Process and outcomes

Learn about the process for determining your grade and the possible outcomes of the examination of your thesis.

Master's Thesis Examination Timeframe

The examination process, from submission to completion, typically takes between three to six months but it may take longer, especially over the end of the year summer break. During the period that you are "under examnation", you will not pay fees, and you remain an enrolled student and retain access to University systems. If you have not received any communication about your result after six months, contact the FGR Exams Team for an update.

Examiner Reports

After your submission is approved by the FGR Examinations Team, your examiners are notified and given access to your thesis/portfolio. The status during this stage in Panoho will show as “Waiting for Examiners”.

How your Master’s thesis grade is determined

Your thesis grade is decided through a formal academic process involving examiners and your School.

Step 1: Examiners assess your thesis

Your thesis is sent to two examiners. Each examiner reads your thesis and independently writes a report. They also make a recommendation to the grade and outcome. At completion of the Examination Outcome, you will receive the examiners’ reports, but not their individual recommendations.

Step 2: Your School reviews the reports

A group in your School, called the School Research Committee (SRC) reviews the examiner reports, considers the recommended outcomes, and recommends a final result to the Associate Dean, Postgraduate Research in your Faculty. If the examiners recommend the same grade, the School Research Committee will normally accept this.

If the examiners have different views, the SRC will discuss the reports, ask examiners to clarify their reasoning and invite them to reach agreement on a final grade. If needed, the SRC may take additional steps to ensure a fair outcome, such as seeking a supervisor report, appointing a third examiner, and consulting an independent referee

Step 3: Final decision

The Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research) makes the final decision on your thesis grade and outcome, and your level of award for your degree.

Step 4: Understanding your grade

In rare cases, usually where the examiners did not come to an agreement, the final grade may not be clearly explained by the examiners’ reports. If this happens, you will receive a written explanation of how the decision was made

Key points to remember
  • Your grade is based on the thesis as it was submitted for examination
  • More than one academic is involved in deciding your result
  • If there is disagreement, extra steps are taken to ensure a fair outcome
  • The final decision is made after careful review at several levels

Examination Outcome

When this stage is complete, you will receive an email from Panoho with your examination outcome, including your results and access to your examiners reports. You can also see the result in Panoho by going to the Examination Outcome form in your Exam Record and checking the FGR Examinations Approval Group decision in the Assessment block on the right-hand side.

The four examination outcomes

  1. Pass with no amendments required This outcome means your thesis or portfolio has been accepted as submitted. You may proceed directly to depositing your work in the University Library and completing the final steps for your degree.
  2. Pass with minor amendments required In this case, examiners typically request small editorial changes such as correcting errors, adding missing citations, or making slight clarifications. “Minor” amendments can include small content adjustments, but the awarded grade will not change after corrections are made. If you are unsure about what is required, discuss the examiner comments with your supervisor as soon as possible. Agree on a timeline for completing the amendments—especially if you have deadlines for graduation, employment, a scholarship, or a visa. Some Schools have internal processes for approving amendments, so check with your School Postgraduate Administrator if you’re unsure. You can find the deadline for your amendments in your Checkpoints in Panoho. When you are ready, submit your amended thesis in the Amendments form in Panoho. This will flow to your supervisor for approval.
  3. Revise and resubmit This outcome means the thesis or portfolio does not pass in its current form, but the examiners and SRC believe it can reach a passing standard with further work. You will revise your thesis or portfolio under supervision during a period of re‑registration (up to a maximum of four months full‑time or equivalent). A revised submission must undergo formal re‑examination, usually by the same examiners unless exceptional circumstances apply.
  4. Fail In this very rare outcome, the thesis or portfolio is judged unsatisfactory, and the candidate is not permitted to resubmit it for re‑assessment. This almost never occurs at a first examination, and your supervisor is the best person to advise you if this situation arises.