3. Thesis examination
If you have submitted your thesis for examination via UQ eSpace please read this document for information on how your examination will progress.
You can track the progress of your examination via UQRDM.
The examination process begins when you upload your thesis submission through your UQRDM thesis dashboard. The entire process, from thesis submission to examination outcome usually takes 3-6 months.
As your thesis progresses through each step of the examination process, your UQRDM status will update. If, at any point in the process, your UQRDM status seems to have stalled, please email the Graduate School thesis team, and we will give you an update.
3. Examination outcomes
You will receive your examination reports and outcome once the Dean of the Graduate School has made a decision. This will be emailed to your UQ student account.
Possible examination outcomes include:
- Degree awarded with no further changes to the thesis.
- Degree awarded with changes to the thesis. You will have up to 3 months to complete the changes
- Repeat oral examination based on the recommendation of the oral exam panel.
- Revise and resubmit the thesis based on examiners’ reports. You will have up to 12 months to revise and resubmit.
- Fail, but only after re-examination of your revised and resubmitted thesis.
If you need a letter for your employer or sponsor to show that your thesis is being corrected following feedback from your examiners, you can submit a request through the Student Centre.
No further changes
If the recommendation is that no further changes are required, all you need to do is upload your final thesis to UQRDM.
Read more about final thesis upload.
Changes
Most candidates are required to make some changes – or corrections – to their thesis.
Any changes you make should be recorded in a separate document to the thesis. This ‘response’ document should clearly explain your response to each change request.
You don’t have to make every change your examiners suggest, but you need to address the point and explain why you have decided not to make that change.
Most candidates use the following format:
Examiner | Recommendation | Old page, paragraph nos. | New page, para nos. | Response |
---|---|---|---|---|
A | Correct referencing on these two pages | 14–15, all paragraphs | 14–15, all paragraphs | All referencing has been corrected and standardised using Chicago Style |
B | Develop the argument further | 66–68, all paragraphs under ‘Historical overview’ subheading | 66–72, all paragraphs under ‘Historical overview’ subheading | {Put a detailed explanation here} |
etc. |
Once your list of changes has been reviewed by your advisors, you will need to upload your corrected thesis and the list of changes to UQRDM.
For more information, read the UQRDM guide – corrections (PDF, 120.8 KB).
Revise and resubmit
If your examination outcome was revise and resubmit, you will have to upload the following three files in PDF format to UQRDM:
- your revised thesis
- your, iThenticate report
- your list of corrections
The changes you make should be recorded in a separate document to the thesis. This ‘response’ document should clearly explain your response to each change request.
You don’t have to make every change your examiners suggest but you need to address the point and explain why you have decided not to make that change.
Most candidates use the following format:
Examiner | Recommendation | Old page, paragraph no. | New page, para no. | Response |
---|---|---|---|---|
A | Correct all referencing | All pages | All pages | All referencing has been corrected and standardised using Chicago Style |
B | Develop the argument further | Chapter 2 | Chapter 2 | {Put a detailed explanation here} |
etc. |
Wherever possible, your original examiners will re-examine your thesis.
Once your list of changes has been endorsed by your advisors, you can upload your revised thesis, and the list of corrections to UQRDM
For more information, read the UQRDM guide – resubmission (PDF, 128.2 KB).
Repeat oral examination
If you are asked to repeat your oral examination, you
To prepare, make sure you’ve read our advice about oral examinations. There are also learning workshops that could help you prepare.
Fail
A thesis can fail if:
- the first examination outcome is revise and resubmit, and
- the revised thesis is deemed not to be of an appropriate standard for any higher degree by research.
This outcome is only issued after a second examination and if the thesis is not of the appropriate standard for the award of any research higher degree.
Award of MPhil if PhD attainment is unsuccessful
This outcome is only issued after a second examination and if the thesis is not of an appropriate standard for a PhD but fulfils the criteria for an MPhil
More information is in the Higher Degree by Research Examination (with Oral Examination) Procedure and Higher Degree by Research Examination (without Oral Examination) Procedure.
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If your examiners disagree
If your examiners’ reports are radically divergent, the Dean of the Graduate School will seek advice from the Chair of Examiners. In some cases, a third examiner may be appointed.
For more information about examination outcomes, read the:
Need assistance?
Chat to the Graduate School Team