uq thesis submission

• 2. Thesis submission
• Information and services
• Higher Degree by Research

If you have submitted your thesis for examination via UQ eSpace please read this document for information on how your examination will progress.

• iThenticate similarity report
• UQRDM upload
• COVID Impact Statement
• After your thesis is submitted

4. COVID Impact Statement

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the research projects of many HDR candidates. The pandemic has limited research opportunities, caused delays and forced some HDRs to re-scope their research project. This may be a cause of concern to HDR candidates as they prepare a thesis for examination with respect to the volume and quality of research presented in the thesis.

The UQ Graduate School has provided an optional COVID-19 Thesis Impact Statement template to enable you to explain to your examiners how your research project changed as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions. The statement will be provided to external examiners together with your thesis but will not be included in the thesis itself.

The COVID-19 Thesis Impact Statement is designed to convey information about the effect of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on your research project/thesis . It is not aimed at documenting the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal circumstances (e.g.  personal health or a challenging domestic situation).

In addition to providing a COVID-19 Thesis Impact Statement it is also a good idea to consider signposting the impacts of COVID-19 on research throughout the thesis, as part of the connecting narrative that illustrates the adjustments that were made.

It is important to note that there is no change to the criteria that an HDR candidate needs to meet to obtain an HDR award, which means that the integrity of the UQ degree is protected. Adapting research projects in light of unforeseen circumstances is a normal part of the research process and you will not be disadvantaged for doing so, as long as you are still able to demonstrate the criteria for the relevant degree.

The COVID-19 Thesis Impact Statement is not designed to replace the COVID Impact HDR Scholarship extension request if you believe that you have grounds for an extension due to the effect of the COVID-19 restrictions on your research project.

Submitting a COVID-19 Thesis Impact Statement

You should complete the impact statement just before you submit your thesis for examination using the provided template (DOCX, 28.7 KB) . You should complete this statement with the guidance of your Advisory Team. Please upload the completed impact statement (as a PDF file) with your thesis.

The statement will enable you to explain:

• difficulty or delay in collecting or analysing data due to the closure of/restrictions on laboratories/other specialist facilities/resources/expertise, curtailed/cancelled fieldwork/human subject studies due to travel restrictions or social distancing measures
• reduced data in one or more thesis chapters, and/or thesis chapters that are shorter and/or not as closely aligned as originally intended
• how the planned (i.e. pre-COVID-19) research would have fitted into the thesis narrative
• one or more changes of research topic
• a change in emphasis from empirical to theoretical work
• a change of research location (fieldwork, archive etc.)
• a change in methods (e. g. running experiments remotely rather than in person, using simulation, moving from in-person data collection to online data collection, analysing existing data sets)
• altering the timing of, or substituting, one or more experiments/studies.
• The impact these changes had on your thesis

Remember to focus on project impact , not personal impact (e.g. ill  health, domestic situation etc.).

Is a COVID-19 Impact Statement mandatory?

No, the COVID-19 Impact Statement is an optional statement that can be included with your thesis if you wish.

How will the examination process help examiners to understand the impact of COVID-19 on my research?

If you opt to provide a COVID-19 Impact Statement, this statement will be shared with external examiners to enable them to understand how the research project/thesis was affected as a consequence of the COVID-19 restrictions.

It is important to note that there is no change to the criteria that a HDR candidate needs to meet to obtain an HDR award, which means that the integrity of the UQ degree is protected.

Examiners are asked to assess the thesis document against the following quality measures:

• Does the thesis demonstrate a significant and original contribution to knowledge (PhD) or show originality in the application of knowledge (MPhil)?
• Does the thesis engage with the literature and the work of others?
• Does the thesis show an advanced knowledge of research principles and methods relating to the applicable discipline?
• Is there a clear and discernible coherence in the presented research, its arguments and conclusions?
• Is the thesis convincingly written?

How can I document the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in my thesis?

In addition to providing an Impact Statement it is also a good idea to consider signposting the impacts of COVID-19 on research throughout the thesis, as part of the connecting narrative that illustrates the adjustments that were made. This could include:

• explicit statements about why additional or planned data collection was not undertaken but indicating a clear understanding of the next steps in the study;
• describing the challenges and constraints you faced;
• justifying a change in data collection or choice of methodologies;
• acknowledging the methodological or research limitations imposed by decisions made in response to COVID-19; and/or
• ensuring that the conceptual framework of the thesis is clear.

