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Oral examination process

The oral examination will be scheduled for approximately ten weeks after submission of your thesis. You will receive at least two weeks notification of the time and location of your oral examination. After all of your examination reports have been received by Research Assessments, you and your supervisor/s will be sent Section one only of your initial thesis examination reports to aid in preparation for your oral exam.

Oral examination Format:

Below provides the structure of the oral examination to aid in your preparation. Our HDR Communications Advisers also offer Oral Examination Training sessions throughout the year, please visit our Training workshops and events webpage for more information.

Agenda item

Duration (approximate)

Panel Chair and Examiner pre-meeting
Attendees: Panel Chair, Examiners

10-15 minutes

Panel Chair introduction    
Attendees: Panel Chair, Examiners, Candidate, Observers

5 minutes

Overview of the thesis by the Candidate
Attendees: Panel Chair, Examiners, Candidate, Observers

10 minutes

Examiner questions to the Candidate
Attendees: Panel Chair, Examiners, Candidate, Observers

1-1.5 hours

Panel  Chair and Examiner deliberation
Attendees: Panel Chair, Examiners

15 minutes

Formal end to proceedings and recommendations by Examiners
Attendees: Panel Chair, Examiners, Candidate, Observers

15 minutes

After the oral examination, the Panel Chair and examiners will confer on a recommendation to the University regarding the award of PhD. This final report will take account of both the initial examination of the thesis and the oral examination, and be submitted to the Dean, Graduate Research. The Dean GR will notify Research Assessments of the outcome of your examination, and you will be contacted with your examination result and instructions on the next step in the process.

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