master thesis in australia

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Masters by Thesis Course Information

Admission requirements.

An application may be submitted at any time. Admission is subject to availability of facilities and supervision.

Applicants must:

• Possess a degree equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from the University.
• Satisfy additional requirements, if any, that may be prescribed by the Dean (Graduate Studies).

All candidates are expected to be proficient in English comprehension and expression.

2 years full-time equivalent.

A Masters by Thesis work must show evidence of competence in research and scholarship including:

• Reviewing literature in a critical and focused manner;
• Deploying analytic, comparative and critically reflective skills as appropriate;
• Gathering and analysing material and interpreting results in an informed and competent manner;
• Utilising and justifying appropriate methodologies, techniques and processes.

The Thesis must be clearly, accurately and cogently written and suitably documented. The work must demonstrate originality and a thorough understanding of the field of study.

Course fees

Domestic students:

• Eligible applicants can apply for a Research Training Program-supported place. This will provide a tuition fee offset funded by the Australian Government's Research Training Program. Southern Cross University will then supplement this cost to cover the full program tuition fees.
• If unsuccessful in obtaining a Research Training Program place, students may be required to pay fees.
• Applications are considered on a case by case basis and the process can be highly competitive.

International students:

Course fees for International Students are $30,000 per annum, unless a tuition fee waiver has been approved as per the below detailed information. 

A request for a tuition fee offset can only be approved by the Dean, Graduate School providing there is support from the Principal Supervisor, DHDRT and Associate Dean (Research). For a request to be considered, the following criteria need to be considered:

• Academic quality of the student is of high standing;
• Appropriate level of English proficiency (International English Language Test Score (IELTS) Academic (or equivalent) with a minimum 7.0 in Writing and no other band less than 6.5);
• Expected research outcomes, quality of project and how it fits with the Supervisory team research areas;
• Whether the Faculty and Supervisory team have the resources and facilities to support the project;
• If the HDR applicant is not on a scholarship, evidence must be provided that they can support themselves during their candidature.

The Dean, Graduate School, will assess the request according to these criteria together with the application for admission to candidature and will seek further clarification if the above-mentioned criteria are not satisfied. If the tuition fee offset is approved by the Dean, this is recorded in the Student Administration System and conveyed to the student in the letter of offer for admission to candidature.

Tuition Fee Offsets that are not approved will mean the applicant will be required to pay full fees. If it is not obvious that the HDR applicant’s project will enhance the research output of the University and that of the Supervisory team, fees will apply.

• Starting your career in research is only a few steps away.
• Applications for admission to a Higher Degree by Research at Southern Cross University can be made at any time.
• Follow these steps to begin your application for a Masters by Thesis.

How to apply

1. ensure you meet degree entry requirements.

Each research program will specify its admission criteria and English language requirements on the relevant course page.

2. Prepare a research proposal

A research proposal will assist your application and help you find an appropriate supervisor. 

3. Find a supervisor

You’ll need to approach and confirm a principal supervisor and a co-supervisor for your intended candidature before starting your application.

Ready to get started?

Find a supervisor

Know what research topic you wish to pursue?

Contact the Graduate School

T:   +61 2 6620 3219

T:  +61 2 6626 9186

E:  [email protected]

More Information

For general contact details please visit our contacts page

Quick links

How do I find Australian theses?

Sievers, Wolfgang (1963),  Monash University: Main Library, students at desks  1963 nla.obj-143591614

Theses completed for higher research degrees (PhD, Masters or Honours) form an important body of original research.

There are a number of places you can search for Australian theses, we have outlined the three main sources for you below.

National Library collection

While the Library holds a selection of theses presented to Australian universities, we do not have a comprehensive collection. 

To search the Library's collection for a thesis on a particular subject:

• Go to our  online catalogue  
• Type in your subject keywords, and add the keywords  dissertation or thesis, for example:  "global warming" AND thesis  ;  alpine AND thesis

To browse theses in the Library's collection:

• Select 'Browse alphabetically' and 'subject'
• Enter the terms 'Dissertations Academic'; for example:  Dissertations Academic
• Add the country of publication if known; for example:  Dissertations Academic Australia
• Hit browse.

We also hold a number of useful reference books on finding Australian theses, including:

• Guide to Microform Research Collections in the National Library of Australia .  1992. See pages 148-149 for an outline of the Australian and overseas theses held on microform at the National Library. This title is available on open access in the Newspapers and Family History zone .
• Union List of Higher Degree Theses in Australian University Libraries . 1959+ A list of theses submitted for a higher degree at Australian universities. The list is arranged by author, subject and keyword indexes. Supplements covering the period  1961-1976  and  1976-1991  can also be accessed via the catalogue.

Other Australian collections

Use the Library's discovery service  Trove to search for Australian and overseas theses in over one thousand Australian collecting institutions.

For a basic thesis search:

• Go to the homepage of Trove, type in your search terms and hit search
• Select the Books & Libraries category
• Select the 'Thesis' facet under 'Format' on the right-hand side.

If you'd like to use more advanced options in your search, on the results page you can click on advanced search (underneath the magnifying glass icon) to see the options available. 

Hint: to find thesis that are freely available online, narrow your search results to 'Freely available' under 'Online'.

You can find more search tips and strategies on Trove's  Australian theses blog .

University libraries

In most cases, a copy of a thesis is deposited in the library of the relevant university.

You can access the online catalogues of Australian university libraries through the  Australian Libraries Gateway . Links to many university libraries are also available through the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) .

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

Theses and Dissertations: Find Australian theses

• Find University of Newcastle theses
• Find Australian theses
• Find International theses
• Referencing a thesis
• Help with thesis writing
• Submit your Thesis This link opens in a new window

Find Australian theses (electronic)

Search  TROVE  to find links to all theses from Australian Universities.

• On the Research & Reports page in TROVE enter your keywords, title, author (creator) or subject
• Then select 'Thesis' in the 'Format' dropdown

TROVE have created a Quick search guide to help you locate theses on their site.

The National Library of Australia  holds a selection of theses presented to Australian universities.  

• Australian Education Research Theses A comprehensive source of research found in doctoral and masters research theses accepted by all Australian universities in the field of education. It also includes some overseas theses on Australian education topics.
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Abstracts and indexes of doctoral dissertations and master's theses in all subjects completed at accredited Australian, North American and selected European colleges and universities from 1743 to the present day.

You can also search for digital theses through an institution's digital repository.

Help and Information

• << Previous: Find University of Newcastle theses
• Next: Find International theses >>
• Last Updated: Mar 6, 2024 11:32 AM
• URL: https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/theses

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Prepare your thesis

Throughout your research candidature you will work toward producing your final thesis. There are some key points to keep in mind when you start this process.

Your thesis must be a coherent and cohesive whole. You can submit a thesis including publications but we don't accept thesis by publication. Refer to the relevant Thesis and Examination policy (pdf, 392KB) and discuss this with your supervisor.

There are also certain formatting and referencing requirements that are outlined below.

You can also find more general information on research skills, planning and writing your thesis in the research skills for HDR students page. This includes literature reviews, writing up results and theses including publications.

