st andrews phd thesis submission

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Pgr thesis submission and viva.

PhD thesis submission and Viva & Submitting by Portfolio

Full details of the process and guidance on submitting your thesis can be found on the University’s ‘ Guidance for electronic thesis submission ’.  All copies must contain the following:

• A title page with the title of the thesis, the name of the candidate, the name of the degree, and the date of submission or resubmission.
• An abstract of the thesis of not more than 300 words (in the exceptional case of a thesis written in a foreign language a summary in English of between 2,000 and 3,000 words is required as well as the abstract).
• Declarations pages (including embargo requests) signed by both you and your supervisor (signatures must be handwritten although these could be scans of handwritten signatures).
• Ethical approval letter (if applicable)

The steps for submission are outlined below:

• Intention to submit (MySaint)
• Preparing for submission of my thesis (MySaint)

In advance of completing this task, it is strongly advised that you discuss any requirements for embargo of both the full text of your thesis and underpinning data/digital outputs with your supervisor(s)

Both your title page and declarations must be compiled using the task in MySaint.

• Submit my thesis (Moodle)
• Preparing for submission of my Library copies (MySaint)
• Submit my final thesis
• Declare my intention to resubmit my thesis
• Preparing for the resubmission of my thesis

Submission of MSc (Res)

Full information around submitting your MSc (Res) thesis can be found in Moodle .

The deadline for submitting your MSc(Res) / MSt(Res) thesis is the same as your expected end date of studies, which can be seen in your Student Record. Registry will email you a few weeks before your end date with a reminder of the deadline and process.

You need to submit your thesis in MMS (through MySaint) . There is no requirement for hard copy submission centrally.

Please keep in mind to include the appropriate signed declarations in your thesis; you can download them from his link .

You should submit your thesis at the Coursework assignment of the module titled ‘ [School code]-MS(ct)(Res) (One year Research Masters) ’. For example, for Computer Science the module is ‘COMPSC-MS(ct)(Res) (One year Research Masters)’. The Student Guide – Uploading Coursework provides detailed guidance on how to upload your thesis. Please note that you must not delete or update your file after submitting your thesis .

If you are submitting a revised thesis, as a result of three-month corrections or re-submission, you will need to submit your thesis in MMS, in the Re-submission coursework assignment.

Submission of Higher Degree by portfolio

Higher degrees (DLitt, DSc or MD1) may be awarded in recognition of a corpus of work of a professorial standard attained over an extended period of no fewer than ten years, containing original and significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge and learning which has given the candidate international distinction in their particular academic field.  Full details on the eligibility and processes can be found in the University’s Higher degrees policy .

If you have made a request to the Associate Provost (Students) to submit your thesis by portfolio and it has been approved, you will be required to create your title page as above in Mysaint, you will not be asked any of the questions in the ‘Create your declarations’ sections. Once you have completed the questions to create your title page, you will be taken to the confirmation screen to download/print/save both your title page and standard portfolio declarations.

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Find Student theses

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Evaluating mycobacterium komossense jerr01 as a possible model organism for mycobacterium tuberculosis antibiotic resistance studies.

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis (PhD)

Hybrid war and visual performances in digital Donbas militarism

Optimising the displays of the future : strategies for the improvement of the emissive properties of thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters for organic light-emitting diodes, title redacted, a diplomat in the book world: sir william temple and the print trade, st. thomas aquinas on the necessity of faith in the blessed trinity for salvation, photoactive metallocages as molecular flasks for confined photocatalysis, morunguetá, a nation-formation discourse: : charting brazil’s genesis in the sixteenth century through tupian language and jesuit theology, sites of resistance, or sights of pleasure subversive queer aesthetics in russian music videos of the 2010s, global/local visual processing and autobiographical memory retrieval and their associations with symptoms of post-traumatic stress and low mood and trait mindfulness in syrian adult and child refugees, automotive culture and industry as a means of diplomacy through public influence in iran by british and american corporations and policymakers, 1941-86, what people say: publicity without semanticity, truth and fiction in servius' commentary on virgil, skill-based acquaintance: a non-causal account of reference, surgeons at sea : professional identities and medical practice in naval surgeons’ journals, 1793–1815, stock price synchronicity, liquidity creation and internal dividends: evidence from u.s. banking, the stuff of miracles: materialising english bishop saints’ shrines in the twelfth to sixteenth centuries, british collecting in ethiopia, 1769 to 1972: travellers, military expeditions, museums and royal gifting, wireless magnetoelectrically powered organic light-emitting diodes, the ethics of harming, processing and upgrading of lignin for high-value applications, functional and structural analysis of sulfatases involved in the remodelling and degradation of glycosaminoglycans and mucin o-glycans, dynamic covalent exchange on metal-organic framework nanoparticles, the liberal case for transformative manipulation, 'la planta prohibida' : multi-species cosmopolitics in the mexican desert, investigating the structural stability and reactivity of zeolites utilising solid-state nmr, a theoretical analysis of non-markovian open system dynamics in correlated quantum materials, imagining children's rights in central africa : francophone fiction and international children's rights law, body pose(d): body posture in seventeenth-century dutch male portraiture, making transformative decisions, monte carlo simulation of intraoperative photodynamic therapy for glioblastoma: investigating dosimetric parameters and treatment efficacy, yin or yang: confronting stellar activity in radial-velocity searches for exo-earths, ebrahim golestan's fictional and cinematic worlds, the qarāmiṭa of baḥrayn and their relationship with the ʿabbāsid caliphate (ah 273–375 / 886–985 ce), a mythology of our own: fanwork as mythopoesis, exoplanets in science fiction, quantitative interactomics to identify cellular pathways affected in spinal muscular atrophy, the interplay between social and environmental plasticity in the rapid adaptation of a hawaiian field cricket ( teleogryllus oceanicus ), family diversity and children's mental health in the uk : a longitudinal study, towards a restorative politics: unrecognised wounds and the struggle for greek-german reconciliation in the case of the distomo massacre.

