion of the one milestone does not automatically result in an extension to other milestone due dates, including the final submission date of your thesis.
If an Extension is being requested on medical grounds, a medical certificate must be provided in support of the request.
Doctoral students: For applications for an extension to the thesis submission date it is important to note that you cannot request this unless you go over 480 points. When submitting a request for an extension to the submission date, you will need to include a completion timeline. Please work with your supervisory team to develop a plan and include this with your application.
Taking Extra Courses
Depending on previous experience, students are sometimes asked to enrol in additional courses to develop their skills or at times they may wish to take another course to deepen their knowledge. Please discuss either situation with your supervisory team before completing the request and note that any additional course must be approved by the Dean of Postgraduate Research. If you choose to enrol in a non-required course, this will incur fees.
Transfer or change of qualification
Transfer of qualification: It is possible to transfer from one course code to another. However there are several things we would encourage students to consider with their supervisory team before making an application:
- difference in expectations
- potential changes to the supervisory team
- ability to transfer scholarships
Transfer to a master's degree: As the first step in this process, you will need to talk with your supervisor regarding your research to date and how feasible it would be to rescope this into a master’s qualification.
Do keep in mind that some master’s programmes have higher fees than annual doctoral enrolment and international students need to be mindful of the difference between domestic and international costs.
The Master of Philosophy is charged at the same fees at an annual doctoral enrolment and this charge is the same for domestic and international students. You can review the Master of Philosophy regulations here.
International students: If approved into a master’s you will be undertaking a change of programme which will impact your current visa, so you must discuss with Immigration New Zealand on how this will impact your current student visa, and if you will need to reapply.
You are encouraged to contact a kaitoko | Research Student Advisor to discuss your options.
Withdrawal from a Thesis
You are able to withdraw from your thesis at any point during your candidature by notifying the Dean of Postgraduate Research in writing. Please have a detailed discussion regarding your situation and options with your supervisory team and a kaitoko | Research Student Advisor before completing your request to withdraw.
Please note that the Dean of Postgraduate Research may also cancel a student's enrolment in the degree for a number of reasons which can be found in the course regulations (under 'discontinuation'). Please refer to the regulations relevant to your degree for more information on this process here.
Kaitoko | research student advisor support
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