Proofreading and editing

You can use an editor to prepare your thesis for submission. Make sure you discuss your plans with your supervisor and provide your editor with a copy of the University’s Thesis Submission and Examination Procedures (pdf, 180KB) .

When you use an editor:

• include the editor’s name and a brief description of the service provided in your list of acknowledgements at the front of your thesis. For creative work, make sure this information is included when it's presented for examination.
• you need to state the editor’s current or former area of academic specialisation if this is similar to your own.

Composition

You will find information on word limits in the below policies and procedures, or in your faculty or school handbook.

Word limits include footnotes and all material in the main body of the thesis. Bibliographies and appendices are not included in the overall word count.

• University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule (pdf, 877KB)
• Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy (pdf, 194KB)
• Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Procedures (pdf, 180KB)

If you have questions about formatting, you can speak to your supervisor or postgraduate coordinator.

Thesis frontispiece sections

The frontispiece includes the parts of your thesis before the main content.

Thesis title and abstract

The following upper limits apply to your title and abstract content submitted on RECS for the final lodgement:

• thesis title: maximum 250 characters including spaces, in title case not uppercase.
• thesis abstract: maximum 2000 characters including spaces.

Login to Sydney Student (go to ‘My studies’, then 'Research details') to update and maintain your thesis title and thesis abstract.

Note that there are no characters limits for the title and abstract in the actual pdf of the thesis. 

Your thesis title page should state:

• title of the thesis
• faculty name
• the University’s full name – The University of Sydney
• for theses only: A thesis submitted to fulfil requirements for the degree of Doctor/Master of Philosophy (or other higher degree by research)
• for theses with a creative component: A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor/Master of Philosophy (or other higher degree by research).
• a statement if you have been in receipt of a Research Training Program scholarship: "This research reported in this thesis was supported by the award of a Research Training Program scholarship to the PhD Candidate."

Statement of originality

You need to include a statement of originality, usually placed after the title page, for example:

This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge, the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes.

I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged.

Signature* Name

*you should only include the signature in the copy you submit for examination, not the library copy.

Authorship attribution statement

If your thesis contains material you have previously published, you need to discuss an authorship attribution statement with your supervisor and submit this statement as part of your final thesis submission. It should indicate the name and publication details of the published work, as well as specify your contribution.

Such a statement typically appears in the frontispiece of your thesis.

If the publication in which your work has previously appeared has a convention about author order, then you need to include this information after each relevant attribution statement (for example,  Journal of XXXX  requires that the lead author must be corresponding author).

This only applies where you have made a substantial contribution to the paper. You cannot present minor contributions to published works in the main body of your thesis – these can only be included as appendices.

Example: Chapters published as papers/edited book chapters

Chapter x of this thesis is published as [citation]. I designed the study, analysed the data and wrote the drafts of the MS.

Chapter y of this thesis is published as [citation]. I designed the study, extracted the data and wrote the drafts of the MS.

Chapter z of this thesis is published as [citation]. I co-designed the study with the co-authors, interpreted the analysis done by A.N. Other and wrote the drafts of the MS.

Example: Published material distributed through the thesis

This thesis contains material published in [citation]. This is section x.y; figure s.t, and pages p-q of section y.z. I did... [describe your role].

Attesting your authorship attribution statement

You and your supervisor need to attest to an authorship attribution statement under the  Thesis and Examination Policy and Procedures (pdf, 185KB) . The following are suggested:

In addition to the statements above, in cases where I am not the corresponding author of a published item, permission to include the published material has been granted by the corresponding author.

Student Name, Signature, Date

As supervisor for the candidature upon which this thesis is based, I can confirm that the authorship attribution statements above are correct.

Supervisor Name, Signature, Date

You should refer to the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Procedures (pdf, 180KB) for information about the inclusion of published material you wrote, or contributed to as an author. This includes use of citations and quotations.

If your thesis contains material you have previously published, an authorship attribution statement, outlined above, may be included.

More information can be found in the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy (pdf, 194KB) and the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule (pdf, 877KB) .

The responsibilities of all researchers, academic staff and students are outlined in our Research Code of Conduct (pdf, 484KB) . This defines research misconduct and breaches of the Code related to plagiarism.

File type for submission

You need to submit your thesis as a pdf file. This is the required format for us to submit your thesis into Turnitin for similarity detection. If we receive a file in another format, then the conversion to pdf will not be controlled by you and may result in unacceptable or undesirable formatting changes. Be aware, once a thesis file is submitted for examination, it is not possible to withdraw it for revisions unless under the provisions of the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degree by Research Students Policy .

Related links

• Thesis submission
• Research skills for HDR students
• Research progress
• Research supervision
• Academic integrity

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In Australia the thesis is an extended written piece which reports on the results of a three to four year programme of research (in other countries the writing component is called a 'dissertation'). The thesis should incorporate a summary of the research undertaken during the program.

At ANU we do not usually require an oral defence or 'viva'. Your thesis will be sent to at least two examiners for evaluation . For more information about how examiners make a judgement on a thesis, read this paper by Mullins and Kiley called " It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize ".

Types of thesis

There are three common types of thesis documents allowed in the ANU research award rules: a standard thesis of up to 100,000 words in length for a PhD (or 60,000 words for an M.Phil); a thesis by compilation (sometimes called a thesis by publication) and a thesis by creative works.

A thesis by compilation may include works that are solo or joint authored and accepted for publication. The compilation can include works which have been explicitly prepared for publication but not yet accepted, however these should not make up the majority of the text. It is expected that a thesis by compilation has linking text and a foreword to each chapter.

A thesis by creative works can include a multimedia or digital work, a film, an exhibition, a performance, a musical composition, a novel, a play, a series of poems, creative art work or other works as agreed by the candidate and the university. This work can be accompanied by an exegesis (commentary and interpretation of the work) or a dissertation (on a topic related to the work). Any written work accompanying a thesis by creative works must be substantial; between 30,000 and 60,000 words for a PhD and between 15,000 and 30,000 for an M.Phil. The final presentation of the work will be a public presentation; an exhibition, recital, lecture or some other form as agreed with the supervisor and the university.

Preparing the thesis

The Research Training team run a variety of workshops, seminars and courses aimed at helping you prepare your thesis as well as guidance on working with your supervisor to achieve a successful submission.

Writing the thesis

The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offer individual appointments to discuss thesis drafts and other issues such as managing your project. Their site also has a range of resources about writing a thesis to support you during your programme.

Reviewing the thesis

Writing about the impact of covid-19 in your thesis.

COVID-19 has changed the course of many research projects in ways that would not have been predicted at the outset you your PhD program. Research can always take unexpected turns and being able to take advantage of opportunities that arise, and be able to switch directions when necessary are useful skills to demonstrate. It is up to you to decide if you want to write about how your research has changed due to COVID-19. You are encouraged to talk with your supervisory panel to seek advice about what might be appropriate for your thesis.

