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Home > Research > Griffith Graduate Research School > Making changes to candidature

Making changes to candidature

• Candidature changes
• Milestones and requirements
• HDR Careers Week
• HDR-Skills-Week
• HDR Internships
• Thesis preparation overview
• Inclusion of papers within the thesis
• PhD by prior publication
• Theses with creative components
• Steps to submit a thesis
• Examination overview
• Nominating and Appointing HDR Examiners and Chairperson of Examiners
• Conclusion of examination
• Conducting research
• Candidate support

Applying for leave

Supervision changes.

• Changes to topic or title

Applying for a scholarship extension

Remote candidature, element transfer, concurrent enrolment, program changes, withdrawal from candidature, managing impacts to your candidature.

To assist you with managing impacts to your HDR candidature, there are resources and support mechanisms that have been put in place to assist you.

The documenting impacts template will help guide you to keep a detailed record of any specific impacts, or delays, to your candidature. Please include a copy of this impact record when applying for leave or extensions to your maximum submission date and/or scholarship.

Find out more

Requesting candidature changes

Changes to candidature requests are lodged online via myGriffith > My program > My candidate centre . In most cases you will need to complete part of the request via a PDF form, this is best done using Adobe Reader. (Available free from  Adobe .)

Who approves?

Approvers are listed in the  HDR Academic Decisions Schedule . Unless otherwise stated requests automatically workflow to the required approvers for consideration. You can track the progress of your request at anytime via myGriffith > My program > Track my requests.

HDR Candidature Centre self-help guide (PDF 9MB)

Candidate self-help videos

HDR candidates are eligible to apply for different kinds of leave during candidature. HDR candidates have basic leave entitlements that can be taken each year of their candidature of 20 working days recreation leave, and up to 10 working days sick leave. For all other leave entitlements you will need to lodge a request to take leave, and during this period your candidature is ‘paused’, and your access to resources such as supervisor/s, office space, library and computers, will be suspended. Your minimum and maximum submission dates will be adjusted by the period of the leave taken. Once you have exceeded your maximum period of candidature, you will not be entitled to leave.

Retrospective leave and leave within the first six months of candidature, will not normally be approved, except in the case of sick leave.

International candidates

Student visa holders are not permitted to take leave, except in compassionate or compelling circumstances. Griffith International will review your application for leave to ensure that student visa conditions are not breached.

Scholarship holders

Scholarship holders may be entitled to paid leave (such as sick leave), or unpaid leave (such as leave of absence). Your leave entitlements will be outlined in your scholarship conditions of award. A leave request should be submitted at least two weeks prior to your leave commencement so there is enough time to suspend payment, if applicable. Once you return from leave you must notify the scholarships office to get payments reactivated. Your scholarship will normally be extended by the duration of your leave. Not all scholarship conditions are the same, so you must check the leave entitlements for your scholarship.

Programs with Coursework (programs other than the PhD or MPhil): As these programs are bound by the Enrolment Procedure with respect to adding or withdrawing from courses, normally leave will need to be taken for the entire trimester duration.

• Up to 365 days
• Up to an additional 365 days (special leave of absence available in exceptional circumstances only)

Professional doctorates and specialist research masters degree programs: Normally leave for the entire trimester is necessary, as these programs are bound by the Enrolment Procedure with respect to adding or withdrawing from courses.

If you become ill for any reason, sick leave is the appropriate form of leave to take. Sick leave may also be used for carers leave for candidates who need to care for a member of their household when they are ill. You should advise your supervisor if you are unwell and that you will be taking sick leave.

Candidates have a basic entitlement of up to 10 working days of sick leave each year of candidature. For a period of sick leave that is up to 10 working days, no formal leave request is required.

Beyond this basic entitlement candidates are eligible for up to 12 weeks sick leave over the entire period of candidature. If you access this additional sick leave provision, your maximum submission date will be adjusted by the period of the sick leave taken. Candidates can apply to access this sick leave where:

• The sick leave period exceeds 10 continuous working days;
• A medical certificate specifying the duration is provided; and
• The sick leave is claimed within one month of the end of the period of illness.

Parental leave: Parental leave provides the opportunity for candidates to devote time to the care of their child or children during the first year of their parenting relationship.

Parental leave may be granted for a period up to 365 days for each child born or legally adopted during candidature where:

• The candidate is the primary carer of a new-born child or children, or of a newly adopted child or children under 16 years of age.
• Upon provision of appropriate certification (for example, medically certified expected date of birth, or adoption documentation).
• Where the person taking leave is the birth parent (parent who is pregnant/gives birth), the leave period would be expected to commence no earlier than 20 weeks before the expected date of birth, and normally no later than three weeks before the expected date of birth.
• Finishing no later than 365 days after the period of leave commenced.

