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 your Faculty Student Advisor.
Changes to:
Timeline changes:
Course changes:
Part-time/full-time study
You may be able to 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).
Please discuss any change to your enrolment with your supervisory team, as part-time study may not be permitted in some programmes. 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.
Research master's students should discuss this with their supervisors and Graduate Research Coordinator before applying for a change in mode of study.
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 (i.e. form senior to associate or vice versa)
- a change in EFTS allocations amongst the existing team
Suspensions
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, you should discuss this with a Faculty Student Advisor.
Extensions
If you would like to request an extension to a milestone, 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.
Transfer from master's to PhD
You can apply to transfer from a master's to a PhD once you've done at least nine months’ full-time-equivalent work (0.75 EFTS) on your master’s thesis. This application doesn't remove the requirements for entry into a PhD. In particular, if you have not already met the research experience criteria by other means, you must show substantial evidence of high-quality progress in your master’s research (see below).
Your Head of Department/School and supervisors must support your transfer in writing so you need to discuss it with them before applying.
You need to submit:
- a letter explaining why you want to transfer
- a letter of support from your Senior Supervisor
- a letter of support from your Head of Department/School
- a comprehensive description of progress on your Master's thesis or a Master's Progress Report that has been approved by your Department/School and Faculty
- a completed Supervisory Agreement - a new agreement will be required even if you have previously completed this for your master's research, as the new agreement needs to confirm resourcing for the longer duration of a PhD and that the new proposal is suitable for the scope of a doctoral degree
- a completed confirmation report*
*Students who have been enrolled in the master's thesis for 9-12 months full-time, may be required to complete the Confirmation process prior to the Dean considering the transfer application. Please contact Te Kura Tāura to confirm if this is required as part of the transfer application.
These documents should be submitted by email to Te Kura Tāura (graduateschool@canterbury.ac.nz).
Please note that if you have a UC Master's Scholarship, it does not transfer into a UC Doctoral Scholarship; you must make that application separately.
The Dean of Postgraduate Research may require additional objective evidence of high-quality progress in your research. Typically, this might include:
- peer-reviewed creative, scholarly or research outputs;
- the equivalent of an independently assessed Honours project report or dissertation;
- formal and independently ratified confirmation from the department, school or programme of the quality of research progress and suitability of preparation for doctoral enrolment.
If the Dean approves your application, your PhD enrolment will usually be backdated to the start of your master’s thesis enrolment. For a full-time student that means that you would have four years to complete your work after the date you started your master’s thesis, not four years from the time of transfer.
Please note it is not usually possible to transfer to a professional doctorate (DMA, EdD, DHSc) from a master's programme. In most cases you will be transferring to a PhD programme.
Withdrawal from a thesis
You are able to withdraw from your thesis at any point during your candidature. Please have a detailed discussion regarding your situation and options with your supervisory team and a Faculty Student Advisor before completing your request to withdraw.
