sydney uni phd thesis

Finding theses

University of sydney theses, higher degree by research theses.

We hold theses written by the University’s Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Masters by Research) students in our collections.

You can find a University of Sydney thesis by searching the  Library catalogue . Select the “Advanced search” and then select “USYD Theses” from the “Material type” dropdown menu.

You can also find digital theses by searching directly in the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Access a digital or digitised thesis

Many of the University’s digital and digitised theses are openly available for download through the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Theses marked “University of Sydney Access” are only available to current University staff and students. Libraries and private researchers can request to purchase a copy of a University of Sydney Access only thesis for AUD$18.50 (incl. GST, within Australia) or AUD$40.00 (international requests).

To purchase a digital thesis, you need to complete one of the relevant request forms below and submit it to [email protected] :

• Individuals requesting a thesis, or library requesting on behalf of an individual
• Libraries requesting a copy to be included in their collection

All requests for copies of material held at the University of Sydney Library must comply with the  Copyright Act of 1968 .

Access a hard copy thesis

Theses that are only available in printed format can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Library , Level 1, Fisher Library.

We are currently running a project to digitise hardcopy theses. You can request an update to find out where a particular thesis is in our digitisation queue by emailing [email protected] .

We don’t digitise theses on request.

Honours or postgraduate coursework theses

Search for an honours or postgraduate coursework thesis in the repository , then use the filters on the left side of the results page to narrow by “Type”.

You can also search the Honours and Postgraduate Coursework theses collection for a faculty, school or discipline (if available).

There are limited numbers of honours theses in the Sydney eScholarship repository as we have strict requirements for submission of honours theses . If you can't find the thesis you're looking for, we suggest contacting the relevant faculty office.

Theses from other Australian and New Zealand universities

Find a thesis from other Australian or New Zealand universities by searching:

• Australian theses via Trove
• Libraries Australia for Higher Degree theses awarded from 1989 onwards
• Education Research Theses for citations and abstracts from theses submitted from 1919 onwards.

If you’re interested in a thesis that isn't available online, you can request the item through our Resource Sharing Service .

International theses

For theses written and submitted at universities outside of Australia, try the following resources:

• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal
• British Library Electronic Digital Thesis Online Service (EThOS)
• EBSCO open dissertations
• French Thesis-On-Line Repository
• History Online – postgraduate theses in History submitted in the UK since 1995
• Index to Theses – listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland since 1716
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations – North American theses
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Related information

For more help finding and accessing theses, speak to our friendly library staff.

How to write a research proposal

What is a research proposal.

A research proposal should present your idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition – the what.

It should also make a case for why your question is significant and what value it will bring to your discipline – the why. 

What it shouldn't do is answer the question – that's what your research will do.

Why is it important?

Research proposals are significant because Another reason why it formally outlines your intended research. Which means you need to provide details on how you will go about your research, including:

• your approach and methodology
• timeline and feasibility
• all other considerations needed to progress your research, such as resources.

Think of it as a tool that will help you clarify your idea and make conducting your research easier.

How long should it be?

Usually no more than 2000 words, but check the requirements of your degree, and your supervisor or research coordinator.

Presenting your idea clearly and concisely demonstrates that you can write this way – an attribute of a potential research candidate that is valued by assessors.

What should it include?

Project title.

Your title should clearly indicate what your proposed research is about.

Research supervisor

State the name, department and faculty or school of the academic who has agreed to supervise you. Rest assured, your research supervisor will work with you to refine your research proposal ahead of submission to ensure it meets the needs of your discipline.

Proposed mode of research

Describe your proposed mode of research. Which may be closely linked to your discipline, and is where you will describe the style or format of your research, e.g. data, field research, composition, written work, social performance and mixed media etc. 

This is not required for research in the sciences, but your research supervisor will be able to guide you on discipline-specific requirements.

Aims and objectives

What are you trying to achieve with your research? What is the purpose? This section should reference why you're applying for a research degree. Are you addressing a gap in the current research? Do you want to look at a theory more closely and test it out? Is there something you're trying to prove or disprove? To help you clarify this, think about the potential outcome of your research if you were successful – that is your aim. Make sure that this is a focused statement.

