phd thesis word count australia

Directories

In Australia the thesis is an extended written piece which reports on the results of a three to four year programme of research (in other countries the writing component is called a 'dissertation'). The thesis should incorporate a summary of the research undertaken during the program.

At ANU we do not usually require an oral defence or 'viva'. Your thesis will be sent to at least two examiners for evaluation . For more information about how examiners make a judgement on a thesis, read this paper by Mullins and Kiley called " It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize ".

Types of thesis

There are three common types of thesis documents allowed in the ANU research award rules: a standard thesis of up to 100,000 words in length for a PhD (or 60,000 words for an M.Phil); a thesis by compilation (sometimes called a thesis by publication) and a thesis by creative works.

A thesis by compilation may include works that are solo or joint authored and accepted for publication. The compilation can include works which have been explicitly prepared for publication but not yet accepted, however these should not make up the majority of the text. It is expected that a thesis by compilation has linking text and a foreword to each chapter.

A thesis by creative works can include a multimedia or digital work, a film, an exhibition, a performance, a musical composition, a novel, a play, a series of poems, creative art work or other works as agreed by the candidate and the university. This work can be accompanied by an exegesis (commentary and interpretation of the work) or a dissertation (on a topic related to the work). Any written work accompanying a thesis by creative works must be substantial; between 30,000 and 60,000 words for a PhD and between 15,000 and 30,000 for an M.Phil. The final presentation of the work will be a public presentation; an exhibition, recital, lecture or some other form as agreed with the supervisor and the university.

Preparing the thesis

The Research Training team run a variety of workshops, seminars and courses aimed at helping you prepare your thesis as well as guidance on working with your supervisor to achieve a successful submission.

Writing the thesis

The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offer individual appointments to discuss thesis drafts and other issues such as managing your project. Their site also has a range of resources about writing a thesis to support you during your programme.

Reviewing the thesis

Writing about the impact of covid-19 in your thesis.

COVID-19 has changed the course of many research projects in ways that would not have been predicted at the outset you your PhD program. Research can always take unexpected turns and being able to take advantage of opportunities that arise, and be able to switch directions when necessary are useful skills to demonstrate. It is up to you to decide if you want to write about how your research has changed due to COVID-19. You are encouraged to talk with your supervisory panel to seek advice about what might be appropriate for your thesis.

The types of impact you might like to discuss include

changes to research sites or populations due to travel or access restrictions,
changes to research scope due to inability to access archival material,
changes in access to labs, or experimental equipment,
including theoretical instead of experimental content,

There is no right place to mention impacts, it will depend on the type of thesis and the type of research. It will also depend on how large the impact has been. For many the impact can be explained in a few sentences. For some projects a whole section of the thesis may be required. Some suggestions include

in the introduction when setting the scene for the research that follows
in the methodology section if changes to method was made part way through the research.
where discussing limitations of the research
where discussing ideas for future research

You should not include statements in your thesis that outline the impact of remote working, your physical or mental health or that of your family. While it is acknowledged that we have all been impacted in some way, these are not appropriate statements in your examined thesis and would not be assessed by an examiner.

Submitting the thesis and the examination process

It's good to know the regulations, processes and requirements around thesis submission and examination. Check out the information on finishing your degree for some inspiration!

ANU Thesis library

A great way to get your head around the expectations of a thesis is to read some! Check out the ANU Digital Thesis Library and find past successful theses in your discipline.

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Prepare your thesis

Throughout your research candidature you will work toward producing your final thesis. There are some key points to keep in mind when you start this process.

Your thesis must be a coherent and cohesive whole. You can submit a thesis including publications but we don't accept thesis by publication. Refer to the relevant Thesis and Examination policy (pdf, 392KB) and discuss this with your supervisor.

There are also certain formatting and referencing requirements that are outlined below.

You can also find more general information on research skills, planning and writing your thesis in the research skills for HDR students page. This includes literature reviews, writing up results and theses including publications.

Proofreading and editing

You can use an editor to prepare your thesis for submission. Make sure you discuss your plans with your supervisor and provide your editor with a copy of the University’s Thesis Submission and Examination Procedures (pdf, 180KB) .

When you use an editor:

include the editor’s name and a brief description of the service provided in your list of acknowledgements at the front of your thesis. For creative work, make sure this information is included when it's presented for examination.
you need to state the editor’s current or former area of academic specialisation if this is similar to your own.

Composition

You will find information on word limits in the below policies and procedures, or in your faculty or school handbook.

Word limits include footnotes and all material in the main body of the thesis. Bibliographies and appendices are not included in the overall word count.

University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule (pdf, 877KB)
Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy (pdf, 194KB)
Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Procedures (pdf, 180KB)

If you have questions about formatting, you can speak to your supervisor or postgraduate coordinator.

Thesis frontispiece sections

The frontispiece includes the parts of your thesis before the main content.

Thesis title and abstract

The following upper limits apply to your title and abstract content submitted on RECS for the final lodgement:

thesis title: maximum 250 characters including spaces, in title case not uppercase.
thesis abstract: maximum 2000 characters including spaces.

Login to Sydney Student (go to ‘My studies’, then 'Research details') to update and maintain your thesis title and thesis abstract.

Note that there are no characters limits for the title and abstract in the actual pdf of the thesis.

Your thesis title page should state:

title of the thesis
faculty name
the University’s full name – The University of Sydney
for theses only: A thesis submitted to fulfil requirements for the degree of Doctor/Master of Philosophy (or other higher degree by research)
for theses with a creative component: A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor/Master of Philosophy (or other higher degree by research).
a statement if you have been in receipt of a Research Training Program scholarship: "This research reported in this thesis was supported by the award of a Research Training Program scholarship to the PhD Candidate."

Statement of originality

You need to include a statement of originality, usually placed after the title page, for example:

This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge, the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes.

I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged.

Signature* Name

*you should only include the signature in the copy you submit for examination, not the library copy.

Authorship attribution statement

If your thesis contains material you have previously published, you need to discuss an authorship attribution statement with your supervisor and submit this statement as part of your final thesis submission. It should indicate the name and publication details of the published work, as well as specify your contribution.

Such a statement typically appears in the frontispiece of your thesis.

If the publication in which your work has previously appeared has a convention about author order, then you need to include this information after each relevant attribution statement (for example, Journal of XXXX requires that the lead author must be corresponding author).

This only applies where you have made a substantial contribution to the paper. You cannot present minor contributions to published works in the main body of your thesis – these can only be included as appendices.

Example: Chapters published as papers/edited book chapters

Chapter x of this thesis is published as [citation]. I designed the study, analysed the data and wrote the drafts of the MS.

Chapter y of this thesis is published as [citation]. I designed the study, extracted the data and wrote the drafts of the MS.

Chapter z of this thesis is published as [citation]. I co-designed the study with the co-authors, interpreted the analysis done by A.N. Other and wrote the drafts of the MS.

Example: Published material distributed through the thesis

This thesis contains material published in [citation]. This is section x.y; figure s.t, and pages p-q of section y.z. I did... [describe your role].

Attesting your authorship attribution statement

You and your supervisor need to attest to an authorship attribution statement under the Thesis and Examination Policy and Procedures (pdf, 185KB) . The following are suggested:

In addition to the statements above, in cases where I am not the corresponding author of a published item, permission to include the published material has been granted by the corresponding author.

Student Name, Signature, Date

As supervisor for the candidature upon which this thesis is based, I can confirm that the authorship attribution statements above are correct.

Supervisor Name, Signature, Date

You should refer to the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Procedures (pdf, 180KB) for information about the inclusion of published material you wrote, or contributed to as an author. This includes use of citations and quotations.

If your thesis contains material you have previously published, an authorship attribution statement, outlined above, may be included.

More information can be found in the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy (pdf, 194KB) and the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule (pdf, 877KB) .

The responsibilities of all researchers, academic staff and students are outlined in our Research Code of Conduct (pdf, 484KB) . This defines research misconduct and breaches of the Code related to plagiarism.

File type for submission

You need to submit your thesis as a pdf file. This is the required format for us to submit your thesis into Turnitin for similarity detection. If we receive a file in another format, then the conversion to pdf will not be controlled by you and may result in unacceptable or undesirable formatting changes. Be aware, once a thesis file is submitted for examination, it is not possible to withdraw it for revisions unless under the provisions of the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degree by Research Students Policy .

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Phd thesis word limit, what is the word limit for a phd thesis.

You should aim to write a thesis of 80,000 words. The word limit is exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit.

If you need to exceed 100,000 words, you must submit a request to the Chair of the Higher Degrees Research Comittee via the Graduate Research Examinations Office before you submit your thesis. This must include:

your justification for the request
the expected length of your thesis
support by your supervisor(s) and Head of Department, who must also certify that the proposed examiners do not object to examining a longer thesis

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Thesis preparation, submission and examination

Rules and procedures for your thesis.

It is important that you understand your responsibilities and the relevant procedures you need to follow during the thesis submission process.

Nomination of examiners

The University requires nomination and selection of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) thesis examiners to be based on the principle that candidates receive an impartial examination by high-quality examiners in the relevant field of research.

The examiners must not have had any involvement in the preparation of the thesis, as a member of the supervisory panel or as an academic advisor for the candidate. The University expects all supervisors, faculties and examiners to report all actual or potential conflicts of interest.

The University applies the Conflict of Interest Guidelines [PDF 28MB] of the Australian Council of Graduate Research.

PhD/MPhil candidates

You should discuss possible examiners with your Principal Supervisor and other supervisors at least three months in advance of your thesis submission date. Your supervisor will contact the possible examiners to ascertain their availability to examine your thesis.

Once confirmed, your supervisor will submit an electronic examiner nomination via the HDR Thesis Examination portal to the Thesis Examination Subcommittee for review and approval. This normally includes a list of:

Five examiners for a doctoral degree
Four for a Master of Philosophy degree

You will have to electronically confirm the selection of the nominated examiners.

For further information on the nomination of examiners, see Schedule 2 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy.

Master of Research (MRes) candidates

You should discuss with your Principal Supervisor the names of any persons that you do not wish to examine your thesis at least two months before your expected thesis submission date.

Your supervisor will contact possible examiners to ascertain their availability to examine your thesis. Once confirmed, your supervisor will submit an electronic examiner nomination via the HDR Thesis Examination portal to the Thesis Examination Subcommittee for review and approval.

For further information on the nomination of examiners, see the Master of Research - Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Procedures and Schedule 2 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Thesis preparation

Before you submit your thesis, it is important to ensure you are following all content, presentation, formatting, and length requirements. These may vary depending on your faculty, department or examiner’s needs. While your supervisor can guide you, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure you follow University standards.

Your thesis must showcase the results of your original research during your candidature, with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) theses requiring a distinct contribution to knowledge.

