Chapter 7: Thesis and examination matters

7.9 Examiner's recommendations for the thesis

There are five possible recommendations an examiner can make for a research master’s thesis, as framed on the examiner report form:

1. The candidate be awarded the degree without further examination
2. The candidate be awarded the degree without further examination subject to insertion in the thesis of amendments noted in the enclosed list:
   • to my satisfaction (I wish to review the amendments made); or
   • to the satisfaction of the head of the academic unit
3. The candidate be awarded the degree subject to satisfying me regarding the attached questions (I wish to review the candidate’s response)
4. The candidate not yet be awarded the degree but be permitted to resubmit the thesis in a revised form
5. The candidate not be awarded the degree

Whether the examiner’s recommendation is favourable or unfavourable, the examiner is expected to provide detailed comments on the strengths and/or weaknesses of the thesis.

7.9.1 Grades for research master’s theses

Examiners of research master’s theses are also asked to provide a numerical mark as part of the assessment (for all but research master’s degrees in the Faculty of Engineering where only a pass/fail is awarded).
The following grading system is used:

Where a mark in the range above is recommended, the examiner must also recommend that the thesis be passed or that it be passed subject to the completion of amendments.

A grade of less than 60% is a Fail. No mark is to be given where the thesis is recommended for revision and resubmission, or for outright fail with no option for revision and resubmission. In the case where a candidate completes a thesis combined with coursework units, the overall grade includes a proportion of the marks for the thesis and the units.

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