Your objectives will be your aim broken down – the steps to achieving the intended outcome. They are the smaller proof points that will underpin your research's purpose. Be logical in the order of how you present these so that each succeeds the previous, i.e. if you need to achieve 'a' before 'b' before 'c', then make sure you order your objectives a, b, c.

A concise summary of what your research is about. It outlines the key aspects of what you will investigate as well as the expected outcomes. It briefly covers the what, why and how of your research. 

A good way to evaluate if you have written a strong synopsis, is to get somebody to read it without reading the rest of your research proposal. Would they know what your research is about?

Now that you have your question clarified, it is time to explain the why. Here, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the current research climate in your area of interest.

Providing context around your research topic through a literature review will show the assessor that you understand current dialogue around your research, and what is published.

Demonstrate you have a strong understanding of the key topics, significant studies and notable researchers in your area of research and how these have contributed to the current landscape.

Expected research contribution

In this section, you should consider the following:

• Why is your research question or hypothesis worth asking?
• How is the current research lacking or falling short?
• What impact will your research have on the discipline?
• Will you be extending an area of knowledge, applying it to new contexts, solving a problem, testing a theory, or challenging an existing one?
• Establish why your research is important by convincing your audience there is a gap.
• What will be the outcome of your research contribution?
• Demonstrate both your current level of knowledge and how the pursuit of your question or hypothesis will create a new understanding and generate new information.
• Show how your research is innovative and original.

Draw links between your research and the faculty or school you are applying at, and explain why you have chosen your supervisor, and what research have they or their school done to reinforce and support your own work. Cite these reasons to demonstrate how your research will benefit and contribute to the current body of knowledge.

Proposed methodology

Provide an overview of the methodology and techniques you will use to conduct your research. Cover what materials and equipment you will use, what theoretical frameworks will you draw on, and how will you collect data.

Highlight why you have chosen this particular methodology, but also why others may not have been as suitable. You need to demonstrate that you have put thought into your approach and why it's the most appropriate way to carry out your research. 

It should also highlight potential limitations you anticipate, feasibility within time and other constraints, ethical considerations and how you will address these, as well as general resources.

A work plan is a critical component of your research proposal because it indicates the feasibility of completion within the timeframe and supports you in achieving your objectives throughout your degree.

Consider the milestones you aim to achieve at each stage of your research. A PhD or master's degree by research can take two to four years of full-time study to complete. It might be helpful to offer year one in detail and the following years in broader terms. Ultimately you have to show that your research is likely to be both original and finished – and that you understand the time involved.

Provide details of the resources you will need to carry out your research project. Consider equipment, fieldwork expenses, travel and a proposed budget, to indicate how realistic your research proposal is in terms of financial requirements and whether any adjustments are needed.

Bibliography

Provide a list of references that you've made throughout your research proposal. 

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission requirements Supervision Time limits

Doctor of Philosophy Our research and current research projects

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is a University degree governed by Resolutions set down by the Academic Board. Candidates should be familiar with the Academic Board documents:

• University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 , and
• Thesis and Examination of Higher Degree by Research Policy 2015 .

The most recent versions of these rules are found the Policy Register . The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree awarded for a thesis considered to be a substantial and original contribution to knowledge. The successful completion of some coursework to support the development of research skills and improve understanding of research methods may be required as part of candidature but in no case does it constitute a major component of the degree.

A preliminary research proposal outlining the topic or area of study, the likely research method and the argument for conducting the proposed research will need to be attached to the application, however, we strongly recommend that you discuss the proposed research project with an academic member of staff before making your application. Guidance on preparing a research proposal or finding a research supervisor may also be obtained by contacting the Postgraduate Coordinator at Sydney Nursing School.

PhD students are expected to work independently with guidance from at least two academic supervisors. Students will be required to present their work to colleagues and peers, a minimum of three times during their candidature, in general addressing the key candidature milestones of scoping and developing the project, refining the methodology and method, and communicating the findings of their research.

All PhD students are expected to communicate regularly with their agreed research supervisors and attend the research workshops and seminars that are held at regular intervals during each year and to participate in the annual Sydney Nursing School Research Week and to actively participate in an annual progress review and interview process.

