Preparing for thesis examination

Examination process

You and your supervisor should ensure that examiners are nominated, approved and appointed at least two weeks before the thesis is submitted for examination to avoid delays. You will generally be consulted on the choice of examiners.

Conditions relating to the assessment of theses and projects are contained in the Edith Cowan University Rules (Admission, Enrolment and Academic Progress).

Be aware that a supervisor cannot be an examiner for their student’s thesis.

Where you consider that there is a good reason for a change of examiner, a case may be made in writing to the School Honours Coordinator, via your supervisor, who may make an alternative appointment.

The examiners may recommend the following and submit their report to the School Honours Coordinator:

• pass with no amendments;
• pass with minor amendments;
• major revision and re-examination; or
• fail.

Examination of thesis

The Honours Coordinator handles the distribution of theses to examiners and the return of examination reports in accordance with the School’s procedures. Two examiners examine the thesis. They shall not be supervisors of the thesis and preferably one is external to the University.

If examiners require corrections to the thesis, you will need to do this before it is submitted for lodgement in the Library.

As only first class theses are lodged in the Library, only these theses will require corrections be made before the students are cleared for graduation.

This will enable all students with upper and lower second class and third class grades to be cleared through the School and Boards of Examiners concurrently.

Grading of Honours performance

The Honours grade is based on both coursework and thesis. In a standard one-year Honours program, the weighting of assessment for these components will be in proportion to the number of coursework and thesis units in the award.

In professional four-year Honours programs, the coursework average is based on no less than two core third or fourth year coursework units, and then the coursework and thesis marks are combined. 

Examiners’ reports provide both a grade level and percentage mark for the thesis.

Where the two examiners’ reports have a discrepancy of more than 10 per cent, the theses will normally be sent to a third examiner. In these cases the final mark for the thesis component will normally be based on the average of the two closest grades.

Where the result of the examination requires revision and re-examination, it is expected that the final outcome will be lower second class, third class or fail.

The Honours Coordinator will determine the Honours grade using a percentage score derived from a combination of coursework average and thesis marks using the following cut-off scores:

• First class: 80% and above
• Upper second: 70% to 79.9%
• Lower second: 60% to 69.9%
• Third/Pass: 50% to 59.9%

Revision and re-examination requirements

In cases where the examiners recommend a revision and re-examination of the thesis or project, you have the right to expect that the examiner(s) will provide a clear and written statement detailing errors and deficiencies. These will assist you in the revision of your thesis or project.

A revised thesis or project should then be re-submitted through your supervisor and must provide the following to the examiners:

• a copy of the original examiner’s written statement on errors and deficiencies; and
• a listing of changes made to the thesis or project as a consequence of the Examiner’s criticisms.

You should keep a copy of the originally submitted thesis or project in case the examiners request a copy.

Be aware:

• you may not re-submit a thesis or project more than once for re-examination;
• a revised thesis or project must be submitted for re-examination within 12 months of the date on which the original examination was completed; and
• you must re-enrol in the appropriate thesis or project unit(s) during the period of revision.