With the support of the University's Research Higher Degrees Committee, The UQ Graduate School instituted the Dean's Commendation List for Outstanding PhD Theses in 1998, which became the Dean's Commendation List for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses with the introduction of the MPhil degree in 2001, and the Dean's Award List for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses in 2008.

This Awards gives formal recognition to those few PhD and MPhil graduates who receive unanimously outstanding reports from their assessors' reports which commend them on making genuine and substantial contributions to their field of research.

At UQ, we make a point of insisting that all of our Research Higher Degree theses are assessed by acknowledged leaders in the field, no matter where in the world those experts are located.

No more than 10% of Research Higher Degree graduates are recognised in this way each year.