Admission requirements

Applicants should hold one of the following to be eligible for an offer of enrolment: - a bachelor's degree with first or upper-second-class honours, OR - a research master’s degree OR - a master's coursework degree with a significant research component, and considerable work-related research experience &/or research publications OR - an advanced learning master’s degree (60 credit points) awarded by Sydney Nursing School, having achieved within the degree a minimum of a credit level for 12 credit points of research training related coursework and a minimum of a distinction level for the 12 credit point Capstone (Research) unit of study.

Time limits

Candidates can proceed on a full- or part-time basis. The normal maximum length of candidature would be three to four years for full-time students and six to eight years for part –time students.

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ABN:  15 211 513 464. CRICOS Number:  00026A. Phone:  +61 2 9351 2222.

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Submit your application along with your research proposal, CV, academic referee reports, academic transcripts and other supporting documents such as identification and evidence of residency status. Applications are made via the University’s online application portal.

Postgraduate program

The School of Mathematics and Statistics offers Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Science) and Master of Philosophy (Science).

The School also offers the Master of Mathematical Sciences degree, and the units of study STAT5002 and STAT5003 form part of the Master of Information Technology .

NEW in 2024 In 2024 the Master of Data Analytics will be offered for the first time. This fully online course offers a breadth of data analytics knowledge, covering a multitude of qualitative and quantitative data research methods and their applications across industries, including business, health care, architecture, and political science.

For current and newly enrolled postgraduate students

Students should read the "School of Mathematics and Statistics higher degree by research procedures" document.

Please note that HDR candidatures and examinations of theses are managed by the HDR Administration Centre (HDRAC). To find detailed information on important matters such as:

• enrolment, research periods and census dates,
• compulsory HDR units of study: Work, Health and Safety (WHS), Responsible Research Practice, and Human Ethics,
• supervisory arrangements, in particular, requesting to change a supervisor,
• Faculty milestones: research plan, research seminar, first year report, intermediate research presentation, final research report,
• research progress: progress plan, first-year integrity check, annual progress review (APR),
• financial support for travel to attend conferences, workshops, and summer/winter schools through the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS),
• travel insurance policy,
• requesting leave of absence or suspension from your research,
• recommencing of your studies after suspension,
• applying for an extension of candidature,
• preparation of your thesis and thesis composition,
• thesis submission procedure,
• examination process and outcomes,
• final thesis lodgement and graduation ceremony.

Degree entry requirements: Doctor of Philosophy (Science)

Applicants for a PhD (Science) program MUST hold a Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification from another university or institution. Further information about applications for admission, applications for scholarship, fees and deadlines for domestic and international students can be found on the Sydney Courses Doctor of Philosophy webpage.

Degree entry requirements: Master of Philosophy (Science)

Applicants for a MPhil (Science) program should hold a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification. Further information about applications for admission, applications for scholarship, fees and deadlines for domestic and international students can be found on the Sydney Courses Master of Philosophy webpage.

Degree entry requirements: Graduate Diploma in Science

The Graduate Diploma in Science provides an alternate entry qualification for PhD. It is identical in content to the Honours (4th year) course and is available to candidates who are not eligible to enrol in that course, usually because of their background in Mathematics or Statistics from outside the University of Sydney. Graduate Diploma is a full fee-paying course. Further information about applications and fees can be found on the Sydney Courses Graduate Diploma in Science webpage.

Scholarships

• domestic students have to submit two separate applications: the PhD/MPhil application and the scholarship application,
• international students only click the relevant box in their PhD/MPhil application.

Study abroad and student exchange

Study abroad and student exchange are the two main program options for students enrolled at international universities and looking to study at the University of Sydney as part of their degree.

• As an exchange student you remain enrolled full time at your home institution while you attend the University of Sydney. While you are in Sydney you will continue to pay your usual tuition fees and other student fees to your home institution. A student from the University of Sydney will do the same in reverse, and the result is an exchange of students and places.
• Study abroad is a separate program from student exchange and involves a student enrolling and paying fees directly to the University of Sydney. There is no reciprocal exchange agreement.

Enquiries about postgraduate study in the School should be directed to the School's Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies Associate Professor Zsuzsanna Dancso by email [email protected] .