The types of impact you might like to discuss include

• changes to research sites or populations due to travel or access restrictions,
• changes to research scope due to inability to access archival material,
• changes in access to labs, or experimental equipment,
• including theoretical instead of experimental content,

There is no right place to mention impacts, it will depend on the type of thesis and the type of research. It will also depend on how large the impact has been. For many the impact can be explained in a few sentences. For some projects a whole section of the thesis may be required. Some suggestions include

• in the introduction when setting the scene for the research that follows
• in the methodology section if changes to method was made part way through the research.
• where discussing limitations of the research
• where discussing ideas for future research

You should not include statements in your thesis that outline the impact of remote working, your physical or mental health or that of your family. While it is acknowledged that we have all been impacted in some way, these are not appropriate statements in your examined thesis and would not be assessed by an examiner.

Submitting the thesis and the examination process

It's good to know the regulations, processes and requirements around thesis submission and examination. Check out the information on finishing your degree for some inspiration!

ANU Thesis library

A great way to get your head around the expectations of a thesis is to read some! Check out the ANU Digital Thesis Library and find past successful theses in your discipline. 

Advisory information

• Submitting a thesis
• Policy: Glossary - student policies and procedures
• 135 ANU (135 268)

All Australian National University theses are in digital form. You can search for them online through the  theses collection in ANU Open Research , and are also searchable via the  Library Catalogue .

The majority of ANU theses are openly accessible but a small number are restricted due to cultural sensitivities, copyright controls or other restrictions.

Digital theses

Digital theses can be searched online through the  theses collection in ANU Open Research .

The Australian National University Library’s theses collection holds the research output of the University’s academic community over the last 60 years. The first ANU thesis was awarded in 1953.

By digitising its print theses collection, ANU Library delivers the University’s unique and original research in a freely available, open access online collection. Digital delivery expands engagement with the Library’s collections, provides visibility to the university’s scholarship, and supports the careers of its academic community.

Restrictions

The majority of theses are openly accessible; however, some may not be available under open access conditions due to author or copyright restrictions.

If an author wishes to restrict access to their thesis (or part of it), they can elect to do so as part of the online submission process. If after 12 months an extension to that restriction is required, a new application must be completed.

In the case of a Higher Degree by Research thesis, approval is required from the Dean, Higher Degree Research and can be sought by filling out an  Extension of Thesis Restriction of Access Request Form  or emailing  [email protected] . If approved, the Open Research team will be notified and restrict access to the online version of your thesis in line with the decision made.

Read our  Restriction Infosheet  for more information about applying for restrictions on theses.

Hard copy theses

Hard copy theses can be requested  for reading within the Library, but cannot be borrowed.

The majority of theses are available for research or study, however some may not be available due to author or copyright restrictions.

To check whether access restrictions apply to a particular thesis, ask at the  Menzies Library  Information Desk or email the  ANU Library .

Non-ANU readers are advised to check in advance whether they will be granted access to a particular thesis.

Location of hard copy theses

• ANU Doctoral and Masters’ theses (1953-2018) –  Menzies Library
• Master of Law and International Law theses (pre-October 1987) –  Law Library
• ANU Honours theses – held by the  ANU Colleges
• ANU Law Honours theses (selected) – Law Library or online through  ANU Open Research
• Non-ANU theses (without access restrictions) are on the open shelves.
• Hard copy theses requests

Related links

• Finding theses
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•   Theses   +61 2 6125 2005   Send email

Personalise your experience

Graduate Research

Master of Arts (Thesis only)

• Arrow-right #1 University in Australia
• Course code:   MR-ARTSTHS

How to apply

The Faculty of Arts only accepts applications for Graduate Research study to commence in Semester One. No mid-year intake is offered .

Deadlines for applications

To be considered for Graduate Research Scholarships applications must be complete and received by the closing dates. Application outcomes will be available approximately eight weeks after the application closing date.

*International applicants

• To be considered for Graduate Research Scholarships please make sure that you submit a complete course application before 31 August . The majority of faculty international scholarships will be allocated in September.
• If you are successful in obtaining a scholarship, you must commence your course by the first day of Semester 1 of the academic year you have been made an offer for
• Please ensure you have allowed adequate time for your student visa application to be processed between your admittance into the course and the late date you must start your course
• In order to be eligible for consideration for a Graduate Research Scholarship, applicants must have met the University of Melbourne English Language Entry Requirements by the application closing date

Application process

Step 1: ensure you meet the minimum entry requirement.

Please familiarise yourself with these courses before deciding on the course most suitable to you.

The Faculty of Arts offers three research degrees:

• Doctor of Philosophy – Arts (PhD)
• Master of Arts (Thesis Only) – not available to students in the School of Social and Political Sciences
• Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis) – Philosophy only

Please note: the School of Social and Political Science does not consider applications for the Masters of Arts by Research.

Please check if you are eligible for consideration by viewing our entry requirements before you proceed further. Need help? Use the checklist on the Faculty Graduate Research application web page to help you determine if you are eligible.

If you do not meet the minimum entry requirements for direct entry into our graduate research degrees, you may wish to consider undertaking the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) as a pathway into Graduate Research. For further information please email Arts Graduate enquires .

Step 2: Finding a Supervisor

Before you can submit an application, you need to first confirm that there is a supervisor who is willing to supervise you in the Faculty of Arts.

To find an academic supervisor that is best suited to supervisor your research, you can:

• *Search for academic supervisors within your intended research area by using the University’s Find an Expert directory. You can search by topic key words, name, faculty or school.
• Asia Institute website / staff list
• School of Culture and Communication website / staff list
• School of Historical and Philosophical Studies website / staff list
• School of Languages and Linguistics website / staff list
• School of Social and Political Sciences website / staff list

Please note: The School of Social and Political Science is currently not considering applications for the Master of Arts (Thesis Only) . The applies to thesis topics within the study areas of Anthropology and Development Studies, Criminology, Sociology and Political Science.

When contacting a potential supervisor, you should include:

Please ensure that all documents are labelled with your name, the student to which you are applying and the date.

Step 3: To submit an application

To submit an application please visit our online application web pages:

• Domestic applications
• International applications

To apply you will need to search using the course code:

• DR-PHILART for Doctor of Philosophy – Arts
• MR-ARTSTHS for Master of Arts (Thesis Only)
• MR-ARTSAST for Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis) – Philosophy only

Please also note the following:

• International applicants select ‘PG Overseas Fee Paying’
• Domestic applicants select  ‘RTP / RTS / CTS’
• Attendance mode:  Select 'On Campus'
• Study mode:  Select 'Standard'.

Please note: you may proceed with your application only when you have written confirmation from a supervisor.

To avoid delays in the assessment of your application, you must include:

• A copy of an email or letter indicating that your nominated supervisor has agreed to support your application
• A current CV outlining your all complete and incomplete academic qualifications and work experience, and details of any research publications (if relevant)
• A copy (or copies) of all higher education transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and numeric marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation. If you are still studying, you can apply now before completing your degree by including current transcripts of at least up to the first semester of your final year studies
• A 2,500-word research proposal
• A 5,000-word writing sample

Assessment of your application will only commence once you have provided all required documents.

Important information

• Your research proposal will assist the School selection committee to make a qualitative assessment amongst the many applications received for available places. It will also enable the School selection committee to ensure that appropriate expert supervision is available, as well as the resources necessary to facilitate your proposed research. The School selection committee recognises that it is common for research proposals to go through different stages of development, and your proposal is considered indicative, rather than binding, in all details
• Ensure both research proposal and writing sample documents are labelled with your name, the School to which you are applying and the date

Referee reports

To support your application you will need to nominate two referees who can comment on your academic ability and research potential.