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis (MFA)

Assouad-type dimensions and the local geometry of fractal sets

Gaelic mythology and identity in modern irish and scottish literature (1880-1916), using single-molecule imaging of pirb to understand its role in synaptic plasticity and alzheimer's disease, impact of interprofessional eye health education using the arclight training package and the international classification of function disability and health (icf) framework among health sciences students in rwanda: a mixed methods study, step it up determining the impact of a national workplace walking challenge on physical and cognitive health and well‐being, using nanoplasmonic metasurfaces to construct miniaturised marine ecosystem sensors.

Submitting Your Thesis and Preparing for your Viva

The final stage of a doctoral degree is writing and submitting your thesis and defending it in an oral examination (viva). Here you can find advice on the key stages of that process. Understanding what to expect and what is required will help you to ensure the process is a smooth one and that you can look ahead to successfully completing your degree.

The best place to start is the Research Degree Examinations Guidance Booklet (PDF, 706 KB) . It provides a comprehensive guide to the requirements and expectations relating to the examination of doctoral degrees at the University of St Andrews.

As well as familiarising yourself with the requirements for your thesis and the viva exam, you should also think more broadly about things you will need to do to successfully complete your degree. Vitae suggests six tips for completing your doctorate successfully:

• Plan for the end of your doctorate
• Work with your supervisor(s)
• Avoid perfectionism
• Take time to consider your next career step
• Make sure you do finish!

Visit the Vitae website to read more about finishing your doctorate .

Planning for the end of your doctorate is something that you should begin well before the start of your final year and should be part of your overall work plan for your degree.

Planning and Writing Your Thesis

Many doctoral students find it daunting to contemplate having to write their thesis. A structured approach to planning your writing and reviewing your progress will help you keep momentum and maintain a sense of control and perspective. As far as possible you should plan to be regularly writing as you progress through your degree – it should not be something that is left entirely to your final year.

Further Advice

• Attend CEED workshops on academic writing or the annual Thesis Bootcamp
• See the Vitae website for general advice on the writing process
• Read the University’s advice on copyright and using third party material in your thesis
• See the Library website for advice on citing references and reference management

Long text documents, such as theses, can be difficult to control and format correctly. Our short guide – Formatting Your Dissertation in Word – has advice on how to use MS Word to make managing your thesis easier. It also has links to online Microsoft resources where you can learn more.

You can find the University’s requirements for formatting your thesis and word limits in the Guidance for submission of theses (PDF, 870 KB) .

Wellbeing and Support

Many doctoral students find the process of writing a thesis to be a stressful one. Make use of the support available. Your supervisor(s) can provide academic advice and comment on draft work while the Advice and Support Centre can advise on common issues such as perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Where there are more significant issues, Academic Registry can advise on options for taking a leave of absence or requesting an extension of registration.

• Visit the Advice and Support Centre for advice on wellbeing and common issues
• Read the advice on taking a leave of absence or requesting an extension of registration
• Stay connected with University and Postgraduate Society events

Submitting Your Thesis for Examination

About four months beforehand you should declare your intention to submit your thesis for examination. This is done in MySaint. Academic Registry and your School will then start making arrangements for your viva, helping to minimise the time between you submitting your thesis and the viva taking place. For further advice, please read the Guidance for submission of theses (PDF, 870 KB) .

