The variation to candidature form can be used to make a variety of changes to your enrolment / candidature:

Any variations of candidature must be applied for, and approved by the appropriate program authority, no later than 31 March for semester 1 and 31 August semester 2. Variations will not be granted retrospectively.

The form must be submitted to the Graduate Research School in the Rupert Myers Building if you are a COFA or Kensington campus student. For ADFA students the form can be submitted to UNSW@ADFA Student Administrative Services on the Top Floor of the Administration Building. Address details can be found at the bottom of the Form.

If you wish to vary your candidature, you will need to have the form signed by the Postgraduate Co-ordinator or Head of School. In some cases, before final approval can be given your request may need to be considered by the Faculty Higher Degree Committee e.g. extension of candidature.

You will also need to submit information outlining the reasons for your request if you wish to change to part-time enrolment, apply to work away from the University or apply for an extension to your enrolment.

Yes. Variations to candidature will be reflected on my.UNSW once your completed Variation to Candidature Form has been approved and processed. Students are encouraged to check their my.UNSW account regularly to ensure their candidature details have been updated correctly. Please note: Variation requests will not be processed if you have a block on your record and you must take the necessary action to remove the block from your record. In most instances the block is due to an outstanding debt to the University. Your fee statement can be downloaded from my.UNSW

Program Leave is granted in full semesters. Shorter absences of less than a full semester may be granted for sickness, family or carer responsibilities or other reasons which prevent you carrying out research. Absences due to medical reasons should be supported by appropriate medical certificates. Enrolment continues as usual and your submission date does not alter. Shorter absences will be noted on the student file. If you hold a scholarship, your scholarship should be suspended for any period of time when you are not working on your research, unless the suspended time is covered by annual, medical, maternity or other leave entitlements specified in the conditions of award of your scholarship.

If you wish to reverse Program Leave, you must do so by the census date of each Semester. The census date for Semester One is 31 March and 31 August for Semester 2.

There are no maternity leave provisions in postgraduate research students’ candidature. However, students are entitled to take up to two semesters leave and this can be used towards maternity leave. Any leave applied for will be recorded in full semesters only and must be applied for and approved by the census dates.

APA/UPA and NHMRC Scholarship holders who have completed 12 months of their scholarship are entitled to12 weeks paid maternity leave upon provision of a certificate from a doctor, obstetrician or midwife. There are no maternity leave provisions for EIPRS/UIPA holders. All other scholarship holders are advised to check the individual terms and conditions of their scholarship. If the particular scholarship does provide for Maternity Leave, the student should write to the appropriate Research Administration Officer at Graduate Research School clearly stating the dates they wish commence and return from leave, and provide a certificate from a doctor, obstetrician or midwife.

Yes. If you are a scholarship recipient and apply for program leave on the Variation to Candidature Form, you must complete Section C and outline your scholarship details. If you do not complete Section C on the Variation to Candidature Form, then any stipend payments received during that period of leave must be repaid to the University.

Unless documentation is provided indicating that you must necessarily enrol part-time due to extenuating circumstances (such as being sole carer of an infant or having as ongoing medical condition) most scholarships cannot be held on a part-time basis, unless specifically stipulated in the conditions of the award. If you enrol part-time the scholarship will normally be suspended, effective from the date the student went part-time. Scholarship payments can normally be restarted once full-time study is resumed.

Any student loan monies owed to the university at the time of taking leave must be paid within 28 days of taking the leave.

No. Students wishing to withdraw from their program should complete the Variation to Candidature Form. However, it is advised that students considering withdrawing from their postgraduate research program first consult their supervisor and postgraduate coordinator.

International students who hold a student visa are required to be enrolled full-time.

International students granted program leave may be required to leave Australia for the period of leave from their candidature. If program leave is approved, this will be reported to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

International students may:

A program conversion to a PhD is dependent upon satisfactory progress being made in your current program. A conversion to the PhD program needs to be arranged and approved by your supervisor and postgraduate coordinator in your School. Final approval must be given by the Higher Degree Committee of your Faculty. This will be organised by the Graduate Research School in conjunction with your postgraduate coordinator.

Please note that a conversion cannot be processed after the session census date (March 31 for S1, August 31 for S2). If a conversion is approved after those dates, it will only take effect from the following semester.