After submission
Additional material on the examination process and other information relevant to higher degrees students can be found on our Information for HDR supervisors website.
Time spent under examination
Examiners are asked to complete the examination and provide their reports within six weeks of receiving the thesis. If they comply with this timetable and there are no problems, the entire process could be completed in approximately three months. In practice, however, it sometimes takes longer because examiners are busy people and may find it difficult to comply with the deadlines given. If you have not received advice on the progress of the examination after four months from the date of submission you should seek information from the Examinations Officer HDR.
Each examiner submits an independent report on the thesis, although examiners are at liberty to consult one another during their deliberations. An examiner may ask that certain questions be put to the candidate and that the responses be considered by the examiner. The examiner will send the list of questions to the Examinations Officer HDR who will communicate these with you.
Your enrolment
Your enrolment will continue while the thesis is under examination. You will be enrolled by Deakin Research in a 0 credit point examination unit which, in addition to keeping your candidature active, enables you to have access to the Library and IT services. There are no fees for 0 credit point units
Consideration of examiners' reports
The process for considering the examiners' reports is set out in the Higher Degrees by Research Assessment Procedure.
The final outcome of examinations is determined by the Thesis Examination Subcommittee (TES), not the examiners. When all the examiners' reports have been received, the Faculty will consider the reports and make a recommendation as a guide to the TES. This process will normally involve consultation with the Head of School and the principal supervisor. The decision on how to respond to the reports from the examiners is made by the TES. The thesis must have the support of two examiners before the TES can recommend that the degree be awarded.
The examiners may require that corrections and amendments be made to the thesis before it is accepted (Recommendation 2.1 or 2.2). These may be minor, such as the correction of typographical errors, or they may involve significant revision of the thesis. If you are required to revise the thesis you should consult with the principal supervisor and the Head of School in making the revisions.
Minor amendments always need to be made to the satisfaction of the Head of School or nominee. A Minor Amendments Template has been designed specifically for this purpose. The completion of this document is not compulsory, but may be helpful for the supervisor and Head of School to revise the thesis revisions and approve it. Please note that this process should take place outside the online examination system (via email or in person). You should submit your final thesis into the Minor Amendment form in HDR Examinations. The supervisor and Head of School will login and officially approve completion of the amendments to their satisfaction. The template, if used, does not need to be submitted into the system.
Major amendments involve a re-examination by external examiners. As far as practicable any re-examination will be by the original examiners.
After the examination
The Examinations Officer HDR will release the final result through HDR Examinations after the outcome has been determined by the TES. You will receive an email notification through HDR Examinations and will be able to login and view the examiners' reports. You will be given the names of the examiners unless an examiner has asked that his or her name be kept confidential. You must then submit the library copy of the thesis in the format described under step 3. Preparation and lodgement of library copies section on the Examination procedures page.
Graduation
Once you have submitted your library copy into HDR Examinations and it has been approved, the Examinations Officer will seek approval of the degree from the Chair, Research and Research Training Committee and the Academic Board. This can take a few weeks depending on the time of year you submit. Once received, Graduations will be advised that that you are now eligible to graduate and they will contact you within 28 days. There are three graduation ceremonies each year, in April, October and December. The December ceremony is for international and/or School of Medicine students only. Depending on the timing and length of the examination process, it may not always be possible for you to graduate at the ceremony of your choice. Candidates should discuss the options with the Examinations Officer HDR.
Please note that doctoral graduands may not use the title "Doctor" until the degree has been conferred.