The implementation of the Oral Examination (viva voce) also provides you with an opportunity ensure that both you and your thesis are assessed fairly. The Oral Examination will allow you to provide a context to any limitations around your thesis/project that arose from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have signposted the impacts of COVID-19 in your thesis, then examiners will already have many of their questions answered and the oral examination will enable you to further clarify those elements of your research.

What if I do not have enough publications in my thesis?

Your thesis can be submitted in a traditional thesis format or one of several non-traditional thesis formats . In some cases, your thesis may include chapters that have also been submitted for publication. Do not be concerned if the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted your publication plans. Regardless of the format of your thesis, there is no requirement for papers to be submitted or accepted for publication as part of an examinable thesis. Instead, it is the thesis itself that is examined.

The Higher Degree by Research Examination policy outlines the requirements of your examination and you can find further supporting information in our online thesis preparation guide .

• 1. Thesis preparation
• 3. Thesis examination
• 4. Award of degree
• Thesis submission date and scholarship extension

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Undergraduate engineering theses submissions

Thesis topic selection, assessment and submission.

Details for thesis project selection, assessment and submission can be found on your School's website:

• School of Chemical Engineering
• School of Civil Engineering
• School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
• School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering

Students must refer to the relevant Course Profile for information about undertaking and submitting their thesis. Students enrolled in their thesis coures should login to  https://www.sinet.uq.edu.au  to access the complete course profile.

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Higher Degree by Research Examination Policy

Section 1 - purpose and scope, section 2 - principles and key requirements, section 3 - roles, responsibilities and accountabilities, chair of examiners, dean, graduate school , director, graduate school, section 4 - monitoring, review and assurance, section 5 - recording and reporting, section 6 - appendix, definitions, terms and acronyms.

(1) The purpose of this Policy is to describe the principles and key requirements for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) examinations at The University of Queensland.

(2) This Policy applies to all students enrolled in, and all staff involved in the delivery of, Higher Degree by Research at The University of Queensland.

(3) The thesis examination is conducted by at least two recognised experts in the discipline who are external to the University, independent of the conduct of the research of the candidate, and approved in accordance with the Conflict of Interest guidelines for the appointment of Examiners (refer to the  Higher Degree by Research Examination Guideline ).

(4) The University is committed to the following principles with regard to HDR examinations:

• The thesis adheres to the principles of research integrity as stipulated in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research including authorship, plagiarism and research ethics. A thesis includes a statement of originality incorporating an acknowledgement of other contributors, editorial assistance, and copyright provisions and approvals.
• That examiners hold a degree or possess professional experience equivalent to the degree they are examining.
• Conflicts of Interest between examiners, advisors and candidate are declared so that the thesis may be assessed free from bias or preferential treatment.
• Confidentiality of the examination process is maintained and the candidate and advisors must not communicate with examiners during the examination process unless directed to do so.
• Examiners provide written reports on the thesis and participate in an oral examination of the candidate, where applicable.
• The University’s processes for determining the outcome of the examination are available to candidates, advisors and examiners.
• Open access to the final thesis is provided by the University except when circumstances require an embargo for a designated period of time.

(5) The academic roles and accountabilities for advisors are specified in the  Eligibility and Role of Higher Degree by Research Advisors Policy .

(6) The Chair of Examiners provides outcome recommendations to the Dean, Graduate School and oversees the oral examination component, where applicable.

(7) The Dean, Graduate School decides on the examination outcome.

(8) The Provost approves the conferral of the degree, upon recommendation from the Dean, Graduate School.

(9) The Director, Graduate School is responsible for ensuring Recording and Reporting as described in section 5.

(10) Candidates who commence enrolment in an HDR program from 1 January 2018 will undergo an oral examination.

(11) Candidates who commence enrolment in an HDR program from 1 January 2017 and include a published work, or part of a published work, in their thesis will undergo an oral examination. 

(12) Review of, and compliance with, this Policy is overseen by the Dean, Graduate School and the Academic Board's Higher Degree by Research Committee.

(13) All thesis examination transactions and activities are recorded within UQ’s student system.

(14) All student records including final outcome, applications and University decisions are filed in the student’s personal record in UQ’s digital student record system.

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Doctor of Philosophy

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an internationally recognised graduate research program that will enable you to become an independent researcher. 