Partner leave:  A candidate who is the partner of a primary carer of a newly born or adopted child or children, is entitled to partner leave up to a maximum of eight weeks for each child born or legally adopted during candidature:

• Upon provision of appropriate certification (for example, medically certified expected date of birth, or adoption documentation)
• The leave period would be expected to be taken at or about, but not normally prior to, the time of the birth/adoption.

As a basic entitlement, full time candidates are eligible for 20 days of recreation leave each year of candidature. Part time candidates are eligible for 10 days of recreation leave each year of candidature.

This leave is included in the maximum candidature duration. You are encouraged to take your accrued recreation leave annually, under verbal agreement with your principal supervisor. Whilst not required, you can lodge an online recreation leave request in order to track your accrual and remaining entitlement.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates are eligible for 5 days of cultural and ceremonial leave each year of candidature.

These leave entitlements may be accrued over the duration of candidature. Candidates are to inform their principal supervisor of planned leave periods.

Self help videos for candidates

You can apply to change your supervision arrangements at any time throughout your candidature. Where supervision is tied to a particular project, as with an industry scholarship for example, special approval will be required.

As a matter of courtesy, you and your proposed new supervisors are asked to discuss your intentions with your current supervisors. Where you are reluctant to discuss potential supervision changes with your current supervisors please raise the matter with the Head of Element or delegate (HDR Convenor), or the Dean (Research).

If your supervisor leaves/resigns from the University, you will need to appoint a replacement supervisor.

Please familiarise yourself with the HDR Supervision Procedure.

HDR Supervision Procedure

Extension to maximum submission date

If your progress has been delayed by factors beyond your control you may apply for an extension to your maximum submission date of up to six months. Further extensions beyond this period are not normally granted unless the circumstances are exceptional. A leave of absence or special leave of absence will not be approved once an extension to your maximum submission date has been granted.

Your application must:

• Outline the circumstances leading to the request
• Provide a detailed assessment of the work remaining to be completed
• Provide a timetable for completion of the work
• Provide a projected date for submission of your thesis.

Masters (Research)

The below Masters (Research) programs specify the due date for thesis submission in accordance with the trimester of enrolment for the final dissertation course. If you are not able to submit your thesis by the course-specified date, you should consult with the Program Director regarding an extension to your submission date. If this extension goes into the next trimester you will also need to apply for an extension to maximum submission date.

• Master of Arts Research
• Master of Education and Professional Research Studies
• Master of Medical Research
• Master of Science

Your Research Training Program (RTP) Domestic Fee Offset entitlement expires on your maximum submission date. Beyond this date, the Commonwealth government funding ceases, and the cost of maintaining the candidature is borne by the Element. While the University does not at present charge tuition fees for domestic candidates in these situations, the policy is under continuous review and may change at any time.

If your thesis is not submitted by the due date, and you do not have an in-progress or approved extension your candidature will lapse and enrolment withdrawn.

However if you are in the final write up stage of your research, you may submit your thesis within a maximum period of three years from the lapse date, or by the maximum period for completing the program in accordance with the Enrolment Procedure , whichever is sooner.  This is subject to any conditions imposed by the Dean, Research. You may continue to undertake research and writing of your thesis, however, as a lapsed candidate normal privileges such as office space, lab access, library and computer access etc., are suspended. You will continue to access your supervisory team, however, the nature and frequency of this access will be at the discretion of your supervisor/s and enrolling element. You may access the library as a member of the public.

Once your thesis is ready for examination, you will complete and submit the Application to Submit Thesis under Lapse of Candidature Regulations form to the Griffith Graduate Research School. All candidature milestones and requirements (e.g. publication requirement) must have been completed for the application to be considered. Approval to submit your thesis may be subject to any conditions imposed by the Dean, Research including a minimum period of re-enrolment. Where your candidature has been cancelled due to unpaid tuition fees, failure to re-enrol, or failure to meet other candidature requirements, you will not be approved to submit as a lapsed candidate.

If the period since the lapsed date is greater than three years or the maximum period for completing the program in accordance with the Enrolment Procedure , you will need to lodge a new application for admission to the HDR program. Any application for admission will be subject to admission and enrolment requirements.

