Steps to submitting a thesis

Enrolment status after submission of thesis

A candidate should normally be enrolled at the time the thesis is submitted for examination and not on any form of leave that involves a suspension of candidature.

Candidature will end when the thesis is submitted for examination. If the program includes a creative component, the candidature will remain active until the creative component is examined. The candidate will have continued access to supervisors, email, computing and library facilities during the period of examination and revision of the thesis. A candidate cannot withdraw from candidature or withdraw the thesis from examination once the thesis is submitted.

International candidates are not required to remain in the country during the examination and revision of their thesis. If they opt to stay during this period, they may apply for an official statement confirming their enrolment with the University and date of thesis submission which can be taken to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for a visa extension. The letter can be purchased online via GriffithPAY.

Fees on submission of thesis

Candidature will end when the thesis is submitted for examination. If the program includes a creative component, the candidature will end when the studio research or the creative component is examined. Fee-paying candidates must ensure that any outstanding fees/charges are paid prior to examination of the thesis. In some cases, fee-paying candidates may be entitled to a partial refund once the payment has been recalculated.

Scholarship holders

Ordinarily, candidates in receipt of a scholarship(s) will have their scholarship(s) terminated as of the submission date. Candidates should direct any queries to the HDR Scholarships team (hdr-scholarship@griffith.edu.au) regarding the impact of submission upon their scholarship(s).

Submission of a thesis before the minimum submission date

A candidate may apply to submit a thesis before the minimum submission date. This does not apply to the PhD (by Prior Publication) program. In such cases, the principal supervisor/s and Dean (Research) will be asked to provide explicit advice that the thesis is or will be ready for submission and will not benefit from further work. In order to provide this advice, the Dean (Research) may consider having the thesis informally assessed by another competent person not associated with the candidature.

Submission against the advice of the supervisor

Where a supervisor is unwilling or unable to support a candidate’s intended submission date as provided on their Notice of Intention to Submit Form, the form will be referred to the Dean (Research) or HDR Director in the group to facilitate a resolution.

If, at point of thesis submission, there is still a dispute between the candidate and supervisory team about the readiness of the thesis, the candidate may apply via the Thesis Submission Approval service request (available via MyGriffith), to submit the thesis for examination without the endorsement of their principal supervisor. The candidate will be required to attach a final copy of the thesis as intended to be sent out for examination to the Thesis Submission Approval service request. The principal supervisor will provide a written report outlining the basis for their concerns and their assessment of the work required for the thesis to be ready, with the candidate being provided with the opportunity to review this report and either:

a. withdraw their thesis submission application, or

b. provide a written response to the report for consideration by the relevant Dean (Research).

The Dean (Research) will review the report and candidate’s response and call upon relevant expertise and be responsible for determining whether the thesis as is, should be sent for examination. Please see section 3.2.3 of the HDR Examination Procedure for further information on this process. No request for thesis submission can be processed where the following remain outstanding:

· The candidature milestones are not satisfactorily completed

· The coursework component of the program is not satisfactorily completed

· The candidature has lapsed.