The examination of a graduate research thesis is complex. Examiners must judge your understanding of a body of existing knowledge, your approach to research, and construction of hypotheses, arguments and analyses.
Appointment of examiners
Once you have submitted your notice of intention to submit, your Principal Supervisor will nominate three potential examiners.
For PhD and Master of Philosophy theses, two independent examiners external to the University will be appointed. For Master of Research theses, examiners may be internal, provided they are independent of your research.
Examiners must not be part of your supervisory panel and must be free from any conflicts of interest. If a nominee is not affiliated with a recognised research institution, your supervisor must provide details of their academic and professional experience to support the nomination.
To ensure the integrity, fairness, and academic rigor of thesis examinations, examiners must:
- be qualified to at least the same level as the award they are examining or have equivalent research experience
- have international standing in the research field
- whenever possible, have recent (within the last five years) research activity within the research field
- have the capacity to arrive at an independent assessment of the thesis, free of any bias towards the methods or frameworks used in the research
- have supervisory and/or examiner experience at the degree level at which they examine
- not have acted in a supervisory capacity during the graduate researcher's candidature, or have been a close collaborator or co-author with the graduate researcher or their supervisors within the last five years
- not have any real or perceived conflict(s) of interest with the graduate researcher, their supervisors or anyone involved in the graduate researcher’s candidature
- if applicable, sign and return a confidential disclosure deed when confirming availability and willingness to participate in the examination
- must be from different institutions, and when possible, at least one examiner must be based overseas, except if being appointed as the internal examiner for a Master of Research thesis
- not be advised of the identity of the other nominated examiners or have their identity revealed to the graduate researcher prior to the oral examination of the thesis
- not be a Titleholder or employed by Adelaide University (in any capacity) or its foundation universities within the last five years, except if being appointed as the internal examiner for a Master of Research thesis
- be actively associated with a university or an institution of higher learning (higher education provider), or a research institution.
Objecting to potential examiners
You may identify individuals you believe should not examine your thesis. Objections can be registered at the time of the notice of intent to submit the thesis. It does not constitute a veto. If the School recommends an examiner you have objected to, the final decision rests with the Pro Vice Chancellor Graduate Research Training.
Examination process and timelines
Once your thesis is dispatched, the Graduate Research School will notify you and your supervisors and provide an indicative timeline for examiner reports and the oral examination. The Graduate Research School will follow up with examiners if reports are delayed. Please avoid making graduation plans until you receive formal notification. No details about the examination will be shared until the process is complete.
Examiners will receive:
- assessment criteria for the thesis
- examination outcome options
- conflict of interest guidelines
- information on whether there is an embargo on the thesis
- a confidentiality deed if the thesis contains significant confidential information.
Oral examination
PhD and Master of Philosophy graduate research students must also undergo an oral examination. The oral examination, in some countries also referred to as the defence of the thesis, provides an opportunity for you to present and discuss your research with your examiners and demonstrate your understanding of the field.
Oral examination scheduling and format
Your examiners are given a deadline to review and examine your thesis, and your oral examination will be scheduled provisionally approximately three weeks from that date. Once received, you will receive their written reports, so you can prepare accordingly. The oral examination will be scheduled to start at some time during the normal working hours for the University, where possible, and may be in person, online or a combination of both. Whenever possible, the oral examination should occur on campus. If you are not located on campus, please notify the Graduate Research School before submission to assist with scheduling across time zones.
The oral examination consists of two parts:
- a 20-30 minute presentation of your research, which may be open to the public (your choice)
- a closed question-and-answer session with your examiners.
The total duration of the oral examination must not exceed three hours.
An Independent Chair will lead the session. You and your examiners will attend, and you may request up to three support persons to be present. Any support persons in attendance (including supervisors) are not permitted to participate in the oral examination in any way. Your supervisors are not part of the examination panel.
Arrangements will be made to provide any additional support that may be needed to accommodate for a disability or other accessibility requirements.
Examination outcomes
The outcome of your thesis will fall into one of the following categories:
Award of degree
This recommendation confirms that your thesis meets the standard required for the degree, and no amendments are necessary. If your thesis is awarded without amendments, you will have up to four weeks to lodge your final thesis copy with the Graduate Research School.
Award of degree subject to specified amendments
This recommendation indicates that your thesis meets the standard required for the degree, provided that specific amendments are made to the satisfaction of the University. These may include, for example:
- rewriting of sections or paragraphs
- clarification of results or arguments
- minor additional explanations
- inclusion of tables, figures or references
- corrections to spelling, grammar or formatting.
Do not begin amendments until you receive formal notification of your result. You will then have six weeks to complete the required changes and submit your final thesis to the Graduate Research School. Extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances, with written support from your supervisor and Dean of School or delegate such as the Graduate Research Coordinator, and approval from the Pro Vice Chancellor Graduate Research Training.
Revise and resubmit
This recommendation means your thesis is not currently acceptable for the award of the degree. Significant revision is required—this may involve, for example, major restructuring, rewriting, or additional research. If this outcome is confirmed, you will be granted a defined period of candidature to revise and resubmit your thesis for re-examination.
If your thesis requires substantial revision, you will be granted up to six months of additional candidature to prepare a revised version. This applies regardless of full-time or half-time status.
During this period, you must:
- notify the Graduate Research School of your intent to resubmit
- provide a statement outlining changes made and a defence of any recommendations not accepted
- obtain confirmation from your Dean of School that the thesis is ready for re-examination.
Normally, the original examiners will re-examine the thesis. However, in rare cases, the University may appoint new examiners if academically justified. Examiners will be instructed not to introduce new concerns and cannot recommend another ‘revise and resubmit’ outcome.
If the revised thesis is awarded subject to specified amendments, you will have up to three months to complete them.
Not be awarded the degree (Fail)
This recommendation indicates that your thesis does not meet the standard required for the degree and cannot be revised for resubmission. In this case, the examination outcome is final. You cannot resubmit a revised version for re-examination.
Please note: Examiners are not permitted to recommend a lower-level qualification. For example, a doctoral thesis that does not meet PhD standards cannot be awarded a Master of Philosophy as an alternative.
Appeals
If you wish to appeal the outcome of your examination, please refer to the University’s Student Appeals Procedure. If you are considering an appeal, it is recommended that you speak with a Senior Complaints and Conduct Advisor before proceeding.
Pro Vice Chancellor’s commendation for thesis excellence
If both examiners recommend that your thesis be awarded (with or without amendments), they may also indicate whether it is outstanding and deserving of a commendation for Doctoral or Master thesis excellence. If you completed your PhD or Master of Philosophy within candidature time and your thesis receives this commendation from both examiners, you will receive a formal letter of congratulations from the Pro Vice Chancellor Graduate Research Training, and the commendation will be recorded in the prizes and awards section of your academic transcript.
University research medals
Each year, Adelaide University awards up to 20 Doctoral Research Medals and up to 10 Master by Research Medals for the highest quality research theses. Both Master of Philosophy and Master of Research theses are eligible for nomination. These medals recognise exceptional academic achievement and research excellence.
Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize
More information to come in due course.