All referee reports must be submitted using the online tool. On submission of your application, your referees will be emailed a link to access the online referee form and they must provide their references using this online form. You will be notified when they submit the reference. Your application may be deemed as incomplete if the referee reports are not submitted before the application closing dates.

It is important that you contact your referees well before submitting an application. This ensures they expect the request and understand that the University of Melbourne referee request email contains both instructions on how to access the tool and submit their references through the attached link.

Ungraded Masters thesis

If you have completed, or are competing a masters thesis, which will not receive a numeric mark on your transcript or your thesis component will not appear on your transcript, you must include this detail in your online application or attach a separate statement to your application which explains this. You must attach a copy of your thesis and examiners reports (if relevant).

We recommend that you nominate an academic referee who can comment directly on your thesis. They should provide as much information as possible about your thesis by completing all relevant sections of the academic referee report and may also choose to attach a separate letter.

More information

Scholarship applications.

To apply for the Graduate Research Scholarships no separate application is required. You will be automatically considered for these scholarships.

Please note: In order to be eligible for consideration for a Graduate Research Scholarship, applicants must have met the requirements by the application closing date.

For all other scholarships please follow the relevant application instructions and complete the scholarship application section in the online form.

If you are successful in obtaining an offer for a place, you must complete your enrolment and commence your course by the first day of Semester 1 .

All commencing graduate researchers are invited to an Orientation Welcome Session before the start of the semester. At this session you’ll be introduced to your Graduate School, learn about our facilities and services, and get a chance to meet coordinators and peers from your program. For more information please visit the Faculty of Arts Orientation and Induction web page.

Graduate Researchers completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) Phd degree are required to complete 4 coursework subjects in the first year. For more information about coursework requirements and candidature management please visit the Faculty of Arts Graduate Research web page.

Residency requirements

Graduate researchers must be resident in Victoria for at least one third of their candidature. For more information on residency requirements please see the Melbourne Policy Library Selection and Admission Policy (MPF1295) .

Transferring applicants

Transferring students apply through the same application process as new applicants. Please note, however, that the ability of students to transfer into the Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) has been severely limited because of the requirement to complete the PhD coursework in the first year prior to confirmation. Generally only unconfirmed students who have been enrolled for 6 months or less (full-time equivalent candidature) can successfully transfer.

Frequently asked questions

For questions, please check our frequently asked questions . If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, contact one of our friendly advisors for help.

Before you apply

• Check the degree website
• Check the entry requirements and make sure you're eligible
• Prepare a research proposal and writing sample
• Identify if appropriate supervision is available
• Submit an application online

University Library

Finding a University of Adelaide Thesis

Use Library Search to find theses written by University of Adelaide graduates.

This includes all University of Adelaide PhD and Masters by Research theses and selected Masters by Coursework and Honours theses.

Where possible, the Library provides online and open access to theses through Adelaide Research & Scholarship .

For more help, see this Guide.

Thesis preparation and lodgement

PhD and Masters by Research theses are added to Adelaide Research & Scholarship as part of the final thesis lodgement process.

For more information, please visit the Research Student Handbook on the Adelaide Graduate Centre website or email us.

Donating University of Adelaide theses to the library

The library does not accept donations of print theses.

Online Masters by Coursework theses may be added to Adelaide Research & Scholarship on request .

Online Honours theses may added as a special arrangement with Faculties or Schools. Email us to find out more.

Postgraduate thesis

Postgraduate students are required to complete an advanced postgraduate thesis research project. This project involves an independent investigation at an advanced level and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis. It involves integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation. For most students, this is the most significant single piece of work in their university career and should be an intellectually engaging and an enjoyable experience.

Select your school to find more information regarding your advanced thesis research project. For any further questions, please contact your  Postgraduate Thesis/Project Coordinator . 

UNSW Master of Engineering Science Thesis Requirements

Masters Thesis C is only available to high achieving students with prior written school approval. As part of the  UNSW Master of Engineering Science  program, there’s a thesis requirement that needs to be met before graduation. This includes the following courses:

• Masters Thesis C  (12 UoC)
• Masters Project (Half Time) BIOM9020  (6 UoC) +  Masters Project (Half Time) BIOM9021  (6uoc) completed over two terms.
• Engineering Postgraduate Coursework Research Skills  (6 UoC). Students may also substitute this course if they have advanced standing for their undergraduate research project for  Launching a Startup  (6 UoC) or  Entrepreneurial Engineering  (6 UoC).

If you’ve completed a thesis in your undergraduate studies or in a previous Master’s degree, you may be exempt from a Master’s Thesis C. If this is the case, the 12 UoC can instead be replaced by more courses from Biomedical Engineering Electives.

To receive an exemption, you must provide a request in writing and a copy of your undergraduate academic transcript as evidence of a completed undergraduate research project.

UNSW Master of Biomedical Engineering Thesis Requirements

As part of the UNSW Master of Biomedical Engineering program completing a thesis project is optional. Students can elect to undertake Thesis C (12 UoC). There are two ways of undertaking thesis:

• Masters Project (BIOM9914) - 12 UoC completed in one term, or
• Masters Project (Half Time) BIOM9020 (6 UoC) + Masters Project (Half Time) BIOM9021 (6 UoC completed over two terms.

How to apply

To enrol in one of the masters project courses, you must first nominate a supervisor and project. The instructions to view the projects are as follows:

• Go the Moodle course Selection of Biomedical Thesis Project.
• Self-enrol as a student using the key Student50
• The projects are listed under Thesis Database
• Contact the supervisor directly if you have any questions
• When you are ready to apply, follow the instructions for applying for the masters’ project.

Postgraduate students are required to complete 24 UOC of research coursework. This consists of 6 UOC of  Engineering Postgraduate Research Skills  and 18 UOC of  Advanced Research Thesis . 

Engineering Postgraduate Research Skills (GSOE9010 or GSOE9011)

You must take  Engineering Postgraduate Research Skills  before commencing Advanced Research Thesis A. You can choose either  GSOE9010  or  GSOE9011 . Both courses are worth 6 UOC. The main difference between the two courses is that GSOE9011 is offered completely online.

Advanced Research Thesis (CEIC9951/2/3)

Advanced Research Thesis  consist of three courses worth 6 UOC each –  CEIC9951  Advanced Research Thesis A,  CEIC9952  Advanced Research Thesis B &  CEIC9953  Advanced Research Thesis C. Postgraduate students may commence Advanced Research Thesis once they are in their second or later term at UNSW and have completed one of the Engineering Postgraduate Research Skills courses.

You  must  identify a supervisor and project prior to commencing CEIC4951 or CEIC9951. To find out more about Research Thesis courses, the projects available and how to find a supervisor, please join the  Research Thesis Projects  page on Moodle (enrolment key co3shyh).

• These courses are normally taken over three consecutive terms. However, students that make excellent progress in Thesis A, may be allowed to take Thesis B and Thesis C in the same term.
• High performing students may be permitted to take  CEIC9005  in lieu of the regular Advanced Research Thesis courses. Contact the course coordinator for more information. 

