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PHIL899 – Master of Research - Philosophy

2018 – s1 day, general information.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of how to define a specific academic discipline.
• Demonstrate awareness of the historical development of the discipline in which the project is being undertaken.
• Demonstrate a clear ability to communicate the relationship of the project to the discipline and sub-discipline in both written and oral form.
• Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate the leading scholarly approaches within in the sub-discipline.

General Assessment Information

Some of these assessments contribute towards your final grade for the MRES, others are milestones that must be completed satisfactorily to allow your further progression and final submission of the MRES thesis in October.

Assessments with 0% assigned to them are ‘milestone’ assessments used to monitor progress; students cannot graduate unless they have satisfactorily completed all of the milestone assessments. 

Assessment deadlines and tasks may be updated throughout the year so keep checking online in the ilearn space to stay abreast of any updates.

Assessment Tasks

• Conference presentation

Due: At unit session Weighting: 5%

Students will give an oral presentation (value 5% of overall MRes grade) of 10 minutes during one of two sessions of the unit in which they will:

• Briefly outline their MRes Research Project
• Identify and describe the broader field and/or discipline in which their project sits, noting the key research questions that guide researchers in the field.
• Describe how their own project is situated in relation to the discipline (and/or sub-discipline), relevant key thinkers and questions.
• Identify any relevant sub-disciplinary and/or cross-disciplinary initiatives and directions that have moved researchers into new areas of investigation/analysis.
• Written Report

Due: 1 week after presentation Weighting: 5%

One week after the conference presentation students will submit a 3000 word report (value 5% of overall MRes grade) to their MRES director. This will consist of two parts. The first part will consist of the paper as presented at the  unit session or the Faculty conference.  The length of this part of the report will not exceed 2500 words. The second part of the report will be a 500 word reflection on the conference or unit session.

• Draft Literature Review

Due: End of Week 11 Weighting: 0%

As part of your thesis, you will survey the current literature relating to your individual research project. This assessment is designed to give you a framework within which to complete this component of your thesis,  A draft literature review or survey must be submitted to your supervisor for comment by the deadline . The length of the literature review is dependent on the discipline/sub-discipline, and this draft will act as part of the final thesis, where it will be assessed.

• Methods Report

Due: End of Week 13 Weighting: 0%

The research methods program builds on the skill-based units undertaken in year one of the MRes – for year 2 direct entry candidates this is even more important as you may not have had this recent recap on methodology and project design. Remember the activities you undertake here must also be supported by regular contact with your supervisors – combined, this will equip the candidates with all the relevant skills to conduct their thesis research.

Assessment : Students are be expected to complete all three components of the Research Methods program (i.e.: Research Diary; Oral Report and Methods Report). The Methods report will be no more than 500 words and will be graded as satisfactory/unsatisfactory. The final methods written report is due approximately one week after the workshop session and must be submitted to the MRes Year 2 Convenor .

• Thesis submission

Due: Date advised Weighting: 90%

Candidates are expected to complete a significant individual research project of their own design in order to demonstrate individual research capability to conduct major (PhD) research project.

Candidates will prepare a thesis equivalent to 15,000-20,000 words, subject to disciplinary standards, equivalent to a research paper published in a high impact (first quartile) journal in the appropriate discipline.

The thesis will be due on the date advised by the HDRO.

• PhD Proposal Workshop

Due: After thesis submission Weighting: 0%

The PhD proposal will build on the MRes thesis (as a foundation for future research), but it should also offer a focus, topic and/or set of research questions distinct from the MRES thesis.

A workshop on planning the PhD will be offered after MRes thesis submission.

Students should explore possible topics and discuss their ideas with their supervisors as early as possible and work on draft documents closely with the supervisor throughout the year.

Delivery and Resources

Macquarie University provides a range of learning skills support and training to assist research candidates in developing essential skills in academic literacy, research methods and professional development. Most of these resources are free for current MQ MRes candidates; for those which attract a fee, interested candidates should consult their department about funding options, e.g. using research training funds. In addition to seeking advice from their supervisors, candidates should explore the options below.

For a listing of the current HDR courses and workshops, please go to hdrworkshops.mq.edu.au

Other HDR Training Opportunities

Please see the HDR Learning Support Page

Unit Schedule

Policies and procedures.

