Part 18: Masters thesis examination

Appointment of examiners

When a thesis is submitted, the Research Degrees Committee will appoint at least two examiners on the recommendation of the head of school, at least one of whom shall be external to the university.

Expectations of a major thesis

Masters degrees in the Faculty of Science generally have the objective of training candidates in research methodology and techniques in their critical evaluation, appropriate to their field of study, and in the application of such methodology by conducting a program of research under appropriate supervision.

The major thesis should demonstrate the ability of a candidate to:

• read the literature critically and identify a problem that can be addressed;
• state the problem in a form suitable for investigation, then carry out these investigations;
• analyse the information arising from the investigations using techniques appropriate for the discipline;
• critically discuss the results of these analyses and their significance, and how they relate to the problem;
• contribute to the knowledge of the subject, preferably in a manner so that publishable material may be derived from the work described in the thesis;
• consider what further work may arise from these conclusions; and
• express the thesis in correct English and present it in a form consistent with the scientific conventions for the discipline.

Guidelines for examiners

Examiners of masters theses are provided with written guidelines to assist them in their examination. These are available from the Faculty of Science website or the Graduate Studies Officer. Each examiner shall evaluate the thesis and shall recommend to the Faculty Board whether or not the work of the candidate merits the award of the degree.

Possible recommendations of examiners

Overall recommendation

Examiners are requested to indicate their overall recommendation for the thesis by ticking the appropriate box on the 'Examiner's report on a Master of Science thesis' form.

Examiners are asked to make one of the following recommendations; that the thesis:

• Be passed and the candidate awarded the degree without further examination; or
• Be passed and the candidate awarded the degree without further examination, subject to the candidate inserting in the thesis the amendments required in the examiner's report. The head of school is able to verify these changes without further reference to the examiner or examiners. (This category would include a thesis for which the examiner notes typographical errors or other minor amendments requiring attention, or specifies changes of substance that, in the opinion of the examiner, are not sufficient to justify deferral and re-examination.); or
• Be passed and the candidate awarded the degree without further examination, subject to the candidate inserting in the thesis the amendments required in the examiner's report to the satisfaction of the examiner . (This category would include amendments of a more serious nature); or
• Be passed and the candidate awarded the degree, subject to the candidate passing an oral and/or written examination on the subject matter of the thesis . (When recommending this category, the examiner is asked to identify the kinds of questions and their purpose; in the case of an oral examination, bearing in mind that it is not a standard part of this university's examining practice and when used is not intended to test a candidate in wider, more general areas of knowledge; in the case of a written examination, suggesting the format the answers should take if inclusion in the thesis is proposed.); or
• Not be passed, but the candidate be permitted to revise and resubmit the thesis for examination. (The examiner, when specifying this category, is asked to support the recommendation as fully as possible); or
• Be classified as failed and the candidate not be awarded the degree. (The examiner, when specifying this category, is asked to support the recommendation as fully as possible).

Honours equivalent grade

Examiners are requested to indicate an honours equivalent grade and indicative percentage grade for the thesis by ticking the appropriate box on the 'Examiner's report on a Master of Science thesis' form. The determination of an honours grade and indicative percentage mark for masters theses will allow the university to better rank applicants for admission to further postgraduate study and for scholarship selection.

Where there are conflicting examiners' reports, including discrepancies in recommended honours equivalent grades

Formation of an advisory panel

Where there is a difference of substance between the recommendations of the thesis examiners, including discrepancies in recommended honours equivalent grades, an advisory panel must be constituted to assist the committee in its assessment of the thesis and any supporting publications. The advisory panel would normally comprise:

• the convenor of the Research Degrees Committee;
• the head of school or nominee;
• the candidate's supervisor; and
• an independent academic staff member in a cognate discipline from outside the school and not necessarily from the Faculty of Science.

Possible recommendations of the advisory panel

Members of the advisory panel review the reports together and then make a recommendation to the Convenor of the Research Degrees Committee. An advisory panel may normally recommend, depending on the examiners' recommendations:

• amendments - either to the satisfaction of the examiner(s) or head of school; or
• fail; or
• revise and resubmit; or
• appointment of an adjudicator.

This decision must be reported at the next meeting of the Research Degrees Committee.

Process of adjudication

Advisory panels are reminded that the appointment of an adjudicator should be the normal recommendation where there is a substantial disagreement between examiners. In this case the examination reports, together with the thesis, will be forwarded to the adjudicator.

The role of an adjudicator is not to be an additional examiner, but to pronounce on the relative soundness, correctness and appropriateness of the initial two examiners' recommendations. To this end the adjudicator will be requested to offer an opinion on whether the examiners were competent and fair.

The candidate is invited to submit a written defence of the thesis in response to the criticisms and comments of the dissenting examiner. If the candidate submits a defence it would also be forwarded to the adjudicator. The Research Degrees Committee subsequently considers the adjudicator's report.

Reference to Handbook for Doctoral and Master of Philosophy Degrees

Please note that a number of these guidelines are based on those given in the Monash Research Graduate School Handbook for Doctoral and Master of Philosophy Degrees and that where the faculty's guidelines are incomplete reference will normally be sought from this source. Candidates should, however, direct any concerns that they may have to the Graduate Studies Officer in the first instance or the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies).

Notification of result by the Faculty of Science office

The Faculty of Science office will notify candidates of the completion of the examination.

Enquires about the progress of the examination should be directed to the Graduate Studies Officer in the first instance and not to the candidate's school or supervisor.

The median length of examination is two months although in isolated instances an examination may be delayed owing to circumstances beyond the control of the Faculty of Science office.

Requirements following examination

Once the examination is complete and if the thesis has been passed, and required amendments (if any) have been made, four hardbound copies of the thesis must be returned to the Faculty of Science office.

Candidates who are required to make amendments to their thesis are expected to complete this task in less then two months. If additional time is required the candidate may be requested to re-enrol for this period. Candidates who re-enrol should be aware that this enrolment will attract the applicable fees for the period concerned.

Revise and resubmit

Where candidates are required to revise and resubmit their thesis they must do so in accordance with the examiners' reports and any directions of the advisory panel if applicable.

Candidates are supervised during the period allowed for rewriting (as throughout their original candidature) and the examination process for the rewritten thesis is the same as for the first examination. Rewriting the thesis for re-examination is only optional in as much as a candidate may decide not to take up the opportunity to re-write, and will be awarded an automatic fail result for the thesis, thereby failing to qualify for the degree.

Liability for fees when rewriting the thesis

Candidates must be enrolled to rewrite their thesis, and will be liable for any fees for the period concerned. The appropriate advice will be forwarded to the candidate when the results of the examination are announced.