UNSW Master of Engineering Science  students who have not completed a recognised thesis in their undergraduate studies or further postgraduate studies are required to complete the following courses:

• Masters Project A (CVEN9451)*
• Masters Project B (CVEN9452)  
• Masters Project C (CVEN9453)

If you’re unsure if you have completed a thesis, or if the school is not aware that you have, please  contact us   so, an assessment can be made.

UNSW Master of Engineering (8621)  students are required to complete a thesis as part of their program. You must complete one of the following options to meet this requirement:

• Masters Practice Project A (CVEN9050)  and  Masters Practice Project B (CVEN9051)
• (Masters Project A (CVEN9451)*  and  Masters Project B (CVEN9452)  and  Masters Project C (CVEN9453)

*Enrolment in a Master’s Project A (CVEN9451) requires finding a topic and supervisor within the school. Please refer to the  Student Intranet  for the list of topics and supervisors, as well as the Topic Nomination Form. This form will need to be submitted to the Student Intranet in order to be registered in the course.

As part of the  UNSW Master of Information Technology  requirements, eligible students may undertake a research project. Students can complete  COMP9900  or 12-18 UoC through a combination of  COMP9991  and either  COMP9992  or  COMP9993 .

This information is intended for all postgraduate students who will start Part A in the forthcoming term. Please follow the steps shown below:

Step 1 : Go to: Moodle .  Enrol yourself as a student on the EET School Thesis/Project. Use self-enrolment key: EETTPstudent

Step 2 : Login to Moodle portal : ‘EET School Thesis/Project’. The portal is set up to help students find a supervisor and a thesis/project topic to work on. You can view the research profiles of prospective supervisors and topics by clicking on the ‘Research Topics’ icon.

The topics list is only indicative and may not show all the topics available. Supervisors may have other new topics in mind, or you may want to propose your own topic that matches the supervisor’ interests and expertise. 

Once you’ve found a supervisor with a topic that suits your interests, you’re required to contact this person to discuss your intention. If you both agree to team up, ask the supervisor to email you to confirm approval of the topic title. You can then proceed to register.

Note: registration must be done as soon as approval is granted (within 1 week). Supervisors have the right to void late registrations.   

Step 3 : From the home page, click the ‘Registration’ icon and then click ‘Select Supervisor.’ Find your supervisor name and click the action box to become a member. 

Step 4 : From the home page, click the ‘Registration’ icon then click ‘Register Topic,’ ‘Add Entry’ and enter your details and topic title. 

Step 5 : You must enrol in the appropriate thesis/project course code on myUNSW. Your program determines which project code students should enrol into. 

Enrolment Guide

If you are an 8338 postgraduate student, you can take either option for Thesis. Postgraduate students in 8621 are required to take Research Thesis part of their program of study.

If taking a Practice Thesis (group project), you must enrol in  Thesis A (MMAN9001)  and  Thesis B (MMAN9002) .

If taking a Research Thesis (individual project), enrol in  Research Thesis A (MMAN9451) ,  Research Thesis B (MMAN9452)  and  Research Thesis C (MMAN9453) .

For Research thesis, you will first need to find a supervisor and get their approval. An approved application is required to undertake Research and to gain permission to enrol. The deadline to enrol in MMAN4951/MMAN9451 is Friday Week 1, but get in early to get the project and supervisor you want.

You can find more information by visiting the Mech Eng Thesis Selection page.

Research Thesis

Research Thesis is a compulsory pathway in the Mining Engineering (Hons) degree and an optional pathway for high WAM students doing Petroluem Engineering. This thesis allows a student to work closely with a particular supervisor, learn particular skills – like programming or laboratory work, conduct research and write up their findings. To take this stream, you will need to first enrol in MERE4951 Research Thesis A.

MERE4951 Research Thesis A

In this course you will be required to find a supervisor and topic to work on. You can find a list of our research strengths here:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/research

You can also find an individual academic and ask them about topics that they work on. Academics from our school are available here:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/about-us/our-people

Once you enrol, make sure you have access to the Microsoft Team (the link is on the Moodle page), which is filled with information and has active forums for asking questions:

MERE4952 & MERE9453 Research Thesis B & C

These two units (4UoC each) can be taken in the same term or separately. Thesis B involves submitting a video/audio reflection of the work so far and an interim report. Thesis C involves writing your thesis and recording and submitting a scientific presentation of your results.

All Postgrad thesis students can find a list of thesis topics will be posted on the  Thesis A Moodle site . The student key to access the site will be sent out by the thesis co-ordinator to all students who will be taking thesis the following term. You should review the list and discuss the topics with the relevant supervisor to get an idea of what it entails. Students must include in their email to the supervisor, their CV and a cover letter explaining their topic interests and relevant background.

Once both the supervisor and student have agreed on the topic, a Thesis Nomination Form should be completed. This is submitted to the Thesis Coordinator and uploaded to the SOLA9451 Moodle site prior to the student commencing work on their topic. All students must have chosen a supervisor by 9am Monday week 1 of term.

You can develop your own thesis topic, if you can find a supervisor from within the School. This will require you to attach a one page description of the thesis topic and signed by the supervisor to the Thesis Nomination Form.

The School also encourages students who wish to do an industry-led thesis topic. In this case the mentor from industry would be the student’s co-supervisor, however an academic staff member from the School must act as the supervisor of the thesis.

For an industry-led thesis, you must obtain approval from an academic of the School to supervise the topic. You should submit a signed letter from the industry representative and academic supervisor with a brief outline of the project with a Thesis Nomination Form.

All information needed for the deliverables of thesis A can be found in the course outline which is available on the SOLA9451 Moodle site.

Each supervisor has a prescribed limit for how many students they are accepting. A table will be posted noting how many students each supervisor will take and how many students they have so far. Once a supervisor reaches their limit please look for someone else. You are not guaranteed a project with a supervisor unless you have a signed form.

• Schedule your appointment with your supervisor
• Get your thesis nomination form signed by your supervisor 

Postgraduate thesis FAQs

Depending on the thesis course you take, your topic may be provided to you or you will need to develop one.

If you need to develop one, most schools have a website that lists available topics and the staff willing to supervise those topics. You may wish to select a topic based on areas of engineering interest, extracurricular interests (such as the  ChallENG Projects ), or preference for working with a particular academic in your field.  You can even come up with your own in consultation with your thesis supervisor. Take a look! 

The process is different for each school, so review the information above.

If you still have questions, contact your school’s  Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator.

Projects based on current employment are highly encouraged. They must meet the requirements of advanced independent study and you must arrange a UNSW academic as (co-)supervisor. Finally, work-based projects must be approved by the  Thesis Coordinator   prior to enrolment.

Most schools have a Moodle, intranet, or web page with detailed information about their thesis program. That should be your next port of call – check your school’s section above for access instructions.

Schools often run information sessions during the year. These will be advertised via email, on social media and/or during class. Keep an eye out for these events.

The  Undergraduate Thesis page  has further answers to frequently asked thesis questions.

If you have questions related to enrolment or progression, contact the Nucleus.

Finally, each school has a  Thesis Coordinator  who can answer specific questions related to your personal circumstances.

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.

