Higher Degree by Research

Information for examiners

The role of examiner is integral in assessing the quality and significance of a thesis. It’s also the final opportunity for candidates to obtain and respond to peer review of their research project, and to produce the highest quality thesis they can. Your critical review and advice is much appreciated.

The information below outlines ECU’s examination procedures and our expectations of examiners.

Expectations of examiners

• Examiners are asked to complete the examination within 6 weeks of the receipt of the thesis. Where an examination is expected to take longer, examiners should contact Research Assessments as early as possible.
• Examiners should read the thesis or exegesis and complete the examination reports in conjunction with the examination guidelines.
• There should be no contact with the student or supervisor during the examination process. All contact should be with Research Assessments.
• The thesis should not be returned unless specifically requested. All comments should be made on the Examination report or attached documentation.
• Examiners may be asked to attend an oral examination for some doctoral candidates.

Important information for oral examinations

Where Examiners are asked to attend an oral examination, the oral examination will be held online and recorded, unless arrangements have been made for the examiners to attend the oral examination in person. The oral examination recordings will be stored in accordance with the University’s  Records Management Policy.

Conflict of interest

We expect candidates, supervisors and examiners to adhere to the Conflict of Interest Guidelines recommended by the Council of Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies in Australia.

Receiving the thesis

Research Assessments will send you a hard and/or electronic copy of the thesis or exegesis with any additional components, such as creative works, along with examiner guidelines and reports and paperwork related to the honorarium payment.

If you have any queries during the examination process, including non-receipt of, or misplacing of your forms, you should contact Research Assessments.

Returning the examiner’s report

We ask that you return your report within six weeks from receipt of the thesis. If it becomes evident that this is not possible, please contact Research Assessments as soon as possible. Please note:

• To minimise postal delays, it is most helpful if examiners fax or e-mail recommendations and return the original documents in the mail.
• Reports may be faxed, e-mailed or posted to Research Assessments, Student Administration.
• Please make all notations within the examination report or attached documents, not on the thesis.
• Please do not return the thesis unless you are requested to do so. The thesis, exegesis and/or associated components should be confidentially destroyed.

Australian examiners should complete and return the following to Research Assessments:

• Examiner report;
• One-off payment form;
• Tax file number declaration form; and
• Evidence of your Australian working rights (see below).

Evidence of Australian working rights can be shown by providing certified copies of one of the following documents:

For Australian citizens:

• Australian passport; or
• Australian citizenship certificate or certificate of evidence of Australian citizenship and another form of photo identification such as a drivers licence; or
• Full Australian birth certificate for a person born before 20 August 1986 and another form of photo identification such as a drivers licence; or
• Full Australian birth certificate for a person born on or after 20 August 1986, showing that at least one parent was born in Australia and another form of photo identification such as a drivers licence.

For Visa holders:

• Passport with visa entitlement and personal identification page; or
• Electronic visa and another form of identification such as passport personal identification page; or
• Consent to check visa details with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

International examiners should complete and return the following to Research Assessments:

• Examiner report;
• International Electronic Funds Transfer: Bank Details form; and
• Statement by a supplier.

Examiner guidelines and reports

Examiner guidelines and reports differ based on the discipline and the level of the thesis. You will receive instructions on which guidelines and reports apply to the thesis or exegesis you are reviewing. Research Assessments will provide the necessary documents when they send you the thesis for examination.

Examiner anonymity

The University doesn’t withhold the names of examiners from candidates, unless requested by the examiner(s).

• If an examiner requests that their report remains anonymous then all reports will be de-identified before being sent to the candidates and supervisor.
• If no examiner makes this request then all reports will show examiner details when they are released to the candidate and supervisor.

Examiner anonymity is not possible for examiners involved in oral examination of the thesis.

Honorarium payments

Honorarium payments are made to examiners who are not employed by ECU. Our payments are based on the standard amounts recommended by Universities Australia:

• AUS$549 for a PhD, Higher Doctorates, and Professional Doctorates, where the thesis comprises more than 66% of the assessment; and
• AUS$309 for a Masters by thesis and non-research Professional Doctorates.

Australian examiners

Honorarium payments to Australian examiners are taxable. To reduce the amount of tax deducted from your payment you should complete and return the Tax File Number Declaration form, along with the One-Off Payment form provided by Research Assessments.

International examiners

Honorarium payments to International examiners will be via direct deposit into a nominated account. You should complete and return the International Electronic Funds Transfer Bank Details and Statement by a supplier forms provided by Research Assessments.