Graduate Research School

There are six criteria for potential thesis examiners:

1. Availability
2. Expertise
3. Independence
4. Eligibility
5. Relevance
6. Confidentiality

Availability

• Examiners are given six weeks from the date of receipt of thesis to assess it and return their reports.
• Graduate research co-ordinator must invite the first three preferences of examiners and obtain their acceptances before lodging their names with the board for final appointment.
• It is not necessary to have invited the reserve examiner, but the graduate research co-ordinator should have secured a confirmation from the preferred examiners that they are in a position to examine the thesis within the six-week time-frame.
• Examiners need to know the estimated time of submission. It is important not to underestimate or overestimate an expected submission date as examiners often organise their schedules in anticipation of receiving a thesis at a particular time.

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Expertise

• Examiners do not necessarily have to hold an equivalent degree to that which they are examining, but they must be clearly shown to be recognised experts in their field.
• They must be able to testify that the thesis before them is:
  
  • for the PhD, a substantial and original contribution to knowledge in its given field
    
  • for the master's, a substantial work generally based on independent research.
• The graduate research co-ordinator must list examiners’ qualifications and indicate whether they are still active in their given field by providing either a brief curriculum vitae or a list of key and/or recent publications.

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Independence

• Steps must be taken to ensure that examiners are free from bias.
• The graduate research co-ordinator must provide a statement which confirms that each examiner has had no formal contact with the candidate and no formal association with the candidate's supervisor (in regard to the thesis) or other nominated examiners.

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Eligibility

• For PhDs: Four examiners (3 preferences and 1 reserve) must be nominated, none can be current employees of The University of Western Australia; two must be external to the state of Western Australia.
• For master's: Three examiners (two preferences and one reserve) must be nominated; at least one must be external to the state of Western Australia.

Nomination of international examiners is not mandatory but it is desirable.

Examiners from UWA are allowable only in exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the Board and must be from a School other than the candidate's. Appointment of an examiner from UWA is the exception rather than the rule and the graduate research coordinator must supply a detailed justification as to why an examiner from UWA is appropriate.

A complete street address for each examiner is required to ensure the thesis arrives at its destination safely. Couriers do not deliver to PO Box numbers.

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Relevance

• The list of examiners must be accompanied by a statement (at least a paragraph) which outlines the relevance of each nominee to the particular field.
• It is usual to recommend two examiners who have expertise specific to the area and one more general examiner who may be able to provide an overview.
• The nominated reserve's name must also be submitted along with details of his or her relevance.

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Confidentiality

• Examiners need an indication whether the thesis will contain confidential information.
• If the thesis does contain confidential information, the graduate research co-ordinator should secure an undertaking from examiners that they will keep the contents of the thesis confidential, and advise the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office accordingly.
  

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