With the guidance of an advisory team, you'll undertake a research project, produce an 80,000-word thesis and complete an oral examination.

A PhD takes 3 to 4 years full-time. Under guidance, you'll develop advanced research skills and knowledge in your chosen field.

The thesis is a substantial document that makes an original contribution to your field of research. Your thesis may involve an alternate format .

You'll need a strong academic background and you may need to submit a research proposal and other documents to support your application. About 1,000 PhD candidates join UQ each year researching a wide range of topics.

Research at UQ

UQ is one of Australia’s top research-intensive universities. Our research makes an impact on the world's cultural, environmental, economic and social challenges.

Learn more about UQ's research

Program highlights

• Be inspired and challenged to explore new ideas and develop greater understanding of complex questions with leading researchers.
• Access premier resources including one of Australia’s largest libraries, with more than 2 million physical resources and 116,800+ journal subscriptions.
• Foster and improve your skills through the Career Development Framework, created with industry.
• Learn from researchers whose work addresses national and global cultural, environmental, economic and social challenges.

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51 in the world

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023

Supervision

You have to find and contact a thesis supervisor before you apply

This supervisor will support, guide and mentor you through your research, and can introduce you to professional networks that will start your career.

Find a supervisor

3-Minute Thesis

The showcase event for research candidates is the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT). 

3MT is held each spring.

Learn more about the 3MT

Career development

UQ offers a range of development opportunities via the Career Development Framework (CDF) to help you develop portable skills for any career or industry.

Learn more about the CDF

Studying at UQ gave me the flexibility to expand my knowledge across different areas of science outside of my chosen specialty. Keeping my scientific and translational skills broad has allowed me to adapt to different environments and opportunities throughout my career.

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Dual degrees with a Bachelor of Arts

Entry requirements, gpa equivalent.

Select where you studied and your qualification to see the GPA you need to be considered for this program.

Meeting the GPA requirement doesn’t guarantee admission.

Academic entry requirements

You have to prove you are prepared for PhD study. You do this by showing you:

• have completed some research experience
• have completed an approved university degree  and
• can meet the English language requirements.

Approved degrees

An approved degree needs to be:

• in an area relevant to your proposed PhD project and
• completed no more than 10 years ago.

You need one of the following approved degrees to apply for a PhD:

• Master of Philosophy (or another research master’s degree); or
• Bachelor’s degree from an approved university with at least honours class IIA or equivalent; or
• Coursework master’s degree with an overall grade point average of 5.65 on the 7-point UQ scale which includes relevant research experience, approved by the dean; or
• Postgraduate degree (at least one year full-time or equivalent) with an overall grade point average of 5 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with demonstrated research experience equivalent to honours class IIA will be considered on a case-by-case basis; or
• Bachelor’s degree plus at least 2 years of relevant research experience , including research publications.

Research experience

You'll meet the requirements for admission into a PhD in terms of 'research preparedness' if you can provide evidence that you've planned and executed project work and/or a body of research with some independence.

To demonstrate this, we'll ask you to provide one of the following:

• with completed courses that aim to develop research skills (minimum value of #1 unit e.g. 50 per cent of a #2 unit course), and/or
• the completion of a supervised research project that includes an individually graded written report with a combined minimum course volume equal to #4 units at UQ.
• Scholarly papers involving a substantial contribution as an author, appearing in recognised academic journals or in volumes published by recognised academic publishers.
• Research or technical reports prepared for industry, government or business, which adhere to the broad conventions of academic publishing (i.e. contain an up-to-date review of relevant literature, a description of relevant research methods and an evaluation of results, etc.) and which identify you as a significant contributor.
• A portfolio of published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all of that work, or of a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates your development of a scholarly approach to creative work as research investigation.
• Demonstrable industry or work experience where you can demonstrate that you have planned and executed a project, working with a high level of independence.

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Doctor of Philosophy are eligible to apply for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

This program has two CRICOS codes:

• 0100213 – Architecture, creative arts, education, health, information technology, management and commerce, mathematical sciences, social and cultural studies
• 0100214 – Agriculture and environmental studies, dentistry, engineering, human movement, medical studies, natural and physical sciences, pharmacy, psychology, veterinary science

Discuss your proposed project with us to determine which CRICOS code is most relevant for your visa application.

