Examination and Outcomes

Examination Process

Once the primary thesis submission has been received and processed by the Graduate Research School and the examiners have been approved, the thesis examination can commence.

Examiners

The Graduate Research School sends the examination packages to approved examiners, who have six (6) weeks to examine the thesis. Examiner extension requests are very common. The Graduate Research School can administratively approve an additional four (4) week extension. Requests beyond this period require principal supervisor approval.

Chair of Examiners

Once all examiners reports are received, they are forwarded to the Chair of Examiners, who has two (2) weeks to complete and return the Chair of Examiners Outcome Recommendation Form based on the provided examiner reports and any other relevant documents.

Graduate Research Committee (GRC)

The Graduate Research Committee (GRC) will decide on the examination outcome and are provided with:

• All examiners' reports;
• Chair of Examiners Outcome Recommendation Form; and
• Any additional information required

Graduate Research School (GRS)

The Graduate Research School will notify the candidate, supervision team, and Chair of Examiners of the examination outcome and timeline, providing all examiner reports (excluding recommendations), the Chair of Examiners Outcome Recommendation Form (Only if the Chair of Examiners has completed the optional feedback section for the candidate), and any annotated theses.  Note that examiner reports remain confidential until the Graduate Research Committee has determined a final outcome.

Candidates

International candidates with concerns about how outcomes might affect their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) must consult with International Services.

Extension requests to the re-examination/final thesis submission date will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Manager of Student Experience & Quality, Graduate Research School and must be supported by the Principal Supervisor and the HDR Coordinator.

Any HDR Candidates wishing to apply for an extension beyond their final thesis due date must provide the Graduate Research School an email request to grs-exam@une.edu.au including:

• Duration of extension period
• Support from Principal Supervisor and the HDR Coordinator
• Justification for the extension
• Supporting documentation may be requested to help assess the extension request

This will then be forwarded to the Manager of Student Experience & Quality, Graduate Research School for assessment and an outcome.

The Graduate Research School will notify the HDR Candidate, Supervisors and HDR Coordinator the outcome.

Graduate Research Committee (GRC) Meeting Dates and Agenda Deadlines

The Graduate Research Committee (GRC) is responsible for the final approval of the Recommendation of Examiners form, Examination Outcomes and endorsing the Graduation List prior to it being sent to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research (DVCR) for final approval.

The above items are assessed and outcomes decided at the Graduate Research Committee meetings throughout the year. Please see below relevant dates to have items returned to be added to the agenda for any upcoming Graduate Research Committee meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: Items received after the Agenda Deadline will be added to the next available Graduate Research Committee Meeting Agenda.

Outcomes

Award

There are no errors or omissions that need amendment beyond typographical or editorial corrections.  Candidate has one (1) month to submit their final thesis to the Principal Supervisor and Chair of Examiners for assessment and approval.

Amendments

There are amendments, additions, or parts of the thesis that require revision or rewriting as specified by the examiners and/or Chair of Examiners. The timeframe for amendments will vary depending on the course rules the candidate is being examined under.

• Minor amendments has up three (3) months;
• Major amendments has up to six (6) months;
• Amendments (2024+) has up to six (6) months;

The candidate will be required to submit the final thesis to the Principal Supervisor and Chair of Examiners for assessment and approval.

Re-examination

The thesis does not yet meet required standards, and the degree cannot be awarded without re-submission and re-examination. The thesis requires significant structural or content changes. The amendments to the thesis must be based on the examination reports and sent to examiners for re-examination.

A candidate will be automatically re-enrolled into research units for a further period of study under the supervision of their principal supervisor and team (all applicable fees will be charged from the enrolment date and it is the candidates' responsibility to ensure they are paid).  The timeframe for revising the thesis will vary depending on the course rules the candidate is being examined under.

• Pre 2024 Course Rules has up to nine (9) months
• 2024+ Course Rules has up to twelve (12) months

Re-submission of the HDR thesis for re-examination must be approved by the Principal Supervisor, Head of School/Delegate and the Chair of Examiners.

Awarded Master by Research (2024+ Course Rules and Doctoral Theses Only)

The candidate has not demonstrated a contribution to knowledge that is of sufficient significance or originality for a doctoral degree but meets the standard expected for a master by research degree.

• Master by Research Awarded - There are no errors or omissions that need amendment beyond typographical or editorial corrections.  Candidate has one (1) month;
• Master by Research Awarded with Amendments -  There are amendments, additions, or parts of the thesis that require revision or rewriting as specified by the examiners and/or Chair of Examiners. Candidate has six (6) months.

The candidate will be required to submit the final thesis to the Principal Supervisor and Chair of Examiners for assessment and approval.

Please  Note:  A change in the title page will be required stating that the degree is now Master of Philosophy or relevant Master by Research degree as specified in the outcome.

Non-Award (Fail)

The thesis has substantive, irredeemable flaws in scholarship, research or argumentation that render it inadequate for the award of a higher degree by research. The candidate may appeal the decision of the Graduate Research Committee through the Appeal Process outlined in the HDR Thesis Submission and Examination Policy.

Chancellor’s Doctoral Research Medal

A doctoral candidate may also be awarded the Chancellor's Doctoral Research Medal in cases where a minimum of two examiners have recommended awarding the Chancellor's Doctoral Research Medal. More information about the Chancellor's Doctoral Research Medal can be found in the HDR Scholarships, Prizes, and Awards Policy.

Re-Examination Thesis Submission

It is the candidates responsibility to ensure that the Re-Examination Thesis Submission has been submitted to grs-exam@une.edu.au.

When submitting a thesis for re-examination please provide the following documents to grs-exam@une.edu.au in a single email.

• PDF revised thesis for re-examination (all dates to remain the same or original submission);
• Submission for Re-Examination Form (signed by candidate, Principal Supervisor, Head of School/HDR Coordinator & Chair of Examiners);
• Comprehensive Candidates’ Responses to Examiners Reports, using the Thesis Amendments Template;
• Right of Access to Thesis Form* (if changed from original submission)
• You will also need to submit any research data that is additional, changed or has been re-analysed to RUNE.

The School is responsible for reviewing the revised thesis for re-examination and determining if the HDR candidate has satisfactorily completed the required changes/amendments according to the Graduate Research Committee (GRC) examination outcome and the examiners reports.

If the Principal Supervisor/HDR Coordinator/Chair of Examiners deems that the any of the above conditions have not been satisfactory met, the Principal Supervisor/HDR Coordinator/Chair of Examiners will provide the HDR Candidate feedback.

Once all parties confirms that all conditions are satisfactory met then they will confirm by sign off the Submission for Re-Examination form.

All required forms need relevant approval prior to submission to the Graduate Research School. If unsigned or unapproved forms are provided, the submission is unable to be processed.

Examination Process

The examination process for the re-examination is the same as a primary submission, with the following exceptions:

• All re-examination theses are sent back to the original examiners in the first instance.
• Where an original examiner has declined to re-examine the thesis the Principal Supervisor will be advised and alternative examiner/s will be required - this may delay the start of the re-examination.
• Examiners are provided with the revised thesis, original examiners' reports and the comprehensive candidate's responses to Examiners Reports (Thesis Amendments Template) as part of their re-examination package.