Thesis classification
Once your thesis has been examined you must make the required changes and apply for thesis classification.
Submitting your thesis for classification
After you receive your examiners’ reports, you need to prepare a formal response and your revise your thesis for classification under the guidance of your supervisors. The amount of time you have to prepare your response depends on the outcome you received.
Once your supervisors are satisfied that your thesis should be classified, they will prepare a citation and sign off on your classification documentation. They will also write a memo indicating their support of your revisions.
You then forward the thesis classification documentation and the amended thesis to the Graduate Research School at .
The team will check and arrange for the appropriate University academics to review and approve your thesis classification.
University academics - Chair of Examiners, or a nominee, Academic Review Panel (ARP) and the Dean, Graduate Research, or a nominee Chair of Examiners, or a nominee.
You need to coordinate the sign-off from your supervisors, so it's essential you let them know the deadlines you are working towards. You should allow University academics a reasonable period of time for them to review your documentation, so factor this into your planning, remembering that sometimes these staff are reviewing a number of theses at the one time.
Classification
When the examiners have recommend no changes or minor changes, all classification paperwork is to be reviewed by the relevant Chair of Examiners. Once the Chair of Examiners is satisfied all requirements have been met, the Dean, Graduate Research will review/approve the classification.
When the examiners recommend a combination of no changes, minor changes, and substantial changes or deferred, the classification paperwork is reviewed by the relevant Chair of Examiners and an Academic Review Panel. Once the Academic Review Panel is satisfied all requirements have been met, the Dean, Graduate Research will review/approve the classification.
Notification of classification
Once your thesis has been classified, the Graduate Research School will notify you in writing (via email) of the outcome. They will provide you with a timeframe to submit your final electronic thesis copy and VU Research Repository (VURR) submission and permission form to complete your degree.
If restricted access to a thesis is required, the form must be submitted with the appropriate documentation. Failure to submit this form will result in the thesis being available in the Library Repository 24 months from conferral of the award.
The Dean, Graduate Research will recommend to the next scheduled University Council meeting that your award be conferred.
Completion & graduation
You will receive a ‘Notification of Completion’ email approximately 10 – 15 days after the following steps have occurred:
- Your thesis has been conferred by Council (or their delegate) and
- You have lodged the electronic copy of your thesis and the VURR form with the Graduate Research School.
You will then be eligible to attend the next Graduation ceremony.
Please ensure you complete and submit the relevant documentation to avoid a delay with the classification of your thesis and subsequent eligibility to graduate at the next ceremony.