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Additional entry requirements

Many departments will have additional entry requirements and may request documents to support your application, such as a research proposal. You should discuss these additional requirements with your potential thesis supervisor.

Additional application information

Minimum English language proficiency requirements apply, please refer to the English proficiency policy .

English language requirements

There are a few ways you can meet our English language requirements. If you sit a test, the following scores are needed for PhD admission:

Read our English language requirements

Scholarships

There are several types of PhD scholarship:

• tuition fee scholarship : this covers the fees charged by UQ for PhD study
• living stipend scholarship: this is a   fortnightly payment (or stipend) to support your daily expenses
• top-up scholarship: may be provided by external organisations, supervisors, or philanthropic donations. When awarded, they provide an additional payment on top of a living stipend scholarship. They cannot be held without a living stipend scholarship.

Each year, we award more than 600 scholarships to attract and support the highest quality higher degree by research applicants.

View all postgraduate research scholarships

University scholarships

UQ scholarships include:

• Graduate School Scholarships
• Graduate School Tuition Fees Scholarship
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships
• Earmarked Scholarships
• The Graduate School Scholarship

Other scholarships

Throughout the year we advertise a range of other research scholarships, including top-up scholarships, travel grants and external scholarships, including:

• Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship

How to apply for a scholarship

You can apply for many scholarships using the same form as your PhD application. External scholarships might have different ways to apply. 

Our Scholarships website explains how to apply for each scholarship. If you are applying for a non-UQ scholarship, outcome dates may vary.

Fees and costs

Tuition fees.

Your fees will vary according to your academic field, study load and whether you study internally or remotely.

Learn more about postgraduate research fees

Research costs

The department you enrol with will meet all necessary costs for your project, including:

• resource and facility costs: at UQ, which may include other organisations in Australia or overseas
• travel costs: to complete fieldwork, collect data, or to visit libraries or other repositories
• coursework costs: for courses studied outside the department
• relevant training: in particular methodologies or techniques.

How to apply

Before you apply, 1. check your eligibility.

Check your eligibility by reviewing the entry requirements for UQ's Higher Degrees by Research. If applying for a scholarship, check the scholarship's eligibility and important dates.

2. Approach a potential supervisor or find a project

You'll either need to find:

• a supervisor in your field who will support your proposed project.  Identify a researcher .
• a project you can join that suits your interests.  See available projects .

If you're choosing a researcher, you'll need to find one with relevant expertise and get agreement to support your PhD and project.

Many departments will require additional information to make a decision around your motivation, understanding, commitment, and financial support required.

They may request documents to support your application, such as a research proposal. You should discuss these additional requirements with your potential thesis supervisor.

3. Gather your documents

You will need to compile the necessary documents. We will accept scanned copies of original documents, but you will have to keep all original documents for the duration of your studies.

Upload all documents as PDFs and name your files like this: LASTNAME_firstname_document-name.pdf

If any of your documents is in a language other than English, you will need to send both the original document and an official translation.

Send the following documents with your application:

An academic CV assists us to determine your readiness to commence a higher degree by research. For the purposes of this application, your academic CV should be current (i.e. no more than 6 months old) and include information under the following headings:

Personal details

• your full name
• your contact details (phone number, email address, city and country of residence)
• nationality
• languages spoken and proficiency level for each
• your ORCID ID or other research output identifier (such as Google Scholar) if you have one (see the ORCID ID and research identifiers information provided by UQ Library).

As the purpose of this academic CV is to determine your academic suitability for a higher degree by research program at UQ and your competitiveness against other applicants, we only require information that is of direct relevance to our decision-making processes. With this in mind, please do not include the following in your academic CV:

• photographs/head shot
• marital status
• driver’s license
• date of birth/age
• hobbies and interests.

Educational qualifications and academic awards

List each of your formal educational qualifications in reverse chronological order (i.e. with the most recent formal educational qualification listed first). For each qualification, include:

• the commencing and end dates (month and year) for the qualification
• the full title of the qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Arts instead of B.A.)
• the institution attended and the enrolling school/administrative unit
• the city and country where the institution is located
• your Grade Point Average (GPA) for the overall qualification
• any academic achievement awards (e.g. Dean’s awards, subject prizes, University medals, thesis prizes etc.) received for the qualification
• if a research thesis was part of the qualification, include the title and word length of your dissertation.

As part of your application, please submit academic transcripts and degree certificates for each educational qualification you list.