Mathematics and Statistics at Sydney

The School of Mathematics and Statistics offers a postgraduate program that is varied and flexible, catering for students of many different backgrounds. The School supports a policy of active research and insists on the highest standards of academic achievement. At present, the School consists of four research groups: Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Nonlinear Analysis and Pure Mathematics. The Pure Mathematics group is further divided into three subgroups: algebra, computational algebra, and analysis, geometry & topology.

The School holds regular seminars, workshops and conferences that ensure that its members stay abreast of latest developments. It also supports an active program of long term and short term visits by distinguished international academics.

The School has all the facilities of a well established and progressive teaching and research institution, including a modern library and an extensive computer network of workstations. In addition the network supports a number of high-speed processors and colour graphics systems. A wide variety of software packages is available including Magma (developed in the School), Spida, S-plus, Reduce, Mathematica and Matlab.

The School is proud of its postgraduate students. Our research students are a valuable resource and the School is committed to providing them with excellent research facilities and office space in which to work. Some financial aid is available to students to allow them to attend relevant conferences and workshops. Further support is offered in the form of part-time teaching, assignment and examination marking.

Sydney and the University

Sydney is the oldest and largest city in Australia, and the capital of New South Wales. The city has a population of over four million and operates as an international centre for commerce, finance and the arts for the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney is well known for its great natural scenic beauty, beaches and climate, as well as its high quality of life.

The University of Sydney, established in 1850, is the oldest of all the universities in Australia. It has nine colleges of residence for students and visiting scholars. It has two theatres, an art gallery, several museums and a thriving cultural life in all facets of the arts. For the physically active there is a wide range of sports facilities, including a covered full-size olympic pool, tennis and squash courts, two sporting ovals, gymnasiums, sports instructors and physiotherapists. Every effort is also made to accommodate the physically impaired.

The diversity of courses and degrees the University offers is unequalled in the country. It provides a lively and challenging environment in which to pursue all aspects of academic life.

The Australian academic year begins in late February. It is divided into two semesters with a winter break of about three weeks from mid-June through to mid-July. Coursework programs finish at the end of November.

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© 2002-2024 The University of Sydney. ABN:  15 211 513 464. CRICOS number:  00026A. Phone:  +61 2 9351 2222. Authorised by:  Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics.

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• Researchers
• Locating Theses

As a researcher, locating theses in your discipline area will be useful for:

• Finding if your research topic is original.
• Referring to the references may indicate seminal work you should also consider.
• Providing an example of an appropriate research methodologies in your field of study.
• Providing an example thesis structure template that is appropriate for your discipline.

Locating Western Sydney University theses

Details of all research theses (Masters by Research or above) written by postgraduate students at Western Sydney University are available via ResearchDirect . Online access to the full-text is provided in most cases, where permission to publish has been granted by the author.

In ResearchDirect , enter your search term in the 'Search Publications' box. This can be keywords from a subject, a title or author’s name. To limit results to theses, click ‘thesis’ in the ‘Publication Type’ facet on the left. You can further limit your results by Date or Subject, if required.

Locating Australian theses

Western Sydney University theses are also available through the National Library of Australia's Trove website, along with other Australian and international theses held in Australian libraries. Results link to theses held in Australian university repositories. Full-text may be available, based on the author granting permission.

For further assistance, refer to the Trove search strategy for locating Australian theses .

Locating international theses

To locate international theses, use the following options:

• EBSCO Open Dissertations
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Postgraduates and staff can request to purchase theses where full-text access is not available.

For further assistance, consult with your School Librarian .

• Search all things Library

UNSWorks is intermittently unavailable

Some functionality of UNSWorks is currently affected due to unplanned system outages. You can still deposit your theses to UNSWorks, but intermittent outages may delay the processing of theses deposits.

See our  news item  for more information.

Finding UNSW theses

UNSW PhD or Masters by Research theses can be located via  UNSWorks . For honours theses, contact the UNSW faculty, school or the author directly.

For more information on rights of use and removing material in UNSWorks see  Copyright - UNSWorks .

Finding Australian and international theses

To find Australian theses, search via:

Library collection To find UNSW Library’s collection of Australian and international theses in print, search  Library collection  for a title or keywords. Refine your results by selecting  Refine my results > Resource types > Dissertations  in the column on the left.

Trove - Australian print and digital theses Trove includes theses at all levels, including PhD, masters and honours. To limit your search to Australian theses only, use  Trove - Research & Reports  search. Tick the  Australian content  box. Next to  Format - select  Thesis  from the drop-down list.

