Advice & advocacy

University grievance process

Grievance means “a wrong, real or fancied, considered as grounds for complaint”. (Macquarie Concise Dictionary)

What does grievance mean in the postgraduate context?
A grievance can be anything from a query which has not been dealt with properly to a serious complaint about any matter concerning a student’s coursework or research candidature at Monash University. A grievance can be administrative or academic, one held by a postgraduate student against another student, a supervisor, a department, a faculty or the University. A grievance may also be initiated by the University against a student, for example, for general, academic or research misconduct.

Examples of complaints by postgraduate students include:

• Intellectual property

• Supervision

• Assessment

• Prior Standing

• Lack of resources

• Poor delivery of teaching/courses

• Scholarships

• Fees

• Harassment

• Discrimination

Examples of complaints against postgraduate students include:

• Lack of academic progress

• Plagiarism

• Cheating

• Misconduct

• Harassment

• Non payment of fees

MPA Resolution Process

MPA supports mediation and conciliation as a means of resolving difficulties which may arise during a postgraduate’s candidature. The MPA Advocate and caseworkers act as advisors and provide support and assistance for postgraduate students. The great majority of queries and complaints that come to MPA are settled through an informal process. This may mean contacting all parties concerned and talking about the matter with a view to resolution, or providing ‘behind the scenes’ advice to postgraduates to enable them to resolve the situation independently. If an issue cannot be resolved informally then formal processes may be invoked. The level of MPA’s involvement will depend on the circumstances of each case. MPA has limited resources and the MPA Advocate or caseworkers will advise students about what MPA can do for them depending on the circumstances of each case.

Formal Grievance Procedures

The process to be followed depends on the type of candidature and complaint. The University uses 'complaint' and 'grievance' interchangeably. A student complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with a process, decision or service offered or provided by the University. (see Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy). Student Grievance refers to a formal written notice given by a student after an unresolved complaint which initiates the Complaints and Grievances Procedures. On the University Ombudsman's website there is a very useful flow chart of the process for course work postgraduate students and higher degree research students.

HDR students

Higher degree by research (“HDR”) candidature grievances are governed by the “HDR candidature: Academic and Administrative Complaints Procedures” under the parent policy "Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy".

Coursework students

View the " Complaints and Grievances of Coursework Students Procedures".

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