Update on the Recent Graduate Research Application Round (Closed 18 April)

Dear supervisors,

As part of the communication improvement process for graduate research space we would like to provide you with an update all the recent application graduate research application round.

Round 2 of graduate research course applications, commencing Semester 2, 2023 and offers for Semester 1 2024 and semester, closed on 18 April 2023.

  • 96 applications were received by the central University admissions.
    • Of these, 44 were incomplete applications, that means that all the documentation required for the application were not provided. The central Research Higher Degree Admissions Team notifies applicants on which documents are missing and request that these are sent through as soon as possible.
  • 52 applications were assessment ready and were received by MGSE
    • All applications have been reviewed and scored by one professional member and one academic member within 4-5 weeks after the closing date. Scores are based on past academic performance, research/professional experience and publications in recognized outlets.
    • All scores and applications were reviewed and discussed by the selection committee and a short list of competitive applicants was created.
    • All shortlisted applicants [23] will now have their research proposals reviewed and scored by academic members of the GR Subcommittee. This year we have also invited one member from the Early Career Academic committee as well as one member from Mid-Career Academic committee to join the proposal review stage. The research proposals are scored on the basis of research problems & questions, methodology and rationale/supervisor support. The meeting will take place on 30 May 2023. The final shortlist of successful applicants will be finalised then.
    • Supervisors of successful (highly ranked) applicants are then notified over a week’s period.  The supervisor must interview the applicants (MF1295, clause 4.26), complete the university’s ‘Assessment sheet’ and return this to the MERI GR team within 2 weeks before an offer can be made to the applicant. The delay in returning this assessment sheet delays the offer process.
    • All uncompetitive applicants from the first review round will receive an email soon.
    • All uncompetitive applicants from the second review round will receive an email providing some explanation on why they were not competitive.