	Introduction

	Application and enrolment

	Fees and scholarships

	Policies and administration

	Intellectual Property

	Conduct of research

	Preparing a thesis

	Examination of a thesis

	Student support

	Library

	Faculty information

Preparing a thesis

General considerations

A thesis should provide sufficient information to enable an examiner to appreciate that the investigation has been conducted with a high level of technical skill, that the candidate is familiar with and has employed (if relevant) the most suitable statistical techniques, and that the procedures are clearly of doctoral or masters standard.

There should be an appropriate balance between the different parts of the thesis. In particular, the original contribution to knowledge should be clearly distinguishable from the introductory material and the survey of relevant literature. The thesis should also make clear which work has been performed by the candidate and in which cases the results obtained by another have been analysed.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that the format of the thesis meets the requirements of the Rules for Higher Degree Theses (Appendix E).

A thesis which does not meet these requirements will be referred back to the candidate before being submitted for examination. If there are special reasons which justify a departure from the specified format, written approval must be gained from the Academic Senate.

The candidate should also be aware of the implications of entering into a confidentiality agreement in relation to publications which might arise from the thesis.

Candidates should also bear in mind that the thesis is lodged in the Library and thus constitutes archival material accessible to others. This is especially important in relation to potentially defamatory material. The University does not specify the length of research higher degree theses.

However the following general guidelines apply.

The thesis should not be unnecessarily long. Although the length may vary according to the topic and the discipline, a PhD thesis is expected to be no more than 100,000 words or 400 pages, including maps and diagrams, but excluding bibliography.

In any case the candidate should consult the supervisor on the appropriate length of the thesis.

Individual faculties may determine more specific guidelines for the length of research higher degree theses.

In particular, the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology has determined that the length of a PhD thesis should be a minimum of 70,000 words and a maximum of 100,000 words and for Masters a minimum of 35,000 words and a maximum of 50,000. This excludes footnotes, bibliography, tables and appendices, but students should not make use of extensive footnotes or very large appendices in order to bypass the word limit. When students submit their thesis they will be asked to indicate how long the thesis is, and where it exceeds the normal word limit they will be asked to provide a detailed explanation of the reasons for its length.

The Faculty of Social Sciences has determined that the maximum word length for a PhD thesis is 90,000 words and 50,000 words for a Masters thesis. These word limits apply to the main thesis text only and exclude footnotes, bibliography, tables and appendices.

Theses are usually written in English. However, in special circumstances the thesis may be written in a foreign language especially if the student is studying in the Department of Languages.

If students have published from their thesis prior to submission, the student must make clear to the examiner which parts of the thesis have been used in publications, who contributed to the publication, and the nature of the student's contribution.

Presentation

A high standard of presentation is required. Candidates are encouraged to use a good word processing or desktop publishing package combined with a high quality printer to ensure that presentation is both clear and attractive to the reader. The preferred typescripts are Times 12 or Times Roman 12, although another font of similar size and appearance is acceptable. A sample copy of four pages must be approved by the Librarian. Check the faculty specific policies in the faculty office.

It is recommended that a master copy, printed on one side only of the paper, be prepared in the first instance. Final copies for submission may then be produced from the master copy by a good photographic process, the output of which is known not to fade. Good quality paper (eg bond) of adequate thickness must be used.

A form of temporary binding may be used for the submission of a thesis for examination. Acceptable forms of soft binding may include machine sewn binding. Check the faculty specific policies.

Services of a professional editor

Use of a professional editor in preparation of a thesis is permitted, if undertaken in accordance with the following conditions. Professional editing of a thesis refers to editing services which are paid for.

professional editing must be undertaken before the final version of the thesis is submitted to the student's supervisor for consideration;
supervisors must oversee the process and monitor professional editing on an individual basis; and
professional editing must be limited to formatting, grammar and style and must not alter or improve the substantive content or conceptual organisation of the thesis.

