Higher Degree by Research Academic Program Rules

Which Academic Program Rules and Specifications for Thesis apply to me at the time of thesis submission?

Students can choose whether they wish their thesis to be examined under the academic program rules in place during the year of enrolment, or the rules in place at the time of submission. This selection is made at the time of notifying the Graduate Centre of your Intention to Submit your thesis for examination.

Where possible*, it is recommended that students elect to submit under the current rules and specifications for thesis for the following reasons:

• To ensure that the thesis delivered to examiners is consistent with current national and international expectations of a Doctoral or Master by Research thesis;
• That the University has, in general, moved to permit greater flexibility in the format of research theses e.g. PhDs may now be submitted in publication format (containing a mixture of published, submitted and unpublished papers), by creative work and exegesis or in the traditional narrative form; and
• The yearly revisions to the program rules and specifications for thesis document have resulted in greater clarity of doctoral and Master requirements to students, staff and examiners.

*Further information

To view current and historical Academic Program rules and Specifications for your Faculty, click on the relevant link below; those rules (e.g. Doctor of Philosophy) which apply to all Faculties are included at the top of each Faculty’s listings. Copies of program rules not viewable on the Faculty web sites are available from the Barr Smith Library in the Postgraduate Calendar for the relevant year or by contacting the Graduate Centre.

Alphabetical listing
Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of the Professions
Faculty of Sciences