Adelaide University offers several approved thesis formats to suit different research approaches. Early in your candidature, speak with your supervisor about the length, structure and format of your thesis. You should also familiarise yourself with the current requirements for preparing and presenting your thesis.
At Adelaide University, graduate research theses may be submitted in one of the following formats:
The thesis must include a statement of the potential or actual social, cultural, environmental, or economic impact of your research.
All research presented in your thesis must have been completed during your candidature. Manuscripts published, accepted, or submitted for publication prior to commencing your candidature cannot be included.
If you plan to submit a non-standard thesis format, you must obtain approval from your supervisory panel and the Pro Vice Chancellor – Graduate Research Training, at the time of your Initial Review.
Adelaide University does not offer a 'PhD by prior publication'. All research included in a thesis must be undertaken during candidature.
Maximum word limits (including footnotes, but excluding tables, diagrams, bibliography, references and appendices) are:
For the creative work and exegesis format, the exegesis must normally not exceed:
Aim to stay below the maximum to allow room for revisions. If your thesis exceeds the limit, you must seek prior approval from the Pro Vice Chancellor – Graduate Research Training.
In a publication-format thesis, publications or papers replace some or all conventional chapters. These may include:
All publications included in the thesis must derive from research undertaken within candidature. Publications generated outside of candidature cannot be included. They must also not have been accepted for any other University award.
Your thesis must also include:
The discussion should not include a detailed reworking of the discussions from individual publications within the thesis.
An alternative version of the publication format, one which comprises a combination of conventional written narrative presented as typescript and publications (as defined above), is also acceptable. Both the conventional written narrative and the publications must be closely related in terms of subject matter and form a cohesive research narrative.
Each publication must be accompanied by a Statement of Authorship detailing your contribution as principal author and signed by all co-authors. This clarifies your role and the publication status, helping examiners understand the scope of changes they can recommend.
Examiners may comment on published chapters. Any shortcomings/comments raised by examiners in their reports should be addressed as part of the discussion/general conclusion chapter of the thesis. If errors are detected, the public record should be corrected.
In contrast, recommendations for change can be made to any part of submitted or unpublished and unsubmitted manuscripts.
To avoid delays, complete a Statement of Authorship for each paper as you write it.
The number of publications required varies by research area. For example, some scientific fields may require three to six papers for a PhD; while in the Humanities, a single book-length work may be more suitable. Your supervisory team will guide you on what’s appropriate for your project.
Unless otherwise required under a joint PhD agreement, your thesis should include:
You are responsible for ensuring your thesis meets the academic and presentation standards expected for your degree. Theses submitted for examination must be free from typographical and spelling errors. Proofreading is essential, and this task should not be delegated to your supervisors.
If you choose to engage a professional editor, their contribution must be acknowledged in your thesis. Editors must follow the IPEd standards for editing practice, and limit their work to ‘Language and Illustrations’ and ‘Completeness and Consistency’ (Standards D and E).
Graduate research students who have completed the minimum candidature time, who have completed their research and whose progress is sufficiently advanced may be granted permission by the AUGRS to complete the writing up of the thesis outside the University. If such permission is granted the graduate research student will be allowed either 12 months or until the end of candidature, whichever is the lesser, to submit the thesis.