Please do not include:

• high school qualifications
• the individual subjects/courses undertaken throughout your qualifications or the grades awarded for these
• training courses/professional development activities not resulting in a formal qualification.

Professional affiliations and memberships

List any professional/disciplinary associations or committees that you a member of and include:

• the commencing and end date (in years) for the affiliation/membership
• the name of the professional association or committee
• your membership type (e.g. student member, affiliate member, full member etc.) or role (e.g. committee member, secretary, president etc.).

Employment history

List each of your previous employment roles in reverse chronological order (i.e. with the most recent/current employment listed first) and include:

• the commencing and end dates (month and year) for the employment
• the title of each position
• the name of the employing organisation, the city, and country where you were based
• your main duties or accountabilities in that role, providing detailed information on any research-related activities
• any achievements during that role that are relevant to your proposed field of research .

Other research experience

List any voluntary, unpaid, or extra-curricular research-related projects or experiences you have undertaken (e.g. summer research projects, internships etc.) and include:

• the commencing and end dates (month and year) of the experience
• the name of the organisation, the city, and country where you were based

Research outputs

In reverse chronological order (i.e. the most recent output first) list your research outputs,  including for example research published or accepted for publication, research reports, and research by creative practice.

If needed, use sub-headings to separate refereed journal articles, published conference proceedings, edited book chapters, books, creative works, industry reports, invited papers, patents, media commentary, conference presentations and posters, invited talks etc. If applicable, use additional sub-headings to indicate if outputs are published , accepted for publication (but not yet in print), or (submitted but) under review .

Do not include any outputs/publications that are ‘in preparation’ .

For all research outputs, include:

• the output/publication reference using an official bibliographical style (such as Turabian/Chicago, APA, Harvard), including listing all authors in the order that they appear in the work with your name in bold
• the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), PubMed Identifier (PMID), International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or URL where applicable
• the standing of the journal or conference and the impact of the work (e.g. impact factors, citations and other metrics indicators)
• relevant indicators of national or international significance
• rejection rates for the outlet etc.
• how much of the original research you were responsible for (i.e. what was your role in the conception and design of the project and how involved were you in the analysis and interpretation of the research data on which the publication is based?)
• the extent to which you authored the paper.

Research grants and relevant awards

Include only those research grants and relevant awards that you have received at the time of making your application (i.e. do not list grants or awards that you applied for and did not receive or are awaiting a decision on). For each research grant/award, include:

• the name of the granting/awarding body and the country in which they are based
• the name of the grant/award
• the year(s) in which the grant was active or the year in which the award was made
• the amount of the research grant/award
• if relevant (e.g. for research grants), the title of your application.

Applicants from creative and professional-based disciplines may also include non-research grants and awards related to their creative or professional practice.

Research achievements relative to opportunity (optional)

In recognition of the diverse personal and professional pathways that applicants have experienced, you are invited to provide information ( maximum 200 words ) to contextualise your research outputs and achievements, relative to the opportunities that you have had to participate in research-related activities.

This section of the CV is optional and should only be included if you believe there are factors relevant to your research achievements that you would like the selection panels to know. Examples of factors include (but are not limited to):

• study/career disruptions due to illness, caregiving, natural disasters etc.
• non-linear academic or career progression, or a change in career direction
• reduced ability to take up research-related opportunities (e.g. attend conferences) due to caregiving responsibilities.

Academic referees

Please provide us with two referees who can comment on your academic work. For each referee, include their:

• honorific and name
• employing organisation and the city and country where they are located
• contact details, including office address, telephone, fax and email (preferably an institutional, rather than private, email address)
• an indication of the capacity in which you know this person (e.g. were they a lecturer or thesis supervisor, an employer, how long you’ve known them etc.). 

If possible, please include at least one:

• senior person (preferably your supervisor or the head of your organisational unit) closely associated with your current work, and
• person who is not a member of your proposed advisory panel/supervisory team.

Formatting and document specifications

We recommend that you use the below formatting settings to improve the readability of your CV:

• margins of at least 1.5 centimetres
• single line spacing
• no smaller than 12 point Times New Roman font (or equivalent)
• left justify text (not full justify)
• include your name and page number on each page
• be consistent in your formatting and spelling throughout
• limit the use of bold, underline, italics, and multiple font types.

Please proofread your CV carefully before uploading it to your application.