To find international theses, search via:

BASE BASE academic search engine provides access to the repositories of 8,000 institutions. 60% of the full-text documents are open access.

CORE CORE aggregates open access research outputs from repositories and journals worldwide.

DART-Europe e-theses portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia working to improve global access to European research theses.

EBSCO open dissertations Includes the content from American Doctoral Dissertations in addition to theses and dissertations from around the world. Coverage from 1955.

Open access theses and dissertations OATD provides access to open access graduate theses from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions.

Theses Canada Theses and dissertations in the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collection.

Non-UNSW theses

To obtain a thesis that is not available via the resources listed above, contact the library of the holding/publishing institution directly. Conditions of access to a thesis are determined by the author and holding library, and is outside the control of UNSW Library.

Depositing your thesis

How to  deposit  your UNSW thesis.

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Thesis submission and examination

Once you’ve completed your research, you’ll need to prepare your thesis for submission and examination.

Submitting your thesis for examination

You can submit your thesis for examination at any time during the year. You must submit your  Intention to Submit form  two months before your intended submission date. 

Along with other information about your candidature, this form will ask you to provide information regarding any research internships you may have undertaken during your candidature. A research internship can be either paid or unpaid, and can form part of enrolment or be undertaken during an HDR period of suspension.  Your internship may have been arranged by UTS, your supervisor, a third-party provider, or you may have arranged it yourself.  If you signed an agreement, contract, or other internship project proposal, you will be asked to upload a copy of this document.

You must submit your digital thesis and accompanying documents to the faculty research administration office. If your thesis examiners request hard copies, you will need to supply them. 

Your thesis must include a certificate of original authorship, student statement and supervisor certificate stating that the work is ready for examination.  This is now an online process, please go to our Policies, guidelines and forms page for more information and checklists to help you with your submission.

Thesis requirements

Based on the type of thesis you submit and the degree you’re studying, your thesis will need to meet a range of designated requirements that govern:

• word length
• language of the thesis
• order of contents
• certificate of original authorship, including RTP statement
• page numbering
• thesis abstract
• large diagrams, charts and tables
• referencing.

Your thesis must also include or acknowledge any published or publishable work you develop during your candidature.

Including COVID-19 impacts in your thesis

UTS recognises that many graduate research students’ research projects have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, some projects have been repositioned by modifying or changing methodologies, project scope, number of experiments, number or type of participants, etc. Every student’s project is different and, as such, the extent and the specifics of the impact is different.

Students whose research has been impacted by restrictions related to the pandemic are encouraged to consult with their supervisory panel about how best to reflect these impacts in their thesis, and if in fact, it is relevant to do so.

Some approaches to reflect the impact of COVID-19 in theses may be:

• A brief statement included in the front matter of the thesis which provides a summary of COVID-19 impacts on the research.
• Detailed statement(s) of COVID-19 impact in the: a.  Introduction chapter or sections to position the scope of the project. b.  Methods chapter or sections of the thesis to clearly describe, explain and justify the shifts in methodology. This may include highlighting unintended but resulting innovations in methodology. c.  Discussion and/or Conclusions chapters or sections to indicate future research directions such as when originally planned approaches can again be undertaken; insights about implications of the work in continuing or post-pandemic contexts.

Using a professional editor or proofreader

You can use the services of a professional editor or proofreader to help prepare your thesis for submission. These professionals can provide copyediting and proofreading advice; however, they cannot shape or change the substance or structure of your work.

It’s important to make sure you understand the rules around using an editor or proofreader before you engage a professional. As a starting point, you should read the following documents:

• Guidelines for Editing Research Theses
• Australian Standards for Editing Practice

You should also request permission from your supervisor before you engage an editor or proofreader.

iThenticate access

UTS provides access for staff and students to a plagiarism detection program called iThenticate. It is important to remember that plagiarism is not always intentional, so making use of this tool can provide peace of mind.

To access iThenticate, you will need to log a request via ServiceConnect using your student login credentials and follow these steps:

• follow this link to the ServiceConnect home page
• select 'Requests'
• select 'user account, system and file access' from the left-hand list of options
• select iThenticate access
• complete the online form and submit, you will receive an email with access information once your request has been assessed and approved. If you have any questions relating to your request or access, please contact the IT Support Centre via ServiceConnect or by phone on 9514 2222.