Unless agreed under a formal Joint or Cotutelle enrolment contract, a candidate may not submit as the main content of the thesis any work or material which has been previously submitted for any degree successfully completed at Macquarie University or elsewhere. However, they may incorporate that work or material in the thesis if the candidate specifies the work or material which has been so incorporated. At least half of the work done towards the thesis must be undertaken while formally enrolled as an HDR candidate at Macquarie University.

While the presentation of research may vary, it generally includes a written component. Non-written thesis formats and media must be approved by your Faculty Executive Dean.

Your thesis must be written in English and be of satisfactory literary presentation. Theses written in full or in part in another language require approval by the Thesis Examination Subcommittee, which must be sought as soon as possible by your supervisor. If you are on a joint enrolment contract, you will not require separate approval for submission in a language other than English.

Note: The use of Generative AI to wholly generate a research output for examination is prohibited. Text-based Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT fall within the broad definition of contract cheating services according to the TEQSA Act 2011 (Cth), s5. Refer to the ' Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in Research' Guidance Note for further information.

Thesis by publication

A thesis by publication may include relevant papers, such as conference presentations, which have been published, accepted, submitted or prepared for publication for which at least half of the research has been undertaken during your enrolment. The papers must form a coherent and integrated body of work, which focusses on a single thesis project or set of related questions or propositions. The papers are one part of the thesis, rather than a separate component or appendix.

As a general rule, you will need to have enough papers to support the important findings from the research, presented in a logical and coherent way. Most theses by publication have between 2 and 8 papers in combinations of sole and co-authored papers.

You must complete (and submit with your thesis for examination) an Authorship Contribution Statement to document the contribution of all authors to each of the proposed or published research papers. This requirement is in accordance with the Macquarie University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the Authorship Standard . If there are multiple authors (5+) on the Authorship Statement, the contribution of each author must be noted but the form can be signed only by the candidate and supervisor (and corresponding author, if not supervisor). You may also choose to include the details of the contribution of all authors in the footnotes/endnotes or cover page for each experimental chapter.

In addition, section 1.6.55 of the Research Training Program (RTP) Guidelines sets out the requirement that the Commonwealth's contribution is acknowledged in research publications by RTP students where related to a research project.

The acknowledgement must include mention of the student's support through an 'Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship'.

An example acknowledgement statement would be:"This research is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship."

For further information on thesis by publication, see Schedule 1 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy and the Examiner Guidelines [PDF 202KB].

Creative component

If you are including a creative component, you must specify its size in relation to the critical component. Creative components must be submitted in a form which enables further examination/re-examination and allows for Library deposit.

Candidates may also choose to merge their creative and critical components, as in ficto-critical writing or essay films. In this case, you still have to include an explicit critical analysis in written form. Its length is based on Faculty expectations but is often 25,000 words for an MPhil thesis and 50,000 words for a PhD thesis.

For further information on theses with creative components, see Schedule 5 in the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy and the Examiner Guidelines [PDF 202KB].

Relationship between Master of Research (MRes) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The research project undertaken in the MRes is intended as a gateway to your PhD or MPhil project. However, the MRes thesis does not form part of your MPhil or PhD directly but works to help you better understand your research area and demonstrate your research ability.

If your topic for your PhD or MPhil thesis is related to your MRes, you must include a clear statement outlining what work was done for the MRes. If you must include any text or data from your MRes thesis in your PhD or MPhil thesis, you must identify this as such, as it is non-examinable. Failure to do so is a breach of Academic Integrity.

Presentation and formatting

The written component of your thesis should be presented:

in A4 pdf format
double or 1.5 spacing
margins no less than 3cm on the left border, 1.5cm on the right border and 1.5cm on the top and bottom
pages numbered consecutively

If one of your examiners requests a hard copy of your thesis for examination, you will have to submit a copy with a temporary binding of a stitched and glued soft cover or in hardback form (spiral binding or a loose-leaf binder of the spring-type or screw-type is not acceptable). During binding, the edges should be trimmed.

Preliminary pages

A thesis should incorporate the following pages in order:

the thesis title
your names and degrees
your university department
date of submission/re-submission.
If applicable, the name of the organisation, institute or laboratory where the research was conducted
a table of contents
a summary of approximately 200-300 words for MRes/MPhil and 300-500 for PhD
a signed statement [DOCX 16KB] indicating that:
the work has not been submitted for a higher degree before
you have referenced all sources and the extent to which you used them
your Ethics Committee approval and protocol number (if applicable).

Cotutelle candidates should submit a statement [PDF 115KB] indicating that the thesis is being submitted in accordance with their Cotutelle agreement. If you have completed a thesis by publication , you must also specify your specific contribution to the conception, data collection, analysis and writing of each paper. The contribution of others to the preparation of the thesis or to individual parts of the thesis should also be specified in the thesis.

Impact of COVID-19 changes on the thesis (if applicable). If you have had to make changes to your research due to the impact of COVID-19, you may want to include a statement [DOCX 28KB] about the impact of COVID-19 in your thesis. Note that this form should be used only to explain changes to the expected experiments or thesis direction. As the standard for thesis award remains the same, this form should not be used to justify the submission of poor quality work.
Acknowledgements (if applicable).
The written component of the thesis.

Diagrams, figures and tables

These may vary depending on your department.

These are general suggestions for normal practice:

Diagrams and figures should be inserted in the appropriate place in the text.
All figures should include a legend either at the bottom or next to the figures.
Small tables should be inserted in the text. Lengthy or bulky tables should appear as an appendix.

Thesis length

Note: the maximum thesis length does not include footnotes or references.

The editing process for research candidates is governed by the ‘ Guidelines for Editing Research Theses ’ as set out by the Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd). As per the Guidelines, professional editing services can assist research candidates with copyediting (including language and illustrations) and proofreading to ensure that all thesis components are complete, consistent and correctly placed.

Whether you engage a professional editor or ask someone you know who is a good writer to check your manuscript, they will need to abide by these Guidelines and should be acknowledged in your thesis.

For more information about getting your thesis edited, check out our ‘ How do I get my thesis professionally edited ’ guide.

Thesis submission

Before you submit your thesis, it is important to ensure you prepare any additional required documents required.

Required documents

In addition to your thesis, you may also be required to submit other documents with your submission. You should prepare these documents before you commence the submission process.

Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement

The Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) is provided by Australian higher education institutions to graduating students on completion of the requirements for a particular higher education award. It provides a description of the nature, level, context and status of studies that were pursued by the individual named. Its purpose is to:

assist in both national and international recognition of Australian qualifications
promote international mobility and professional recognition of graduates.

For the Statement to be issued, you have to provide a thesis abstract of strictly no more than 100 words.

You must upload the abstract as part of your thesis submission in the HDR Thesis Examination Portal .

Ethics approval

If you were required to obtain Ethics approval for your research, you will need to provide a copy of the Macquarie University Ethics Committee letter with your thesis.

You must upload the approval letter with your thesis submission in the HDR Thesis Examination Portal . You should also have this information on hand to complete the required fields in the portal.

Unofficial academic transcript - PhD/MPhil candidates only

If you had to complete coursework units ( HDRT units ) during your candidature, you will need to upload an unofficial copy of your academic transcript with your thesis submission. You can download a copy of your transcript from eStudent .

Six Digit Field of Research (FOR) codes

You will have to provide at least one Field of Research (FOR) code on your thesis submission form. You can review the FOR codes on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website . If you are unsure which code to list, contact your supervisor for advice prior to commencing your thesis submission.

Submitting your thesis

When your thesis is complete and appropriately formatted, you must submit your thesis via the HDR Thesis Examination Portal . For more information view the instructions for submitting your thesis via the HDR Thesis Examination Portal [PDF 684KB].

Note for Master of Research (MRes) candidates: If your thesis is submitted late, you will be penalised one percentage point from your final MRes thesis grade per calendar day until your thesis is submitted. Submission will be taken as the date your thesis is submitted electronically via the portal.

If your supervisor is unable or unwilling to approve your thesis submission, the matter should be referred to the Faculty’s Associate Dean of Higher Degree Research for resolution.

Once your thesis is submitted, your candidature is considered to be 'Under Examination' (UX).

For information about the examination process, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Cotutelle and Joint Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates

If you are enrolled in a Cotutelle or Joint PhD program, refer to your agreement for additional information relating to your examiners and thesis examination. Joint PhD candidates with a lead university that is not Macquarie University must provide the following information to [email protected] to ensure your enrolment is not ceased:

evidence of your thesis submission
100 words abstract for your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement
a point of contact at the partner university

Celebrating your thesis submission

Then it’s time to promote yourself! Join the Graduate Research Academy Network LinkedIn group and share a short statement of the most interesting, unusual or exciting thing about your research (no more than 25 words). Don’t forget to upload your selfie too!

Professional Portrait

To better equip you during your future job searches and improve your online profile, the GRA is also offering you the opportunity to have your professional portrait taken for free . Having a great-quality professional headshot is a fantastic way of showing confidence in your professional capabilities. You can use the images on your social media profiles, your resume, your website or blog, your business cards and even marketing collateral.

The next photo session dates will be advised soon. Keep an eye out here.

If you have any questions about this service, please contact [email protected] .

Examination and completion

After your thesis is submitted and your examiners finalised, your thesis will be sent for examination. Each examiner is sent your thesis together with examination instructions guidelines. Your examiners are required to complete their examination and provide their report within four weeks for MRes theses and five weeks for PhD and MPhil theses. Candidates and supervisors should not contact examiners during the examination process.

For detailed information about the HDR examination process, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Examination outcomes

Award: The thesis meets all required standards in terms of the nature and quality of work undertaken, and the degree can be awarded without any further work by the candidate, other than the correction of typographical errors and small lapses of expression and presentation in the final copy.
Award (after Corrections): The thesis meets all required standards in terms of the nature and quality of work undertaken, and the degree can be awarded without further examination once the candidate has made a number of corrections and clarifications in the thesis. The corrections are to be completed to the satisfaction of the Thesis Examination Subcommittee and are required to be completed within one month for MRes candidates and two months for MPhil/PhD candidates.
Revision and re-examination: The thesis does not yet meet all required standards for the award of the degree and the candidate should complete a further period of research and writing. Normally, under this category, a candidate would re-enrol for a period of up to one-year full-time (or equivalent). The thesis will then be submitted for re-examination.
Not award: The thesis does not meet the required standards for the award of the degree, and does not warrant a further period of research and writing.

MRes candidates will also be awarded a percentage score for their thesis. The maximum mark a thesis can receive after re-examination is 64%.

For further information about examination criteria and outcomes, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy.

Revise and resubmit

In some cases, you may be advised to revise and resubmit your thesis for re-examination. During re-examination, examiners are requested to determine whether or not the revised thesis now meets the requirements of the degree as specified.

Re-submission must occur within one year from the date of the decision for revision for HDR candidates and three months from the date of the decision for revision for MRes candidates.

For re-submission, you will need to submit your thesis in accordance with the relevant submission requirements. You must also include documentation that addresses the matters raised in your initial examination. This documentation must not be examiner-specific.