Save as a PDF and name your file: LASTNAME_firstname_CV.pdf

There is no page limit to your academic CV – it can be as long as required to include the information requested here.

Please include in your CV all the headings listed above – if you do not have any content to add for a particular heading please list ‘None to date’ under that heading .

An academic CV for employment purposes within Australia would not include the information requested here outlining your three most significant publications or your research achievements relative to opportunity. It would, however, include information about professional and service activities undertaken and may include a summary of your relevant research/teaching interest areas and skill sets – this information is not required in the CV you submit here for application to an HDR program.

This should show all study you have undertaken since secondary school, whether complete or incomplete, including the institution grading scale. The grading scale is often found on the final page or the reverse page; be sure to include all pages.

An academic transcript can also be called an:

• academic record
• diploma supplement
• statement of learning
• record of achievement.

A degree certificate is a legal document, imprinted with a university seal. It should state the name of your qualification and areas of study.

Include all degree certificates (testamurs) for post-secondary study with your application. If you studied in China, you must provide a:

• award certificate and
• graduate statement/certificate.

All applicants have to prove they can meet English language requirements . Any test scores have to be valid at your proposed commencement date.

Include a copy of the information page (with your photo) in your passport. This will verify your identity and ensure we can make offers correctly.

Include the contact details of two referees who will support your application. These referees will need to provide insight into your research experience.

We will contact your referees for a report, but you will need to enter their details into the application form.

Other documentation, originals or certified copies, may be required depending on your individual circumstances, for example:

• evidence of change of name
• proof of citizenship, if you are not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand by birth
• evidence of your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
• previous research program information .

If you don't provide us with all documents it will take us longer to process your application. Your start date might then be delayed, or you might miss an admission or scholarship deadline. 

4. Apply online

Once you have prepared your application and contacted a potential supervisor, use the online application form to apply. Your application can only be assessed once your referees have responded to us, and all outstanding documents and school/institute endorsements have been received.

Important dates

The academic year for research students is divided into four research quarters (RQ).

Candidates applying for a Student Visa or UQ scholarship may need to apply earlier. Make sure you check  scholarship round application deadlines  and outcome dates before applying.

The agreed start date will be included on your Confirmation of Enrolment.

Find out more about research quarter dates

The academic year for research students is divided into four research quarters (RQ). You can start a PhD in any quarter, as long as the Census Date hasn't passed.

Candidates applying for a UQ scholarship may need to apply earlier. Make sure you check scholarship round application deadlines and outcome dates before applying.

The agreed start date will be included on your offer of admission.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

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Introduction

• Australian theses
• International theses
• Further help

Reusing content from this guide

Attribute our work under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

You can discover:

• what has been written on a topic
• what others are doing in your field
• what methodologies are being used.

Find out how to search for theses from:

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• Thesis assessment items
• Current students
• Thesis coursework information

There are a number of assessment items you must complete throughout your thesis.

Always check your course profile to confirm the assessment items and due dates for your specific project course. The list in the course profile is the definitive version.

Academic Integrity Tutorial (online)

All EECS Thesis Project students must complete the UQ Academic Integrity Tutorial as a pass/fail requirement of the course. The tutorial can be accessed on the UQ Library website .

It is a University requirement that students complete the Academic Integrity Tutorial before graduation. However, academic integrity is particularly relevant to a thesis project so it's appropriate that student completion of the tutorial is verified early in the project. 

Annotated bibliography

Students undertaking a postgraduate (level 7) coursework thesis are required to compile an annotated bibliography of literature relevant to their project.

The annotated bibliography assists the development of proper referencing style and the short annotations form the kernel of the literature review in the thesis.

UQ provides guidelines and advice on how to write a literature review .

If using EndNote or other bibliographic management software always check that citations generated are correct. A full description of the IEEE citation reference style can be found on  IEEE’s website .

Library workshops  are available to help you prepare for this assessment item. The UQ Library also runs separate EndNote classes and training guides are available on the UQ Library website .

The bibliography is marked by the supervisor on a pass/fail basis using the  annotated bibliography marksheet (PDF, 51.7 KB)

The annotated bibliography is to be submitted via Blackboard (Turnitin).

