Thesis submission and exams

You can expect the process to run as follows:

• Intention to submit (three months before you submit)
• Initial thesis submission
• Thesis examination
• Thesis examination recommendation
• Oral examination
• Outcome advised
• Final submission

Note: The process is slightly different for the Doctor of Fine Arts Degree (DocFA).

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 (SGS).

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 not on Wahapū will make use of the Doctoral Forms and receive updates via email.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis is awarded annually to the five most exceptional theses from the previous year. Criteria for nomination include the demonstrable significance, originality, contribution and excellence of the thesis.

1. Canvas module: You should aim to complete the online PhD Examination Process canvas module six months before you submit your thesis. This will prepare you for a smooth submission and examination process.
   
   
2. Additional resources: It's important to familiarise yourself with the exam-related policies on the University's Policy hub. We also recommend signing up for the Word Thesis Formatting workshop and asking your Group Services team whether your faculty offers writing retreats for doctoral candidates.
   
   
3. Intention to submit: To ensure your examination process is fast and efficient, you must notify SGS three months in advance of your planned submission date, which must be on or before your maximum submission date. PhD students will follow the Intention to Submit process in Wahapū, while those who are studying towards a Named Doctorate will email their name, ID, and intended submission date to doctoraladvice@auckland.ac.nz.
   
   
4. Scholarships: If you're on a scholarship, let your scholarship administrator know once you've submitted, because your scholarship will stop at this point. If you have a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship, email doctoralscholarships@auckland.ac.nz.
   
   
5. ResearchSpace: After your thesis has been examined, and you have made any required minor corrections to the satisfaction of your revisions approver, you are required to submit your final thesis to both Wahapū (if relevant) and ResearchSpace (the University's institutional repository). You will need to send confirmation of the ResearchSpace receipt to sgs-exams@auckland.ac.nz so the examination process can be completed. You can expect a reply from SGS within two weeks, and your thesis should be available on ResearchSpace within eight weeks.
   
   
6. Apply to graduate: To be eligible to graduate, you must have complied with step 6 above and also completed all other tasks listed in Student Services Online. Once all this has been done, you would need to apply to graduate, whether in person or in absentia.

Getting ready to submit

• What should I do when I am ready to submit my doctoral thesis?
• How do I prepare for the initial submission of my doctoral thesis?
• How do I apply for early submission of my doctoral thesis?
• How do I declare co-authors and publications in my doctoral thesis?
• How do I submit the final copy of my doctoral thesis?
• Do I get a fees refund if I finish my doctoral programme part-way through the year?

Examination and beyond

• How is the doctoral oral examination organised?
• What should international doctoral candidates do if they want to stay in New Zealand after thesis submission?
• Why am I being charged full tuition fees after submitting my doctoral thesis?
• Can I request my postgraduate thesis to not be available to the public?
• How do doctoral candidates become eligible for graduation?