Initial examiners will receive an invitation to re-examine your thesis. Re-examiners are allowed access to your unrevised thesis, along with all reports from the University and initial examiners (subject to privacy requirements).
If your initial examiners are unavailable, there may be new examiners appointed. You should make no direct contact with your examiners – any contact you wish to make must be approved by the Research and Research Training Committee.
If you do not complete your re-submission in the determined time-frame, you will be deemed to have failed the requirements for the award of your degree.
If you fail to meet the requirements of the degree on re-examination, you cannot apply for further re-examination.

Note that revision of your thesis requires you to re-enrol and pay any required fees.

For further information about the resubmission process, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Final thesis submission

All higher degree research candidates, including PhD, MPhil and MRes candidates must submit a final digital copy of their thesis for inclusion in the in Macquarie University Theses which is Macquarie University’s open access digital collection. Access to higher degree theses is facilitated through the University Library.

Macquarie University Theses is designed to promote globally, preserve locally and provide open access to the research theses of Macquarie University's students. Records from Macquarie University Theses are also accessible from sources such as Trove Australia, Google and Google Scholar. The Macquarie University’s open access digital theses collection gives your research greater potential readership, ensures your research is protected from destruction and provides security through adherence to metadata standards and access rights. The Library and the GRA work together to implement, manage and oversee the submission of digital theses for inclusion in Macquarie University Theses.

Further information and FAQs can be found Theses @ Macquarie University .

Once the thesis has been examined and passed by the Research and Research Training Committee, you have to submit a ‘HDR Thesis Submission to Library Request’ eForm accompanied by the final digital copy of the thesis.

To submit, you must:

Log in to eStudent
Click in the Forms tile
Search for the ‘HDR Thesis Submission to Library Request’
Complete the form

After submission of the eForm, your request will go to the Graduate Research Academy. You will receive an email notification confirming that your request has been completed.

The Library will accept your digital thesis in PDF, Word and RTF format. The final display format on Macquarie University Theses is PDF and the Library will convert your thesis into this format as required. If you intend to submit your thesis in PDF format, security protection or password access should not be applied.

Parts of your thesis may be subject to copyright. If you are concerned about copyright issues related to your thesis, check Macquarie's information on copyright , talk to Macquarie University's Copyright Coordinator or speak to your Research Librarian.

The University recognises that in particular cases commercial and confidentiality issues may necessitate a moratorium on the digital version of a thesis. This needs to be addressed at the earliest point during the candidacy. Approval from the Research and Research Training Committee (RRTC), with support from the Head of Department, is required for such access restrictions to be imposed on a thesis. For further information, please email [email protected] .

If your thesis contains material you have written and have published or is in the process of being published, you can request an embargo on your thesis. For further information about embargos, please contact the Library by emailing [email protected].

A thesis may include supplementary files, e.g. creative component or data files, that you wish to restrict from full open access. If this is the case, please email the Library at [email protected] to discuss options for managing restrictions to supplementary files.

Hardbound guidelines

If your faculty requests a hardbound copy of your thesis, you should prepare the thesis in accordance with the following requirements:

The spine should state the title of the thesis (abbreviated if necessary), your family name, and the date of submission or re-submission.
The words should be in gold lettering of suitable size.
When published papers are submitted as additional evidence, they should be bound in the back of the thesis as an appendix. When they form part of the thesis body, they should be bound into the thesis itself.

International students

If you are an international student Visa holder, your visa date will be checked by the University when your thesis examination outcome has been finalised. If your visa is found to have more than 4 weeks’ validity, the Higher Degree Research Office will report the thesis submission to the Department of Home Affairs (DIHA) . You are responsible for contacting DIHA regarding your change of visa status. If you wish to stay in Australia to wait for examination results, DIHA will need to be consulted. Contact DIHA directly for advice.

For information relating to the impact of COVID-19 on our cohort, visit the COVID-19 FAQs page .

For further information about thesis preparation, submission and examination, see the HDR Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy .

Celebrate your achievement!

Then it's time to promote yourself again by sharing your success and selfie photo on the Graduate Research Academy Network LinkedIn group!

Graduate Research Academy
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Submit your thesis

Ensure that your thesis is appropriately formatted.

1. Thesis preparation

Information and services
Higher Degree by Research
Preparing for the Thesis Examination Process
Formatting your thesis
Alternate thesis formats
Including publications in your thesis
Language and writing
Preliminary pages
Plagiarism and iThenticate
Nominating thesis examiners
Requesting a confidential examination
Resources and training

2. Formatting your thesis

Your thesis must comply with the formatting requirements outlined in section 3.4 of the Higher Degree by Research Thesis Examination Procedures .

The most appropriate referencing style will depend on your discipline and your advisory team will be able to provide advice on disciplinary norms.

It's important to adhere to the word limit when writing your thesis. Your thesis must not exceed:

80,000 words for a PhD
40,000 words for an MPhil .

The word limit:

includes the preliminary pages
includes all footnotes and appendices
includes all in-text referencing, but
does not include your bibliography/reference list.

Permission to exceed the word limit

If your thesis is more than 10% over the word limit, you can request special consideration by emailing the Dean of the Graduate School at [email protected] .

In your email, explain why you need to exceed the maximum word limit. You should also ask your principal advisor and Director of Higher Degree Research (DHDR) to write a letter supporting your request. Attach their letters to your email.

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Formatting your thesis

Candidates are responsible for the formatting of their thesis, in consultation with their supervisor. Some elements provide more detailed guidelines for particular fields of study. Candidates must seek the approval of the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School if they believe that thesis preparation demands a major departure from these guidelines. The request must be supported by the candidate's supervisors and endorsed by the Dean (Research).

A major consideration in the presentation of the thesis is the ease with which an examiner can undertake the task of examination. To this end, the following factors should be taken into account when preparing the thesis.

Length of thesis

A thesis is intended, among other things, to demonstrate a candidate's capacity to report on the research in a clear and succinct manner. It is recognised that the length of a thesis may vary according to the topic and the discipline (e.g., a PhD thesis is normally between 70,000 - 80,000 words). There is some variation in international standards regarding the length of a doctoral thesis and candidates should consult their supervisors regarding appropriate word limits in their disciplines. A very short thesis may suggest a lack of scope in a project while a very long thesis may suggest a failure in judgment through inclusion of material that could be left out.

Griffith University sets upper limits on the length of a higher degree research thesis, not including bibliography, appendices or footnotes:

These upper limits may be exceeded only in exceptional cases where approval has been given by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School on application from the candidate and with the support of the principal supervisor and Dean (Research).

Text layout

The lines of text should be in 1.5 or double spacing
Each page should have a left and right hand margin of at least 3 cm, and a top and bottom margin of at least 2 cm
The pages should be numbered sequentially
Depending on the referencing system used, references/footnotes may appear in the body of the text, at the bottom of each page, at the end of each chapter, or at the end of the thesis
The text must be legible as the clarity of the thesis depends in part on its presentation.

Thesis structure

The contents of the thesis must take the following order:

1. Title page

Must contain:

The full thesis title
The full name and academic qualifications of the candidate
The element and group in which the candidature was pursued, and the name of the University
The degree for which the thesis is submitted including the words, 'Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy/Master of Philosophy/named professional doctorate'
The date (month and year) of submission of the thesis.

Refer to this sample title page ( PDF , 20k) for a visual example.

2. Synopsis or abstract (approximately 700 words)

3. Signed statement of originality

The statement of originality ( DOCX , 17k) must include the words:

"This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself."

The signature can either be a scanned copy of a physically signed statement of originality, or it can be a digital signature applied directly to the PDF copy of the thesis.

4. A table of contents, a list of all diagrams and illustrations, and a list of supplementary material , if any.

5. A statement acknowledging the extent and nature of any assistance received in the pursuit of the research and preparation of the thesis

This should include a list of any work published in the course of the research that is included in whole or in major part in the thesis itself, editorial assistance and so on.

6. An acknowledgement of published papers included in the thesis*

* This acknowledgement is relevant only for submitting candidates who choose to include full copies of published papers in chapters of their thesis, rather than write the full thesis in standard thesis style with reference to published papers or inserting the papers as appendices. To establish which statement is required, refer to our published papers requirements diagram ( PDF , 72k) . Please choose one of the below statement types:

All included published papers are sole-authored by the student ( DOCX , 22k)
Published papers are a mix of sole-authored and co-authored papers ( DOCX , 22k)
All included published papers are co-authored ( DOCX , 22k) .

7. The main text

This is where the hard work of the thesis is reflected. For candidates wishing to include papers within the body of their thesis, please also check if there are any group and discipline requirements outlined within the requirement for inclusion of papers within the thesis drop-down .

8. A statement of contribution to co-authored published papers included in the thesis**

** This statement is relevant only for candidates submitting full copies of co-authored papers in chapters of their thesis. To establish if a statement is required, please see the published papers requirements diagram (PDF 72k).

If required, this statement must be included at the beginning of each relevant chapter. If the chapter includes more than one published paper, the statement and set of signatures should be included for each paper.

Download statement of contribution to co-authored published paper ( DOCX , 22k )

9. Appendices (including a confidential appendix, where appropriate)

10. Bibliography

11. Other material separate from the body of the thesis and submitted as part, or in support of the thesis

Supplementary material, diagrams and tables

Small diagrams, photographic images and tables should be incorporated into the text
Full page diagrams should be inserted on a page immediately facing the text describing it
Digital deposit of the thesis may not be possible (and exemption from such deposit allowed) where significant supplementary materials are unable to be digitised.

Referencing and bibliographic details

Candidates should pay careful attention to the referencing and bibliographic requirements of advanced research. Training in the use of bibliographic software packages such as EndNote is available through Griffith University Learning Services and should be completed at an early stage of candidature.

A fundamental requirement of research practice is the acknowledgement of the work of others. Failure to acknowledge the work of others may constitute plagiarism and is regarded by Griffith University as academic misconduct ( PDF , 297k) , for which penalties (including exclusion from a program) may be imposed. The strict requirements of an academic thesis for referencing and bibliographic records need to be understood in this context.

Candidates must acknowledge other researchers upon whose work or publications they have drawn. Adequate documentation of sources is expected and relied upon by the thesis examiners who may wish to consult sources quoted in a thesis.

Only recognised referencing styles should be employed, and candidates should consult with their supervisors on the most appropriate form of referencing for the field in which they are working. It is essential that the style of referencing adopted be followed consistently. See the Griffith University referencing guidelines for more detailed advice.

All books and articles mentioned in the body of the thesis must appear in the bibliography or reference list as appropriate. In some fields, the bibliography or reference list contains a record of works consulted, even if not actually cited in the text.

For further resources on referencing articles in the thesis, please see Articles in thesis .

It is expected that the thesis will be written in English, however a candidate may make a case to the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School that a thesis would be more appropriately written in a language other than English. In considering a request, the Dean, GGRS will take into account the candidate's research topic, the capacity of the host element to provide continuity of linguistic expertise in the supervisory team, the extent to which the thesis is intimately associated with the study of that language, the availability of expert examiners able to read the thesis in the nominated language, and whether its presentation in English would impair the quality of the thesis. A candidate's lack of proficiency with the English language is not an appropriate reason for seeking to write the thesis in a language other than English.