In addition to the requirement to submit the thesis for examination by the specified maximum submission date, candidates enrolled in a masters by research or professional doctorate program must also adhere to the maximum period for completing a program in accordance with the Enrolment Procedure . For candidates admitted on or after 1 January 2016, the maximum period for completion of the program is 4 years for Masters (Research) programs and 8 years for Professional Doctorate programs. This period refers to elapsed calendar years starting from the date of admission to the program and is inclusive or periods of leave and discontinuation.

An extension to the maximum period of up to one year may be granted by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School upon lodgement of either an application for extension to the maximum submission date, or an application to submit the thesis as a lapsed candidate.

Check whether the conditions of your scholarship provide for an extension. Make your request at least one month before the expiry date of your scholarship.

You will need to provide the following supporting documentation:

• A schedule for completion of your research and submission of your thesis including detailed monthly targets indicating progress to submission. Please see an example template for a Detailed Completion Plan .
• The new date for submission of your thesis.
• Advice regarding the status of your Thesis and Candidature Review Milestone . Usually this must be completed before receiving a scholarship extension.
• problems encountered with your research rather than personal reasons. Provide specific detail about why and when your research was delayed or prolonged; or
• the undertaking of an industry placement, research internship or professional practice activity approved as part of the HDR program.

Changing your topic or title

Changes can be made to the title of your thesis at anytime up to submission, this is considered a minor change.

Major changes

This is considered changes in the direction of the research that require a topic change. You will need to provide:

• A detailed explanation of the circumstances leading to the change.
• A new research proposal.

Before confirmation: Where a major change of topic is approved pre-confirmation, the HDR Convenor may determine that your confirmation be postponed for up to a maximum of six months.

After confirmation: Where a major change of topic is approved post-confirmation, the HDR Convenor may require you to repeat confirmation for the new research topic.

Major topic changes for candidates from sanctioned countries will require additional approval as per the HDR Academic Decisions Schedule .

If the change involves any new supervisory arrangements or a change in element this must be lodged separately. The Dean (Research) will assess whether the element is able to support your candidature in terms of resources, facilities etc.

You will need approval for any period of time spent away from the University (or your usual location) to ensure it is appropriate for your program and to ensure that the necessary insurance coverage is in place. You will remain enrolled/active during this period. To do this, lodge the Short-Term Study Away form via myGriffith. This should be done before any travel bookings are made. You may be required to complete or update a  GSafe risk assessment as appropriate.

Purposes may include:

• data collection
• conference attendance

Depending on the length of time you will be away from the University you may wish to consider appointing a local external supervisor, there is a section on the form to do this.

The form will automatically workflow for approval:

• Up to 12 months – Principal Supervisor and HDR Convenor
• Over 12 months – Study away periods greater than 12 months constitute  Remote Candidature and need to be applied for separately.

International study away will not be approved to areas under current Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warnings, 'Do not travel' (level 4) or 'Reconsider your need to travel' (level 3) or if insurance cover is not available. In exceptional cases candidates may make a case for consideration by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) (for example if the destination is your home country). In this situation approval by the Dean, Research and Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School will also be required.

Candidates are responsible for undertaking the appropriate checks and ensuring that they have appropriately considered the risks of travel. For international travel, this includes ensuring you have met the correct vaccine requirements, have assessed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) country risk level, understand the testing/quarantine of the country/countries you are visiting, and have checked the University travel insurance. To view the detailed university international travel guidelines please refer to the  website . NB: HDR Candidates are not required to complete the International Travel Approval Form, the Short Term Study Away request provides international travel approval for HDR Candidates.

For international travel, the Principal Supervisor will be asked to complete the International Engagement Checking Tool provide a PDF copy of the responses. The purpose of this tool is to undertake a risk assessment of proposed international activities in order to ensure they do not breach Australia’s laws.

Candidates have a few options when it comes to booking their travel, depending on how it will be funded.

Booking using University funds (research account or other accounts)

If you plan to book flights or other travel related expenses using University funds, this must be organised on your behalf via the Travel Coordinators in your area. HDR candidates do not have access to liaise with finance or the travel agent directly (CTM). If you do not know who this person is for your area, speak to your supervisor.

If this is your first time booking travel at Griffith University, you must complete the travel profile form and return it to the Travel Coordinator in your area. This can be done at anytime from when you commence your candidature however it must be completed before any bookings can be made.

Once your profile has been created, you can liaise with the travel coordinator to book the travel. Bookings are made as per the Griffith travel policy .

