Thesis submission and examination
Preparing your thesis for submission requires you to make sure you have met the requirements for presentation, and had your final draft edited.
Thesis examination is a complex process and varies in length. A research student should expect the examination process to take between 3-6 months from the initial nomination of examiners to the Graduate Research Centre receiving all examiner reports. The period under examination can be a particularly anxious time for students and we take care to manage the process as efficiently as possible to minimise long waiting periods. The Graduate Research Centre also has well-established procedures to deal with overdue examiner reports.
To enquire about the examination process, please email: research_students@unisa.edu.au
- Refer to the examination checklist
- Use editing resources
- Print your thesis
- Submit your thesis for examination
- Examination and beyond - refer to the conferral checklist
Refer to the examination checklist
The Examination checklist for supervisors and students (RTF file) provides comprehensive details of the areas of responsibility and processes for preparing to submit. It should be read in conjunction with the academic regulations. In particular, see clauses 14 and 15 for the relevant degree.
Use editing resources
If your examiners don't have to worry about errors (eg grammar and inconsistencies) they will enjoy reading your thesis much more. Refer to the online workshop Completing your research degree (> Completing your thesis) for information about doing your own editing. However, because you are very close to your work, external editorial assistance will be helfpul. Check with your local area about available resources.
- IPEd's* Guidelines for editing research theses outline the extent and nature of editorial services that professional editors can provide when editing research degree students' theses and dissertations. Academic supervisors and research degree students also need to be clear about the editor's role as well as their own roles and responsibilities
- Editor Software provides products to help you with writing and editing, including StyleWriter - the Plain English Editor. The software is not free but there is a 30-day free trial
- Institute of Professional
Editors (IPEd) links to editorial organisations in each state of
Australia providing contact details for professional editors and cites
editing standards that identify and define the knowledge and skills
expected of experienced editors in Australia. Check with your
local area to
see if your budget allocation allows for this service.
- SA Society of Editors - Find an editor
Print your thesis
For detailed information on printing your thesis (including setting up to print two sided), go to the Word for thesis writing online workshop (staff and student access).
Using a bookbinder
In-house
Document Services is the printery of the University of South Australia, providing a full range of in-house printing, photocopying and graphic design services to students.
Document Services will print your thesis – use the Thesis Order Form to place your request. You can email dsc.mail@unisa.edu.au for a quote on the cost of printing.
External bookbinders
| Academic Bookbinding Co | 43 Bakewell Road, EVANDALE 8362 3649 |
| Archival Products Aust. Pty Ltd | 18 Belfast Street, HENLEY BEACH 8355 2069 |
| Chasdor Bindery Pty Ltd | 128 Grange Road, ALLENBY GARDENS 8346 9218 |
| Riggs Bindery | 36 Sussex Street, WARRADALE 8296 1049 |
| Vellum Binding and Printing | 2 Everard Avenue, KESWICK 8293 2225 |
| William Harley & Son Pty Ltd | 28 Dew Street, THEBARTON 8443 7515 |
Submit your thesis for examination
To submit your thesis for examination you need to follow this process in conjunction with your Principal Supervisor.
Before submission
- Nomination of examiners - RTF (for pcs) and Word (for Macs) - the process for nominating examiners is outlined in detail in the online workshop Completing your research degree (> Examiners - a crucial choice)
- Confidentiality disclosure agreement - RTF (for pcs) and Word (for Macs) - submitted with a thesis for marking where the author of the thesis or the University requires that the thesis be treated as confidential by the Examiner (see Intellectual Property for related information)
- Thesis submission for examination - RTF (for pcs) and Word (for Macs) - your declaration that your thesis is ready for examination (also requires supervisor and division/institute approval)
After submission
- Claim for thesis allowance (scholarship holders only) - a thesis allowance is payable to assist with costs associated with the presentation of a thesis
Examination and beyond
Refer to 'Examination of the thesis' in the academic regulations for the relevant degree for information about confidentiality, appointment of examiners, criteria for examination and examiners' reports.
For information about roles and processes, see the Conferral checklist for supervisors and students (RTF file).
If you are doing a professional doctorate by research, refer also to the Guidelines for examiners of the professional doctorate by research (RTF) - criteria and examination procedures.
After examination
First you will need to complete the relevant form:
- Thesis completion (post examination) form - RTF (for pcs) and Word (for Macs) - your confirmation that you have addressed the specified amendments of the examiners (also requires supervisor and division/institute approval)
- Thesis return to examiner - 3b or 4 form - RTF (for pcs) and Word (for Macs) - your confirmation that the revisions have been made and are satisfactory to be sent back to the examiner for review (also requires supervisor and division/institute approval)
Then you will need to:
- lodge a digital copy of your thesis in the University's institutional repository, the UniSA Research Archive. Remember to record the date your thesis was lodged (you will need this information to fill out the Author's consent form). See Depositing digital theses for how to lodge your thesis
- complete the Author's consent form - RTF (for pcs) and Word (for Macs) - your consent or restriction of access to the release of printed copies of your thesis through the Library and the availability of a digital copy of your thesis
* IPEd = Institute of Professional Editors Limited