Doctoral Research Medal

The University awards up to 15 Doctoral Research Medals for the highest quality PhD theses examined each year. Medals are presented at the relevant April Graduation Ceremony in the year following the one for which the medal was awarded, or privately by appointment. Recipients are eligible for V.I.P. seating for three guests.

Selection Process for the Doctoral Research Medals

1. At the end of the year, the Graduate Centre prepares a short-list of candidates for doctoral medal consideration.  In order to be short-listed, students must have:
• qualified for their award within the Calendar year for which the medals are to be awarded;
• completed within 4 years FTE from the commencement of candidature;
• have achieved an examiner recommendation of 1 (award degree) or 2 (award degree subject to the specified amendments) from both examiners; and
• been nominated for a University medal by at least one examiner OR have been recommended for a Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence by both examiners.
2. For each Faculty, the Graduate Centre prepares a spreadsheet containing the following information about their short-listed candidates:
• the number of examiners who recommended that the student's thesis was worthy of a Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence (1 or 2);
• the number of examiners who recommended that the student's thesis was worthy of a Doctoral Research Medal (0, 1 or 2);
• the quality ratings provided by each examiner (from 1, exceptional to 6, flawed) for the following criteria:
• The thesis as a whole is a substantial and original contribution to knowledge of the subject with which it deals;
• the candidate shows familiarity with, and understanding of, the relevant literature;
• the thesis provides a sufficiently comprehensive study of the topic;
• the techniques adopted are appropriate to the subject matter and are properly applied;
• the results are suitably set out and are accompanied by adequate exposition;
• the quality of English and general presentation are of a standard for publication; and
• any comments made by the examiners in support of a doctoral medal recommendation.
3. The spreadsheets are sent to Executive Deans, together with copies of the examiners' and supervisor's reports for each short-listed candidate;
4. With reference to the materials provided, Executive Deans determine the order of merit list for short-listed candidates in their Faculty;

The Research Education and Development Committee determines a University order of merit list from the Faculty rankings provided and determines how many medals are to be offered for the year.