Please note there may be additional requirements within your group/element with regards to accessing University/research allowance funds for travel. Please see your principal supervisor for further details.

In addition, you must complete a travel diary based on the below scenarios. Please refer to the travel website for further details.

• International for more than five consecutive nights (required in all instances regardless of business and private dual purpose); or
• Domestic for more than five nights (only required if there are business  and private dual purposes, ie not required if business purpose only).

Booking using personal funds

You can book and pay for your travel using your personal funds if appropriate. Provided you meet the other criteria, you will be able to access the Griffith travel insurance and International SOS. Complete the HDR Study Away Support Application before you go to ensure you are covered.

Please be aware that you will not be able to seek a reimbursement from the University for travel booked using personal funds.

Booking using both University (research account or other accounts) or personal funds

If the University is funding any portion of the travel then it must be booked via the travel coordinator as per Booking using University funds above. The only difference is that you do have the option to pay a portion using personal funds directly to the travel agent as part of the booking process. For example, if the flight you wish to book is $2,000 and the University is funding $1,000, you can pay the other $1,000 directly with the travel agent. Discuss this with your travel coordinator as part of the booking process.

Situations where partial funding might be appropriate are where the travel is dual purpose e.g. some days are related to candidature and some days might be considered recreation.

Please be aware that you will not be able to seek a reimbursement from the University for travel booked using personal funds, even if this is a partial reimbursement. However, you are able to reimburse the University after the flights are booked as needed.

If you intend to book your accommodation using personal funds but the flights using University funds, please refer to the specific sections above instead. You only need to pay directly with the travel agent in situations where cost needs to be split.

Research candidates are eligible for International Experience Incentive Scheme (IEIS) grants to support approved periods of study away overseas. Grants are currently offered all year round. The grant amounts vary as outlined below. Please note that International candidates are generally not eligible for a grant to undertake study or an overseas experience in their home country.

Funding for HDR Candidates to undertake approved periods of study overseas and international experiences (including WIL programs).

• $800 (1 to 8 weeks)
• $1,500 (9 to 15 weeks)
• $2,500 (16+ weeks)

An approved conference or workshop:

• $250 for conference attendance that is related to the candidate’s field of research
• confirmed in candidature
• has not received an extension to the program maximum submission date
• are presenting at a conference outside Australia that is of international standing. The conference paper should be directly related to the candidate’s thesis topic.
• are the sole or lead author of the presentation AND the presenter at the conference

Once you have an approved Short Term Study Away application and booked your travel, please lodge the online HDR Study Away Support Application to access the funds. This form will also ensure you are registered with International SOS and the University’s travel insurance.

Changing your study status to part time or full time may impact your due dates for milestones, thesis submission, and the availability of resources and facilities. In consultation with your supervisor/s, you should put together a revised schedule of completion.

Once you are passed your maximum submission date and have been granted an extension of candidature, your attendance status cannot be changed.

Please visit the Study load website for further information on what constitutes full-time and part-time enrolment.

You can apply for a change of attendance up to the first day of teaching of trimester 1 or 2 or for a future trimester if this date has already passed.

Candidates enrolled in these programs are bound by the Enrolment Procedure with respect to adding or withdrawing from courses.

NB: this does not apply to the candidates enrolled in an MPhil.

Changing your attendance status will have implications for your scholarship, you must consult the Conditions of Award for your scholarship before submitting a request to change attendance. To discuss further, please contact us.

The conditions of student visas do not permit international candidates to change their enrolment status to part-time except in compassionate or other compelling circumstances.

An application to change attendance status from an international candidate will be processed in consultation with Griffith International to ensure that student visa conditions are not contravened.

Candidature located away from the University

If you wish to complete your research program located away from the University (remotely), you must apply for approval. Your application will need to include the following detailed information:

• The resources and facilities available at the location to support the research program (for example, library facilities, computing)
• A schedule of contact indicating the frequency and medium of communication between you and your supervisor/s
• A program of visits to the University, as required to undertake your research project
• Details of a qualified person at the location who has agreed to act as a local associate supervisor, where appropriate
• Progress made during candidature and the work remaining to be completed

The Dean, Research may specify a minimum period during which a candidate must attend the University and, where appropriate, the provision of local supervision.

Please visit the  Study location website for further information on what constitutes on campus/remote attendance.

In most cases you will be enrolled in the element in which your primary administrative principal supervisor is based.

If your supervisor transfers to a new element or you change your primary administrative supervisor to one in another element, you will need to submit an Element Transfer request.

