FAQ - Current Students - Examination and Graduation
Do I have the right to object to possible examiners?
Does candidature cease 'ticking' upon submission?
How are the final copies of my thesis distributed
How can I check my graduations status?
How do I notify the Graduate Centre I am almost ready to submit my thesis?
How long do I have to Revise and Resubmit?
How long do I have to make amendments and lodge the final copies of my thesis?
How long does the examination process take?
I have a questions about my Graduation?
I received a Confirmation of Amendments and AR&S form but no amendments were necessary. Do I need to complete this form?
If I am required to revise and re-submit my thesis will it go back to the original examiners?
If I am submitting the Electronic copy of my thesis for examination do I still need to submit printed copies?
In what format should the Electronic copy of my thesis submitted for examination be?
Must a resubmitted thesis be sent to two examiners?
My transcript shows units associated with my program. Is this something about which I should be concerned and do I need a specific number of units in order to qualify academically for my degree?
What does the graduate centre need for examination?
What happens to my thesis when I give it to the graduate centre for examination?
What if my candidature expires before submission of my thesis?
What is meant by conferral dates and graduation presentation ceremony dates?
What is the difference between the Graduate Centre and Graduations?
What is the E-collect process?
What is the Exit Survey and who needs to do it?
When can I call myself Doctor?
When is the last date I can submit my thesis for examination in order to make graduation?
When will I receive my parchment?
Which date do I record on the title page of the thesis?
Do I have the right to object to possible examiners?
You may discuss potential examiners with your supervisor(s) and you may lodge an objection to any examiner you believe should not be considered to examine your thesis. While you have the right to identify any person(s) you believe should not be considered to examine your thesis, your objection does not serve as a veto. Please note also that your supervisor is not obliged to present you with an exhaustive list of potential examiners and that the onus is on you to raise any objection(s). You must lodge your objection on the "Notification of Intention to Submit" form as it is too late to object once the examination process has started. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
Does candidature stop 'ticking' upon submission?
After submission of your thesis for examination, your candidature remains active (with a load of zero) and you should be able to access University services and facilities as normal for a period of time. As your load is set to zero, you will stop incurring any tuition or ancillary fees. If your Library access expires, you can apply for it to be re-instated, free of charge. The application form ("Authorisation for University of Adelaide Library Borrowing Privileges") which is available from the Library Services Desk, must be authorised by the relevant Head of School (or Faculty). More information available in Research Student Handbook.
How are the final copies of my thesis distributed
Before the degree can be conferred you are required to lodge, with the Graduate Centre, one hard-bound copy and one electronic thesis copy on the disc (which was provided previously).
The final thesis copies will be used as follows:
• one hard-bound copy for inclusion in the University Library's collections; and•one electronic copy for the Library for inclusion in the Adelaide Research and Scholarships Digital Repository (AR&S).
How can I check my graduations status?
You can check your status on “Access Adelaide” or alternatively you may call the Graduations Office More information available on Graduations website.
How do I notify the Graduate Centre I am almost ready to submit my thesis?
Approximately three months prior to submitting a thesis you are required to complete and lodge, with the Graduate Centre, a "Thesis: Notification of Intention to Submit" form. This allows time for the School to nominate examiners, who will be given the opportunity to consent to examine the thesis. This form must be accompanied by a one-page summary of your thesis. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
How long do I have to Revise and Resubmit
You have three months from the date of the Graduate Centre examination outcome letter to decide whether or not to revise and re-submit your thesis and to advise the Graduate Centre of your decision. Irrespective of whether you are a full-time or half-time student you will be granted a maximum of twelve months, from the date of notification to the Graduate Centre, to revise and re-submit your thesis for examination. Any leave of absence approved during the twelve months will extend your candidature expiry date. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
How long do I have to make amendments and lodge the final copies of my thesis?
Once you have received notification of your outcome, you have a maximum of three months from the date of notification to undertake the required amendments and to lodge your final hard-bound and electronic thesis copies. Final thesis copies lodged after three months will not be accepted for the award of the degree unless the Dean of Graduate Studies has approved an application for additional time to complete the amendments.. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
How long does the examination process take?
A turnaround time of eight to ten weeks is normally expected. The Graduate Centre tries to ensure the process is completed in a minimum time-frame. However, some examinations are extended because of unexpected circumstances. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
I have a questions about my Graduation?
The Graduate Centre administers the candidatures of Higher Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy, research Professional doctorate and Masters by research students and the examination of the these theses. If your query is about graduations you will need to contact the Graduations Office, which is a separate department. Refer to: Graduations website.
I received a Confirmation of Amendments and AR&S form but no amendments were necessary. Do I need to complete this form?
Yes. Before the degree can be conferred you are required to lodge, with the Graduate Centre, one hard-bound copy and one electronic thesis copy on the disc (which was provided previously).
The final thesis copies are used as follows:
- one hard bound copy for inclusion in the University Library's collections
- one electronic copy for the Library for inclusion in the Adelaide Research and Scholarships Digital Repository (AR&S). Further information about the AR&S is available on the Library website.
The completed "Confirmation of Amendments and AR&R" form must be lodged at the same time as you lodge your final thesis copies. This form also provides information to assist the Barr Smith Library when lodging your electronic thesis on the AR&S website.
If I am required to revise and re-submit my thesis will it go back to the original examiners?