A thesis that is written in a language other than English must have an Abstract in English as well as in the language in which it is written. Approval to write a thesis in a language other than English does not absolve the candidate from meeting Griffith University's English language proficiency requirements at admission to candidature.

This provision does not prevent the reproduction of texts in the original language where there are no adequate English translations available, or where the use of the original text is important to the understanding of the thesis as a whole.

In general, gender inclusive language should be used.

Copyright matters

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How to write a good PhD proposal

Study tips Published 3 Mar, 2022 · 5-minute read

Want to make sure your research degree starts smoothly? We spoke with 2 PhD candidates about overcoming this initial hurdle. Here’s their advice for how to write a good PhD proposal.

Writing your research proposal is an integral part of commencing a PhD with many schools and institutes, so it can feel rather intimidating. After all, how you come up with your PhD proposal could be the difference between your supervisor getting on board or giving your project a miss.

Let’s explore how to make a PhD research proposal with UQ candidates Chelsea Janke and Sarah Kendall.

Look at PhD proposal examples

Look at other PhD proposals that have been successful. Ask current students if you can look at theirs.

Nobody’s asking you to reinvent the wheel when it comes to writing your PhD proposal – leave that for your actual thesis. For now, while you’re just working out how to write a PhD proposal, examples are a great starting point.

Chelsea knows this step is easier if you’ve got a friend who is already doing a PhD, but there are other ways to find a good example or template.

“Look at other PhD proposals that have been successful,” she says.

“Ask current students if you can look at theirs.”

“If you don’t know anyone doing their PhD, look online to get an idea of how they should be structured.”

What makes this tricky is that proposals can vary greatly by field and disciplinary norms, so you should check with your proposed supervisor to see if they have a specific format or list of criteria to follow. Part of writing a good PhD proposal is submitting it in a style that's familiar to the people who will read and (hopefully) become excited by it and want to bring you into their research area.

Here are some of the key factors to consider when structuring your proposal:

meeting the expected word count (this can range from a 1-page maximum to a 3,000-word minimum depending on your supervisor and research area)
making your bibliography as detailed as necessary
outlining the research questions you’ll be trying to solve/answer
discussing the impact your research could have on your field
conducting preliminary analysis of existing research on the topic
documenting details of the methods and data sources you’ll use in your research
introducing your supervisor(s) and how their experience relates to your project.

Please note this isn't a universal list of things you need in your PhD research proposal. Depending on your supervisor's requirements, some of these items may be unnecessary or there may be other inclusions not listed here.

Ask your planned supervisor for advice

Alright, here’s the thing. If sending your research proposal is your first point of contact with your prospective supervisor, you’ve jumped the gun a little.

You should have at least one researcher partially on board with your project before delving too deep into your proposal. This ensures you’re not potentially spending time and effort on an idea that no one has any appetite for. Plus, it unlocks a helpful guide who can assist with your proposal.

PhD research isn’t like Shark Tank – you’re allowed to confer with academics and secure their support before you pitch your thesis to them. Discover how to choose the right PhD supervisor for you.

For a time-efficient strategy, Chelsea recommends you approach your potential supervisor(s) and find out if:

they have time to supervise you
they have any funds to help pay for your research (even with a stipend scholarship , your research activities may require extra money)
their research interests align with yours (you’ll ideally discover a mutual ground where you both benefit from the project).

“The best way to approach would be to send an email briefly outlining who you are, your background, and what your research interests are,” says Chelsea.

“Once you’ve spoken to a potential supervisor, then you can start drafting a proposal and you can even ask for their input.”

Chelsea's approach here works well with some academics, but keep in mind that other supervisors will want to see a research proposal straight away. If you're not sure of your proposed supervisor's preferences, you may like to cover both bases with an introductory email that has a draft of your research proposal attached.

Sarah agrees that your prospective supervisor is your most valuable resource for understanding how to write a research proposal for a PhD application.

“My biggest tip for writing a research proposal is to ask your proposed supervisor for help,” says Sarah.

“Or if this isn’t possible, ask another academic who has had experience writing research proposals.”

“They’ll be able to tell you what to include or what you need to improve on.”

Find the 'why' and focus on it

One of the key aspects of your research proposal is emphasising why your project is important and should be funded.

Your PhD proposal should include your major question, your planned methods, the sources you’ll cite, and plenty of other nitty gritty details. But perhaps the most important element of your proposal is its purpose – the reason you want to do this research and why the results will be meaningful.

In Sarah’s opinion, highlighting the 'why' of your project is vital for your research proposal.

“From my perspective, one of the key aspects of your research proposal is emphasising why your project is important and should be funded,” she says.

“Not only does this impact whether your application is likely to be successful, but it could also impact your likelihood of getting a scholarship .”

Imagine you only had 60 seconds to explain your planned research to someone. Would you prefer they remember how your project could change the world, or the statistical models you’ll be using to do it? (Of course, you’ve got 2,000 words rather than 60 seconds, so do make sure to include those little details as well – just put the why stuff first.)

Proofread your proposal, then proof it again

As a PhD candidate, your attention to detail is going to be integral to your success. Start practising it now by making sure your research proposal is perfect.

Chelsea and Sarah both acknowledge that clarity and writing quality should never be overlooked in a PhD proposal. This starts with double-checking that the questions of your thesis are obvious and unambiguous, followed by revising the rest of your proposal.

“Make sure your research questions are really clear,” says Sarah.

“Ensure all the writing is clear and grammatically correct,” adds Chelsea.

“A supervisor is not going to be overly keen on a prospective student if their writing is poor.”

It might sound harsh, but it’s fair. So, proofread your proposal multiple times – including after you get it back from your supervisor with any feedback and notes. When you think you’ve got the final, FINAL draft saved, sleep on it and read it one more time the next morning.

Still feeling a little overwhelmed by your research proposal? Stay motivated with these reasons why a PhD is worth the effort .

Want to learn more from Chelsea and Sarah? Easy:

Read about Chelsea’s award-winning PhD thesis on keeping crops healthy.
Read Sarah’s series on becoming a law academic .

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How to get a PhD

4-minute read

How to find a PhD supervisor

5-minute read

How long does a PhD take?

3-minute read

Tips for PhD students from Samantha and Glenn

7-minute read

HDR submission formatting

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At RMIT there are two modes of submission for examination. You will have discussed the appropriate submission mode at the beginning of your candidature and during your milestone reviews.

What should my thesis look like?

The following is a list of specific requirements for RMIT HDR submissions. HDR candidates must follow these requirements for their research submission to be accepted for examination.

HDR formatting principles

Page numbering, published research outputs, artefacts produced as research, what not to include, how long should my submission be.

The thesis/dissertation shall be in English and be formatted in clearly readable font (no smaller than 10 point), in blue or black ink.

The thesis/dissertation must contain the following in the order outlined below:

a) a title page in the prescribed RMIT format (no page number) - RMIT Title Page (DOC, 44KB) .

Effective 01 January 2024 you must include your ORCID ID on your cover page.

b) a declaration by the candidate on authorship in the prescribed RMIT format. For domestic candidates and those holding RSS scholarships funded by the Australian government, inclusion of the RTP scholarship statement is required.

Your typed name and submission for examination date is mandatory on your declaration page.

c) acknowledgements, if any (for example, where the candidate’s research has been supported by a grant, contract or sponsor and any editorial assistance received if applicable)

d) a table of contents and, where applicable, create an index with a list of figures, list of tables, list of diagrams, list of images, list of acronyms, etc contained in the submission.

e) a summary (abstract) of the research no more than 1,000 words

f) the main text of the thesis/dissertation

1. figures, tables, images etc. must carry a number and a caption and be placed as close to the relevant text as possible. Usually, they should be either immediately after or opposite the text

g) a list of all references cited in the preparation of the research in a format appropriate to the discipline

h) appendices, as required

1. if you are including a list of your publications, this should appear in your appendices

2. the ethics approval letter for any research with humans or animals involving genetic modification or any activity relating to institutional biosafety must be included as an appendix in the work.

The title page should not show a page number.

The pages of the thesis or dissertation following the title page, up to and including the table of contents, must be numbered in Roman numerals.

From the summary (abstract) onwards, Arabic numerals must be used.

Published material, or material prepared in anticipation for publication, may be included in the written thesis or dissertation. This material must be appropriately cited and the candidate’s contribution to the publication must be made clear. Navigate here for tips on integrating publications into your thesis, and for additional information, explore the 'Declaring Research Outputs ' section within the submitting for examination section of the website.

The candidate is also required to complete a Research Outputs Declaration (PDF, 127KB) which is uploaded as a separate PDF during the submission process.

Examination submissions that include one or more artefact(s) and/or a presentation of the research to examiners in a venue should include a detailed description of the artefact(s) that complements the outcome of the research question.

A digital record of the artefact or presentation may be examined along with the thesis. In cases where it would disadvantage the candidate if the physical artefact were not examined, the physical artefact may be provided to the examiners along with the thesis.

Where appropriate, artefacts should have an RMIT cover page, similar to the RMIT thesis/dissertation cover page which outlines what the file contains.

If the file type or size of your additional artefacts are not supported by the system, please contact the examinations team via Student Connect portal , who will arrange alternative submission for these items. Your thesis/dissertation still needs to be uploaded and submitted via Enrolment Online.

No electronic or scans of handwritten signatures as it is ill-advised to have personal signatures published online in the Research Repository.

No personal information not publicly available (e.g. personal phone numbers, address, emails, student IDs etc.).

There is no SGR set upper - or lower - word limits for a PhD or Masters by Research submission because there is quite a bit of variation in the way research is presented depending on your discipline. Some engineering or maths disciplines, for example, have quite short theses, whereas a thesis written in the social sciences or humanities is likely to be at least 80,000 words.

Regardless of your discipline, the length of your thesis or dissertation should demonstrate that you have undertaken a body of research at the quality and level required for a Doctor of Philosophy or a Masters by Research. A very short thesis or dissertation may suggest a lack of scope in a project, while a very long one may suggest a failure in judgement through inclusion of material that should have been excluded.

Below are some guides on length but you should also discuss these with your supervisory team. They will be able to advise you about what is considered appropriate in your discipline/field.

These ranges do not include the abstract, appendices or references.

Outside of those requirements, one of the best ways to get an idea of what your thesis/dissertation or project needs to look like is to look at some examples. The RMIT Research Repository contains digital copies of theses and dissertations dating back to 2006. These have been lodged in the repository after the successful completion Masters by Research and doctoral studies.

Specifications for Thesis ()

Academic Year 2018

Published on: 12 March, 2024 | 14:52:50

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Day 2: Is your thesis big enough? Examination and the PhD

As we saw yesterday, the criteria for what constitutes a PhD at ANU is actually pretty vague, especially when compared with the assessment criteria or rubrics you may be accustomed to in undergraduate or coursework Masters degrees. The examination criteria that a PhD must make a ‘substantial contribution’ to the field is not very helpful. How can you know if your thesis is substantial enough to qualify? It’s a little bit like asking, ‘How long is a piece of string?’.

