Thesis and examination
Throughout your research candidature, you will work toward producing your final thesis.
As you approach the completion of your Higher Degree by Research (HDR) studies, one of the most significant milestones is the submission and examination of your thesis. This process begins with notifying the University of your intention to submit by completing a 'Notice of Intent to Submit' (NOI).
Once you have submitted your NOI, the timeline for submitting your thesis becomes clearer. The submission process includes a series of steps to ensure your thesis meets all University requirements, and it sets the stage for the examination process that will ultimately determine the outcome of your degree.
Approximately four months before your required thesis submission date, we will email you prompting you to complete a ‘Notice of Intent to Submit’ (NOI) through the Research Education Candidature System (RECS), which will inform us of details including:
You must complete your NOI at least three months before you submit your thesis. This will set in motion the examination process for your thesis.
You can make changes to your completed NOI right up until you submit your thesis.
Your NOI includes an opportunity to nominate any person(s) you consider appropriate to be invited to examine your thesis and any you would prefer not to be invited.
Your NOI includes an opportunity to request one of the following three modes of examination, subject to the approval of your faculty or school and your lead supervisor.
Discuss your options with your lead supervisor before submitting your NOI.
Your NOI includes an opportunity to nominate any person(s) you consider appropriate to be invited to examine your thesis and any you would prefer not to be invited. However, the final decision rests with the supervisory team member overseeing your examination.
Once you have completed your NOI, your supervisor will be asked to nominate a minimum of two suitable external examiners for your thesis. They must be of international standing in your thesis topic and must not have any conflict of interest. Your supervisor will also organise any additional examination requirements (such as if your thesis includes a creative work or is in a language other than English).
Each nominated examiner must then be reviewed and approved by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Researcher Training) before being formally invited to the role of examiner. If any of them declines, your supervisor may need to nominate replacements.
You will not be informed of the identities of your (invited or appointed) examiners during the examination process. If they agree, their names will be disclosed to you at the end of the examination process. Examiners are not permitted to communicate with students during the examination process. If any contact between a student (or someone acting on behalf of the student) and examiner(s) occurs, this constitutes a breach under the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy (pdf, 140KB) and will result in discontinuation of the examination process and selection of new examiners, as well as potential disciplinary action.
Ensure it meets all requirements and you have completed your NOI. You must also be currently enrolled and not suspended or withdrawn.
You may submit your thesis any time between your earliest submission date and 11:59 pm on your required submission date (see tables below).
These dates are calculated from the start date of your HDR candidature minus any periods of approved suspension taken.
To check your personal earliest and required submission dates, log in to RECS and go to ‘My project’, then ‘Project dates’.
If you are an international student and you submit your thesis for examination before or on the census date for a particular research period, you will not have to pay tuition fees for that research period. If you submit your thesis after the census date for a particular research period, you will have to pay tuition fees for that research period.
To submit your thesis, log in to RECS, go to ‘My project’, then ‘Examinations’, then ‘Thesis submission’ and follow the prompts.
Once you have submitted your thesis, it is not possible to withdraw it for revision, except under the provisions of the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degree by Research Policy (pdf, 392KB. You can make any required corrections at the end of the examination process.
All such corrections will then be checked by your supervisor and the Chair of Examination before you lodge your thesis with the University Library.
When you submit your thesis your lead supervisor will endorse it, it will be passed through the University’s plagiarism-detection software, and it will be sent to your examiners for examination.
If your supervisor chooses not to endorse your thesis for examination, you can appeal to the Associate Dean (Research Education) through RECS to have it examined.
The examination process is confidential, and each person involved can only access the information required for their role. During the examination process your examiners are not informed of each other’s identities, and you are not informed of their identities.
If you notified us in your NOI of any specific confidentiality requirements, your examiners may be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Confidentiality agreements are usually only required where a thesis includes confidential or restricted information, such as commercial-in-confidence material or content subject to privacy legislation. All examiners are advised of the strict confidentiality of the examination process.
This process should not be confused with restricting access to a thesis in the University Library, which may be arranged after the examination process, when you lodge your thesis with the University Library.
The examination process should be completed within three to six months of your submission date. When the process is complete you will be advised of the outcome. If there are any substantial delays in reaching an outcome you will be advised.
You can view the progress of your examination at any time through RECS. Go to ‘My project’, then ‘Examinations’, and click on the icon of a mortarboard (graduation hat).
If you require a letter for employment or visa purposes indicating that you are currently under examination, contact the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC).
Each of your examiners will provide us with a detailed report and a recommendation with respect to the award of your degree, resulting in one of the outcomes below.
After the examination process, including the making of any required corrections to your thesis, the final version of your thesis will be approved, and you will be prompted through RECS to lodge a copy of your thesis with the University Library.
If any documents are required to be lodged in addition to your final thesis you will be sent an email specifying this. You must do this to be eligible for the award of your HDR degree.
Once you have lodged your thesis with the University Library, no further corrections can be made. Check the Library's thesis submission requirements.
