Suitability of Thesis for Assessment


To be suitable for assessment, the candidate’s thesis must:

  • comply with the University’s directions on the thesis document format, style and production standards;
  • provide a contribution to knowledge with a level of originality consistent with 3-4 years full-time study for a PhD and 1-2 years full-time study for an MPhil;
  • reveal a capacity to relate the research topic to the broader framework of knowledge in the disciplinary area in which it falls; and
  • be clearly, accurately and cogently written and suitably documented; and
  • make clear (both in the Statements at the beginning of the thesis and in the body of the thesis) which work has actually been performed by the candidate and in which cases the results obtained by another have been analysed and used in the thesis.

There should be an appropriate balance between the different parts of the thesis. In particular, the original contribution to knowledge should be clearly distinguished from the introductory material and the survey of the literature.

If there is a dispute between the candidate and the principal advisor about the readiness and suitability of the thesis for assessment, General Award rule 4.15.3 allows the candidate to request permission to submit the thesis for assessment without the principal advisor's support. In such a situation, the candidate must make a case for why the advisor's judgment should be overruled, and a school/institute committee is established to assess the request and make a written recommendation to the Dean, UQ Graduate School.

The committee is chaired by the head of school/director of institute and comprises

  • the postgraduate coordinator,
  • the Chair of the School/Institute Research Committee, and
  • one other staff member with experience in the general field and in the supervision and assessment of Australian PhD theses.

If any of these positions are occupied by the principal advisor, they must step aside to avoid a conflict of interest and an alternate must take their place on the committee.

The advisor makes a short (1-2) page written submission explaining why the thesis should not be assessed at this time for this degree. This submission is given to the candidate, who is invited to make a short (1-2) page response. The committee considers the two written documents and the thesis, then makes a recommendation to the Dean, UQ Graduate School. After considering all the documents, the Dean then advises the candidate that

  • the thesis is accepted in its present form; or
  • the following additional work is required to bring the thesis to an assessable standard; or
  • the thesis will be accepted in its present form for assessment for the MPhil, but not the PhD.

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