You are encouraged to advise your current supervisors of any action you have taken.

The University expects that candidates will be enrolled only in their higher degree by research program. However, if additional studies are required to enhance or supplement your research, you may apply for Concurrent Enrolment.

You will need to provide a detailed plan demonstrating how you will manage the increased workload and submit your thesis by your maximum submission date. Extensions to candidature will not be granted on the grounds of inclusion of additional courses.

If you wish to pursue another program of study at this or another university during your candidature, approval of the Dean, Research must be obtained.  If you are planning to undertake another program at Griffith, approval by the Dean (Learning and Teaching) is also required and conditions as per the Enrolment Procedure apply.

This does not stop you from undertaking English language tuition or participating in academic development programs including thesis writing workshops.

A Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy candidate may undertake postgraduate coursework at Griffith University in addition to the requirements of their higher degree by research program.

The limits of concurrent enrolment are:

• PhD: up to 40 CP
• MPhil: up to 20 CP

Candidates may

1. Audit a postgraduate course (no approval required)

Auditing a course does not require formal approval. Instead, consult your principal supervisor and make arrangements directly with the relevant course convenor. You cannot undertake assessments or examinations in audited courses.

2. Enrol in a postgraduate course (approval required)

If you enrol in a course you will be required to complete the assessment and examinations as per the course outline. Any results of examinations from such coursework won’t be considered in the final assessment for your higher degree by research program, but will be recorded on your academic transcript.

To gain approval for concurrent enrolment of a restricted course you must also have the approval of the relevant Course Convenor. You will need to check the enrolment details on the program catalogue to ensure you meet any prerequisites for the course. If concurrent course enrolment is approved, you will not be charged additional fees.

Possible program changes

The following program changes are possible:

*only where specified in program requirements

Changes from a Masters level to a Doctoral level is considered an ‘Upgrade’.

Other HDR program transfer requests (including program transfers at the same AQF level) will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of coursework and program eligibility requirements.

How program changes affect submission dates

The period of your enrolment in the original program will count towards the new program. Where this exceeds the duration of the new program, this request will act as an extension to maximum submission date. Masters or Professional Doctorate programs must also adhere to the maximum period for completing a program in accordance with the Enrolment Procedure .

Program upgrade during confirmation

Upon your request, an upgrade to doctoral candidature may be considered as part of the confirmation procedure.  Where all confirmation assessors deem the scope of the research project can be expanded to doctoral level expectations, the research project will make an original contribution to knowledge and the candidate has the capability and preparedness to undertake research at doctoral level (see Higher Degree by Research Admission Procedure section 3.1) and on the recommendation of the HDR Convenor, the Dean (Research) may approve an upgrade to doctoral candidature, subject to candidature also being confirmed.

In this situation you must make it clear in the confirmation documents and to the assessors and HDR Convenor that you wish to be considered for a program upgrade.

Program upgrade outside confirmation

A program upgrade will not be permitted prior to successful completion of confirmation.

An application to change programs will include:

• The revised research proposal (and topic if applicable), demonstrating how the original research proposal has been edited in a manner that reflects the demands of the new program.
• A body of work of sufficient quality and quantity that has been completed to date in a form suitable to be independently assessed. The quantity of the work to be assessed is relative to the field of study. You should seek advice from your principal supervisor regarding the amount of work required for the particular field of study. (Candidates who are academically qualified for admission to doctoral candidature will not be required to present this work)
• Describes the circumstances leading to the request.
• Describes the work completed and remaining to be done.
• Gives a timetable for completion of the work.

Work completed with respect to the previous programs candidature confirmation procedure may form part of an application to upgrade to doctoral candidature provided it is assessed in terms of the requirements of the upgrade policy.

Your capability and preparedness to undertake research at doctoral level (see Higher Degree by Research Admission Procedure section 3.1) must be evidenced in your application.

The body of work completed to date will be independently assessed. The assessor will normally be external to the host Element, hold a doctoral level qualification, and be an expert in the relevant field of study. The assessor, who will be approved by the Dean (Research), will be provided with details of Griffith University's standard for a doctoral program.

If you are academically qualified for admission to doctoral candidature but have enrolled in a research masters in the first instance, an independent assessment of a body of work will not be required. In this case, the Dean (Research) will determine whether the revised research proposal is viable at doctoral level.