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central  ( https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central ). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

• Academic Appeals Policy
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Academic Progression Policy
• Assessment Policy
• Fitness to Practice Procedure
• Grade Appeal Policy
• Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
• Special Consideration Policy   ( Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway  ( https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway ). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central  ( https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central ).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct:  https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results shown in  iLearn , or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in  eStudent . For more information visit  ask.mq.edu.au .

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit  http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills ( mq.edu.au/learningskills ) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

• Academic Integrity Module for Students
• Ask a Learning Adviser

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service  who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit  http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/ . 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy . The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Pg - capable of professional and personal judgment and initiative.

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Assessment tasks, pg - discipline knowledge and skills.

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

Learning outcome

Assessment task.

• Macquarie University Library
• Subject and Research Guides

Theses @ Macquarie University

• Submitting your thesis
• Copyright and your thesis

About this guide

Macquarie University Theses Collection  is the open-access digital collection of the University’s research and scholarly output. It contains digital versions of Macquarie University higher degree theses deposited with the Library.

This Guide will explain how to submit your thesis to the digital collection and highlights copyright questions to consider.

Theses formats at Macquarie

The Library holds copies of Macquarie theses for PhD, professional doctorates, masters and MRes in print, microfilm or digital formats. Limited honours theses are collected on advice of the Faculty. Submission of print theses is no longer required by the University.

Theses available in print only are located in the Library's Thesis Collection. Access to the Thesis Collection is restricted, and items must be used under supervision. For more information see our  Theses Finding guide .

Mandatory submission of digital theses commenced in 2011.  Macquarie University Theses  collection contains digital versions of Macquarie University higher degree theses deposited with the Library. Records of the Macquarie University theses are also searchable in  MultiSearch .

Benefits and potential issues

What are the benefits of submitting a digital copy of my thesis.

A digital thesis:

has a greater potential readership than a thesis stored in hard copy; it is accessible in any country at any time of the day.

is cited more often than a hard copy version and has a greater research impact.

is protected from destruction by disasters such as fire or flood because it is stored in Macquarie University Theses's secure digital environment.

Why should the Library keep a digital version of my thesis?

The Library uses commercial software that is specifically designed for storing digital objects. It has the following advantages over other options like a personal website:

Availability  – a thesis in the Library’s repository is sent to other repositories such as  Trove ,  Google Scholar , NDLTD and  OAISTER  and is more accessible to academic searches. The thesis is assigned a persistent identifier so that a link to the thesis will always be current and resolvable.

Preservation and security  – specific preservation and metadata standards are adhered to so the digital objects can be viewed well into the future and are easily migrated to new systems with no data loss. A comprehensive data protection policy will also protect the thesis to ensure backup and security. Storing your electronic thesis outside the repository may make it more vulnerable to loss or tampering.

Access rights  – the ability to view or hide the thesis in a repository can be tightly controlled.

Document presentation  – the repository can deliver additional viewing tools to enhance the viewing of the thesis. It can also create various relationships between digital objects such as images, video and sound files to create an enriched presentation.

Searching  – the repository has powerful database indexes created from standardised metadata and full-text extraction. This allows full-text searching and controlled searching similar to a library catalogue. The search results can be sorted, limited and emailed in a citation format.

State of the art systems  – the repository will be upgraded regularly with new developments to ensure that all of the above features are continually enhanced.

Who can make a copy of my thesis?

Except where an exemption has been granted, macquarie university requires that any thesis deposited with the library be immediately available for use..

Under existing copyright conditions and deposit arrangements, the Library is able to make a copy of a thesis, in whole or in part, if an individual requests this for the purposes of research, criticism or review. Copying limits will be determined by relevant copyright regulations or embargo conditions.

For further information about access to your thesis, contact [email protected]

Theses Quick Links

Access digital and print versions of theses

• Macquarie University Theses Collection Open access repository of digital theses submitted at MQ
• Theses Finding Guide Guide to finding digital and print Macquarie theses, Australian theses and international theses.
• Next: Submitting your thesis >>
• Last Updated: Jan 22, 2024 1:31 PM
• URL: https://libguides.mq.edu.au/theses

Thesis preparation, submission and examination

Rules and procedures for your thesis.

It is important that you understand your responsibilities and the relevant procedures you need to follow during the thesis submission process.

Nomination of examiners

The University requires nomination and selection of graduate research thesis examiners to be based on the principle that students receive an impartial examination by high-quality examiners in the relevant field of research.