Proposal Draft

Each student must write a project proposal which clearly defines the thesis topic, presents a review of relevant background materian and an assessment of the impact of previous work on the current project. The Proposal Draft is an earlier version of the final Proposal, with a particular focus on these items. In addition, a brief version of the project plan is to be included with a list of milestones, their dates and the required resources needed to complete these. This section will be expanded for the final proposal.

All background and related material should be appropriately references and appear in a bibliography. The proposal must also contain a satisfactory Occupational Health and Safety risk assessment for the project.

Assessment criteria

The proposal draft will be marked by the supervisor against the proposal draft marking criteria (PDF, 101 KB) .

The project proposal must be submitted via Blackboard by the due time.

Project proposal

Each student must write a project proposal which clearly defines the thesis topic, presents a review of relevant background material and an assessment of the impact of previous work on the current project.

Importantly, the proposal should state the purpose, aims, coverage and relevance of the project and a project plan for its completion.

All background and related material should be appropriately referenced and appear in a bibliography. The proposal must also contain a satisfactory Occupational Health and Safety risk assessment for the project.

There is no set format or length of the project proposal, and this should be discussed with the thesis supervisor.

Using the format of the final thesis will assist in the integration of the material from the progress report into the final thesis.

The length of actual text (excluding title pages, tables of content, etc) is usually around 15 pages.  

The project proposal will be marked by the supervisor against the  project proposal marking criteria (PDF, 307.1 KB) .

Library workshops  are available to help you prepare for this assessment item.

The project proposal must be submitted via Blackboard (Turnitin) by the due time.

Check with your supervisor as they may want a paper copy as well.

Seminar and seminar participation

Approximately half way through their projects, students orally present the key content of their research and the progress of their work.  

The seminar should describe the scope and relevance of their thesis, the reviewed literature and its relevance to the thesis, the work carried out so far and the work remaining to be done.  

The material should be prepared in a fashion that suits oral presentation and gives justice to the progress made so far.  

It is essential that the seminar is not merely an oral presentation of the previously submitted project proposal but is focused on the progress in the project since the submission of the proposal.

Your seminar will be marked by your supervisor using the criteria on the  seminar marksheet (PDF, 211.4 KB) . 

You should consult with your supervisor to arrange your Project Progress Seminar at least one week prior to the scheduled assessment. 

The supervisor will provide you with a Zoom link for the agreed time. You will be able to see the complete seminar schedule via the Assessment tab in Blackboard. 

Seminar participation

You must also participate in at least five other seminars and have your participation recorded on the  seminar participation form (PDF, 66.9 KB) . You do not need to book to attend the seminars that you participate in, only your own presentation timeslot.

Completed seminar participation forms are to be emailed to  [email protected]  with the subject 'Completed Seminar Participation Sheet'.  

Failure to participate in five seminars means your overall mark for the course is capped at 49% and your final grade is capped at 3.

Note: your seminar will be recorded for official moderation and review of results as required.

Conference paper

Postgraduate coursework thesis students must complete a 2-page or 4-page conference paper.

This item of assessment introduces students to an important medium of scientific and professional communication.

Students are required to submit a conference paper on their research findings in the form of an extended abstract.

The paper must follow the  conference paper template (Microsoft Word format) (DOC, 38 KB) . (The paper doesn't have to be completed using Microsoft Word, but it must still follow the template.)

The conference paper will be marked by your supervisor using the criteria on the  conference paper marksheet (PDF, 226 KB) .

You must submit your conference paper via Blackboard (Turnitin).

Page length requirement

#4 unit courses - submit a 2 page conference paper #6 or #8 unit courses - submit a 4 page conference paper

Poster and demonstration

Each student must verbally and visually present the results of their work at a time negotiated with their supervisor and examiner during the demonstration week.

Where tangible working hardware or software has been produced, it should be demonstrated.

All students will be required to produce a poster documenting their work to support their presentation.

The poster and demonstration will be marked by your examiner using the  Poster and Demonstration marksheet (PDF, 244.7 KB) .

The poster should clearly identify the project title, goals, some relevant background information and outcomes.

The abstract should clearly state the project aims and goals, methods used and the project outcomes.

The posters may be created using this   poster template (PPTX, 122.5 KB)  (more information is found on the template itself).

The posters are designed to be printed in colour on A3 paper (print using the  size to fit  option). Colour A3 printing is available on campus via POD or the UQ Union Print Shop.

Final presentation

Students undertaking a CEED or placement project have a final presentation at the end of the project, at a time and date to be negotiated with the industry and academic supervisors but no later than the date given in the course profile.