Requirements for other program changes

• The revised research proposal (and topic if applicable), demonstrating how the original research proposal has been edited in a manner that reflects the demands of the new program
• (Transfer between doctoral programs, if prior to confirmation) A copy of the Academic Referee’s Report from two academic referees, provided directly to the Griffith Graduate Research School
• Describes the circumstances leading to the request
• Describes the work completed and remaining to be done

It is important to inform us when you withdraw from candidature as it can affect your funding, visa validity and more. You may request to withdraw from candidature at any time providing at least two weeks’ notice of your intended withdrawal date. A notation of the date of withdrawal will be placed on your academic transcript.

Domestic candidates (Australian/New Zealand citizens, permanent residents) who fail to advise formally that they have withdrawn, will continue to consume their entitlement (i.e., the funded time available for candidature) under the Australian Government Research Training Program . This period may be taken into consideration for future research training program entitlement if the candidate applies for another higher degree by research program within three years.

International candidates are advised to inform Griffith International staff of their intention to withdraw so that action may be taken with respect to their visa. If you are entitled to a refund of fees , you will need to apply. Please refer to the Fees and Charges Policy .

To prevent an overpayment of stipend payments, scholarship holders should advise us of their intended withdrawal date by emailing  [email protected] . This advice must be received no less than two weeks prior to pay day. If, for any reason, an overpayment of stipend occurs, a candidate will be required to repay the overpayment.

The provisions set out in section 3.8 of the University’s Enrolment Procedure will also apply to candidates seeking withdrawal from their HDR program during the coursework component.

Griffith Graduate Research School

Contact GGRS for enquiries relating to HDR admission, candidature , scholarships, orientation or workshops.

Office hours

• Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.30 pm

Future students

• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone : +61 7 3735 3817

Current Griffith students and staff

• Telephone: +61 7 3735 3817
• Make an appointment for a phone, video (Microsoft Teams) or in-person meeting with an HDR Officer.

Lodge request

• Staff portal

Education (Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary)

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Find Griffith University theses in GRO

• Online Griffith University theses via GRO (Griffith Research Online) Griffith Research Online (GRO) is the institutional repository for Griffith Research publications, including Griffith Higher Degree by Research theses.

Find Australian theses in Trove

Trove, from the National Library of Australia, provides a quick way to access online and print theses from Australian and New Zealand universities.

• Available Online

Access help on finding theses in Trove .

International theses

Search these databases to access theses from international institutions:

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses-Full Text (ProQuest) Access a multidisciplinary collection of dissertations and theses, both full text and citations, from 1861 to current. more... less... The ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database is the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses. It is the database of record for graduate research, with citations for over 2.4 million dissertations and theses produced since 1861 included from around the world. More than 900,000 theses authored since 1997 can be downloaded in fulltext as PDFs. MOBILE ACCESS: Optimised for use on mobile devices
• EBSCO Open Dissertations Open-access database providing citation information for historic and contemporary dissertations and theses, with contributions by select colleges and universities from around the world from 1933 to present.
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations Provides links to full-text where available for theses and dissertations from across the globe.

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Need more help?

If you are experiencing any issues with your submitting your assignment, check out our  Frequently asked questions .

Handing in assignments

Written assignments are mostly handed in online via your Canvas course site. How you hand in an assignment will depend on the assessment tool being used in your course.

How to submit a written assignment using the Canvas enhanced assignment tool

Most courses use the in-built Canvas assignment tool for written assignments.

• Navigate to your assignment via the Assessment Overview button on the course home page or via the weekly Modules in the Course Navigation
• Click the title of the assignment
• Select a submission type, e.g.  Upload to upload a file from your computer (either via selecting the Choose a file to upload or dragging and dropping the file from your computer).
• Once uploaded, your file will be saved as an assignment submission draft.
• When you are ready to submit your assignment, click the Submit Assignment button

For further instructions, see How do I submit an online assignment? (Canvas Guides) .

Submitting your draft assessment

A submission point shows a number of allowed attempts to show how many submissions you can make. A submission with Allowed Attempts set to 1 only allows for a final submission. If the Allowed Attempts is set to 2 or more , the submission point allows for draft submissions.

Draft assessment items are submitted through the same submission point as the final submission using the same submission process.

How to submit a written assignment using Turnitin

Another commonly used assignment tool is Turnitin. The Assignment Dashboard (Turnitin Help) allows you to submit your assessment, view the Similarity Report (Turnitin Help) and access feedback after it has been marked. Further resources can be found at  Uploading a submission (Turnitin Help).