How big is a thesis?

It is important to have a sense of how big a thesis is, whatever stage you are at, so that you have a clear idea of what you are heading towards. Ian Brailsford (2018) reports on a study where he literally counted up the number of chapters and pages in theses at the University of Auckland to get an idea of what was usual. You can read his blog on the findings here .

How big do you expect your own thesis to be? How many chapters have you planned, and how many pages have you already written?

The most useful way to work out what is usual in your own area is to look at some recent theses from your School or Discipline to see what was accepted for the degree. This is often very reassuring, as there can be a large gap between what we imagine that mythical (sometimes terrifying) ‘PhD thesis’ to look like, and the neatly contained, polished argument that is submitted for examination. Sometimes the scope seems quite specific and limited, or at least very manageable.

ACTIVITY: Go to the ANU library website at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/9048 and search for some recent theses in your area. Keep a record of the links, as we’ll come back to look at these again during the week.

Have a look at 5 recent examples from your own School or related disciplines. How many pages are there? While you are there, how many pages in the bibliography?

Please share your findings via the Comments box below.

When is enough reading enough?

How many references are required for a literature review? Brailsford (2018) also went on to count the number of references in PhD theses, again to work out the upper and lower limits, as well as the averages. One of the most important things to remember here is that the lit review is NOT a record of everything you’ve ever read that is vaguely related to the topic. Rather, it’s a neatly constructed argument that shows why your own project needs to be undertaken. (There’s lots more on literature reviews in the DoctoralWriting blog if you want further guidance on this topic.)

Is a ‘substantial contribution’ the same as ‘big’?

The maximum length of 100,000 words at ANU gives us some idea of the size of a thesis, but again, this could mean 100,000 confused, repetitive, jumbled words. There is no minimum length, but a shorter document might in fact concisely argue for a very substantial contribution to the field. Word length only tells us how many words, not the quality of the contribution those words are making to the field.

Most people seem to write towards the upper limit by the time you do all the stitching together that is required to introduce the thesis, introduce each chapter, and introduce each section, then clearly identify conclusions about what matters.

These parts of the thesis, the signposting, hold the ideas together but do not tell us about the ideas themselves. They are crucial for the reader to understand the argument and the contribution, but they are not the actual contribution to knowledge.

A thesis by compilation/publication is generally shorter than a conventional monograph, but that certainly doesn’t mean its contribution is less substantial. In Sciences, 3-4 articles are commonly regarded as sufficient; in other disciplines, 6 articles is more common. But each article might report on a large experiment or study – size is no measure of worth! A clear, direct, concise article that sticks to the journal’s 5,000-word limit might communicate at least as much content as a verbose, rambling chapter of 10,000 words.

So, how can you identify a ‘contribution’ as ‘substantial’? Supervisors will guide you on this, but it’s worth looking at recent theses to see how big those projects were. What you see is the nicely polished version of the research, not the false starts and agonising work that wound up in dead ends. I hope that your own work will now come into focus as you realise that the final document is not quite as terrifyingly demanding as you might have previously imagined.

Tomorrow we’ll go on to look at the overarching ‘story’ of the thesis that pulls it all together into one unified project.

Day 1: Is your thesis good enough? Examination and the PhD
Day 3: Is your thesis story clear enough? Examination and the PhD

18 Comments

The theses I looked at varied in length from 240 to 320 pages of actual thesis. The bibliographies varied from 40-100 pages long. A number of the recent theses weren’t available on open access, but were marked restricted access …

Wow, that’s a fair bit of variation, Diana! Were do you expect yours to land in that range?

How much signposting? Do you have any guidelines on how to signpost without chewing up too many words, without being tedious, nor insulting the intelligence of the reader (which some theses manage to do 🙂 .

One of the big challenges is that there is not any exact answer to most of these questions. It’s always a matter of judgement, and different readers will respond a little differently (just like you’ll get reviewers with different opinions). Some examiners are not above letting their own personal tastes influence their reading. But the main issue from my perspective is to present something that is good enough (not perfect) to be acceptable and get you the degree. And, of course, this kind of uncertainty is not always very comfortable when it feels like there is a lot riding on it – I completely get that.

The handful of theses I found that relate to my area of study ranged from 210 pages (plus 17 pages in Appendices) to 301 pages (plus a further 103 pages of Appendices). References lists ranged from 21 to 59 pages. Some of these were monographs and some by compilation.

While not all of them stated their word count, those that did ranged from 85,300 to 96,956 words. I’m doing my thesis as a monograph and I’ve been told to aim for between 80,000 to 85,000 words; the reasons I was given for this were that more than that risks becoming burdensome to read and possibly indicates your ability to synthesise/summarise/stay focused could be improved, while less than that may appear ‘undercooked’ in terms of not have thought deeply enough (or read widely enough) about the issues at hand. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about that, Cally. Thank you.

Hi Bronwyn – again, a big range in what you found. 103 pages of appendices sounds like a lot!! But – as we have to keep reminding ourselves – every project is different and every project is different. This it seems particularly important to remind ourselves that these theses all got through – that’s the only reason they are available on the library website. I do prefer any writing that gets to the point and doesn’t waffle – most people don’t have acres of time to read research writing and need to see the most important information pretty easily. Aiming for the midpoint makes sense to me, as it helps you stay close to the usual expectations.

Theses in my field varied in length. Shortest was 208pp, then 235, 294, 338 and 382pages!

Bibliographies also varied in length, from 6pp (single-spaced), to 10, 31, 48, and 54 pages (some including 30- 50pg of appendicies).

Anthropology/Development studies is a frustratingly diverse dispiline!

Certainly diverse, but I guess this gives you a sense of where to pitch your own version. Do you have a sense at this stage of where you would fit in relation to the theses you’ve looked at?

Not as much range for me as some of the other posters!

I have a very cross disciplinary project, but in my home school of science communication, theses I looked at were in the 171-217 page range (n=5). Others cross-disciplines, such as youth studies, also varied quite a bit.

Bibliographies varied, too, with the science communication ones being 17-25 pages, and one youth studies thesis only clocking in at 9 pages, which shocked me as this thesis was one of the longest I saw, at 287 pages.

Seems there’s more than one way to skin a .. thesis.

Yes, indeed – which then means that you need to follow the logic of your own research in making these decisions. Decide what’s necessary and what’s really at a tangent to the key argument you want to make. One thing that can help is to remember that too much extra information can have the effect of obscuring your main ideas – it’s important that your contribution remains highlighted rather than buried under all the other material.

I found three theses that were loosely in the same field as my research. Their length ranged from 150 to 300 pages, with 8 to 20 pages of references. One things stood out to me – their Abstracts were short and concise. Something I am currently trying to achieve!

Hi Chiara – great to notice the Abstracts! Yes, they are usually brief and to the point. Do they follow the usual structure of: Broad problem area/motivation – why this topic? Research question/ problem statement – what did you want to find out? How you did it/methodology or approach – how was the research done? Findings – what did you learn? Conclusions/implications – what does it all mean and why does it matter?

I ended up taking an approximate word count from each thesis, as I found that they were all formatted differently: some were double-spaced, others single. The five theses I selected were all from slightly different fields as it’s challenging to find something that reflects my methodological approach at ANU, but there are pockets of various fields that all reflect what my thesis is accumulatively. Based on that, all of them sat between 90-99,000 words, and this doesn’t surprise me because these theses often required layers of writing to achieve their purpose, so: creative practice itself, practice-explanation and documentation, and critical reflexivity using theory.

Biographies, however, ranged from 13pages, to 50 – so similar to Shaun’s findings!

I think more than anything, this really shows me that what matters is your thesis’ own confidence and containment: so long as my decisions are justified and well-informed, and the literature reflects the content of the thesis, then the length of the bibliography will probably be appropriate.

Good insights, Rosanna! I agree that it’s important to maintain the integrity of your own project and document. Seeing the range of what’s possible will (hopefully) help you see what’s important for your own work too.

Like everyone else the theses I looked at ranged in length, from 198 to 352 pages. The bibliographies ranged from 11 – 21 pages. In writing my thesis the final word count hasn’t been as much as a focus as ensuring that the project is adequately but succinctly described. It was reassuring to see so much diversity and have reinforced that each project is different, and therefore each thesis is different. It’s good to re-focus on the examination criteria rather than word count or reference count!!

‘Adequately and succintly’ are words I love to see in this context 🙂

This is a huge topic in this thesis https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/204830

Four of the chapters were published, no doubt because of the importance of the topic.

The thesis was approx 180 pages long, shorter than most others it seems, but no doubt because the bulk of the thesis had been published already.

The others I looked at were all over 200 pages, but none over 220 or so.

The bibliographies I looked at were about 20 pages, but I expect mine to be longer because I use primary source documents.

I also expect my thesis to be bigger than those theses I’ve looked at because my topic is so large and complicated.

Theses by compilation (that is, that include published papers) are often a bit shorter than a traditional manuscript. This is mostly because journal articles usually have strict word limits, so they stick to the main point, whereas the traditional thesis structure allows a bit more freedom to explore some of the tangential side paths. Then it becomes a decision about what is central and necessary, and what is a divergence that distracts the reader from the key argument (possibly even obscuring the most important ideas). Always so many decisions to make when it comes to writing! There’s no exact answer to any of these questions, unfortunately.

Graduate Research Hub

Preparing my thesis

Incorporating your published work in your thesis

A streamlined procedure has been approved for obtaining co-author authorisation. You now only need to provide a Declaration for publication incorporated in a thesis form for the inclusion of in progress or published material in the thesis, that is completed by your Principal Supervisor and the Coordinating Author.

Accepted statuses for publications

Unpublished material not submitted for publication
Submitted for publication to [publication name] on [date]
In revision following peer review by [publication name]
Accepted for publication by [publication name] on [date]
Published by [publication name] on [date]

You may include in progress or published material written during your enrolment upon approval from your advisory committee, as part of your thesis, by having either:

“included publications", in which your publications are included as components that are distinct from the rest of the thesis, in the format described below; or
“included material” that is drawn from your publications and combined with text that is otherwise written specifically for the thesis.

In this page we refer to both these kinds of inclusion of published work as “incorporated publications”; the first format, where the publications are included as distinct components, is also known as “thesis with publications”.

The Graduate Research Training Policy (section 4.65) outlines what can be included in the thesis. Your thesis must include a literature review that clearly details the research questions and a general discussion that integrates the work and places the publications into the context of the research question.

You may have to supplement the incorporated publications with additional methods sections as they are often abbreviated in published articles. You are also encouraged to include any data and discussion that was omitted from the article as an addendum in the thesis. Where a publication is included as a distinct component, you are also encouraged to include a critical reflection on the work, which could, for example, acknowledge or address limitations or impacts of the work that have appeared since publication.