Preparing for the Viva

The viva is an an oral examination where you will defend your thesis. The purpose of the viva is to provide assurance that you understand your research, can discuss the wider context for your research, and can clarify any areas of uncertainty or doubt. The viva will normally take place within three months of you submitting your thesis. Vivas typically last around two to three hours, although there are not specific rules about the length of the oral examination. If the viva lasts more than two hours the convenor should ensure adequate breaks are provided.

• Read fuhrter information on Research Degrees Examinations
• Attend GRADskills workshops on preparing for the viva and communicating research concisely
• Visit the Vitae website for general advice and a useful viva checklist
• How to Prepare for the Viva Examination

There is separate advice for staff on examining doctoral students .

Final Submission and Electronic Theses

Following the viva voce exam, and the completion of any corrections required by your examiners, you must submit one final electronic copy of your thesis as part of the preparations prior to graduation. You must submit the final copy of your thesis to be eligible to graduate.

For further advice, please read:

• Procedures for submitting final copies of thesis (PDF, 631 KB)
• University Library Fact Sheet: Electronic Theses (PDF, 245 KB)
• University Library Fact Sheet: Copyright for Electronic Theses (PDF, 270 KB)

Beyond Your Doctorate – Careers

Over the course of your doctorate you will have developed and demonstrated a range of personal and professional competencies. These will include essential skills such as communication and problem solving as well as higher-level skills such as discipline-specific methodologies, analytical skills, and project management.

• Visit the Careers Centre for advice on career planning and articulating skills to employers
• Attend GRADskills workshops on job applications, interviews, and postdoctoral funding
• See the Vitae website for researcher career stories and CV examples

Remember as well that, as a graduate of St Andrews, you are automatically a member of our worldwide alumni community .

Further Advice and Questions

You can find advice on most topics by using Ask a Question .

Please contact the PGR team in the Academic Registry if you need further advice or cannot find an answer to your question.

St Leonard's College The Old Burgh School, Abbey Walk St Andrews KY16 9LB [email protected]

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2003

Upcoming events

PG Café Friday 13 September 2024, 2.30pm-3.30pm Old Burgh School, Cafe area, (outside kitchen)

Funny research: Bright Club stand-up comedy workshop (for PGR students) Monday 16 September 2024, 2.00pm-5.00pm Register via PDMS

Microsoft Word: Advanced Document Management Tuesday 17 September 2024, 2.00pm-4.30pm Register via PDMS

Microsoft Word: Producing a Thesis Thursday 19 September 2024, 2.00pm-5.00pm Register via PDMS

New Postgraduate Researcher Welcome – Induction and Essentials (online) Tuesday 17 September 2024, 1.00pm-3.00pm Register via PDMS

New Postgraduate Researcher Welcome – Induction and Essentials (in person) Wednesday 2 October 2024, 9.00am-12.30pm Byre Theatre Register via PDMS

1974-2024: Annie Ernaux’s Years- A Global Perspective – International Conference on literature Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux Saturday 5 October 2024, 9.30am – 6.00pm, Parliament Hall

Susan Docherty- The Smith Lecture, Autumn 2024 Reading the New Testament as a Jewish Text Tuesday 29 October 2024, 6.00pm-7.00pm, St Mary’s College

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Theses: searching for theses from other institutions.

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Theses from other institutions

Theses are valuable primary research material, containing unique work that may not be published elsewhere. This guide will help you to locate and access theses from other institutions, both in the UK and internationally.

ProQuest Dissertations and Theses

With ProQuest Dissertations , you can search details of 4 million international dissertations and theses, from 1861 to the present. Subject areas covered include Science, Technology, Business and Economics, Medical Sciences, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Over a million theses are available in full-text. You might find a full-text PDF available to download from the ProQuest record, or a link to full-text hosted in another repository.

DART-Europe

DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses. You can search theses from 619 universities across 28 European countries.

EThOS is the British Library's catalogue of UK doctoral research theses. 100,000 are available for downloading, and many others can be requested for on-demand scanning, (there may be a wait of up to six weeks). Self-registration/login is required for downloading.

* The British Library is continuing to experience a major technology outage as a result of a  cyber-attack . Services including EThOS may be affected. Information is available on a  temporary website .

WorldCatDissertations

WorldCatDissertations has details of thousands of international dissertations and theses.

EBSCO Open Dissertations

EBSCO Open Dissertations is an Open Access database of PhD theses. All entries include an abstract, and a link to the full-text of the thesis.

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• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2024 9:15 AM
• URL: https://libguides.st-andrews.ac.uk/theses

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Research degrees in Divinity

The School's main research degree is the Doctor of Philosophy ( PhD ), a three- or four-year degree focused on the completion of a PhD thesis of no more than 80,000 words.