Nominating thesis examiners

You should start discussing potential examiners with your supervisory panel at least two months prior  to the date you intend to submit your thesis.  A  minimum of four potential examiners must be identified and any conflicts of interest considered. This list should be ready, along with your  Intention to Submit  form. 

Once the potential list of examiners has been agreed upon, you need to complete your part of the  Nomination of Examiners  form.

The examination process will be confidential and you will not know who the final examination panel will include. 

Your principal supervisor and your faculty RAO will then nominate your thesis examiners to the Graduate Research School before you submit your thesis. The Dean of the Graduate Research School is responsible for approving and appointing the examiners.

Examiners must have relevant expertise in your field of endeavour, with no existing or potential conflict of interest. A minimum of 2 and maximum of 3 examiners are required for PhD theses. 2 examiners are required for masters by research theses. All examiners must be external to UTS.

If you have concerns about your thesis being examined by a particular person, you should raise these concerns with your supervisor for consideration during the examiner nomination process.

Conflict of interest

To ensure the examination process remains impartial, examiners must not have the potential for real or perceived conflict of interest, as outlined in the Australian Council of Graduate Research ACGR Conflict of Interest in Examination Guidelines  and the Nomination of Examiners (FAQ) .

People who might be perceived to have a conflict of interest with a student include, but are not limited to:

• someone who has a working relationship with the student (e.g. if the examiner has acted as a referee for the student to gain employment)
• current or former colleagues or friends (e.g. if the examiner is a friend, associate or mentor of the student)
• family members (including family by law, e.g. if the examiner is stepfather, sister-in-law, etc, to the student)
• other professional or social relationship (e.g. if the examiner has had personal contact with the student that may give rise to the perception that the examiner may be dealing with the student in a less than objective manner).

Thesis examination process

Once all of the requirements for your examination have been met and confirmed by your faculty research administration office, the Graduate Research School (GRS) will change your enrolment status to ‘under examination’ and copies of your thesis will be sent to the nominated examiners. The thesis examination process can take 3-6 months to complete.

Under examination:   please note, this status effectively 'stops the clock' on your candidature.

Once your examiners have returned their reports to the Graduate Research School, they will be collated and forwarded to your faculty Responsible Academic Officer (RAO).  The RAO will consult with your supervisory panel and prepare a Thesis Examination Resolution, which will go before the Faculty Research Degree Committee (FRDC).

After reviewing, the FRDC will make a final recommendation, or defer to the Thesis Examination Committee (TEC) as required. 

For further information, please refer to the Graduate Research Final Examination Procedures which outlines responsibilities and expectations for managing the range of options of examiner reports, reconciling disparate reports, moderation and re-examination.

Please note that the examination process remains confidential until a resolution is reached by either the TEC or the FRDC.

Possible examination recommendations

(for thesis examination forms created before 31 dec 2023).

There are 6 possible recommendations (see corresponding Procedures ):

Recommendation​ 1

That the candidate be admitted to the degree, subject to the correction of typographic errors without any amendments.

Recommendation ​2

That the candidate be admitted to the degree subject to the correction of any nominated minor clarifications and textual amendments to the satisfaction of the Responsible Academic Officer.

Recommendation​ 3​

That the candidate be admitted to the degree subject to specific criticisms of the thesis as recommended by the examiners being addressed to the satisfaction of the Responsible Academic Officer, and any rewriting not changing the substantive conclusions of the thesis.

Recommendation​ 4

That the candidate be not admitted to the degree but be permitted to re-submit the thesis in a revised form for re-examination following a period of further study.

Recommendation​ 5

- PhD students: That the candidate be invited to revise and resubmit the thesis for a research masters degree. - Research masters students: That the candidate not be awarded the degree and not be permitted to resubmit.

Recommendation 6

That the PhD candidate not be awarded the degree and not be permitted to resubmit.