Order and format of contents

A thesis must be preceded by a title page. This title page of the thesis should show:

the title of the thesis in full;
the name and degrees of the candidate;
the AOU and faculty associated with the work;
the date of submission of the thesis.

The title page should normally be followed by:

a table of contents;
a summary in not more than 500 words;
a signed declaration by the student;
candidate's acknowledgment;
the main text;
appendices;
bibliography.

Note that the thesis must not contain any statement to the effect that the thesis is properly presented and is of sufficient standard to be worthy of examination.

Tables, diagrams and figures

Tables, diagrams and figures should be inserted in the text as soon as is conveniently possible after the first reference to them in the text.

Captions for tables are to be inserted above the table to which each refers, whereas legends and figures should ordinarily be placed below the figure.

Diagrams, maps and tables exceeding A4 size, should be folded so as to read as a right-hand page when open.

If diagrams, figures, photography, etc, are to be mounted on a page, a dry mounting process should be used. Lengthy or bulky tables should appear as an appendix.

Bibliographic citation

Style - All sources from which information has been derived, sources of quotations and authorities for statements of fact and opinion must be clearly, concisely and accurately cited in any scholarly work. There are no standard rules for the citation of references, although your faculty and some professions prescribe a style appropriate to your discipline. Bibliographic style should be established early in the preparation of the thesis to avoid time consuming work at the final write-up stage.

The reference following Clause 16 of the Rules for Higher Degree Theses ( Appendix E) indicates works which will assist the candidate in selecting an appropriate style if none has been prescribed by the AOU. Candidates should also be guided in their treatment of references by accepted library practice and the advice of the supervisor or the Librarian. What is important is that the style adopted be followed consistently.

Content of Citation - The minimum citation for books must include author(s), title, edition (if other than the first), place of publication, publisher, date of publication and relevant pages. The citation for periodical articles must provide at least author(s), title of the article, name of periodical, volume number, part number (if volume is not paginated continuously), date of publication and relevant pages. In certain subjects a more detailed citation may be required, and candidates should consult their supervisor and faculty specific policies on this matter.

Content of Bibliography - A candidate must cite in the bibliography all sources from which information is derived and all works quoted or referred to in the text or notes to the text. Abbreviations - If the full titles of periodicals and other serials are not used, abbreviations should normally be those used in:

World List of Scientific Periodicals (4th ed London: Butterworth 1963-75);
Bibliographic Guide for Editors and Authors (Washington, D: American Chemical Society, 1974);
International List of Periodical Title Word Abbreviations (ISO 833-1974).

Thesis submission

When the thesis is submitted for examination four copies shall normally be lodged with the Faculty General Manager.

The candidate may submit three copies only, provided that they are aware that, in the event of unforeseen problems (eg loss of thesis in mail, examiner unable to act), this may cause delays in the examination process.

At this time, the thesis should be bound in temporary form so that any corrections which may be required following examination of the thesis can be inserted easily. The temporary binding must be strong enough to prevent damage to the thesis during the ordinary course of handling or postage. Machine sewn binding is acceptable for temporary purposes - check the faculty specific policies. It is not recommended that theses be temporarily bound in ring back, thermal or braced binding as these binding methods normally result in damage during handling and transit, often causing pages to be torn or lost.

A candidate may submit a thesis for examination even if this is against the advice of the supervisor but only after an attempt has been made to resolve the matter through discussion with the supervisor and a faculty Contact Officer, or with the Head of AOU (or nominee when this is the same person) and a faculty Contact Officer.

Final form of thesis

Following examination and prior to the award of the degree, a candidate must lodge with the faculty two permanently bound copies of the thesis. The thesis should be sewn, trimmed and bound with stiff covers bound with dark cloth. The candidate's family name and initials and a short title must be printed on the spine in gold lettering.

Candidates have the option of lodging one copy of their thesis in electronic format under the Australian Digital Theses Program. For information about digital theses contact the Special Collections Librarian in the Central Library.

June 07