The examiners must not have had any involvement in the preparation of the thesis, as a member of the supervisory panel or as an academic advisor for the student. The University expects all supervisors, faculties and examiners to report all actual or potential conflicts of interest.

The University applies the Conflict of Interest Guidelines [PDF 28MB] of the Australian Council of Graduate Research.

PhD/MPhil students

You should discuss possible examiners with your Principal Supervisor and other supervisors at least three months in advance of your thesis submission date. Your supervisor will contact the possible examiners to ascertain their availability to examine your thesis.

Once confirmed, your supervisor will submit an electronic examiner nomination via the HDR Thesis Examination portal to the Thesis Examination Subcommittee for review and approval. This normally includes a list of:

• Five examiners for a doctoral degree
• Four for a Master of Philosophy degree

You will have to electronically confirm the selection of the nominated examiners.

For further information on the nomination of examiners, see Schedule 2 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy.

Master of Research (MRes) students

You should discuss with your Principal Supervisor the names of any persons that you do not wish to examine your thesis at least two months before your expected thesis submission date.

Your supervisor will contact possible examiners to ascertain their availability to examine your thesis. Once confirmed, your supervisor will submit an electronic examiner nomination via the HDR Thesis Examination portal to the Thesis Examination Subcommittee for review and approval.

For further information on the nomination of examiners, see the Master of Research - Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Procedures and Schedule 2 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Thesis preparation

Before you submit your thesis, it is important to ensure you are following all content, presentation, formatting, and length requirements. These may vary depending on your faculty, department or examiner’s needs. While your supervisor can guide you, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure you follow University standards.

Your thesis must showcase the results of your original research during your candidature, with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) theses requiring a distinct contribution to knowledge.

Unless agreed under a formal Joint or Cotutelle enrolment contract, a student may not submit as the main content of the thesis any work or material which has been previously submitted for any degree successfully completed at Macquarie University or elsewhere. However, they may incorporate that work or material in the thesis if the student specifies the work or material which has been so incorporated. At least half of the work done towards the thesis must be undertaken while formally enrolled as a graduate research student at Macquarie University.

While the presentation of research may vary, it generally includes a written component. Non-written thesis formats and media must be approved by your Faculty Executive Dean.

Your thesis must be written in English and be of satisfactory literary presentation. Theses written in full or in part in another language require approval by the Thesis Examination Subcommittee, which must be sought as soon as possible by your supervisor. If you are on a joint enrolment contract, you will not require separate approval for submission in a language other than English.

Note: The use of Generative AI to wholly generate a research output for examination is prohibited. Text-based Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT fall within the broad definition of contract cheating services according to the TEQSA Act 2011 (Cth), s5. Refer to the ' Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in Research' Guidance Note for further information.

Thesis by publication

A thesis by publication may include relevant papers, such as conference presentations, which have been published, accepted, submitted or prepared for publication for which at least half of the research has been undertaken during your enrolment. The papers must form a coherent and integrated body of work, which focusses on a single thesis project or set of related questions or propositions. The papers are one part of the thesis, rather than a separate component or appendix.

As a general rule, you will need to have enough papers to support the important findings from the research, presented in a logical and coherent way. Most theses by publication have between 2 and 8 papers in combinations of sole and co-authored papers.

You must complete (and submit with your thesis for examination) an  Authorship Contribution Statement  to document the contribution of all authors to each of the proposed or published research papers. This requirement is in accordance with the  Macquarie University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the  Authorship Standard . If there are multiple authors (5+) on the Authorship Statement, the contribution of each author must be noted but the form can be signed only by the student and supervisor (and corresponding author, if not supervisor). You may also choose to include the details of the contribution of all authors in the footnotes/endnotes or cover page for each experimental chapter.

In addition, section 1.6.55 of the Research Training Program (RTP) Guidelines sets out the requirement that the Commonwealth's contribution is acknowledged in research publications by RTP students where related to a research project.

The acknowledgement must include mention of the student's support through an 'Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship'.

An example acknowledgement statement would be:"This research is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship."

For further information on thesis by publication, see Schedule 1 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy and the Examiner Guidelines [PDF 202KB].

Creative component

If you are including a creative component, you must specify its size in relation to the critical component. Creative components must be submitted in a form which enables further examination/re-examination and allows for Library deposit.

