School of Business Progress Review Guidelines

Before reading the guidelines outlined on this page, ensure you have reviewed all the information about Progress Reviews, including the criteria for each review, and the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Progression Procedure.

How to organise a Progress Review

The following guidelines outline the management and conduct of HDR Progress Reviews in the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Policy and the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Procedure. Further instructions to help you to arrange your upcoming review are available here.

Progress Reviews Snapshot

Progress review requirements
	Confirmation of Candidature (R1)	Review 2 (R2)	Review 3 (R3)
Candidature Documents	Candidate statement Individual Development Plan (IDP) HDR Academic Career Development Portfolio (DOCX, 18.7 KB).	Candidate statement Individual Development Plan (IDP) HDR Academic Career Development Portfolio (DOCX, 18.7 KB).	Candidate statement Individual Development Plan (IDP) HDR Academic Career Development Portfolio (DOCX, 18.7 KB).
Project Documents	A confirmation document iThenticate report.	A draft of one third to one-half of the thesis iThenticate report.	A draft of the final thesis iThenticate report.
Review Meeting	30-45 minutes	30-45 minutes	30-45 minutes
Oral Presentation	20-minute open presentation 10-minute open question time	20-minute open presentation 10-minute open question time	20-minute open presentation 10-minute open question time

Note: Documents should be submitted by the census date in the research quarter in which your review is due.

Panel Composition

Your Progress Review Panel (PRP) in the School of Business will consist of a Chair and two reviewers (readers). The default chair is the HDR coordinator of the candidate’s main discipline.

Candidature documents

These documents are required for each review. The candidate statement will be submitted as an online form by the candidate and will only be shared with the chair. Candidates should also submit an individual development plan and a summary of the development activities undertaken since commencement/last review. The HDR Academic Career Development Portfolio (DOCX, 18.7 KB) is an annual reporting tool to support HDR students to develop a range of skills, knowledge and abilities to enhance their employability. This includes Research Activities, Skill Development and Engagement Activities, and Teaching Activities.

Confirmation of Candidature Review (R1)

A candidate must submit a confirmation document which includes:

Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Hypothesis Development (where relevant)
Methodology and proposed empirical analysis (which may, but does not need to include, preliminary analysis), and a
Time Schedule to complete the thesis.

Confirmation document:

PhD program: 20-30 pages (no more than 30 pages!)
MPhil program: 15-20 pages (including tables and figures, but excluding references and appendices).

Line spacing 1.5; Times New Roman or Arial 12 point font.

Progress Review 2 (R2)

A candidate must submit a draft of the thesis, which includes:

Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Hypothesis Development (where relevant)
Methodology and (preliminary findings for) empirical analysis
Discussion
Time Schedule to complete the thesis.

For a dissertation consisting of several essays:

A completed draft of the first essay including empirical analyses
A draft of the second essay (excluding empirical analyses), and
An extended abstract of additional essays (if relevant). In addition, the candidate needs to provide a 1-2 page review specifying the additions and major revision since the previous review.

Document

PhD program: 30-50 pages (no more than 50 pages!)
MPhil program: 25-35 pages (including tables and figures, but excluding references and appendices).

Line spacing 1.5; Times New Roman or Arial 12 point font.

Progress Review 3 (R3)

A completed thesis consisting of consist of a monograph or a number of essays. Both types of theses need to follow the requirements for a UQ thesis (see, UQ thesis preparation). In addition, a thesis consisting of several essays should have an introduction chapter discussing the structure of the dissertation, the different essays, their relationships and contributions. Finally, there should be a conclusion chapter; tying the different essays together and discussing the broader contributions of the thesis.

In addition, the candidate needs to provide a 1-2 page review specifying the new additions to the thesis and major revision since the previous review.

Review Meeting and Oral Presentation

The same process will be used for all three reviews. The review process starts with an open 20-minute oral presentation. Candidates need to provide an overview of their project and are required to respond to the reviewers’ feedback. This is followed by a 10-minute question time by the general audience only.

Next there is a closed 30–45-minute meeting where members of the review panel will ask questions to be answered by the candidate (without help from the advisory team). For the final decision process the candidate will need to leave the room. The chair has the option of having the advisory team present or not.

The Committee Chair will provide a verbal summary of the outcomes of the progress review and will clarify a list of tasks that must be completed prior to the next Review. Finally, the chair of the committee has a private meeting with the candidate.

Your chair will prepare a written report detailing the recommendations of the Progress Review Panel to the Dean, UQ Graduate School.

Written feedback will be provided by reviewers two weeks before the interview.