Examination overview

Important: A bug is currently preventing GRs from sharing their live iThenticate reports with Chair of Examiners. This issue is also affecting the ‘share’ functionality within the program. IT are working with the vendor fix this issue as soon as possible.

What examiners look for

Examiners evaluate your work for understanding of the relevant literature, the methods and techniques used, the results and conclusions obtained. The full criteria used are included in the Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321).

The Thesis Examination System (TES)

Examination process

The examination process – from submitting your thesis to your viva, or, if being examined by thesis only, being notified of your examiners’ recommendations – will usually take a minimum of four months. The process and length of time will vary for each examination because examiners who are external to the University will be involved. Some examiners need more time due to their other responsibilities and commitments. Regular follow-ups with supervisors and examiners are an integral part of the exam process to minimise delays.

You will receive a result at your viva or, if you are being examined by thesis alone, when the chair of examiners has received and considered all reports. Once you receive your formal examination outcome, you will have a clearer idea of when you are likely to complete all degree requirements.

• Masters candidates will be examined by thesis only.
• PhD and doctoral candidates who commenced from 2025 onwards will have a viva examination.
• PhD and doctoral candidates who commence before 2025 will select whether you will have a viva when registering your intention to submit on Thesis Examination System (TES).
• Examinations for Joint PhD candidates will follow the requirements outlined in their Graduate Researcher Agreement (GRA)

Steps for examination by thesis only

Step 1

Lodge your intention to submit.

Step 2

Principal supervisor contacts potential external examiners.

Step 3

Submit your thesis (along with iThenticate report of submitted thesis). Begin writing your 50-word citation.

Step 4

Graduate Research Examinations Office reviews thesis; principal supervisor and chair of examiners approve it for examination.

Step 5

Graduate Research Examinations Office sends your thesis to approved examiners who have accepted a formal invitation.

Step 6

Examiners assess thesis and provide a report with their recommendations.

Step 7

Chair of examiners receives reports for consideration.

Step 8

You receive your examination outcome.

*Doctoral candidates: Receive recommendations for any required amendment (and/or resubmission).

Masters candidates: Receive final percentage mark.

Step 9

Principal supervisor submits 50-word citation for approval by associate dean (graduate research).

Step 10

Submit your final copy of thesis to chair of examiners.

Step 11

Once approved, submit an electronic copy of the final thesis to the Thesis Examination System (TES).

Step 12

Graduate Research Examinations Office will advise you of the final examination outcome.

Tips to minimise delays in your examination

The Graduate Research Examinations Office conducts regular follow-ups with supervisors and examiners to minimise delays. You can also help minimise any delays by doing the following:

• Schedule your completion seminar early enough to include any feedback you receive into your final thesis.
• Register your intention to submit through TES about two months before you submit your thesis. This will start the process of examiner nominations with your principal supervisor. Check that your principal supervisor has received the request to nominate examiners and started contacting potential examiners. Two months should allow enough time for examiners to be found, approved and formally accept the invitation to examine your thesis so there are no delays in sending them your submitted thesis, once it has been approved.
• Discuss your final submission with your supervisors, including your iThenticate report and ensure that they are happy with the version you are submitting before you submit, so that they can approve your submission more quickly.
• Use the Graduate Research Thesis Submission Checklist to ensure you have everything you need at the time of submission. Your thesis will not be sent for approval until the Graduate Research Examinations Office has verified your submission is complete.
• Share the live version of your iThenticate report with your principal supervisor and chair of examiners. You may need to check with your principal supervisor who will be your chair of examiners. This can particularly help your chair of examiners understand the report and approve your thesis.
• Avoid communicating with examiners while your thesis is under examination. In cases of unauthorised contact, the PVC for graduate research may replace an examiner and/or annul their report.

Completion of your degree

You will be eligible to complete once the final thesis is certified by the chair of examiners and an approved citation has been received by the Examinations Office. Once all requirements have been fulfilled, you will receive an email stating that you have successfully completed your degree.

Information about graduation and conferral will be included in your completion of degree notification email. Once you have confirmation that your degree has been conferred, you can add post-nominals, for example, PhDMelb. Doctoral degree graduates can use the title Dr.

If you require an official statement of your completion, including the official date of completion, you will be able to download a free Evidence of Qualification statement from my.unimelb. The University will issue an Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS), which will include your citation, after your degree is conferred. You can learn more about the documents you will receive once you complete, such as academic statements and transcripts as well as other documents you can order by visiting Academic transcripts and statements.

The rules about examination are within the Graduate Research Training Policy and associated Processes.

If you have any issues with your examination, visit Resolving Issues.

Doctorate viva examination

Examination criteria and marking

The examination criteria and processes are described in detail in the Graduate Research Training Policy.

Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may have been necessary for you to alter your research plan, leading to a project that is different to the one you had originally intended.  In some cases, this may mean that the thesis you submit is not typical for your discipline. Your discussion in the thesis of COVID-19 impacts will guide the examiners’ understanding of the reported work and the environment in which it was undertaken.