Students may also choose to merge their creative and critical components, as in ficto-critical writing or essay films. In this case, you still have to include an explicit critical analysis in written form. Its length is based on Faculty expectations but is often 25,000 words for an MPhil thesis and 50,000 words for a PhD thesis.

For further information on theses with creative components, see Schedule 5 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy and the Examiner Guidelines [PDF 202KB].

Relationship between Master of Research (MRes) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The research project undertaken in the MRes is intended as a gateway to your PhD or MPhil project. However, the MRes thesis does not form part of your MPhil or PhD directly but works to help you better understand your research area and demonstrate your research ability.

If your topic for your PhD or MPhil thesis is related to your MRes, you must include a clear statement outlining what work was done for the MRes. If you must include any text or data from your MRes thesis in your PhD or MPhil thesis, you must identify this as such, as it is non-examinable. Failure to do so is a breach of Academic Integrity.

Presentation and formatting

The written component of your thesis should be presented:

• in A4 pdf format
• double or 1.5 spacing
• margins no less than 3cm on the left border, 1.5cm on the right border and 1.5cm on the top and bottom
• pages numbered consecutively

If one of your examiners requests a hard copy of your thesis for examination, you will have to submit a copy with a temporary binding of a stitched and glued soft cover or in hardback form (spiral binding or a loose-leaf binder of the spring-type or screw-type is not acceptable). During binding, the edges should be trimmed.

Preliminary pages

A thesis should incorporate the following pages in order:

• the thesis title
• your names and degrees
• your university department
• date of submission/re-submission.
• If applicable, the name of the organisation, institute or laboratory where the research was conducted
• a table of contents
• a summary of approximately 200-300 words for MRes/MPhil and 300-500 for PhD
• a signed statement [DOCX 16KB] indicating that:
• the work has not been submitted for a higher degree before
• you have referenced all sources and the extent to which you used them
• your Ethics Committee approval and protocol number (if applicable).

Cotutelle students should submit a statement [PDF 115KB] indicating that the thesis is being submitted in accordance with their Cotutelle agreement. If you have completed a thesis by publication , you must also specify your specific contribution to the conception, data collection, analysis and writing of each paper. The contribution of others to the preparation of the thesis or to individual parts of the thesis should also be specified in the thesis.

• Impact of COVID-19 changes on the thesis (if applicable). If you have had to make changes to your research due to the impact of COVID-19, you may want to include a statement [DOCX 28KB] about the impact of COVID-19 in your thesis. Note that this form should be used only to explain changes to the expected experiments or thesis direction. As the standard for thesis award remains the same, this form should not be used to justify the submission of poor quality work.
• Acknowledgements (if applicable).
• The written component of the thesis.

Diagrams, figures and tables

These may vary depending on your department.

These are general suggestions for normal practice:

• Diagrams and figures should be inserted in the appropriate place in the text.
• All figures should include a legend either at the bottom or next to the figures.
• Small tables should be inserted in the text. Lengthy or bulky tables should appear as an appendix.

Thesis length

Note: the maximum thesis length does not include footnotes or references.

The editing process for research students is governed by the ‘ Guidelines for Editing Research Theses ’ as set out by the Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd). As per the Guidelines, professional editing services can assist research students with copyediting (including language and illustrations) and proofreading to ensure that all thesis components are complete, consistent and correctly placed.

Whether you engage a professional editor or ask someone you know who is a good writer to check your manuscript, they will need to abide by these Guidelines and should be acknowledged in your thesis.

For more information about getting your thesis edited, check out our ‘ How do I get my thesis professionally edited ’ guide.

Thesis submission

Before you submit your thesis, it is important to ensure you prepare any additional required documents required.

Required documents

In addition to your thesis, you may also be required to submit other documents with your submission. You should prepare these documents before you commence the submission process.

Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement

The Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) is provided by Australian higher education institutions to graduating students on completion of the requirements for a particular higher education award. It provides a description of the nature, level, context and status of studies that were pursued by the individual named. Its purpose is to:

• assist in both national and international recognition of Australian qualifications
• promote international mobility and professional recognition of graduates.

For the Statement to be issued, you have to provide a thesis abstract of strictly no more than 100 words.

You must upload the abstract as part of your thesis submission in the HDR Thesis Examination Portal .