The School also offers a two-year Master's degree ( MPhil ), and a one-year research Master's degree ( MSt (Res) ). The MPhil comprises the taught components of an  MLitt  in its first year, and a dissertation of about 40,000 words in the second. Find out more about the  MPhil  on its degree page. The MSt (Res) is a full-time research project to write a dissertation of up to 30,000 words. It is an excellent opportunity to spend a shorter time in a research environment either for a standalone degree or as preparation for a PhD.

The School welcomes applications for the PhD from qualified candidates from around the world in a wide range of theological and biblical disciplines.

Admission to the PhD is normally on the basis of a good Master’s degree in the applicant’s discipline (that is, an upper second-class degree or one with a minimum grade point average of B+ or the equivalent).

For the MPhil, completion of the first year of course work to a sufficient standard counts as the requisite Master’s degree.

In principle, the precondition of a good Master’s degree applies for admission to the MSt (Res). But if applicants to the MSt (Res) do not have a good Master’s degree and are not currently working towards one, the School of Divinity will consider admission if they have any of the following:

• a first-class undergraduate degree (or one with an A-range grade point average or the equivalent) in the relevant discipline;
• a writing sample and research proposal that the admissions committee judges to be equivalent to Master’s-level work;
• other substantial evidence that convinces the application committee that the applicant is capable of research at the Master’s level.

As the thought of undertaking doctoral work can seem daunting and sometimes complex, the School staff invite you to contact them with preliminary queries. Your questions may be about the School, or you may be unsure about the practical arrangements involved in re-locating for a research degree. Whatever the case, secretaries, staff and current students are usually happy to help. 

Supervisors and subject areas

Each PhD student works with one or two supervisors. See a  list of potential research supervisors  for information about their supervisory topics and how to contact them.

Most PhD students also belong to one (or sometimes two) specific institutes or subject groups within the School. You can learn more about these institutes and subject groups, including their staff and students, on their individual web pages:

• Biblical Studies subject group
• Systematic and Historical Theology subject group
• Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics  (CSRP)
• Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts  (ITIA)
• Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology  (Logos)

All these groups and institutes also run regular  research seminars  and other events.

The  Institute for Bible, Theology and Hermeneutics  offers additional opportunities for graduate students in Biblical Studies and Theology.

Research community

St Mary's College is a close-knit research community of senior and junior scholars. 

Its life centres on weekly seminars in five subject areas, at which staff and postgraduates discuss seminal texts or papers presented by speakers.

PhD students are involved in all areas of the School's research , including research projects, networks, conferences, and publications. Other research students may sometimes be involved as well.

There are many opportunities for  professional development , including teaching opportunities, subject-specific and cross-disciplinary workshops, and conference funding. 

The Roundel is the dedicated study centre for research postgraduate students in Divinity. A historic, A-listed 16th-century building close to St Mary’s Quadrangle, it has shared offices for up to 50 postgraduates, a common room, a kitchen, and a walled garden. You can read more about the School's facilities on the facilities page .

How to apply

At the University's PhD application portal, you will find information about deadlines, fees, and funding.

For initial enquiries, use the contact information on this page, and the School's postgraduate administrator will be happy to help you. 

Applicants for PhD degrees are encouraged, but not required, to contact potential supervisors before applying. In the process of selection, the School's postgraduate committee will select a prospective supervisor for each applicant, taking into account previous discussion, subject fit, and availability. The staff’s areas of supervision can be found on the list of potential research supervisors page . 

The deadline for first consideration of research degree applications is Monday 4 November 2024 . Complete applications must be received by this date. Late applications will be considered only if places in the relevant programme remain.

Please note that research degree applications will not be considered complete, or circulated for review, until all the required documents, including references , have been submitted.   The School takes no responsibility for delays in the application process due to missing references .

If you wish for your application to be considered in the first round of applications, or for funding opportunities such as the SGSAH (see below), or Douglas and Gordon Bonnyman scholarships, then please alert your referee to the deadline and ensure that you have submitted all your documents by Monday 4 November 2024 . Registry does not issue referees a deadline, so it is important that you make yours aware of it. 

Scottish Graduate School funding 

Anyone who wishes to be considered for  Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) funding through the SGSAH AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership, must first complete their online application for a place on the PhD programme, and then email a draft  SGSAH application form to the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies ( [email protected] ) at the School of Divinity by  Monday 4 November 2024  at the very latest.

Since the SGSAH application process is very time consuming, you should apply as early as possible. Candidates who contact potential supervisors in October, or even before, will be at an advantage because the School will have more time to help them refine their applications. SGSAH applications must be approved for nomination by the School and then by a University panel before they can be submitted on the SGSAH website.

Full details concerning  SGSAH funding can be found on their website. The School is particularly keen to support applications linked to their cluster of research expertise in Theology and the Arts, Religion and Politics, the Bible and its Theology, or Analytical and Exegetical Theology, or to any other area of individual staff expertise.

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