Submitting your thesis
How to prepare and how to submit your doctoral thesis for examination in Panoho.
A doctoral degree represents at least 3 years of full-time study at an advanced level. You must have been registered (i.e., not on suspension) for a minimum of 36 months full-time (or equivalent) before your thesis can be submitted for examination.
Three months before you plan to submit, inform your Victoria supervisor and your School. This allows time for your supervisor to nominate and get approval for the examiners. You will need to give your supervisor an abstract of your thesis to send to potential examiners. Getting examiners approved before submission helps avoid delays.
Around three months before you plan to submit:
- Check that you are currently registered and will have been registered for the three months immediately prior to submission. Contact the FGR Student Adviser team if you need to discuss your registration.
- Inform your Victoria supervisor of your intention to submit in advance and discuss how long they need to review your final draft. Your supervisory team may ask you to make changes to your thesis before they approve your submission.
- Save a PDF of your Abstract.
- In Panoho, create an examination record and complete the Notice of Intention to Submit form. You must submit this form to enable your supervisor to appoint your examiners.
- Consider the University’s guidelines on presentation of your thesis.
- Read the University’s guidelines for including publications in a doctoral thesis. You will be asked about publications when you complete your Thesis Submission form in Panoho.
- Check your thesis length. If required, submit a Permission to Exceed the Word Limit form in Panoho.
- Check the expectations around thesis availability. If required, apply for a Thesis Embargo in Panoho.
Submitting your thesis in Panoho
You should submit a PDF of your thesis via the Thesis Submission form in Panoho by the deadline (see the table above). (You must have created your Examination Record and the Notice of Intention to Submit must have been completed before the Thesis Submission form can open).
Your supervisor will be asked to support your submission in Panoho. Then the FGR Exams Team will update your Student Record and you will be notified by email that your submission is complete. You can also track the progress of your exam in Panoho.
Once your submission is approved and completed, you can download a Confirmation of Submission for Examination letter from Panoho. This document can be used to support a Post-Study Work Visa application if needed.
If you submit by the deadline, it will be considered on time, even if your supervisor’s approval is delayed.
On the final day of your registration, you will receive an automated email advising that access to University resources will end in 28 days. The Exams Team will update your status to “under examination” before your access is affected, ensuring continued access to University systems throughout the examination period and for 28 days after your thesis is deposited in the Library.