The University of Western Australia

University Policy on: Courses - Research Thesis

Purpose of the policy and summary of issues it addresses:

This policy sets out the principles underpinning the administration, examination and management of theses as a research component in the following RTS (Research Training Scheme) compliant courses: Master's degree courses (by thesis and coursework); and Professional Doctorates (by thesis and coursework). This policy does not apply to Higher Degree by Research courses administered by the Graduate Research School.

Definitions:

The University means The University of Western Australia.

research output means the production of work that may be wholly in written form or in the form of a composition, performance, exhibition or creative or other approved work.

thesis means the output of research in a course in which the output constitutes more than 66.6 per cent per cent of the requirements of the course in question.

Professional Doctorate is RTS compliant and embodies an original contribution to knowledge by way of a research thesis (for example, through the discovery of new knowledge, the formulation of theories or the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas). It can include up to one third of coursework offered at master's level or beyond and provides an opportunity for those with a first professional qualification and professional experience to undertake advanced studies and research in their professional fields. The thesis is concerned primarily with deducing implications for practice and policy, while not neglecting the possibility of testing theory, extending existing theory, or developing new theory.

Research Training Scheme (RTS) is a performance-based funding scheme administered by the Department of Education and Training. Domestic students under the Research Training Scheme are exempt from paying student contributions and tuition fees, if UWA so decides. Research Training Scheme courses consist of master's and doctoral courses whose research component is at least 66.6 per cent of the total course.

Policy statement:

1 General Principles

1.1 Where a thesis forms part of the course requirement of a RTS compliant course, it must be represented in accordance with the specifications as set out in Table 1:

2 Forms of theses

2.1 A master's research thesis, which may consist partly or wholly of published work, must demonstrate sound knowledge of the subject matter and independence of thought.

2.2 A thesis undertaken in a professional doctorate course:

a) must be written in English (unless the faculty has approved otherwise);

b) must consist of up to 70000 words (including footnotes, references and appendices)

c) may be concerned with the application and development of theory but not necessarily its generation;

d) relates to the relevant industry or profession; and

e) need not involve the same level of abstraction and conceptualisation as the Doctor of Philosophy thesis; and

f) presented in the form specified in the rules for the relevant course, must:

(i) make a sound, rigorous and original contribution to research;

(ii) demonstrate the student's comprehensive understanding of the relevant literature;

(iii) demonstrate the student's ability to use appropriate methodologies and techniques;

(iv) demonstrate the student's ability to communicate the research and findings in a professional manner; and

(v) question, analyse, critique and develop the profession and its practices.

3 Enrolment and candidature

3.1 A student in a RTS compliant master's by thesis and coursework course must:

a) enrol each year until they complete all coursework units and submit for examination all other examinable components of the course;

b) within the first six months of their enrolment, or earlier if required in the rules for the course, submit the following for approval by the faculty:

i. the name(s) of the student's supervisor; and

ii. the title of the student's thesis.

3.1.1 Faculty approval is required for any proposed changes to the title of the research thesis.

3.2 A student in a professional doctorate course may be permitted to complete the course, or part of it, at an offshore institution, under arrangements approved by the Academic Board.

3.3 A student in a professional doctorate course must meet candidature requirements in accordance with the University Policy on Graduate Research Training and in the rules for the course, where applicable.

4 Supervisors and supervision

4.1 A supervisor must act in accordance with the University Policy on Graduate Research Training and Conduct for the Responsible Practice of Research.

4.1.1 The Dean of the faculty, after consulting with the Dean of Graduate Research and Postdoctoral Training, may refer infringements to the codes to the Vice-Chancellor.

5 Submission

5.1 Thesis produced as part of fulfilling the requirements of a RTS compliant course must be submitted in accordance with the University Policy on Graduate Research Training and in the rules for the course, where applicable.

5.1.1 A publication by a student, enrolled in either a RTS compliant master's coursework course or in the professional doctorate course, may be submitted as an appendix in support of a thesis.

5.2 A thesis in a RTS compliant master's by thesis and coursework course must normally be submitted within two years, or equivalent where enrolment has part-time elements.

5.2.1 A thesis referred to in 5.2 is not accepted for examination if the substance of the thesis has previously been submitted for a degree in this or another institution.

5.3 A student is not permitted to withdraw, alter or add to a thesis, including jointly authored work, after it has been submitted for examination, unless there are exceptional circumstances and with permission of the faculty.

6 Examination

6.1 The appointment of examiners for the examination of a thesis must be undertaken in accordance with the schedule and the relevant course rules where applicable, as set out in Table 2:

6.2 The advice to professional doctorate thesis examiners and the assessment criteria set out in Schedule 1 must be provided to all examiners.

6.3 Examiners of research thesis, submitted for fulfilment of the course requirements for a RTS compliant master's degree by thesis and coursework course or professional doctorate course, must not consult with each other or anyone connected with the thesis during the actual examination of the thesis and prior to submission of independent reports. The faculty or board concerned may ask examiners to consult or otherwise communicate with each other before, or after, receipt of their individual reports.

6.4 A thesis prepared during the course of enrolment for a professional doctorate may be accepted, on the recommendation of the faculty, board or committee concerned, by the Board of the Graduate Research School (BGRS) for examination as one of the following set out in Table 3:

6.5 Where a professional doctorate thesis submitted for examination as MPhil thesis or a PhD thesis and the BGRS, after considering the examiners' reports, determines that the thesis is not suitable for the appropriate award, the faculty, board or committee concerned may proceed to examine the thesis as a thesis for a professional doctorate.

7 Thesis Classification

7.1 A research thesis must be classified by the faculty, board or committee in accordance with the specifications provided in Table 4.

7.2 Access to the thesis or appendix may be restricted for a period of time not normally exceeding two years from the date the thesis is classified, as passed in accordance with the specifications provided in Table 5:

8 Accessibility to thesis

8.1 Theses, which contain written work that is clear and concise, must be clearly and appropriately referenced and be recorded in a form (i.e. in print and digitally) that is permanently available and accessible, via the University Library.

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