As far as possible the thesis will be examined by the original examiner(s) who failed the thesis, but there are occasions when original examiner(s) may decline to re-examine a thesis. [Also, in very rare instances, the Research Education and Development Committee (REDC) may decide, for valid academic reasons, that the thesis be examined by different examiner(s).] In these instances your School will be requested to provide a list of other suitable examiners. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
If I am submitting the Electronic copy of my thesis for examination do I still need to submit printed copies?
Three hard- or soft-bound copies of the thesis, together with an electronic copy in a portable document format (PDF), are required for examination purposes. More information available in Handbook and E-Collect website.
In what format should the Electronic copy of my thesis submitted for examination be?
The electronic thesis has to be in a single file, in PDF, on a CD. Document security will be added by the Graduate Centre. More information available on the E-Collect website.
Must a resubmitted thesis be sent to two examiners?
This will depend on the outcome of the initial examination. If the two initial examiners failed the thesis it will be re-submitted to those two examiners. If only one examiner failed the thesis then it will be sent back to that examiner only. On occasions, however, the original examiner(s) may decline to re-examine the thesis. [Also, in very rare instances, the Research Education and Development Committee (REDC) may decide, for valid academic reasons, that the thesis be examined by different examiner(s).] In these instances your School will be requested to provide a list of other suitable examiners. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
My transcript shows units associated with my program. Is this something about which I should be concerned and do I need a specific number of units in order to qualify academically for my degree?
No and No!
Postgraduate units are determined by the amount of time spent in “active” candidature. The total number of units which appears is dependent upon a number of factors, including the date your candidature started, leave taken, your candidature lapse date, and the date your thesis was submitted.
Postgraduate programs differ from undergraduate ones, in that you do not need a specific number of units to qualify academically for your program.
What does the graduate centre need for examination?
A "Certification of Thesis for Examination" form, three hard- or soft-bound copies of the thesis, and an electronic copy in a portable document format (PDF). More information available in Handbook and E-Collect website.
What happens to my thesis when I give it to the graduate centre for examination?
If you have supplied the necessary documentation and hard-/soft-bound and electronic thesis copies, the Graduate Centre will send the thesis to the appointed examiners. Please be aware that examiners will need to be contacted again to determine availability if you submit your thesis later than the intended submission date you indicated on your "Thesis Notification of Intention to Submit" form. The Graduate Centre will then check if examiners have been recorded and how long it has been since they were last contacted. If it has been over three months the Graduate Centre will re-confirm that they are still available and then send your thesis to them via either courier or electronically. More information available in Resaerch Student Handbook.
What if my candidature expires before submission of my thesis?
If you do not submit your thesis for examination before your candidature expiry date, your attendance status will be recorded as lapsed. A lapsed candidature normally can be re-activated for the purposes of submission but only if the submission takes place within twelve months of the lapse date. The approval of the Research Education and Development Committee is required for submission of a thesis when candidature has been lapsed for longer than twelve months. For more detailed information, please refer to "Lapsed Candidature" in the Research Student Handbook.
What is meant by conferral dates and graduation presentation ceremony dates?
Eligible students have a statement added to their academic transcripts confirming they have completed the requirements of their awards and that the awards have been conferred. Doctoral candidates are eligible to use the title "Doctor" after the conferral statement has been added to their transcripts.
Graduation presentation ceremony dates are the dates of the ceremonies at which parchments are actually handed out.
What is the difference between the Graduate Centre and Graduations?
The Adelaide Graduate Centre administers the candidatures of Higher Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy, research Professional doctorate and Masters by research students and the examination of these theses. The Graduations Office administers the graduation process and graduation presentation ceremonies. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
What is the E-collect process?
E-Collect or Electronic Collection of theses, is the process whereby the thesis is delivered to examiners electronically. More information available on the E-Collect website.
What is the Exit Survey and who needs to do it?
The Exit Survey is designed to gather information about a student’s experience as a postgraduate research student at this University. The data collected is stored in a database, analysed regularly and the results reported to the Research Education and Development Committee (REDC) which oversees all postgraduate research programs. The information is used for quality management purposes and to identify future improvements to programs and support.
Participation in the Exit Survey is a condition of thesis submission.
More information available in Research Student Handbook.
When can I call myself Doctor?
After conferral of the degree (i.e. after the conferral statement has been added to your academic transcript)
When is the last date I can submit my thesis for examination in order to make graduation?
"The Graduate Centre cannot guarantee that you will meet a particular Graduations Office deadline, regardless of when you submit your thesis for examination. This is because of the number of variables involved: e.g. if examiners are in place at the time of submission; if the Graduate Centre has to re-confirm their availability; the examination turn-around time; if you are required to make amendments to your thesis.
The Graduate Centre advises you to check the Graduations website, upon submission of your thesis, for graduation application closing dates.
Please note that closing dates to apply to graduate, closing dates to lodge amended theses, conferral dates and graduation presentation ceremony dates are not necessarily the same.
You will be sent information about closing dates to lodge amended theses, conferral dates and graduation presentation ceremony dates at the same time as you are notified of your examination outcome (with the exception of an outcome of "revise and re-submit").
Comprehensive information about graduation, including closing dates, is available from the Graduations website. More information available in Research Student Handbook.
When will I receive my parchment?
If you attend the ceremony, you will be presented to the Chancellor/Presider and your parchment will be handed to you on stage.
If you choose not to attend a ceremony, you must advise (the Graduations Office) if you or your authorized representative will collect the parchment, or if you want the parchment to be posted to your home address
Which date do I record on the title page of the thesis?
The date required on the title page of the thesis is the date (month and year) when the thesis was originally submitted for examination (before amendments). Refer to Specifications for thesis Rule 2.2 (a).
