Entry into the SITACS postgraduate research program will be via one of the following routes:
(i) BCompSci(Honours) or BIACT(Honours) or
(ii) MCompSci or MIACT i.e. Coursework masters (but only if this includes a 12 credit point project), or
(iii) MComputerStudies (in exceptional cases only - i.e. straight HD students).

Category (i) students are allowed directly into a PhD (Honours I or 2-I only).

Category (i) students (Honours 2-II & below) and category (ii) students commence a PhD PROGRAM. What this means in practice is that students commence working on a Research Masters project, together with subjects as appropriate. Depending on their background, students will undertake this coursework either formally or informally. Of particular relevance in this regard is the IACT441 IT Research Methodology subject (which is compulsory for BIACT(Honours) students).

The MCompSci(Research) & MIT(Research) degrees are structured as 72 c.p. degrees (24 c.p. subjects + 48 c.p. project). The former can be waived at the discretion of the Research Postgraduate Coordinator, on a case-by-case basis, depending on individual backgrounds (e.g. having previously completed an individual project). These research masters degrees are structured as follows:
Session I IACT940 Research Methodology (6 c.p.) + Background subject (6 c.p.) + Part time project (12 c.p.) Session II,III Full time project only (24 c.p.)

Progress is assessed (via seminar presentation and revised research proposal) after six months, & if excellent, allowed to upgrade to PhD (by excellent, we mean both i. impressive results to date and ii. a clear research plan for the future). If progress is satisfactory but not outstanding, the student will continue working towards a Research Masters. If unsatisfactory, their enrolment will be downgraded to a coursework masters (the project reverting to a 12 c.p. MCompSci/MIACT project, with the remaining 36 credit points made up from graduate subjects) - unless of course they have already completed a MCompSci/MIACT, in which case their candidature will be terminated.

Category (iii) students will either be allowed to continue with a Research Masters, or downgraded to a MCompSci/MIACT, depending on progress made during their first six months (a second upgrade - to PhD - will not be allowed; they must complete the Research Masters first, then commence a PhD afresh).

Irrespective of a students' status, all SITACS Research Postgraduate Students are required to attend the regular SITACS Seminar series. Attendance at these seminars will be taken into account when assessing annual progress.

All candidates will also be required to present their work-in-progress at the annual SITACS Research Student Conference (November).