When submitting your thesis, you will be required to confirm that:

(a) the work in the incorporated publications is your own, and (b) that any co-authors give permission for the article to be included in the thesis.

To do this, you must complete the Declaration for publication incorporated in a thesis form. You will need to submit a completed form for each in progress or published work included in your thesis.

Your principal supervisor must sign the Declaration form for each publication. Where there is more than one author of a publication, at least one co-author by agreement amongst the authors, should be nominated as the coordinating author (also known as corresponding author), as defined in the University’s Authorship Policy . The coordinating author is responsible for communication between the publishers and managing communication between the co-authors. The coordinating author must maintain records of any authorship agreement. The coordinating author must also sign the Declaration form.

You must upload all completed Declaration forms as a single combined file to the Thesis Examination System when submitting your thesis for examination. The signed forms should not be included in the thesis itself. Plan well ahead to obtain the required signatures to avoid delays to your examination.

Don’t forget to include your ORCID when submitting your work to publishers, conference organisers, etc. This will help you to distinguish your research activities and outputs, and make sure you get credit for your work throughout your career.

The Preface

As detailed in the Preparation of Graduate Research Theses rules , your preface should outline:

the publication status of any incorporated publications
your contribution to any incorporated publications
any work carried out in collaboration with others
editorial assistance received
parts of the work completed outside of your candidature.

There is no prescribed format for a preface; you may wish to include a written description or a table outlining the tasks performed by others and the proportion of the contribution as a percentage.

Usually this means you will have written the initial draft and you performed any subsequent editing in response to co-authors' and editors' reviews.

As specified in the Graduate Research Training Policy , your principal supervisor and coordinating author must declare that:

(a) you are the primary author of the included material, and

(b) you contributed more than 50% of the work towards the publication.

No. You need to have contributed more than 50 per cent for it to be included. You could, however, include this paper as an appendix.

Yes. It is understood that portions of the thesis that have been published or accepted for publication will have been through an editorial process. Such editorial changes should be explicitly acknowledged.

Refer to the Authorship page for information about the requirements and responsible practice.

Format of the thesis

When including complete publications, you should use the author accepted manuscripts of articles that have been accepted or published. This is the final draft as accepted by the publishers, including any changes based on referees’ suggestions before it has undergone copy-editing, typesetting and proofing. If you are certain you will not breach your agreement with your publisher, you may include the published version in your thesis.

If you are using your author accepted manuscript, while some journals request that the version you send them includes any figures or tables at the end of the submitted document, when you reproduce the article in your thesis you should place them where they logically flow within the text. It is also recommended that you use similar formatting (e.g. line spacing, font type and size) as the rest of the thesis.

You can view suggested formats for arranging the chapters of a thesis that includes publications as distinct components here . See also example theses in the University of Melbourne repository.

In most cases it is preferred that you include a separate literature survey. Even with the literature reviews included in your publications you may find you still need to add further supplementary material if the publications do not directly address all the research questions you are trying to answer in your thesis. Your supervisors and advisory committee are best able to advise you whether the literature reviews included in your incorporated publications will meet disciplinary expectations and satisfy your examiners that you: - Have clearly detailed your research question/s and how they integrate with the current literature - Have demonstrated sufficient familiarity with, and understanding and critical appraisal of the relevant literature.

No. The policy allows the thesis to be submitted with publications, it is not a thesis by publication. You must include a literature review that clearly details the research question, and a concluding general discussion that integrates the work and places it into the context of the research questions. You should also introduce each publication that is included as a distinct component, explaining its role in the work, and, where appropriate, provide a critical reflection on its contribution.

Yes, but you must cite it correctly and indicate in the preface the source of the information (eg. that the text on page(s) xx is from [name of publication], or that chapter yy is adapted from [name of publication]. In each case you should give its publication status and your contribution to the publication). It will assist your examiners if, at the start of each chapter that includes work drawn from a publication, there is a footnote explaining where the work came from and how it has been used in the chapter. You may wish to include the entire publication as an appendix so that your examiners can see where the material came from.

Theses which include publications in a “thesis with publications” style can typically be slightly shorter; for example the typical PhD length is 80,000 words, but a PhD including publications as distinct components has a typical length of 50,000-80,000 words).
While the writing style may be more concise, there is no difference in the expected volume and requirements of work presented in theses with publications. The examination criteria remain the same whether or not publications are incorporated. Your examiners are asked to consider your thesis on its merits as an independent piece of research. Refer to the information available for examiners .
Maximum limits apply to all theses.

If you are including the list of references as part of the publication they do not need to be repeated in the overall reference list/bibliography for the thesis.

Incorporated publications can be referenced via a footnote, but if references to them are included in the bibliography an examiner may be unsure as to whether the work was completed as part of the research.

No, but you may do so if you think that it will assist readers of your thesis.

It is up to you whether you update the publication style or not. Whatever you chose, you should acknowledge your choice in the Preface, stating the differences between the publication and thesis, due to the requirements of different publishers.

Yes. Revised and resubmitted theses are examined in their entirety and the inclusion of a new incorporated publication may strengthen your response to examiners.

In most cases you should include the latest version, up to the author accepted version and update the publication status in the preface. If your examiners request changes which conflict with the editorial or peer review advice you have since received from your publisher, you may choose to address this elsewhere in your thesis, or in your written response to the examiners’ reports.

Publication suitability

A work is suitable for inclusion if the research was conducted and the publication was in progress or published during your enrolment in your current degree. This includes:

You may need to supplement this with analysis of literature published between writing the article and submitting your thesis.

All methods need to be covered to a high degree of detail in your thesis.

literature reviews where you are the primary author .
systematic reviews of a research question as a results chapter.
a protocol paper involving novel method development.
material exploring key methodological issues .

No. Only work completed during your candidature can be included in the thesis. You can cite your earlier work just like you would any work that is relevant to your research. The work should be listed in the preface of your thesis.

Yes. You will need to clearly acknowledge in the preface that its status is ‘in progress’ or, that the paper has been published but not peer reviewed.

Completing the forms

Yes. You may wish to include the entire publication as an appendix so that your examiner can see where the information came from.

Yes. All sections of the form must be completed for any multi-authored material. The coordinating author is required to reassure that all co-authors have had an opportunity to agree to the inclusion of the material in the thesis and to the contribution declared on the form. The authorship agreement template is available here.

No. You can use the figure in your thesis without completing the form but you should acknowledge the origin of the figure in the preface and appropriately cite the publication in your thesis.

No. You should provide this evidence to your advisory committee when you are discussing the proposed format for your thesis. Your principal supervisor must sign the Declaration for publication incorporated in a thesis form which confirms their agreement to the inclusion of any publication/s. The coordinating author will need to sign the form for any multi-authored material.

You can use Adobe Acrobat's 'Combine Files' tool which will allow you to combine files of different filetypes into a PDF. Alternatively, you can open a PDF copy of a file and then use the 'Organise Pages' tool which will allow you to drag additional pages where you can then save it as a single file.

iThenticate report

You should run your whole thesis through iThenticate, including the chapters comprised wholly or partly of your published work. You can then exclude the specific matching publication source/s that correspond to the publications you have included in your thesis in a “thesis with publications” style. This means that the thesis chapter or publication is reviewed against the other literature in the repository, but not matched to itself. You should only exclude matching sources that are articles which you have appropriately included. You should outline and explain any filters and exclusions you applied in iThenticate in an accompanying declaration which you can also upload to TES.

You should not exclude publications from which you have included material (but not the complete publication), as the iThenticate report will then show where the material is present in the thesis, allowing your supervisors and Chair of Examiners to verify that it has been included appropriately.

Further information on the use of iThenticate can be found here: https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/funding-contracts-and-ethics/ethics-and-integrity/research-integrity/ithenticate-text-matching-tool

The examination

The criteria for examination remain the same whether or not publications are incorporated. See the Graduate Research Training Policy for more information. You can also view the information for examiners here: https://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/staff#examiner-information .

If the publication status of your article changes between submission for examination and submission of your final thesis, it is appropriate to include the most recent version (up to the author-accepted version). You should also update the preface to reflect the new status. If you are submitting a list of corrections for approval and/or resubmitting for re-examination you should also note this in your index of changes.

Examples of theses with publications

The following are theses available openly or with University of Melbourne log-in through the University of Melbourne repository that include publications as distinct components in a “thesis with publications” style.

Al Zein, Eza (2019). Taskscape: Caring for Migrant Materials . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/235841

Arundel, Jonathan Paul (2015) The spatio-temporal distribution of honey bees and floral resources in Australia . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/59612

Bamford, Nicholas James (2016) Relationships between diet, obesity and insulin dysregulation in horses and ponies. http://hdl.handle.net/11343/148423

Bibb, Jennifer Louise (2016) Musical recovery: the role of group singing in regaining healthy relationships with music to promote mental health recovery. http://hdl.handle.net/11343/124271

Burfurd, Ingrid Ellen (2018) Beliefs and learning in the laboratory: essays in experimental economics . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/219180

Fan, Yi (2019) Quantification of mandibular morphological changes in 3D . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/225588

Kriesner, Peter (2017) Wolbachia fitness benefits and symbiont interactions in Drosophila . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/207959

Mody, Fallon (2019) Doctors down under: European medical migrants in Victoria (Australia), 1930-60 . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/221550

Nencini, Sara (2018) Tackling bone pain at the source: identifying and exploring new therapeutic targets . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/216858

Pan, Xuan (2018) Graphene quantum dot based electronic devices . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/222013

Seibt, Susanne (2018) In-situ investigations of molecular self-assembly using microfluidics. http://hdl.handle.net/11343/214671

Smith, Merryn (2018) Non-structural carbohydrate storage and use in eucalypt trees of south-east Australia. http://hdl.handle.net/11343/221163

Uddin, Shihab (2019) Functional aspects of root and leaf development in dryland crop water use under elevated CO2 . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/219849

Vahedi, Andisheh (2018) The work-family interface and child mental health: longitudinal associations via family functioning across childhood. http://hdl.handle.net/11343/217236

Al Zein, Eza (2019) Taskscape: Caring for Migrant Materials . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/235841

Schlichthorst, Marisa (2020) Engaging men in conversations about masculinity and suicide – An evaluation of the Man Up social media campaign . http://hdl.handle.net/11343/265962

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Referencing

Your thesis or project is a significant document and its final presentation should be of a very high standard. Your supervisor can advise on the best way to present the content of your work in relation to your field of study.

Length of a thesis or exegesis

The word length of a thesis will vary according to discipline, but must be of sufficient scope for the level of degree. As a guide, the maximum number of words in the text, excluding references and appendices, should be:

60,000 words for a Master by Research thesis;
30,000 words for a Master by Research exegesis;
60,000 words for a Professional Doctorate thesis;
100,000 words for a Doctor of Philosophy; and
50,000 words for a Doctor of Philosophy exegesis.

