Upgrade Policy
The Department occasionally receives requests from MPhil students, well advanced in their research and writing, that they be allowed to convert to the PhD program. It is recognised that the academic ability and intellectual work discipline required for the successful undertaking of a PhD project, are likely to be qualities often possessed by students admitted to the MPhil program, but that these qualities might not become clearly apparent until their work is well underway.
Each case is considered very carefully on its merits. The crucial action is for several well-experienced members of staff to review the student's written work from the point of view of whether it demonstrates the strengths expected at PhD level.
Apart from standards of academic rigor in critical analysis of literature and in the application of concepts and theory to handling empirical research data, a major consideration is whether the empirical research project itself is likely to be capable of being developed substantially enough to be the basis of a PhD thesis.
If there is difficulty in reaching an agreement in the department, or in the event of a student formally appealing against a negative decision, the policy is to review the case in consultation with one or more Anthropologists at other Australian universities.