For a placement away from the Brisbane area, the presentation will take place on the student's return to UQ at an agreed time.

The presentation will be marked by the academic supervisor using either the  seminar marksheet (PDF, 196.1 KB)  or the  demonstration marksheet (PDF, 158.7 KB)  as appropriate.

Thesis (final report)

The project thesis is the major means of reporting the contribution of the project.  

The thesis should be such as to facilitate assessment by persons other than the supervisor, and should comprehensively include material on the problems and goals of the project, applicable methods, the approach taken, major decisions and the reasons for the selection of goals and methods, results, the extent to which the goals have been achieved, the relevance, importance and context of achievements and the reasons for any shortcomings.  

Production of the thesis is regarded as part of the educational value of the project, and the supervisor should give guidance where appropriate.

Please refer to the Formatting your thesis page for more information.

The thesis will be marked by both the supervisor and examiner using the  thesis marksheet (PDF, 407.1 KB) . Their marks will contribute equally towards this component of the assessment.

Students must submit their thesis via Blackboard (Turnitin). 

Please refer to the  Thesis Submission Information page  for more information.

Visualise Your Thesis competition 2024

Graduate researchers, the Visualise Your Thesis  competition is back at UQ in 2024 and sponsored by the UQ Association of Postgraduate Students (APS), Inc.

Get involved to showcase your research and develop skills in visual storytelling and communicating complex ideas to a general audience. You could also win a share of A$1500 in prize money!

About the competition

The competition is open to currently enrolled graduate researchers (students enrolled in Master of Philosophy, Masters by Research, PhD, or Professional Doctorate programs) at any stage of their candidature who are active and attending .

Entrants must create an eye-catching, 60-second audio-visual representation of their research project and its potential benefits to a non-specialist audience.  

Entries are judged on their visual impact and how well the content presents the research. Presenting in a digital format allows for different levels of creativity, multi-media, interactivity and interpretation, and is suitable for all disciplines.

Winners and prize money

The competition winners will be awarded at the UQ  Visualise Your Thesis  Awards event in August 2024 and receive prize money of:

• 2024 winner: A$1000
• Viewer's Choice winner:  $500

The winner of the UQ competition will automatically be entered into the international competition by 2 September 2024.

How to enter

Express your interest from 13 may.

Submit an expression of interest from 13 May until 7 June 2024 by email to our Visualise Your Thesis team at  [email protected] . We will email eligible entrants with details about how to prepare and submit your entry to the competition.

Competition submissions will be accepted from 13 May until 11:59pm on 22 July 2024.

Key competition dates for 2024

• Expressions of interest: open from 13 May until 7 June
• Competition entries: open from 13 May and close on 22 July
• Announcement of winner:   August (date to be announced) 
• Winning entry into international competition:  2 September

How to prepare

Feeling inspired? Here are a few things you can do to prepare to enter the competition. 

View past entries

Watch entries in the 2023 international competition:

• Visualise Your Thesis 2023 International  
• Watch the UQ 2023 Visualise Your Thesis award winner presentation by Tara Crandon:  "Weathering the Storm”: Understanding Climate Anxiety and Coping in Young People (Vimeo, 1m14s) . 

Brush up on your skills

We offer training sessions to help you develop your design or visual story-telling skills and refresh your copyright knowledge. We run sessions on PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Photoshop and more.

UQ students also have access to LinkedIn Learning courses . Take advantage of your access to build your software and editing skills.

Contact us if you have questions

Email your competition questions to our Visualise Your Thesis team at  [email protected] .

About Visualise Your Thesis

The Visualise Your Thesis competition was developed by the University of Melbourne. The competition has offered local and international competition rounds since 2019 and has wide international reach. 

UQ first participated in the competition in 2022.

Read more about the Visualise Your Thesis competition .

About the competition sponsor

The UQ Association of Postgraduate Students  (APS) encourages postgraduate student community and wellbeing at UQ.  

• To discover their Social, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Academic programs
• For postgraduate student events
• To buy fun merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, plushies, and socks.

Thank you to APS for their generous support of the UQ Visualise Your Thesis competition in 2024!  

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• [21 Oct 2022]  International winner, Visualise Your Thesis Competition 2022
• [25 Aug 2022]  Winners of the UQ Visualise Your Thesis competition for 2022
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