General guidelines

Outside the University’s rules on presentation, you’re given considerable flexibility in producing your thesis.

You may choose a formatting style or develop your own style, provided it’s used consistently. You’re not bound by the formatting requirements for undergraduate assignments and can make full use of software to produce a thesis with a high standard of visual presentation.

You should discuss with your supervisor the best way to present your work, including:

the formatting style;
the referencing style;
the presentation of data (figures, tables); and
the most appropriate order of presentation for the material and the structure of chapters.

A thesis may be submitted in the form of a series of published papers, as set out in the Postgraduate Research Training policy.

Other formatting requirements

Where you’ve been granted access to confidential information by a government agency or a company or person for the purpose of writing a thesis, the thesis must incorporate a statement signed by you setting out the terms or conditions on which access was granted and any stipulations regarding subsequent disclosure of the information provided.

You should consult with your supervisor regarding the choice of the most appropriate referencing style for your discipline. The same style should be used consistently throughout the thesis. You’re strongly encouraged to use bibliographical software, such as EndNote, to manage your referencing.

For more information visit the Library's Referencing web page.

Use of the ECU logo

If you are intending to use the ECU logo on your thesis you must abide by the University corporate style guidelines.

The correct version is the square promotional logo. Where possible, the promotional logo should be positioned in the top right or bottom right hand corner.

For electronic copies of the ECU logo, please contact the Corporate Marketing Office on (61 8) 6304 2703 or email [email protected].

A condition of supply is that, prior to printing, a proof must be submitted to the Corporate Marketing Office for final approval. This is standard policy and can be done by emailing the cover document to [email protected] or by faxing it to (61 8) 6304 2092.

Layout and format

Formatting requirements of a thesis for examination are detailed in Research Training Procedure 4: Requirements of a thesis for examination.

Additional support

As well as your supervisors, your school research and writing consultants will be able to give you advice about thesis formatting. SOAR Ambassadors are a good source of support for software use and managing your thesis document.

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How Long Is a PhD Thesis?
Doing a PhD

It’s no secret that one of the most challenging aspects of a PhD degree is the volume of work that goes into writing your thesis . So this raises the question, exactly how long is a thesis?

Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all answer to this question. However, from the analysis of over 100 PhD theses, the average thesis length is between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A further analysis of 1000 PhD thesis shows the average number of pages to be 204 . In reality, the actual word count for each PhD thesis will depend on the specific subject and the university it is being hosted by. This is because universities set their own word length requirements, with most found to be opting for around 100,000.

To find out more about how these word limits differ between universities, how the average word count from STEM thesis differ from non-STEM thesis and a more detailed breakdown from the analysis of over 1000 PhDs, carry on reading the below.

Word Count Differences Between Universities

For any PhD student writing a thesis, they will find that their document will be subject to a word limit set by their university. In nearly all cases, the limit only concerns the maximum number of words and doesn’t place any restrictions on the minimum word limit. The reason for this is that the student will be expected to write their thesis with the aim of clearly explaining their research, and so it is up to the student to determine what he deems appropriate.

Saying this, it is well accepted amongst PhD students and supervisors that the absence of a lower limit doesn’t suggest that a thesis can be ‘light’. Your thesis will focus on several years worth of original research and explore new ideas, theories or concepts. Besides this, your thesis will need to cover a wide range of topics such as your literature review, research methodology, results and conclusion. Therefore, your examiners will expect the length of your thesis to be proportional to convey all this information to a sufficient level.

Selecting a handful of universities at random, they state the following thesis word limits on their website:

University of Edinburgh: 100,000
University of Exeter: 100,000
University of Leister: 80,000
University of Bath: 80,000
University of Warwick: 70,000

The above universities set upper word limits that apply across the board, however, some universities, such as the University of Birmingham and the University of Sheffield, set different word limits for different departments. For example, the University of Sheffield adopts these limits:

Arts & Humanities: 75,000
Medicine, Dentistry & Health: 75,000
Science: 80,000
Social Sciences: 75,000-100,000

Although there’s a range of limit, it’s safe to say that the majority fall within the 80,000 to 100,000 bracket.

Word Count Based on Data from past Theses

A poll of 149 postdocs.

In mid-2019, Dr Eva Lantsoght, a published author, academic blogger and Structural Engineering Professor, conducted a poll which asked postgraduate doctoral students to share the length of their final thesis. 149 PostDoc students responded to the survey, with the majority reporting a length falling within the ‘80,000 – 120,000 words’ bracket as seen below.

DiscoverPhDs_How-long-is-a-PhD-Thesis_Poll

Analysis of 1000 PhD Theses

Over a three-year time period, Dr Ian Brailsford, a then Postgraduate Learning Adviser at the University of Auckland, analysed 1000 doctoral thesis submitted to his university’s library. The PhD theses which formed the basis of his analysis were produced between 2008 to 2017 and showed:

Average number of pages = 204
Median number of pages = 198
Average number of chapters = 7.6

We should note that the above metrics only cover the content falling within the main body of the thesis. This includes the introduction, literature review, methods section, results chapter, discussions and conclusions. All other sections, such as the title page, abstract, table of contents, acknowledgements, bibliography and appendices were omitted from the count.

Although it’s impossible to draw the exact word count from the number of pages alone, by using the universities recommended format of 12pt Times New Roman and 1.5 lines spacing, and assuming 10% of the main body are figures and footnotes, this equates to an average main body of 52,000 words.

STEM vs Non-STEM

As part of Dr Ian Brailsford’s analysis, he also compared the length of STEM doctorate theses to non-STEM theses. He found that STEM theses tended to be shorter. In fact, he found STEM theses to have a medium page length of 159 whilst non-STEM theses had a medium of around 223 pages. This is a 40% increase in average length!

Can You Exceed the Word Count?

Whilst most universities will allow you to go over the word count if you need to, it comes with the caveat that you must have a very strong reason for needing to do so. Besides this, your supervisor will also need to support your request. This is to acknowledge that they have reviewed your situation and agree that exceeding the word limit will be absolutely necessary to avoid detriment unnecessary detriment to your work.

This means that whilst it is possible to submit a thesis over 100,000 words or more, it’s unlikely that your research project will need to.

How Does This Compare to a Masters Dissertation?

The average Masters dissertation length is approximately 20,000 words whilst a thesis is 4 to 5 times this length at approximately 80,000 – 100,000.

The key reason for this difference is because of the level of knowledge they convey. A Master’s dissertation focuses on concluding from existing knowledge whilst a PhD thesis focuses on drawing a conclusion from new knowledge. As a result, the thesis is significantly longer as the new knowledge needs to be well documented so it can be verified, disseminated and used to shape future research.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is a dissertation.

Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:

An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000–15,000 words
A master’s dissertation is typically 12,000–50,000 words
A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000–100,000 words

However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.

Frequently asked questions: Dissertation

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.

Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:

Plan to attend graduate school soon
Have a particular topic you’d like to study more in-depth
Are considering a career in research
Would like a capstone experience to tie up your academic experience

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation should include the following:

A restatement of your research question
A summary of your key arguments and/or results
A short discussion of the implications of your research

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.

For a stronger dissertation conclusion , avoid including:

Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the discussion section and results section
Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion …”)
Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g., “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

While it may be tempting to present new arguments or evidence in your thesis or disseration conclusion , especially if you have a particularly striking argument you’d like to finish your analysis with, you shouldn’t. Theses and dissertations follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the discussion section and results section .) The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .

While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

Your anticipated title
Your abstract
Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

In most styles, the title page is used purely to provide information and doesn’t include any images. Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to include an image on the title page before doing so. If you do decide to include one, make sure to check whether you need permission from the creator of the image.

Include a note directly beneath the image acknowledging where it comes from, beginning with the word “ Note .” (italicized and followed by a period). Include a citation and copyright attribution . Don’t title, number, or label the image as a figure , since it doesn’t appear in your main text.

Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.

However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.

A glossary or “glossary of terms” is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

An abbreviation is a shortened version of an existing word, such as Dr. for Doctor. In contrast, an acronym uses the first letter of each word to create a wholly new word, such as UNESCO (an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

As a rule of thumb, write the explanation in full the first time you use an acronym or abbreviation. You can then proceed with the shortened version. However, if the abbreviation is very common (like PC, USA, or DNA), then you can use the abbreviated version from the get-go.

Be sure to add each abbreviation in your list of abbreviations !

If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .

If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

A list of abbreviations is a list of all the abbreviations that you used in your thesis or dissertation. It should appear at the beginning of your document, with items in alphabetical order, just after your table of contents .

Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.

Lists of figures and tables are often not required, and aren’t particularly common. They specifically aren’t required for APA-Style, though you should be careful to follow their other guidelines for figures and tables .

If you have many figures and tables in your thesis or dissertation, include one may help you stay organized. Your educational institution may require them, so be sure to check their guidelines.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.

The table of contents in a thesis or dissertation always goes between your abstract and your introduction .

You may acknowledge God in your dissertation acknowledgements , but be sure to follow academic convention by also thanking the members of academia, as well as family, colleagues, and friends who helped you.

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An annotated bibliography is a list of source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a paper .

In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.

The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.

In the discussion , you explore the meaning and relevance of your research results , explaining how they fit with existing research and theory. Discuss:

Your interpretations : what do the results tell us?
The implications : why do the results matter?
The limitation s : what can’t the results tell us?

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

Results are usually written in the past tense , because they are describing the outcome of completed actions.

The results chapter of a thesis or dissertation presents your research results concisely and objectively.

In quantitative research , for each question or hypothesis , state:

The type of analysis used
Relevant results in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics
Whether or not the alternative hypothesis was supported

In qualitative research , for each question or theme, describe:

Recurring patterns
Significant or representative individual responses
Relevant quotations from the data

Don’t interpret or speculate in the results chapter.

To automatically insert a table of contents in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

Apply heading styles throughout the document.
In the references section in the ribbon, locate the Table of Contents group.
Click the arrow next to the Table of Contents icon and select Custom Table of Contents.
Select which levels of headings you would like to include in the table of contents.

Make sure to update your table of contents if you move text or change headings. To update, simply right click and select Update Field.

All level 1 and 2 headings should be included in your table of contents . That means the titles of your chapters and the main sections within them.

The contents should also include all appendices and the lists of tables and figures, if applicable, as well as your reference list .

Do not include the acknowledgements or abstract in the table of contents.

The abstract appears on its own page in the thesis or dissertation , after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of contents .

An abstract for a thesis or dissertation is usually around 200–300 words. There’s often a strict word limit, so make sure to check your university’s requirements.

In a thesis or dissertation, the acknowledgements should usually be no longer than one page. There is no minimum length.

The acknowledgements are generally included at the very beginning of your thesis , directly after the title page and before the abstract .

Yes, it’s important to thank your supervisor(s) in the acknowledgements section of your thesis or dissertation .

Even if you feel your supervisor did not contribute greatly to the final product, you must acknowledge them, if only for a very brief thank you. If you do not include your supervisor, it may be seen as a snub.