Ethics approval

If you were required to obtain Ethics approval for your research, you will need to provide a copy of the Macquarie University Ethics Committee letter with your thesis.

You must upload the approval letter with your thesis submission in the HDR Thesis Examination Portal . You should also have this information on hand to complete the required fields in the portal.

Unofficial academic transcript - PhD/MPhil students only

If you had to complete coursework units ( HDRT units ) during your candidature, you will need to upload an unofficial copy of your academic transcript with your thesis submission. You can download a copy of your transcript from eStudent .

Six Digit Field of Research (FOR) codes

You will have to provide at least one Field of Research (FOR) code on your thesis submission form. You can review the FOR codes on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website . If you are unsure which code to list, contact your supervisor for advice prior to commencing your thesis submission.

Submitting your thesis

When your thesis is complete and appropriately formatted, you must submit your thesis via the HDR Thesis Examination Portal . For more information view the instructions for submitting your thesis via the HDR Thesis Examination Portal [PDF 684KB].

Note for Master of Research (MRes) students: If your thesis is submitted late, you will be penalised one percentage point from your final MRes thesis grade per calendar day until your thesis is submitted. Submission will be taken as the date your thesis is submitted electronically via the portal.

If your supervisor is unable or unwilling to approve your thesis submission, the matter should be referred to the Faculty’s Associate Dean, Research Training and Partnerships for resolution.

Once your thesis is submitted, your candidature is considered to be 'Under Examination' (UX).

For information about the examination process, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Cotutelle and Joint Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students

If you are enrolled in a Cotutelle or Joint PhD program, refer to your agreement for additional information relating to your examiners and thesis examination. Joint PhD students with a lead university that is not Macquarie University must provide the following information to [email protected] to ensure your enrolment is not ceased:

• evidence of your thesis submission
• 100 words abstract for your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement
• a point of contact at the partner university

Celebrating your thesis submission

Then it’s time to promote yourself!  Join the Graduate Research Academy Network LinkedIn group and share a short statement of the most interesting, unusual or exciting thing about your research (no more than 25 words). Don’t forget to upload your selfie too!

Professional Portrait

To better equip you during your future job searches and improve your online profile, the GRA is also offering you the opportunity to have your professional portrait taken for free . Having a great-quality professional headshot is a fantastic way of showing confidence in your professional capabilities. You can use the images on your social media profiles, your resume, your website or blog, your business cards and even marketing collateral.

The next photo session dates will be advised soon. Keep an eye out here.

If you have any questions about this service, please contact  [email protected] .

Examination and completion

After your thesis is submitted and your examiners finalised, your thesis will be sent for examination. Each examiner is sent your thesis together with examination instructions guidelines. Your examiners are required to complete their examination and provide their report within four weeks for MRes theses and five weeks for PhD and MPhil theses. Students and supervisors should not contact examiners during the examination process.

For detailed information about the examination process, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Examination outcomes

• Award: The thesis meets all required standards in terms of the nature and quality of work undertaken, and the degree can be awarded without any further work by the student, other than the correction of typographical errors and small lapses of expression and presentation in the final copy.
• Award (after Corrections): The thesis meets all required standards in terms of the nature and quality of work undertaken, and the degree can be awarded without further examination once the student has made a number of corrections and clarifications in the thesis. The corrections are to be completed to the satisfaction of the Thesis Examination Subcommittee and are required to be completed within one month for MRes students and two months for MPhil/PhD students.
• Revision and re-examination: The thesis does not yet meet all required standards for the award of the degree and the student should complete a further period of research and writing. Normally, under this category, a student would re-enrol for a period of up to one-year full-time (or equivalent). The thesis will then be submitted for re-examination.
• Not award: The thesis does not meet the required standards for the award of the degree, and does not warrant a further period of research and writing.

MRes students will also be awarded a percentage score for their thesis. The maximum mark a thesis can receive after re-examination is 64%.

For further information about examination criteria and outcomes, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy.

Revise and resubmit

In some cases, you may be advised to revise and resubmit your thesis for re-examination. During re-examination, examiners are requested to determine whether or not the revised thesis now meets the requirements of the degree as specified.

Re-submission must occur within one year from the date of the decision for revision for PhD and MPhil students and three months from the date of the decision for revision for MRes students.

For re-submission, you will need to submit your thesis in accordance with the relevant submission requirements. You must also include documentation that addresses the matters raised in your initial examination. This documentation must not be examiner-specific.

