Information for Examiners of
PhD and Doctoral Theses That
Include Creative Works
The University of Melbourne expects theses to be of international standard and demonstrate the candidate has
undertaken a substantial piece of original research which could reasonably be expected to be achievable in 3
years. Where the thesis comprises a dissertation and creative work, both must be passed for the candidate to be
awarded the degree.
What we ask of you
We ask you to consider the candidate’s thesis on its merits as an independent piece of supervised research. This
should be irrespective of whether you consider the approach to be outside the established research paradigm for
the discipline, and irrespective of whether you would have taken the same approach to the research.
Some of the work in this thesis was undertaken while Melbourne experienced major and extended restrictions
during the COVID pandemic. Whilst our high expectations of standards and scale of research theses are not
modified by the COVID constraints, some of our graduate researchers may have significantly altered or adapted
their research plan in order to progress. As examiner, this may mean in some cases the thesis you examine is not
typical for your discipline. Where appropriate, we have encouraged candidates to discuss any methodological
adjustments made in the COVID context and explain how adaptations arose because of the disruptions, to guide
your understanding of the work presented and the constraints under which it was undertaken. The candidate’s
commentary relating to future research directions may reflect some aspects of work which could not be pursued
given the COVID circumstances. These Melbourne circumstances have included intermittent ‘lockdowns’ between
March 2020 and November 2021, research facility closure or limited access during this entire period, along with
closure of national and internal borders precluding some field or collaborative work.
You may be required to travel only if the creative work includes a performance or exhibition of visual art works. If
the dissertation is not submitted at or around the same time, you will receive an abstract of 1000-3000 words one
week prior to the viewing. Once you have reviewed the both the creative work and dissertation, please provide a
report which addresses the criteria for examination and recommend a result chosen from the options below.
Examination reports generally set out a brief account of the examiner’s understanding of the research undertaken
and are at least one page long. Reports often contain suggested amendments for further publication of the
research, but which don’t need to be addressed for the thesis to pass the examination. There is no oral
examination component at the University of Melbourne.
Criteria for examination
According to the University’s rules, a PhD or Doctoral thesis must:
(a) demonstrate authority in the candidate’s field and show evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields;
(b) demonstrate a thorough grasp of the methodological techniques appropriate to the research question, and an
awareness of their limitations;
(c) make a contribution to knowledge that rests on originality of approach and/or interpretation of the findings
and, in some cases, the discovery of new facts;
(d) demonstrate the candidate’s ability to communicate research findings effectively;
(e) demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics and integrity; and
(f) be a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research apprenticeship is complete
and the holder may be admitted to the community of scholars in the discipline.
PhD or Doctoral theses containing creative works must also:
(a) demonstrate a professional level of familiarity with, and understanding of, contemporary work in the field;
(b) demonstrate a sufficiently comprehensive investigation of the artistic form and creative content;
Questions?: [email protected] Last Updated: 6 March 2023
(c) apply methods and techniques in the execution of the work that are appropriate to the subject matter and are
original and/or aesthetically effective;
(d) be presented in a sufficiently professional manner;
(e) demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of literary, visual, digital, musical or performance literacy and quality;
(f) identify the research questions and test these through the creative work;
(g) provide sufficiently thorough documentation of the work, (including catalogue/program material where
appropriate) that is of a standard that ensures the work provides a reference for subsequent researchers;
(h) constitute a substantive original contribution to knowledge in the subject area through the creative work and
the dissertation together; and,
(i) demonstrate an appropriate and substantiated interface between the creative work and the dissertation.
You may ask for the creative work to be re-presented or re-documented if it does not meet the above criteria.
Possible Outcomes
You will be asked to recommend a result for the thesis from the following alternatives:
1 Pass
No changes required; or only minor edits required, such as typographical errors, formatting issues or other
corrections that have no bearing on the quality of the overall argument. The Chair of Examiners verifies the
edits have been addressed.
2 Pass with revision (Chair of Examiners)
Minor revisions to content are required. In this case, Examiners must provide an enumerated list
and explanation of each required revision. These revisions will be reviewed and verified by the
Chair of Examiners who may consult the Examiner to verify the changes.
