Examiner Information

Notes for Examiners

These notes provide an overview of the procedures for examination for the University's doctoral and MPhil degrees.

Doctor of Philosophy

• PhD
• PhD (Speciality of Music Composition)
• PhD (Speciality of Visual Arts)

Doctor of Medicine

• MD (Candidature with supervision)
• MD (Candidature without supervision)

Professional Doctorates

• DBA - Doctor of Business Administration
• DPsych - Doctor of Psychology
• EdD - Doctor of Education
• SJD - Doctor of Juridical Science

Master of Philosophy

• MPhil

Conflict of Interest

To ensure independence of the examination, you should not be nominated as an examiner if you:

• have had any involvement in the student's research, including supervision of the candidate in field or laboratory work or elsewhere during candidature
• have worked in the same department within an institution as the candidate
• have held an appointment as an academic staff member at Monash University, including an honorary academic appointment, during the student’s period of candidature
• hold the position of emeritus or honorary or adjunct professor at this university
• have had substantial contact with the candidate in any other circumstance which might jeopardise the independence of the examination, or
• are a close associate (spouse/partner, other relative, friend or business partner) of either the candidate or the supervisor of the candidate.

For a range of circumstances which can lead to a conflict of interest, please see Chapter 12 Section J of the Handbook for Doctoral and MPhil Degrees - Guidelines on Conflict of Interest for Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Theses

Please contact our staff if you have any concerns about any potential conflict of interest.

Contact during the Examination

Examiners are not permitted to have any direct contact with candidates under examination, nor are they permitted to have any direct contact with supervisors, unless this has been authorsied by the Monash Research Graduate School. Any queries that you have for candidates and/ or supervisors must be communicated to the Examinations staff, who will ensure that they are passed on.

Return of Reports and Thesis

Due Date

Examiners are given 8 weeks to complete their assessment. If you require more time, please inform us so that we can keep the candidate and supervisor updated. 

Report Form

We require both the completed report form and your comments on the thesis before the examination can proceed to the next stage. We prefer the Examiner's Report form to be submitted by email. Alternatively, the form can be faxed, or mailed as a hard copy with the thesis. If your report is late, please email it and send the hard copy by mail.

Email: mrgsexams@adm.monash.edu.au
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9905 5042

Release of Reports

Once both reports have been received, they are sent unedited to the candidate, supervisor and Head of academic unit. Examiner identity is communicated to the candidate when the thesis is initially sent for examination.

Return of Thesis

The thesis copy should be mailed to:

Doctoral Examinations Section
Monash Research Graduate School
Building 3D, Clayton Campus
Monash University VIC 3800
AUSTRALIA

If claiming a postage refund, you must provide an original receipt. Please note that we will only reimburse the cost of standard mail, courier cost will not be reimbursed. Please return thesis by registered post if within Australia and standard airmail if overseas.

If you wish to have a copy of the thesis, you still need to return the copy we sent you as most candidates need to make changes. Let us know that you would like a copy and we will arrange for the candidate to discuss this with you once the examination has concluded.

Examination Outcomes

Chapter 7 of the Handbook for Doctoral and Master of Philosophy Degrees outlines the various examination outcomes and recommendations that may be made to candidates. Please contact our unit's Examinations Officer if you have any queries about policy or procedure.

Honorarium

The honorarium of AU$390 for examination of doctoral thesis and AU$221 for examination of masters thesis will be paid upon receipt of the report. Overseas examiners are issued with a cheque in their local currency or paid directly into their account if banking details, including SWIFT code, are provided. Australian examiners are taxed and need to submit the Tax File Number declaration. Alternatively, examiners with ABNs can invoice us for the full amount + GST.

Contact

Please see our Examinations Contacts page for current details.