Changes to PhD and doctoral theses

The majority of PhD and doctoral theses require some amendment before the degree is awarded. You will be informed of the changes required and supplied with copies of the examiners' reports.

You should only make changes to your thesis in keeping with the recommendations of your examiners. The only other permitted change is if the publication status of a publication incorporated into your thesis has changed, in which case you can update that material to reflect the latest version allowed by the publishing agreement.

The corrections to your thesis should be incorporated into the body of the text. If your examiner has provided a list of requested changes, you will also be required to supply a similar enumerated list to describe how you have responded to those requests.

• Pass: no changes required, or only minor edits required, such as typographical errors, formatting issues or other corrections that have no bearing on the quality of the overall argument. The chair of examiners verifies the required changes have been addressed. You will be given two months to complete any minor amendments, but are encouraged to submit your final thesis as soon as possible.
• Pass with minor revisions: minor revisions to content are required. Examiners will provide a list and an explanation of each required revision. Revisions will be reviewed and verified by the chair of examiners, who may consult the Examiner to confirm the validity of the changes. The revised thesis is the final version. You will be given two months to complete any revisions.
• Major revision: serious shortcomings in the content of the thesis are present but can be resolved with major revision. Examiners will provide a list and an explanation of the required changes. The revised thesis is returned to one or both examiners to consider, and they assess the revised thesis accordingly. A thesis submitted for reassessment may only be awarded a result of pass, pass with minor revisions, or fail. Candidates are given 12 months to revise and resubmit the thesis. Your revision should address and respond to any concerns raised by the examiners, as well as make other changes to improve the thesis. Your revised thesis will be reassessed in its entirety. This is a final opportunity to ensure that your thesis meets the requirements of the degree.

Citation for Completion

Citation examples

Technical terms

"who investigated biofilms of the hospital 'superbug' Klebsiella. Biofilms are resistant to standard disinfection and treatment regimes.  He discovered that biofilm formation was mediated by Mrk, a bacterial attachment structure, regulated by a protein, MrkH. The identification of MrkH presents opportunities for creating biofilm-resistant plastics and drug inhibitors of biofilms."

"who investigated the invasion process of cancer cells. A protein known as Tks5 was implicated in the formation of membrane structures on the cell surface known as invadopodia. His study gives unique insight as to how cancer cells utilise Tks5 within invadopodia to facilitate invasion throughout the body."

Discipline-specific examples

Arts

"who completed a study of Victoria's celebrated initiatives in community consultation in the 1970s and 80s. She showed how governments and key mediating agencies marginalised radical and politically turbulent values and interests to achieve forms of consultation consistent with conservative interest accommodation practices traditional to Victorian politics."

Business & Economics

"who studied how leaders use performance evaluations and rewards to influence employee behaviours. He finds that while lenient evaluations have negative organizational consequences, the opposite is true for lenient rewards. He also finds that being somewhat lenient with rewards helps leaders more clearly communicate their priorities and build their credibility."

Psychological Sciences

"who studied parents of adolescents with emerging psychosis. She found that certain coping styles and beliefs about mental illness were associated with parents' distress and grief, and with problematic interactions with their children. Her study has important implications for psychological interventions with mentally ill young people and their caregivers."

Earth Sciences

"who investigated the origins of diamond-bearing magmas from India. He established a new analytical technique and used this to reveal subtle differences in the mantle source characteristics between provinces. This technique has attracted international interest and is currently being applied to the kimberlites of South Africa."

Education

"who investigated the impact of learning on the political literacy of young activists. He developed our understanding of political knowledge, skills and values and how these influenced participation.  His study gives unique insight to a new generation of activists and poses challenges for researchers, policy makers and education practitioners."

Engineering

"who studied the structural behaviour of concrete walls, composite steel-concrete columns and industrial buildings when subjected to fire. The study improved our understanding of appropriate levels of building safety and now forms the basis of structural design requirements for building elements and buildings in situations involving fire."

Law

"who examined the problem of human trafficking for forced labour in the fishing industries of Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. He demonstrates the failure of these countries to harmonise their responses under norms of ‘transnational criminal law’. His findings expose legal and policy ‘fault-lines’ for the benefit of future industry regulation."

Medicine

"who investigated the role of chromosome breaks in the development of leukaemia in mice. A new tumour suppressor gene was unequivocally implicated, and its position refined to a degree which will allow cloning of the gene, and examination of the role of the equivalent gene in human cancer."

Music

"who developed a system for analysing tonal implications in fifteenth-century European Music. He found that many Renaissance works, unlike later Classical music, project two tonal centres. His study opens the way for a richer understanding of the links between Early Music and the music of today."

Science

"who investigated the relationship between fire, vegetation and climate in western Tasmania, Australia, over the last 12,000 years. She identified climate as the dominant control over fire activity, and produced Australia’s first ever pollen-based estimates of vegetation change, reconciling a long-standing debate over the evolution of this landscape."

Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

"who studied key pork supply chain factors that influence eating quality to develop cuts-based predictive eating quality models for pork. Her studies focussed on reducing eating quality variability of Australian pork, informed by quantitative consumer analyses, to improve consumer acceptability and support its differentiation as a consistently high quality product."