(for thesis examination forms created from 01 January 2024)

Possible recommendations for both masters by research and doctoral degrees are (see corresponding Procedures ):

• Pass - No amendments to content required; or only amendments involving typographical errors, formatting issues or other edits that have no bearing on the intellectual quality of the overall thesis. The RAO verifies the edits have been addressed.   
• Pass with amendments - Amendments to content are required. In this case, Examiners must provide a list and explanation of each required revision. The student must address the examiners’ criticisms to the satisfaction of the RAO. These revisions will be reviewed and verified by the RAO in consultation with the supervisory panel .   
• Resubmission and re-examination – Substantial and/or considerable changes to in the content of the thesis are required but can be resolved with major  revision. Examiners must provide a list and explanation of the required changes. Based on the examiner recommendation on the revised thesis, the RAO in in consultation with the supervisory panel, makes a recommendation to the TEC. A resubmitted thesis may only be awarded a result of 1, 2 or 4*.
• Fail - The thesis has serious irredeemable flaws and is not of a standard to be awarded the degree.

Depending on the recommendation you receive, you may be notified that you can submit your final thesis for graduation, or you may need to continue working on your thesis and resubmit it at a later date. In rare cases, you may not have the option to resubmit.

If you are required to revise your thesis, you must complete the Thesis Revision Response template  to accompany your resubmitted work.  All actions should be completed within the timeframes specified in the Graduate Research Final Examination Procedures  and the UTS Student Rules (11.20) . 

Thesis examination committees

Thesis examination committee.

The TEC, acting for the Higher Degree Research Board, establishes and oversees the thesis examination process. This includes (but not limited to):

• setting the examination criteria and reporting requirements
• setting the requirements for faculties to make recommendations related to examination outcomes
• consideration of examination outcomes, including consideration to  UTS Student Rules 11.20.5 to 11.20.7
• setting re-examination procedures
• recommending to admit/not to admit candidates to degrees
• communication between the TEC and faculties is facilitated by the GRS

2024 TEC meeting dates:

• Thurs 18 Apr (papers due to GRS Mon 8 Apr)
• Thurs 23 May (papers due to GRS Mon 13 May)
• Thurs 20 Jun (papers due to GRS Mon 10 Jun)
• Thurs 18 Jul (papers due to GRS Mon 8 Jul)
• Thurs 22 Aug (papers due to GRS Mon 12 Aug)
• Thurs 19 Sep (papers due to GRS Mon 9 Sep)
• Thurs 24 Oct (papers due to GRS Mon 14 Oct)
• Thurs 21 Nov (papers due to GRS Mon 11 Nov)
• Thurs 12 Dec (papers due to GRS Mon 2 Dec)

Faculty Research Degree Committees

The FRDCs are responsible for considering/approving the recommendation of the RAO for examination outcomes.

Large faculties may establish school-level examination committees, which report to the FRDC. Responsibilities will include considering/approving the recommendation of the RAO for examination outcomes and communicating the outcome to the supervisory panel and graduate research student.

Please contact your faculty research office for further information, including meeting dates.

Preparing for completion

Once you’ve been notified that you can submit your final thesis for conferral, you’ll need to supply the following documents to your faculty:

• your thesis abstract
• a digital copy of your thesis and confirmation of  digital submission to the library
• a completed thesis revision response
• a final bound copy of your thesis (if required by your faculty).

After you’ve received a recommendation from your faculty, the Dean of the Graduate Research School (GRS) will recommend to the Academic Board that you be admitted to the degree. You will receive a conferral information email from GRS confirming the date of your conferral and information on how to apply for a statement of completion.

Please contact your faculty research office for their submission deadline for each conferral.

2024 conferral dates and deadlines

Conferral dates, and faculty to GRS submission deadlines:

• February Conferral — Wednesday 14 February 2024 Faculty to GRS deadline: Friday 19 January 2024
• March 2024 Conferral — Wednesday 20 March 2024 Faculty to GRS deadline — Friday 23 February 2024
• May Conferral — Wednesday 15 May 2024 Faculty to GRS deadline — Friday 19 April 2024
• July Conferral — Wednesday 24 July 2024 Faculty to GRS deadline — Friday 28 June 2024
• September Conferral — Wednesday 4 September 2024 Faculty to GRS deadline — Friday 9 August 2024
• November Conferral — Wednesday 20 November 2024 Faculty to GRS deadline — Friday 25 October 2024

Reimbursement of thesis costs

If you are a research scholarship holder and you have spent money on thesis editing and/or printing costs, you may be eligible for reimbursement.