Changes to cover sheets in Canvas

From T3 2022, you will no longer need to include a cover sheet when you submit assessment through Learning@Griffith. The Academic Integrity Statement that was previously part of the cover sheet is now part of the Course Profile, outlined in section 3.3. This means that when you enrol in a course, you agree to comply with the University's Academic Integrity requirements.

At Griffith, we strive to support your development of professional and ethical decision-making capabilities, so you can get the most out of your learning experience at university and be successful in your future career. To help you succeed in your studies, there are a range of support resources and services available to you.

Find out more about these resources below and remember to reach out for the support you need at any time during the trimester.

• Assessment Overview page in your course site – stay across the key dates and assessment requirements for your course. The bottom of this page also contains quick links to everything you need to know about assessment at Griffith. Learn more about navigating your course site .
• Student Support – access all the learning, health, wellbeing and personal support available to assist you with your studies through the link in your course site navigation.

Information on applying for special consideration, deferred assessments and extensions can be found with our Frequently asked questions .

For information on submitting other sorts of assessments, see:

• ProctorU exams
• Group assessments
• Video assignments

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How can i check my thesis submission was successful, was this answer helpful, answers others found helpful.

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Library Connect

Share your thesis with the world via Griffith Research Online

• by The Library
• posted April 17, 2023
• Researchers Students

Your thesis is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, an original and significant contribution to your field of study. It stands to reason you would want to showcase your efforts on the world stage.   

When you deposit your thesis or any published, peer reviewed research outputs you make during your HDR candidature into Griffith University’s repository, Griffith Reasearch Online (GRO) anyone with access to the internet can access your work.  

GRO is an open and accessible digital archive that is discoverable through Google, Google Scholar and the National Library’s Trove database. It increases the visibility, reach and impact of your research.  

Although it is a requirement of your candidature to submit your work into GRO, the benefits are many:  

• With your work publicly available and accessible, it will be easier to find and increase the likelihood that it will be cited by others.   
• Your work will be safely preserved and sufficiently described, making it available for researchers long into the future.   
• In making your research open and discoverable the opportunities for collaboration with academia, industry and policy makers increase.   
• You can be assured your research outputs align with Griffith’s open research principles and with national and international initiatives that foster open research, ‘making research as open as possible and as closed as necessary’.   

Instructions on when and how to submit your thesis and publications can be found on the Griffith Graduate Research School’s (GGRS) Thesis Submission and Examination and Publishing During Candidature pages.   

Is submission still in the future? Do you need help with publishing your article? Then don’t forget to check out the upcoming Researcher Education Development (RED) workshops such as:  

• Navigating the Publishing Maze for Heath & Science ECRs – 19 April  
• Cracking Open Research – 26 April  
• Systematic style reviews – Tips and tools for getting from start to finish – 4 May  

Any questions? Contact the Library .  

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Official Letter - Thesis and Completion Research Degrees Only

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Official letters are printed on University letterhead, and can be requested for:

1. Confirmation of Thesis Submission

2. Confirmation Of Completion date (if you require details of your graduation ceremony please indicate this in the comments)

Please indicate which campus GGRS Office  you would prefer to pick up your letter from.

Alternatively, you can have this mailed (shipped) to your student mailing address and/or emailed to you.

Please allow five (5) working days for processing this request.

"This product can be used to request an official letter relating to a research degree only. If you require a letter relating to an undergraduate or postgraduate degree please refer to the  Student Administration  page."

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Thesis / dissertation formatting manual (2024).

• Filing Fees and Student Status
• Submission Process Overview
• Electronic Thesis Submission
• Paper Thesis Submission
• Formatting Overview
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• Paper Thesis Formatting
• Preliminary Pages Overview
• Copyright Page
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UCI Libraries maintains the following  templates to assist in formatting your graduate manuscript. If you are formatting your manuscript in Microsoft Word, feel free to download and use the template. If you would like to see what your manuscript should look like, PDFs have been provided. If you are formatting your manuscript using LaTex, UCI maintains a template on OverLeaf.

• Annotated Template (Dissertation) 2024 PDF of a template with annotations of what to look out for
• Word: Thesis Template 2024 Editable template of the Master's thesis formatting.
• PDF Thesis Template 2024
• Word: Dissertation Template 2024 Editable template of the PhD Dissertation formatting.
• PDF: Dissertation Template 2024
• Overleaf (LaTex) Template
• << Previous: Tutorials and Assistance
• Next: FAQ >>
• Last Updated: Feb 20, 2024 2:09 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.uci.edu/gradmanual

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Theses and dissertations

The library holds a large number of Bristol theses and dissertations, including many PhD and doctoral theses. Read our advice about how to locate theses from other institutions, both in the UK and internationally .