University of Melbourne theses

Australian theses,   international theses, referencing theses, further help, find theses online and in print.

This guide shows you how to find Masters and PhD theses, online and in print, from:

• The University of Melbourne
• Other Australian universities
• Outside Australia

Why use theses?

Theses can be a valuable source of information, especially for topics where there are fewer published works available., the references or works cited in a thesis can also be useful to find further published sources on a topic..

If you are currently writing a thesis (Honours, Masters or PhD) you may want to:

• check if anyone has recently completed a PhD thesis in your area of research internationally
• look at PhD theses from your faculty (or supervised by your supervisor) to get an idea of how to format your thesis.

Most recent theses are available through Minerva Access , the University's institutional repository. 

Minerva includes PhD and Masters Research theses, as well as a smaller number of Honours and Masters Coursework theses.

Accessing Full-Text in Minerva Access

Open access theses.

• Many theses are open access, which means anyone is able to read the full text online, and no subscription or login is required.
• Use the download link on the left to access a PDF of the thesis.

Restricted access theses

Some theses are currently only available to university of melbourne staff/students.

Use the login link and access with your unimelb username and password

Embargoed theses

If a thesis is under full embargo , full-text is not available for internal or external access (including inter-library loan requests). It a thesis is under an external embargo , it can be requested by University staff and students for research purposes via Minerva Access .

You will be able to view an abstract 

Finding theses from your faculty or school in Minerva Access

You can limit your results in minerva access to view only theses from your faculty..

1. Select your faculty from the list of Communities on the Minerva Access homepage. You may need to also choose your school on the next page. 

2. Select the option that includes Theses  (rather than Research Publications) 

3.To further refine the list (ie. to only PhD theses) scroll down to use the Type menu on the far left menu bar.

Finding University of Melbourne print theses

University of Melbourne theses not available online are held in the Cultural Collections Reading Room on level 3 of the Baillieu Library, or in offsite storage. While you cannot physically browse the thesis collection, you can submit a request to view a thesis using the online form .

You can search the Library Catalogue  to find our print collection of University of Melbourne theses

• To restrict your search to just theses, select University of Melbourne Theses from the drop-down menu to the right of the search bar

For more information on requesting to view print theses see the Special Collections website . ( Note : Use the request form for Rare Books)

Australian theses from other universities can be found via Trove .

1. Select Advanced search on the Trove homepage, and choose Research and reports

2. Type your search terms into the first box (Keyword search box)

3. Check the box next to Australian content

4. Click the green Search button

5. On the results page, select the Show more  option under Format

6. Select Thesis  to limit your results to theses

7.  To access, check the purple link at the bottom of each record. Theses available online will either:

• have a link to where they are held

• have an Access conditions apply  link

8. Click on the title of the thesis to view the record, and select the  Read  button to access the full text

•  If the thesis is not available online through Trove, please complete a Thesis request form on the  Request Forms page . We will then try to obtain a copy of the thesis for you via inter-library loan. 
• For more information on using the Advanced Search to create more specific searches, see Trove's Australian theses page. 

These are the top four international theses databases that include full-text:

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global The most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world. Spans 1743 to the present day, offering full text for most dissertations added since 1997.
• British Library EThOS (Electronic Theses Online Service) Search for UK theses and access or request full text. See FAQs for more information.
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal Access to digitised theses from European universities.
• OATD: Open Access Theses and Dissertations Indexes more than 1.5 million theses and dissertations. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from 600+ colleges, universities, and research institutions.

Other useful theses databases ​

• American Doctoral Dissertations
• China Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses full-text Database This database is a comprehensive, high quality database of dissertations and theses in China. The dissertations and theses are from hundreds of institutions located across China. Coverage is 1984 onwards and is updated daily. It covers a wide range of subjects such as fundamental sciences, engineering technology, agriculture, medical science, history, philosophy, education, law, economics and more.
• CNKI China Academic Journals Most comprehensive, full-text database of Chinese journals. To narrow your searching select section (G) Politics/ Military Affairs/ Law to search across the database.
• KRIS - Kiwi Research Information Service NZ open access research document portal.
• TEL (thèses-en-ligne) French theses
• Theses Canada Portal

Need help with referencing theses?

Visit the Re:cite guide to referencing

Contact us , or ask a question on Library chat

Visit us on social media.

• Last Updated: Jan 19, 2024 9:43 AM
• URL: https://unimelb.libguides.com/findingtheses

• Search all things Library

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.

• Programs and Courses

Masters Thesis

A graduate course offered by the Fenner School of Environment and Society .

• Code ENVS8000
• Unit Value 12 to 24 units
• Offered by Fenner School of Environment and Society
• ANU College ANU Joint Colleges of Science
• Classification Research
• Course subject Environmental Science
• Areas of interest Forestry, Geography, Climate, Environmental Science, Resource and Environmental Management
• Academic career PGRD
• Dr Nici Sweaney
• Dr Sara Beavis
• Mode of delivery In Person
• Offered in First Semester 2021 Second Semester 2021 See Future Offerings

• Introduction

Learning Outcomes

Indicative assessment, inherent requirements, prescribed texts, other information.

• Offerings and Dates

Delivery of this course will vary from student to student. Contact your course convener or supervisor to see if there is an on campus activity.

The thesis presents a major piece of guided independent research on a topic agreed between the student and their supervisor. It typically involves a literature review and an appropriate form of critical analysis of sources of primary and /or secondary data; it may involve field and/or laboratory work. The thesis must show evidence of wide reading and understanding, of critical analysis and/or appropriate use of advanced research techniques. All students must attend relevant seminars, present at least one seminar, and comply with any other prescribed conditions.

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

• plan, and engage in, an independent and sustained critical investigation and evaluation of a chosen research topic relevant to environment and society;
• systematically identify relevant theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, apply appropriate techniques and draw appropriate conclusions;
• engage in systematic discovery and critical review of appropriate and relevant information sources;
• appropriately apply qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation processes to original data;
• understand and apply ethical standards of conduct in the collection and evaluation of data and other resources;
• communicate research concepts and contexts clearly and effectively both in writing and orally;

Admission to the Masters thesis requires completion of the 48 units of the Coursework component at Distinction level or better. Admission and the choice of research topic is dependent on the availability and agreement of an appropriate supervisor.

The course can be taken as a variable unit. As such, the scope and word limit of the thesis will be customised as agreed between the student, convener and supervisor on commencement of enrolment.

• Annotated bibliography (10) [LO 1,2,3,6]
• Research reflection (5) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
• Thesis (and Oral Defence) (75) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
• Final seminar (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester per 6 units of enrolment including:

• Face-to-face component including regularly scheduled coursework research workshops
• Independent study 10 - 40 hours per week depending on the units of enrolment per semester.

Students are expected to maintain regular contact with their supervisor and attend all supervisory meetings.

To be determined

Requisite and Incompatibility

You will need to contact the Fenner School of Environment and Society to request a permission code to enrol in this course.

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees . 

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place  or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at  Fees .

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Course fees

Offerings, dates and class summary links.

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage .

First Semester

Second semester.

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions

• Contact ANU
• Freedom of Information

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Australian manual of style

A practical guide to help you produce clear, accurate, engaging content.

