Examination of a Live Performance or Exhibition Process
1. Overview
1.1. This process supports the Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321) by setting out the detailed requirements for the examination of a live performance or exhibition at the University of Melbourne.
2. Purpose
2.1. Attending a live performance or exhibition (the event) enables examiners to view the creative component of a thesis as it is intended to be experienced by an audience, and to contextualise the creative output in relation to the dissertation.
3. Process
Communication and arrangements
3.1. The candidate is responsible for discussing with the chair of examiners whether the event is to be held publicly or in private and its scheduling, in accordance with faculty timelines.
3.2. The chair of examiners will arrange for the examiners to attend the event.
- a) if the event is to be held in private, the chair of examiners must schedule and select the venue for the event
- b) if the event is to be public, the chair of examiners may arrange for the examiners to attend the event at different times.
3.3. If the performance or exhibition is held prior to submission of the thesis's dissertation component, the candidate must submit an extended abstract of the thesis at least two weeks prior to the event. The extended abstract should be between:
- a) 1000–3000 words for a doctoral degree, and
- b) 500–1500 words for a masters degree (research).
3.4. The Chair of Examiners will provide the examiners with the extended abstract no later than one week prior to the event.
Conduct of the live performance or exhibition
3.5. The Chair of Examiners and the examiners must attend the event in person. If the examiners attend the event at different times, the Chair of Examiners must attend the event on each occasion.
3.6. If the event involves audience participation or interaction with the candidate, the chair of examiners must ensure the candidate cannot inappropriately influence the examiners’ assessment of the creative output.
Assessment of the creative output
3.7. The candidate is not informed of the examiners’ preliminary assessment of the creative output.
Thesis submission
3.8. The dissertation must be submitted within six months of the event and no later than the expiry of an agreed lapse period or approved late submission period.
3.9. In exceptional circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor for graduate research may allow the dissertation to be submitted more than six months after the event, provided that can still be achieved within the agreed lapse period or approved late submission period.
3.10. A durable record of the performance or exhibition must be submitted with the final version of the dissertation component of the thesis.
3.11. The recording of a live performance may be edited for sound and image quality but must not alter the substance of the performance.
3.12. If the candidate is being examined by viva, the viva cannot proceed until both examiners have had an opportunity to consider all components of the thesis.
Examination of a Live Performance or Exhibition Process version 1.
Authorised by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate and International Research), 1 January 2025.