Chapter 7: Thesis and examination matters

7.11 Outcome of the thesis examination

Where both examiners have recommended a pass, amendments, or a combination of pass and amendments, copies of both reports together with proposed outcomes of the examination will be issued to the candidate and academic unit.

7.11.1 Pass

The candidate, department unit and supervisor are advised immediately of the pass result.

7.11.2 Amendments

The candidates, academic units and supervisors are advised if amendments are required to the thesis to the satisfaction of the head of academic unit/academic graduate coordinator. Guidelines for the insertion of changes into copies of the thesis are sent to candidates and academic units. Amendments must be made to all available copies of the thesis within one month. When the amended copies are received by the Monash University Institute of Graduate Research (MIGR) Office’s Examinations Unit, together with the form certifying that amendments have been completed to the satisfaction of the head of the academic unit/academic graduate coordinator, then the award of the degree will be made.

If an examiner has asked to see the amendments, then the award of degree cannot be made until the examiner has approved the amendments and the head of the academic unit/academic graduate coordinator has subsequently certified that the changes have been made. In this case, candidates are asked to forward their response to the MIGR Office’s Examinations Unit together with their supervisor’s endorsement. Examiners are usually given three weeks to review responses. The candidate is notified of the outcome and asked to collect the thesis copies to arrange insertion of amendments once the examiner is satisfied.

7.11.3 Response to questions

If an examiner has asked for the candidate to respond to questions, these will be referred to the Graduate Research Committee representative of the relevant faculty. The representative will seek the advice of the supervisor and head of the academic unit to ascertain if the questions raised are appropriate and reasonable, and will respond to the MIGR Office’s Examinations Unit.

The candidate will be advised to respond to the examiner(s) through the MIGR Office’s Examinations Unit where the questions are deemed appropriate and reasonable. Where the questions are deemed not straightforward, however, an advisory panel (see Section 7.15) will be convened.

7.11.4 Other recommendations

Where there is a significant difference between the recommendations of the two examiners or where an examiner has recommended revision and resubmission of the thesis, an advisory panel will be convened.

Candidates are issued with copies of the examiners reports upon the receipt of both reports. They are strongly advised to contact their supervisors to discuss the contents of the examiners’ reports as appropriate.
Please note that candidates can only revise and resubmit twice (see Section 7.16.2).

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