Submitting Candidates

The thesis submission and examination process involves the following steps:

• Intention to submit
• Initial thesis submission
• Thesis examination
• Thesis examination recommendation
• Oral examination
• Outcome advised
• Final submission

Note: The Doctor of Fine Arts examination process is a little different: the oral examination takes place before the thesis examination and at the same time as the performance or exhibition.

1. Canvas Course: You should aim to complete the online PhD Examination Process Canvas Course when you're six months away from submitting your thesis. This will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need for a smooth submission and examination process.
   
   
2. Doctoral Examination Workshop: We recommend that you attend the Preparing for your Doctoral Examination online workshop when you're six months away from submitting your thesis. This is a great opportunity to learn more and ask questions. Book early to avoid disappointment. The next available session is on Monday 9 February.

1. Intention to Submit: For a fast and efficient examination, it is critical that you provide sufficient notice of your intention to submit your thesis. You are required to notify the School of Graduate Studies three months in advance of your planned submission date.
   
   * If you are on Wahapū, you must fill in the Intention to Submit form. You will receive an acknowledgement in Wahapū within two weeks. If you do not receive this, it is very likely that you haven’t completed the process. If this is the case, please ask your supervisor for assistance.
   
   * If you are not on Wahapū, you need to email details of your intention to submit (including name, ID, and intended submission date) to doctoraladvice@auckland.ac.nz.
   
   
2. Timing: The examination process generally takes up to six months, though it may be longer in some cases. Your examination will be managed by a dedicated Examinations team at the School of Graduate Studies
   
   
3. Updates: Candidates on Wahapū will receive regular automatic updates at key stages of the process, and will be able to log into the system at any time to check the progress of the examination. Candidates who are not on Wahapū will receive updates via email.
   
   
4. Policies: Visit our Doctoral Policies web page to explore key exam-related policies. You'll also find a link to the University's Policy Hub.
   
   
5. Scholarships: If you're on a scholarship, you need to let your scholarship administrator know once you have submitted your thesis, because your scholarship will stop at this point. If you have a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship, you can contact the University's Scholarships Office.
    
6. ResearchSpace: After your thesis has been examined, and you have made any required minor corrections to the satisfaction of your supervisor, you are required to submit your final thesis to both Wahapū (if relevant) and ResearchSpace (the University's institutional repository), and send confirmation of the Research Space receipt to SGS at sgs-exams@auckland.ac.nz. This enables SGS to complete the examination process. Please allow two weeks for SGS to process it and reply, and six to eight weeks before your thesis is processed and available on ResearchSpace. Learn more.
   
   
7. Apply to Graduate: To graduate, you must have submitted your final thesis to Wahapū and Research Space, sent confirmation of the ResearchSpace receipt to SGS, and completed all other tasks listed in Student Services Online. Once all this has been done, you must apply to graduate, whether in person or in absentia. Find out more.
   
   
8. Prizes: The Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis is awarded annually to the five most exceptional theses successfully completed during the previous year. Criteria for nomination include the demonstrable significance, originality, contribution and excellence of the thesis.