First formal progress review
Progress reviews are different from your regular meetings with your supervisor. They help you think about how your research is going, what you’ve done so far, and what still needs to be finished.
What are progress reviews?
For PhD students: The first progress review (FFPR) is an opportunity to check on your research before the transfer assessment. After you pass the transfer, you’ll have a progress review every year until you submit your thesis.
For Masters by Research students: The FFPR helps you reflect on your progress toward finishing your thesis.
When do you submit your FFPR?
Full-time PGRs: By six months after your start date.
Part-time PGRs: By nine months after your start date.
You can see the University deadline for this in your GRAD record, but the exact timing and steps depend on your faculty or school. Your Graduate School will contact you with the details.
Submit your FFPR report in GRAD. There’s a guide in GRAD to show you how to do this step-by-step.
What goes in the FFPR report?
In your report, look back on your research so far:
- What have you completed?
- What skills do you still need to develop?
- How is your training plan going?
- Have you done your literature search or gotten any results yet?
- Will you need ethics review for your research?
- Have you started to develop a data management plan?
If you’ve faced any problems, include them in your report. Explain how they affected your progress, what you’re doing to get back on track, and what support you need.
For some faculties and schools, you may need to submit a piece of written work as part of this process as well. Make sure you follow the advice from your Graduate School.
What happens next?
You’ll meet with your supervisors to talk about your FFPR. This meeting is meant to support you and help you plan for the next steps, especially the transfer stage. It’s also a chance for you and your supervisors to discuss any challenges and how to solve them. The review will also look at your training plan and your plans for ethics review and data management.
Some faculties may also ask you to submit extra written work. Check with your Graduate School to make sure you meet the requirements.
Your supervisors will complete a report in GRAD. You’ll receive an email to confirm when this is available.
Other things to do for your FFPR
PGR-supervisor agreement: if you started after September 2023, you need to review this agreement with your supervisors as part of the FFPR. If there are changes, upload the updated version to GRAD.
Data management plan (DMP): You should have a plan in place by the transfer stage, so now is a great time to start working on it. The Library can help with templates and courses on managing data, writing, and referencing.
Academic and Research integrity training: You should have completed the PGR academic integrity essentials tutorial and the Online research integrity and Research ethics training by your FFPR. If you’ve not done these you should complete them as soon as possible.
Research practice training and tests
What about the outcome?
The FFPR isn’t a test, so you don’t need to “pass” it. But if your supervisor has concerns about your progress, they might start the Progress support procedure to get you back on track.