In the acknowledgements of your thesis or dissertation, you should first thank those who helped you academically or professionally, such as your supervisor, funders, and other academics.

Then you can include personal thanks to friends, family members, or anyone else who supported you during the process.

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You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

Finding theses

University of sydney theses, higher degree by research theses.

We hold theses written by the University’s Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Masters by Research) students in our collections.

You can find a University of Sydney thesis by searching the Library catalogue . Select the “Advanced search” and then select “USYD Theses” from the “Material type” dropdown menu.

You can also find digital theses by searching directly in the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Access a digital or digitised thesis

Many of the University’s digital and digitised theses are openly available for download through the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Theses marked “University of Sydney Access” are only available to current University staff and students. Libraries and private researchers can request to purchase a copy of a University of Sydney Access only thesis for AUD$18.50 (incl. GST, within Australia) or AUD$40.00 (international requests).

To purchase a digital thesis, you need to complete one of the relevant request forms below and submit it to [email protected] :

Individuals requesting a thesis, or library requesting on behalf of an individual
Libraries requesting a copy to be included in their collection

All requests for copies of material held at the University of Sydney Library must comply with the Copyright Act of 1968 .

Access a hard copy thesis

Theses that are only available in printed format can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Library , Level 1, Fisher Library.

We are currently running a project to digitise hardcopy theses. You can request an update to find out where a particular thesis is in our digitisation queue by emailing [email protected] .

We don’t digitise theses on request.

Honours or postgraduate coursework theses

Search for an honours or postgraduate coursework thesis in the repository , then use the filters on the left side of the results page to narrow by “Type”.

You can also search the Honours and Postgraduate Coursework theses collection for a faculty, school or discipline (if available).

There are limited numbers of honours theses in the Sydney eScholarship repository as we have strict requirements for submission of honours theses . If you can't find the thesis you're looking for, we suggest contacting the relevant faculty office.

Theses from other Australian and New Zealand universities

Find a thesis from other Australian or New Zealand universities by searching:

Australian theses via Trove
Libraries Australia for Higher Degree theses awarded from 1989 onwards
Education Research Theses for citations and abstracts from theses submitted from 1919 onwards.

If you’re interested in a thesis that isn't available online, you can request the item through our Resource Sharing Service .

International theses

For theses written and submitted at universities outside of Australia, try the following resources:

Open Access Theses and Dissertations
DART-Europe E-theses Portal
British Library Electronic Digital Thesis Online Service (EThOS)
EBSCO open dissertations
French Thesis-On-Line Repository
History Online – postgraduate theses in History submitted in the UK since 1995
Index to Theses – listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland since 1716
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations – North American theses
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Related information

For more help finding and accessing theses, speak to our friendly library staff.

How do I find Australian theses?

Students in desks and browsing library shelves in Monash University Library

Sievers, Wolfgang (1963), Monash University: Main Library, students at desks 1963 nla.obj-143591614

Theses completed for higher research degrees (PhD, Masters or Honours) form an important body of original research.

There are a number of places you can search for Australian theses, we have outlined the three main sources for you below.

National Library collection

While the Library holds a selection of theses presented to Australian universities, we do not have a comprehensive collection.

To search the Library's collection for a thesis on a particular subject:

Go to our online catalogue
Type in your subject keywords, and add the keywords dissertation or thesis, for example: "global warming" AND thesis ; alpine AND thesis

To browse theses in the Library's collection:

Select 'Browse alphabetically' and 'subject'
Enter the terms 'Dissertations Academic'; for example: Dissertations Academic
Add the country of publication if known; for example: Dissertations Academic Australia
Hit browse.

We also hold a number of useful reference books on finding Australian theses, including:

Guide to Microform Research Collections in the National Library of Australia . 1992. See pages 148-149 for an outline of the Australian and overseas theses held on microform at the National Library. This title is available on open access in the Newspapers and Family History zone .
Union List of Higher Degree Theses in Australian University Libraries . 1959+ A list of theses submitted for a higher degree at Australian universities. The list is arranged by author, subject and keyword indexes. Supplements covering the period 1961-1976 and 1976-1991 can also be accessed via the catalogue.

Other Australian collections

Use the Library's discovery service Trove to search for Australian and overseas theses in over one thousand Australian collecting institutions.

For a basic thesis search:

Go to the homepage of Trove, type in your search terms and hit search
Select the Books & Libraries category
Select the 'Thesis' facet under 'Format' on the right-hand side.

If you'd like to use more advanced options in your search, on the results page you can click on advanced search (underneath the magnifying glass icon) to see the options available.

Hint: to find thesis that are freely available online, narrow your search results to 'Freely available' under 'Online'.

You can find more search tips and strategies on Trove's Australian theses blog .

University libraries

In most cases, a copy of a thesis is deposited in the library of the relevant university.

You can access the online catalogues of Australian university libraries through the Australian Libraries Gateway . Links to many university libraries are also available through the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) .

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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COMMENTS

The thesis
There are three common types of thesis documents allowed in the ANU research award rules: a standard thesis of up to 100,000 words in length for a PhD (or 60,000 words for an M.Phil); a thesis by compilation (sometimes called a thesis by publication) and a thesis by creative works. A thesis by compilation may include works that are solo or ...
Prepare your thesis
You will find information on word limits in the below policies and procedures, or in your faculty or school handbook. Word limits include footnotes and all material in the main body of the thesis. Bibliographies and appendices are not included in the overall word count. University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule (pdf, 877KB)
Writing my thesis
The maximum word limit for theses (including footnotes but excluding tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices) are: 100 000 words for a PhD or doctoral thesis. You should aim to write a thesis shorter than the maximum allowed, for example 40 000 for a Masters thesis or 80 000 words for a PhD.
ask.unimelb: FAQ / PhD Thesis Word Limit
You should aim to write a thesis of 80,000 words. The word limit is exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit. If you need to exceed 100,000 words, you must submit a request to the Chair of the Higher Degrees Research Comittee via the Graduate Research Examinations Office ...
Thesis Preparation and Submission
The University applies the Conflict of Interest Guidelines [PDF 28MB] of the Australian Council of Graduate Research. PhD/MPhil candidates. ... Its length is based on Faculty expectations but is often 25,000 words for an MPhil thesis and 50,000 words for a PhD thesis.
1. Thesis preparation
1. Thesis preparation. 2. Formatting your thesis. Your thesis must comply with the formatting requirements outlined in section 3.4 of the Higher Degree by Research Thesis Examination Procedures. The most appropriate referencing style will depend on your discipline and your advisory team will be able to provide advice on disciplinary norms.
Formatting
A thesis is intended, among other things, to demonstrate a candidate's capacity to report on the research in a clear and succinct manner. It is recognised that the length of a thesis may vary according to the topic and the discipline (e.g., a PhD thesis is normally between 70,000 - 80,000 words).
PDF How to present your Thesis
The material to be included in the thesis should be arranged within the following. sections: Preliminary pages: All material necessary to prepare the reader for the main text to come by giving information relating to its physical contents and background. Main text: The main body of the thesis divided into chapters.
How to write a good PhD proposal
This starts with double-checking that the questions of your thesis are obvious and unambiguous, followed by revising the rest of your proposal. "Make sure your research questions are really clear," says Sarah. "Ensure all the writing is clear and grammatically correct," adds Chelsea. "A supervisor is not going to be overly keen on a ...
HDR submission formatting
The thesis/dissertation shall be in English and be formatted in clearly readable font (no smaller than 10 point), in blue or black ink. The thesis/dissertation must contain the following in the order outlined below: a) a title page in the prescribed RMIT format (no page number) - RMIT Title Page (DOC, 44KB). Effective 01 January 2024 you must ...
PDF Thesis Examination Procedure
Thesis examination is a core assessment required in all higher degree research (HDR) programs. This procedure outlines the processes for preparation, submission and examination of the thesis component of all HDR programs. It also includes the roles and responsibilities of higher degree research (HDR) candidates, supervisors, Postgraduate ...
Specifications for Thesis ()
3.3. The thesis should incorporate in the following order: a title page giving the title of the thesis* in full, the name of the candidate as it is recorded in PeopleSoft (the University's student record keeping system), the name of the School / Discipline (s) of the University associated with the work, and the date (month and year) when ...
Day 2: Is your thesis big enough? Examination and the PhD
Like everyone else the theses I looked at ranged in length, from 198 to 352 pages. The bibliographies ranged from 11 - 21 pages. In writing my thesis the final word count hasn't been as much as a focus as ensuring that the project is adequately but succinctly described.
Incorporating your published work in your thesis
Theses which include publications in a "thesis with publications" style can typically be slightly shorter; for example the typical PhD length is 80,000 words, but a PhD including publications as distinct components has a typical length of 50,000-80,000 words).
ECU Intranet
Length of a thesis or exegesis. The word length of a thesis will vary according to discipline, but must be of sufficient scope for the level of degree. As a guide, the maximum number of words in the text, excluding references and appendices, should be: 60,000 words for a Master by Research thesis; 30,000 words for a Master by Research exegesis;
Theses
Use 'Advanced Search' and for 'Document Type' select 'Thesis'. Trove - Australian content from libraries, museums, archives and other research organisations. Use 'Advanced Search', and limit by the format 'thesis'. Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global - more than 2.7 million entries with over 1.2 million records in full text
A Guide to Writing a PhD Thesis
The PhD thesis is the most important part of a doctoral research degree: the culmination of three or four years of full-time work towards producing an original contribution to your academic field. Your PhD dissertation can therefore seem like quite a daunting possibility, with a hefty word count, the pressure of writing something new and, of ...
How Long Is a PhD Thesis?
However, from the analysis of over 100 PhD theses, the average thesis length is between 80,000 and 100,000 words. A further analysis of 1000 PhD thesis shows the average number of pages to be 204. In reality, the actual word count for each PhD thesis will depend on the specific subject and the university it is being hosted by.
How long is a dissertation?
An undergraduate dissertation is typically 8,000-15,000 words. A master's dissertation is typically 12,000-50,000 words. A PhD thesis is typically book-length: 70,000-100,000 words. However, none of these are strict guidelines - your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided ...
Finding theses
If you can't find the thesis you're looking for, we suggest contacting the relevant faculty office. Theses from other Australian and New Zealand universities. Find a thesis from other Australian or New Zealand universities by searching: Australian theses via Trove; Libraries Australia for Higher Degree theses awarded from 1989 onwards
Average length of PhD dissertations by major : r/dataisbeautiful
Many dissertations are as long as a standard book. 900 pages is larger than most books. Reply reply More replies. 3.2K votes, 760 comments. 21M subscribers in the dataisbeautiful community. DataIsBeautiful is for visualizations that effectively convey….
How do I find Australian theses?
Theses completed for higher research degrees (PhD, Masters or Honours) form an important body of original research. There are a number of places you can search for Australian theses, we have outlined the three main sources for you below. National Library collection While the Library holds a selection of theses presented to Australian universities, we do not have a comprehensive collection. To ...