3 Revise, resubmit and regrade (Examiner)
Serious shortcomings in the content of the thesis are present but can be resolved with major revision.
Examiners must provide an enumerated list and explanation of the required changes. The revised thesis is
returned to the Examiner to consider, and the Examiner regrades the thesis accordingly. A thesis submitted for
regrading may only be awarded a result of 1, 2 or 4.
4 Fail
The thesis has serious irredeemable flaws and is not of a standard to be awarded the degree. In some
circumstances, the Examiners may recommend the award of an M.Phil degree instead.
Thesis formats, lengths and weightings
The dissertation and the creative work should be considered as complementary, mutually reinforcing parts of a
single project addressing a significant research question. In some cases it may be argued that the relationship
between the two parts contributes to the originality and creativity of the whole. In the PhD (Composition) the
dissertation may address an approved research topic independent of the creative work. The creative work must
be comprehensively documented and either the documentation or the creative work itself submitted with the
dissertation.
The dissertation must do more than simply describe the creative work and how it was undertaken. While it will
often include information on the materials and methodology used and place the creative work in an artistic,
intellectual or cultural context; the dissertation must make an original contribution to knowledge. Published work
based on research conducted during candidature may be included within the dissertation, provided the candidate
is the primary author. The status of any publication will be set out in the preface.
The dissertation component of the thesis cannot be less than 25% of the work. Typical expectations for the
relative weightings and dissertation lengths (including references) are as follows:
• PhD (any discipline not specified below): 50% dissertation 40,000 -50,000 words and 50% creative work
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• PhD (Composition): 30% dissertation 20,000-25,000 words and 70% Folio constituting 90-120 minutes of
music
• PhD (Music Performance): 30% dissertation 20,000-25,000 words and 70% Folio equivalent to three full
recitals or 210 minutes
Confidentiality and research integrity
You will normally be provided with an electronic copy of the dissertation and of the creative work or
documentation of the creative work. Some creative works may be sent in hard copy to you. These are confidential
documents which should not be shared with any third party or submitted through similarity checking software. If
you have any concerns about authorship integrity, please contact the Examinations Office (gr-
[email protected]).
To maintain confidentiality of the examination, please submit your report to the Examinations Office via the
Thesis Examination System (TES) online form only, and not to any other person.
Your report should not reveal your identity. You should submit any material you don’t want released to the
candidate in a clearly marked separate document. We will release as much of your report to the candidate as
possible, but your name will not be released unless you agree, and then only when the examination process is
complete. Most examiners agree to their name being provided to the candidate.
All contact in relation to the examination must be through the Examinations Office. Do not contact supervisors or
the candidate. If they contact you, please advise the Examinations Office.
Timing
Please complete your examination within six weeks of receiving the thesis. We will send you a reminder one week
before your report is due. If you find yourself unable to complete the examination within this period, please let
the Graduate Research Examinations Office know as soon as you can and provide an estimate of when you will be
able to complete the examination. In the absence of prior agreement, the University may choose to appoint an
alternative examiner if you are unable to complete your examination within eight weeks of receiving the thesis.
What happens next
Most examinations are completed without further involvement from the examiners. Where there is a substantial
difference of opinion between the examiners, a third external examiner is appointed. The third examiner is not
informed of the previous reports or discrepancy. The examination outcome is determined by the majority
recommendation of the examiners.
If you have recommended a result of 3, the revised thesis will be returned to you. Candidates have only one
opportunity to revise the thesis. You will be invited to make one of three recommendations: 1, 2 or 4 (as above).
Honoraria
Once each examination is complete, the University of Melbourne will pay you an honorarium. To receive it, you
need to provide your payment details via the Thesis Examination System External Examiner Payment form or your
completed Convera online form.
Resources
• Thesis Examination System Frequently Asked Questions
• Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321) https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1321
• Preparation of Graduate Research Theses Rules http://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/preparing-my-
thesis/writing-the-thesis
• Research Integrity and Misconduct Policy (MPF1318) https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1318
• Authorship Policy (MPF1181) https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1181
• Degree requirements can be found in the University Handbook https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au
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