• Initial examiners will receive an invitation to re-examine your thesis. Re-examiners are allowed access to your unrevised thesis, along with all reports from the University and initial examiners (subject to privacy requirements).
• If your initial examiners are unavailable, there may be new examiners appointed. You should make no direct contact with your examiners – any contact you wish to make must be approved by the Research and Research Training Committee.
• If you do not complete your re-submission in the determined time-frame, you will be deemed to have failed the requirements for the award of your degree.
• If you fail to meet the requirements of the degree on re-examination, you cannot apply for further re-examination.

Note that revision of your thesis requires you to re-enrol and pay any required fees.

For further information about the resubmission process, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Final thesis submission

All graduate research students, including PhD, MPhil and MRes students must submit a final digital copy of their thesis for inclusion in the in Macquarie University Theses which is Macquarie University’s open access digital collection. Access to graduate research theses is facilitated through the University Library.

Macquarie University Theses is designed to promote globally, preserve locally and provide open access to the research theses of Macquarie University's students. Records from Macquarie University Theses are also accessible from sources such as Trove Australia, Google and Google Scholar. The Macquarie University’s open access digital  theses collection gives your research greater potential readership, ensures your research is protected from destruction and provides security through adherence to metadata standards and access rights. The Library and the GRA work together to implement, manage and oversee the submission of digital theses for inclusion in Macquarie University Theses.

Further information and FAQs can be found Theses @ Macquarie University .

Once the thesis has been examined and passed by the Research and Research Training Committee, you have to submit  a ‘HDR Thesis Submission to Library Request’ eForm accompanied by the final digital copy of the thesis.

To submit, you must:

• Log in to  eStudent
• Click in the Forms tile
• Search for the ‘HDR Thesis Submission to Library Request’
• Complete the form

After submission of the eForm, your request will go to the Graduate Research Academy. You will receive an email notification confirming that your request has been completed.

The Library will accept your digital thesis in PDF, Word and RTF format. The final display format on Macquarie University Theses is PDF and the Library will convert your thesis into this format as required. If you intend to submit your thesis in PDF format, security protection or password access should not be applied.

Parts of your thesis may be subject to copyright. If you are concerned about copyright issues related to your thesis, check Macquarie's  information on copyright , talk to Macquarie University's  Copyright Coordinator or speak to your Research Librarian.

The University recognises that in particular cases commercial and confidentiality issues may necessitate a moratorium on the digital version of a thesis. This needs to be addressed at the earliest point during the candidacy. Approval from the Research and Research Training Committee (RRTC), with support from the Head of Department, is required for such access restrictions to be imposed on a thesis. For further information, please email [email protected] .

If your thesis contains material you have written and have published or is in the process of being published, you can request an embargo on your thesis. For further information about embargos, please contact the Library by emailing [email protected].

A thesis may include supplementary files, e.g. creative component or data files, that you wish to restrict from full open access. If this is the case, please email the Library at [email protected] to discuss options for managing restrictions to supplementary files.

Hardbound guidelines

If your faculty requests a hardbound copy of your thesis, you should prepare the thesis in accordance with the following requirements:

• The spine should state the title of the thesis (abbreviated if necessary), your family name, and the date of submission or re-submission.
• The words should be in gold lettering of suitable size.
• When published papers are submitted as additional evidence, they should be bound in the back of the thesis as an appendix. When they form part of the thesis body, they should be bound into the thesis itself.

International students

If you are an international student Visa holder, your visa date will be checked by the University when your thesis examination outcome has been finalised. If your visa is found to have more than 4 weeks’ validity, the Graduate Research Academy will report the thesis submission to the Department of Home Affairs (DIHA) . You are responsible for contacting DIHA regarding your change of visa status. If you wish to stay in Australia to wait for examination results, DIHA will need to be consulted. Contact DIHA directly for advice.

For further information about thesis preparation, submission and examination, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Celebrate your achievement!

Then it's time to promote yourself again by sharing your success and selfie photo on the  Graduate Research Academy Network LinkedIn group!

• Graduate Research Academy
• Level 2, 16 Wally's Walk
• Macquarie University NSW 2109
• T: +61 (2) 9850 4741
• E: [email protected]

Submit your thesis

Ensure that your thesis is appropriately formatted.

Related links

• Skill development