Each Faculty has a Higher Degree Committee which consists of representatives from Schools within the Faculty, the Faculty Presiding Member, and the Associate Dean (Research or Research Training).

The Higher Degree Committee has delegated responsibility to make academic decisions regarding higher degree candidatures. While many candidature issues are approved by the Head of School/Postgraduate Coordinator, the Higher Degree Committee serves the important role of ensuring appropriate academic standards are maintained in Schools in the Faculty and that best practice and policy is implemented within the Faculty. Candidature matters that require approval by the Higher Degree Committee include admission of candidates to the degree who have unusual or special qualifications, applications for extension of candidature or extended leave, unsatisfactory progress, and upgrades from Masters by Research to a PhD. The Committee also recommends appointment of thesis examiners and considers reports from examiners on PhD theses in making recommendations on whether the candidate has qualified for the award of the degree.

Procedures for Higher Degree Committees

Research Higher Degree Delegations
Procedure for Show Cause and Termination of HDR Candidatures - NEW (Feb 2009)
Guidelines for Conduct of Oral Examinations - NEW (Feb 2009)
Approval of an Enrolment Code for Postgraduate Research Students - NEW (Feb 2009)

Faculty	Chairperson**	HDC Executive	Administrative Contact
ADFA	A/Professor  Warrick Lawson	Professor Joseph Lai, Associate Dean Research Associate Professor  Warrick Lawson, Chair Research Committee Dr Cliff Woodward, Presiding Member	c.cordes@adfa.edu.au
Arts & Social Sciences	A/Professor  George Kouvaros	Associate Professor   George Kouvaros, Director of Postgraduate Research Dr Helen Pringle, Presiding Member	arts.grs@unsw.edu.au
Built Environment	A/Professor  Patrick Zou	Associate Professor  Patrick Zou, Director of Postgraduate Students Professor Bill Randolph, Associate Dean Research	fbe.grs@unsw.edu.au
Business	Professor Bill Schworm	Professor John Piggott, Associate Dean Research Professor Bill Schworm, Presiding Member	business.grs@unsw.edu.au
COFA	A/Professor Anna Munster	Associate Professor Anna Munster, Acting Director of Postgraduate Students Professor Jill Bennett, Acting Associate Dean Research	j.elliot@unsw.edu.au
Engineering	A/Professor Bill Wilson	Professor Graham Davies, Dean Professor Laura Poole-Warren, Associate Dean Research Associate Professor  Bill Wilson, Presiding Member	engineering.grs@unsw.edu.au
Law	Professor  Kathy Bowrey	Professor Kathy Bowrey, Associate Dean Research Professor David Dixon, Dean	j.jarrett@unsw.edu.au
Medicine	Professor  Minoti Apte	Professor Minoti Apte, Presiding Member Professor Dennis Wakefield, Associate Dean Research	medicine.grs@unsw.edu.au
Science	Professor  Mike Gal	Associate Professor Mark Hoffman, Associate Dean Research Associate Professor Paul Adam, Presiding Member Professor Mike Gal, Associate Dean Research Training	science.grs@unsw.edu.au

** Higher Degree Committee or equivalent Faculty Research Committee that considers higher degree research matters

 

* HDC meeting prior to the Semester Census Date