University of Bristol theses and dissertations

To find a University of Bristol thesis:

• If the thesis is held in the Research Reserve, it can be requested using the 'reserve a copy' button.
• If the thesis is held in the Research Reserve, use the online request form to request it.
• See below for details of how to access theses held in our other library sites.
• Recently submitted theses may be listed on Explore Bristol Research  though information about these is regularly added to Library Search.

Arts and Social Sciences

The collection includes theses from Arts Faculty, Social Sciences and Law Faculty, Physics, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Geographical Sciences, Agricultural Science and the School for Policy Studies.

MA, MSc, MPhil and MLitts do not have to be deposited with the library under the Regulations, so our collections of these are incomplete. 

How to consult a thesis

• Arts and Social Sciences theses are now held in the Library's Research Reserve.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.
• We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library.
• Thesis loans are for use in the Arts and Social Sciences Library only.

School of Chemistry PhD, MSc and DSc theses from 1910 to date.

Thesis loans are for use in the Chemistry Library only, though postgraduates with seats may keep a thesis at their desk. You may ask if a particular thesis can be kept behind the Issue desk if you will be using it repeatedly for a period of time. Other theses are kept in a Library Staff room and are not available during the evenings.

School of Education EdD, PhD, MPhil, and a selection of Masters theses. Many theses written before 2005 are located in the Research Reserve.

• The MSc and Masters theses are located in the Quiet Study Area;
• The MPhil, PhD and EdDs are located in Research Reserve.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.

The thesis collection from the Medical Library has been relocated to the library's Research Reserve. The collection includes: PhD, MD, MSc, ChM and DSc theses of staff and postgraduate students of the Health Sciences Faculty, from 1910 to date.

A card catalogue in the Medical Library contains details of the earlier theses, or you may check the  Card Catalogue Online .

• See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.
• We will notify you when the thesis arrives at the library;
• Theses are for use in the Medical Library only and you will be asked to sign a register.

School of Physics PhD, MSc and DSc theses from 1950 to date, with a few earlier ones. BSc and MSci projects are also held.

A card catalogue in the Physics Library contains details of the earlier ones.

• Ask at the Issue Desk to borrow a thesis, quoting author, year and category;
• Theses may be borrowed by staff and postgraduates as standard loans;
• Undergraduates may use theses in the library only;
• BSc and MSci projects may be borrowed by undergraduates: for the standard loan period.

Queens (Engineering, Mathematics, Computer science)

Engineering and Mathematics PhD theses are held in the Research Reserve, including Computer Science theses before the Department transferred to the Faculty of Engineering.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request these.

A card catalogue, on the right beyond the Issue desk, contains details of pre-1978 theses.

• It can take 2-3 working days for a thesis to arrive and you will be notified when they are available;
• PhD theses may not be borrowed by undergraduates; taught postgraduates or external members but may be consulted in the library.

MSc Projects

• Some early Engineering MSc projects (1914-1950) are available from the Research Reserve - please contact your  Subject Librarian

Undergraduate projects

• Individual and group projects from 2015/16 - 2019/20 academic years for Civil and Mechanical Engineering are available on the open shelves in the Gallery.
• Early projects from 1920 to 1949 have been moved to  Special Collections  in the  Arts and Social Sciences Library

Veterinary Sciences

MSc Meat Science theses from 1979 to date and a small number of PhD theses. The majority of veterinary sciences PhD theses are housed in the Research Reserve.  See 'to find a University of Bristol thesis' section above for details of how to request.

Theses are shelved in the Computer Room and are for use in the library only.

Wills Memorial (Law, Earth Sciences)

Collections of both Law and Earth Sciences theses.

Theses are confined to the library; please ask at the information desk if you wish to borrow one.

UK and international theses

Information about many UK and international theses can be found via  Library Search . If the thesis you are interested in is not available online, you can use our  inter-Library Loan service . Non-UK theses can be difficult to obtain: in some countries, universities are working together to make full text electronic collections available:

• Electronic Theses Online Service (EThOS)  - a service provided by the British Library
• DART - Europe e-theses Portal
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)
• PQDT Open  - open access dissertations and theses
• PQDT Global  -  a collection of dissertations and theses from around the world

Submit a thesis

Advice on how to submit a thesis for a higher degree can be found on the  Presenting and submitting your dissertation for examination  page. Information on how to submit a thesis to the library can be found on the Library's own Thesis Guidance  pages.