A thesis is a large report written to describe the process and outcomes of a research project. Theses are written by higher education students and are often a major (or sole) assessable component for admission to a higher degree. Theses are usually written for PhDs, but can also be for honours, masters and other degrees.

A thesis should follow the same principles of good planning and writing as other documents.

This section covers:

Researching the requirements of a thesis

Structuring a thesis, writing a thesis, reviewing a thesis during writing.

• Editing and finalising a thesis . 

The details of a thesis depends on the discipline, the size of the project and the requirements of your institution.

There is 1 golden rule:

This seems obvious, but it is important. Take nothing for granted. Find out:

• how long the thesis should be
• whether there is a set format to use (eg a referencing style; a list of required sections; a Word, LibreOffice or LaTeX template)
• what review points you must pass
• when it is due(!).

How long should it be?

Expected length should be discussed with your thesis supervisor. It varies with the task, discipline and degree.

In sciences and engineering, where a thesis may contain graphs, tables, mathematics and diagrams, typical total thesis lengths are:

• PhD – 40,000 to 60,000 words
• masters by research – 20,000 to 40,000 words
• honours degree, major undergraduate project, or thesis component of a masters by coursework – 12,000 to 20,000 words.

In humanities and similar fields, the word counts are often higher, although fewer images are used.

Establish the expected length of the thesis very early during the project. This gives a sense of the magnitude of the job. A thesis is a major writing task, and must not be left until late.

Is there a set format?

Here, format means the sectioning and styling of the document. Always find out the preferred format. If the format is left open, find an established one that is acceptable and use that.

Format information may include:

• type styles (eg minimum font size, heading styles)
• 1-sided or 2-sided printing (1-side is now rare)
• electronic file formats (do they want a PDF?)
• citing and referencing style (see References )
• what template to use (if one is provided)
• printing and binding requirements (how many copies, what kind of binding and paper [stock] size, and other production details).

What are the review points?

Your work is likely to be reviewed by your supervisor and institution during the course of the project. Most projects include at least 1 official review point, and PhDs and other major projects include more. Typically, a review may be a presentation to an audience plus the submission of early work, such as a literature review.

Be aware of these review points from the beginning. Ideally, tackle them in a way that will be useful for the final thesis. For example, work out the referencing system and software early on, and use it when writing the literature review.

When is it due?

Think about the size of the project and the due date, and work out a series of milestone targets. Some projects, such as PhDs, have flexible due dates. Others (eg an honours project) do not. Think about when your funding runs out (if relevant), and try to allow for unexpected delays. Do not set the deadline as the absolute final possible day of submission.

Working forwards from the starting date and backwards from the due date, establish a plan. Some dates will be fixed – the literature review must be ready by the formal review point – whereas others will be discretionary. Be realistic, but perhaps a little optimistic too.

Theses have much in common with books and reports . They should follow the principles of logical structure , within the limits imposed by any required formats.

A generic structure for the discussion of a topic or project is the ‘bowtie’ model:

Begin with the big picture to give the work context, then focus on the specific problem being tackled. The body says what was actually done, then the conclusions place that in the broad context established in the introduction.

In sciences, a common way of summing this up is IMRaD – introduction/method/results/and/ discussion and conclusions.

In other fields, a common way of thinking about structure is CEC – claims/evidence/commentary:

• Claims – what are the contentions, ideas or interpretations being put forward?
• Evidence – what is out there to support the claims?
• Commentary – how does the evidence support the claims, and what can we learn from this?

When a thesis encompasses several topics – as many do – structure may require considerable thought. Should it contain separate methods/results/conclusions for each topic, or a single results section, but with 1 part for each topic – or aspects of both? Always think about what the reader will find easiest to navigate.

It might help to sketch possible structures :

Choice of structure depends on how much, and what, the topics have in common – do they share methods, for example? If so, the third structure might make sense.

Once the structure is worked out, writing becomes a matter of filling in each box.

Use the principles of good writing. Be clear, consistent and write to the correct audience – in the case of a thesis, this is usually someone with a lot of expertise. Refer to:

• Tips and tricks for writing
• Planning before you write
• Logical structure
• Accurate language .

Many theses deal with data, diagrams and illustrations. See Showing  for information about the best way to show your results. Depending on the field, the following sections (and others) may be useful:

• Illustrations .

For information specific to various fields of study, see  Subject areas .

Writing strategically

A thesis is a major piece of work. There are many advantages to completing sections as early as possible. These include:

• meeting formal review points successfully
• building understanding of the material and generating new ideas that can contribute to the project
• discovering problems sooner rather than later
• preparing material for publication in a peer-reviewed journal during the candidature, rather than afterwards
• having more time to review sections – useful if your supervisor is busy and not readily available
• getting work done now so it does not have to be done later, when deadlines loom and the pressure is much greater.

Some parts can be written early, whereas others must wait for further results and data – perhaps from experiments, interviews or other fieldwork. So write the work up as it is done.

In many disciplines, it is possible and desirable to publish research results in the academic literature or at a conference before thesis submission. This has many benefits:

• The student learns to write up their work and can use these skills on the thesis.
• Gaps in understanding may be revealed in time to be fixed.
• The work gains an extra round of review.
• A thesis based on work that has already passed peer review is very unlikely to be failed.
• Publications increase the student’s profile and help them gain their next job or position.

Choosing the content

Often it is best to work backwards to decide what to write:

• What are the key results the reader must understand?
• What must they be told if they are to realise why those results are important?
• What must they be told if they are to appreciate why the results are reliable?

This will reveal what methods must be explained, what background must be given, and what evidence must be discussed and endorsed or refuted.

A fourth question to help work out the required content is:

• What topics (in the eyes of the examiners) must the student show they have mastered?

Referencing

No matter what the subject area, citing and referencing are important. See References  for a guide to referencing. Important points include the following:

• Choose a citing and referencing system (eg Harvard, Vancouver), if not specified by the format information, and use it rigorously.
• Choose citation management software and use it consistently throughout the project.
• Become familiar with the rules around when a citation is needed, how source material should be quoted, and what constitutes plagiarism (see Citing other work ).

A thesis is a big document. A supervisor cannot be expected to read and review the whole thing at short notice, nor can they be expected to review it very many times. They can review, but not rewrite. The thesis must be the student’s work.

Establish a schedule, including:

• in what order chapters will be written
• when they will be given to the supervisor for review
• when they will be given back
• how often the supervisor is prepared to review them
• how the review will happen (eg occasional face-to-face meetings coupled with use of Word’s change-tracking tools).

Factor in fixed deadlines, such as intermediate reviews, conferences at which the research may be presented and times when experiments must be done (eg if the research uses major national facilities, these have fixed schedules, and experiments may have to wait 6 months or more).

• Learn how to use change-tracking tools.
• Keep track of versions of each section – for example, do not modify sections while they are being reviewed by a supervisor; harmonising several drafts of the same content is troublesome.
• Ensure that both you and your supervisor are aware of the review schedule and expectations.

Expect the schedule to be flexible and to change, but do have one, and keep it up to date.

Did you know?

‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’ (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

‘No battle plan survives contact with the enemy’ (Helmuth von Moltke the Elder)

‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’ (Benjamin Franklin)

The ability to write acceptable English reasonably quickly is a tremendous asset to a student writing a thesis.

Some  e-learning modules  may be helpful.

Editing and finalising a thesis

See Editing  for advice on how to improve a written text. All writers are likely to find Grammar ,  Spelling conventions  and Punctuation  useful.

Important points include the following:

• Ensure that grammar and punctuation are acceptable.
• Ensure that the text is complete.
• Ensure that all formal requirements are met (eg length, wording of the declaration, title page information). A typical thesis declaration is:  ‘This thesis contains no material that has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university. To the best of the author's knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text’.
• Are images, photographs or equations missing or pixelated?
• If colour is important, is the colour reproduction adequate?
• Do the figures and tables agree with their captions?
• Check that any URLs are current and correct, and do point to the indicated resources.
• Check that the work of the thesis assessors has been cited, and their names are spelled correctly.
• Proofread thoroughly – text, images, preliminary material, references, etc.
• Double-check the requirements for printing and binding (eg number of copies, type of binding to be used, stock size).
• Make sure the printer is supplied with correct, final and complete files of the right kind.
• Submit on time!

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The University of Queensland

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• Masters Thesis

Masters Thesis (DECO7861)

Course level.

Postgraduate Coursework

Faculties are the major organisational units with responsibility for academic programs. Faculties may have a number of sub-units called schools. The head of a faculty is called an Executive Dean." class="tooltip">Faculty

Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology

Schools are responsible for teaching, research and interaction with professional organisations. Course coordinators and lecturers generally work in schools." class="tooltip">School

Elec Engineering, Comp Science

Units represent the value of individual courses which contribute to the total unit requirement of an academic program. A standard study load is 8 units per semester." class="tooltip">Units

Two Semesters

Class hours is the number of hours you will need to engage in for this course, for any type of contact." class="tooltip">Class hours

General contact hours 2 Hours/ Week

Incompatible

Prerequisites are the course(s) that must have been previously passed to be able to enrol in a particular course. a prerequisite course provides the appropriate foundation knowledge in order to progress to the next course. students are expected to be aware of the required prerequisites (often expressed as pre: in the course information on mysi-net) as, in most cases, the university does not check to see if you have completed the prerequisite courses." class="tooltip">prerequisite.

Permission Head of School

MInfTech or MIDes students only.

Assessment methods

Written and oral reporting

Course enquiries

Dr Konstanty Bialkowski ([email protected])

Current course offerings

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

A research-based thesis course that offers students the opportunity to work on a comprehensive, individual project that demonstrates mastery of interaction design and/or design computing. Topic to be agreed in consultation with a supervisor. The project will be of suitable complexity for results to be published for an expert audience. Students commencing in Semester 1 enrol in DECO7861, students commencing in Semester 2 enrol in DECO7862. Students wishing to complete thesis in a single semester enrol in DECO7860, but only after seeking academic advice.

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How to get a PhD

Study tips Published 5 Apr, 2022  ·  4-minute read

Trying to wrap your head around how PhD programs work? We don’t blame you. Sometimes it feels like you need a PhD just to figure out how to get a PhD.

So, with a little help from our academics and some UQ PhD candidates, we’ve broken down the application and preparation process into 10 manageable steps:

• Complete prior research
• Choose your topic
• Find a PhD supervisor
• Write your PhD proposal
• Identify potential scholarships
• Gather required documents and apply
• Determine if you'll continue working during your PhD
• Calculate how long you’ll be researching your PhD
• Develop the traits and behaviours of a good PhD student
• Apply and get accepted

Let’s discuss how to get a PhD in Australia – from choosing your topic to getting stuck into the actual research.

1. Complete prior research (if necessary)

You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree to start a PhD. However, you do need to have completed extensive research. This might involve an academic research program (such as a bachelor's degree with an honours year or a Master of Philosophy ), research conducted in your professional career, or a combination of both. The important thing is that you can demonstrate experience in conducting effective research, as this is a key part of the PhD selection criteria.

Learn more about doing a PhD without a master's degree

2. Choose your topic

Whether you’re developing a thesis on a topic you’ve already worked on or branching out into a new area of interest, you’ll want to know early what kind of topic you want to research for your PhD. Finding a niche that sparks your curiosity is important for ensuring you’ll stay inspired during the 3+ years ahead.

Keep in mind that you generally have two options here. You can complete a PhD by:

• joining an existing research project in an area that interests you 
• start a fresh research project that aligns with your specific goals.

Get tips for choosing your PhD topic or explore available research projects at UQ

3. Find a PhD supervisor

One of the essential steps to consider when thinking about how to get a PhD is finding someone to guide you through the process.

Approaching academics about your PhD can be intimidating, but shortlisting and selecting the most appropriate person / team to supervise your research project is important. By choosing your mentor carefully, you can ensure you’ve got someone in your corner who understands your research, has relevant expertise, and will be there to support you throughout your journey.

Learn how to find the right PhD supervisor

4. Write your PhD proposal

Check with your supervisor to see if they require a formal PhD proposal (most will, but not all). If so, with their guidance, it’s time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

Even if your supervisor doesn't explicitly ask for one, a PhD proposal is a valuable document for outlining the scope of your research and giving your project its initial momentum – so it might be worth writing one either way.

Learn how to write a good PhD proposal

5. Identify potential scholarships

Dedicating yourself to research sometimes means sacrificing your income in the short term, though it can lead to more financial security in the long term . To help support yourself during your studies, you can apply for PhD scholarships and funding.

Learn how to get a PhD scholarship

6. Gather required documents and apply

It’s time to jump online and do the official application process. Aside from your research proposal, you should also prepare to provide your:

• academic CV
• academic transcript
• degree certificate(s)
• English language documents (if needed)
• ID (such as a passport)
• two references / letters of recommendation from people who can comment on your research experience.

  Learn how to apply online for a UQ PhD

7. Determine if you'll continue working during your PhD

Some PhD candidates continue doing part-time or casual work while completing their research. However, this isn't easy and may not be feasible in most cases; it takes serious time-management skills to juggle any kind of job alongside a full-time PhD. So, think carefully about whether you’d like to keep working in some capacity or commit your attention fully to your research.

Learn more about working while doing a PhD

8. Calculate how long you’ll be researching your PhD

To complete your PhD within the standard 3.5-year* timeframe, you'll need to be organised with a clear project plan. Of course, the very nature of research is that you'll discover unexpected things and take unplanned detours along the way. So, your plan should include contingencies for any obstacles you might hit to ensure you still complete your research on time. 

*In special cases, you may be able to request an extension of your tuition for up to 4 years, but that is the maximum time allowed for a PhD.

Explore how long a PhD takes

9. Develop the traits and behaviours of a good PhD student

We know you’ve already got what it takes, but there are some skills and attributes you could cultivate or practise to make your upcoming journey a little smoother. Between writing your proposal and meeting with potential supervisors, be sure to set some time aside to work on yourself as well.

Discover what makes a good PhD student

10. Apply and get accepted

All the preparation is done. You’ve equipped all the gear, chosen your guide and mapped out your route. It's time to apply and set the wheels in motion.

Submit your PhD application

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