Reimbursement information is contained in the Conditions of Award (CoA) for your scholarship—if your CoA contains a Thesis Allowance section, you can apply for reimbursement within 12 months of your thesis submission date. To apply for reimbursement, please fill out the  Scholarship Allowance Claim Form  and attach original tax invoices as evidence of your expenditure.

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

• OPUS at UTS
• UTS Digital Thesis Collection

UTS PhD & Masters Theses

UTS higher degree theses are automatically made available via this collection after conferral of the relevant degrees. More information and submission guidelines are available from the Graduate Research School .

Occasionally older material in this collection may have been made open access without the explicit permission of the author due to difficulties finding contact information. This decision has been made in accordance with best practice as access to theses has been proven to increase the citation and impact of scholarly material to the advantage of the author. If you are the author of this material and have concerns please contact us at [email protected] .

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Doctor of Philosophy

As a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate, you’ll complete a substantial program of independent and original research in your chosen field of study. A PhD prepares you for a range of careers - from academic to industry and is the highest degree qualification available. 

• 3–4 years (full time) minimum commitment of 35 – 40 hours per week or
• 6–8 years (part time) minimum commitment of 15 hours per week.
• Offered in all Faculties
• A thesis of no more than 100,000 words.

Entry requirements

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UNSW undertakes world-class research that tackles some of the greatest challenges facing society today. When you join the UNSW research community, you join a passionate collective of people who are using research to transform minds, transform lives, and transform the world.

UNSW will support you to develop the skills and expertise you need to make a difference in your field. We are committed to providing you with an unmatched PhD experience that includes outstanding research training and mentorship, world-class supervision, and access to research environments defined by excellence and collaboration.

You will receive advanced specialist research training and produce a thesis that provides evidence for independent thought, critical analysis, and expert knowledge of the discipline in an international context. In some disciplines, creative work may form part of the thesis.

Find information about individual PhD programs and codes on the UNSW Handbook .

Learn about the graduate attributes and learning outcomes for UNSW higher degree research programs here . 

The minimum requirement for admission to a PhD is:

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Rep. Raskin Leads Letter to Biden Administration Urging Continued Negotiation for Release of PhD Candidate Kidnapped in Iraq

April 8 , 2024.

Washington, DC – Today Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) sent a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the administration to continue pursuing negotiations with all relevant parties for the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a PhD candidate in Political Science at Princeton University who was kidnapped in Iraq in March 2023 by Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH), an Iranian-backed militia.  

The lawmakers wrote, “Ms. Tsurkov has now spent a year in captivity. Contrary to the categorically false and coerced statements that KH released in a proof of life video of Ms. Tsurkov last November, she is not a CIA agent but a journalist and political science doctoral candidate at Princeton who traveled to Iraq to conduct fieldwork for her study of strategies to reduce sectarian-based conflict in the Middle East.”  

The lawmakers continued, “Ms. Tsurkov is vocal and passionate about finding ways to foster peace in the Middle East, a region that she has studied and has written about in numerous publications. Despite the instability in the region, she bravely pursued her calling based on her conviction that there are concrete pathways to peace and security for the region.”  

Kata’ib Hezbollah has not made any demands to the Tsurkov family in return for Elizabeth’s release. The Iraqi government opened an investigation into the kidnapping three months after Ms. Tsurkov disappeared, with limited updates. Ms. Tsurkov’s family continues to work toward a breakthrough that could lead to her release.  

Prior to being kidnapped, Elizabeth had traveled to Iraq multiple times to conduct fieldwork for her dissertation. Ms. Tsurkov is also a journalist, with publications on the Middle East in multiple major outlets, including The Guardian, Foreign Policy and the Atlantic Council. She has also briefed House and Senate committees in her areas of expertise.  

Congressman Raskin was joined on the letter by Representatives André Carson (IN-07), Emmanual Cleaver II (MO-05), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-54), Andy Kim (NJ-03), James McGovern (MA-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Katie Porter (CA-45), Adam Schiff (CA-28), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).   

Permalink: https://raskin.house.gov/2024/4/rep-raskin-leads-letter-to-biden-administration-urging-continued-negotiation-for-release-of-phd-candidate-kidnapped-in-iraq