The Thesis

Guidelines, Formatting, Traditional & by Publication, Examination, Resources

Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health

THE THESIS: Guidelines, Format, Traditional & by Publication, Examination, Resources

1. Sydney Medical Schools Submitting a Thesis Guidelines ......................................... 2 Options for thesis submission ......................................................................................... 2 Timing of thesis submission ............................................................................................ 2 Selection of examiners .................................................................................................... 2 Types of thesis examination ............................................................................................ 2 Preparing for submission of the thesis ............................................................................ 2 The examination process ................................................................................................ 2 Possible examination outcomes ...................................................................................... 2 Deferment of public availability of theses ........................................................................ 2 Submission of corrected thesis ....................................................................................... 2 Continuation of borrowing privileges after submission of thesis ..................................... 2 2. 3. Whats in a Thesis traditional format .......................................................................... 2 Thesis by publication: a summary of resources .......................................................... 3 Examples of Theses by publication available to view ..................................................... 3 Sydney Medical Schools Thesis Guide (includes FAQs) ............................................... 3 School of Public Health resources .................................................................................. 4 Academic Board Rule ...................................................................................................... 4 4. 5. SUPRA Thesis Guide ....................................................................................................... 4 Getting ready to submit your thesis .............................................................................. 5 Edit the thesis carefully! .................................................................................................. 5 Early submission of thesis ............................................................................................... 5 Submitting and re-enrolling ............................................................................................. 5 Notice of intention to submit ............................................................................................ 5 Book Binding / Printing .................................................................................................... 6 6. Dealing with examiners reports .................................................................................... 7 Award without further examination .................................................................................. 7 Typographical errors ....................................................................................................... 7 Subject to specified emendations ................................................................................... 7 7. 8. 9. Academic Board Rule ...................................................................................................... 9 Theses@Sydney, University of Sydney Library ........................................................... 9 Copyright and your thesis .............................................................................................. 9

10. Other useful websites...................................................................................................... 9

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1.

Sydney Medical Schools Submitting a Thesis Guidelines

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/current-students/essential-information/research-students/submitthesis.php

These guidelines have been developed to help students, supervisors and postgraduate coordinators in the preparation of PhD theses for examination, the selection of examiners, and in ensuring the timely examination of the thesis.

Options for thesis submission Timing of thesis submission Selection of examiners Types of thesis examination Preparing for submission of the thesis The examination process Possible examination outcomes Deferment of public availability of theses Submission of corrected thesis Continuation of borrowing privileges after submission of thesis

2.

Whats in a Thesis traditional format

Getting it right from the startwhats in a thesis? An excellent introduction to the traditional thesis format; presented to new postgraduate research students at the combined Westmead Induction session.
http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/chw/current-student/postgrad-by-research/gettingitrightfromthestart.pdf

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Thesis by publication: a summary of resources

Examples of Theses by publication available to view

Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health Thesis by publication held in the Library at Childrens Hospital at Westmead Biphosphonate therapy in distraction osteogenesis by David Little (2004) Theses by publication held in Fisher Library, Sydney University Body composition and abdominal fat in healthy Australian children by Sarah Garnett (2006) Supervisors Louise Baur, Chris Cowell Quantification of the requirement for Glucocorticoid therapy. Investigation of glucocorticoid therapy in children with hypopituitarum and post cardiac bypass surgery by Ann Maguire (2009) Supervisors Chris Cowell, Geoff Ambler, Mark McLean Myocardial protection in children with congenital heart disease by Meredith Sheil (2006) Supervisors David Celermajer, Gary Sholler School of Public Health Theses by publication held in Fisher Library, Sydney University Psychosocial variables in the development of breast cancer, by Melanie Anne Price Social Determinants of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) by Alan Cass Tobacco industry communication strategies: an Australian analysis of tobacco industry documents and other sources by Stacy Carter. Risky driving and car crash injury by Stephanie Blows. Visual impairment in Australian school children : prevalence, causes and associations by Dana Robaei Driver distraction and road crashes, by Dr Suzanne McEvoy Sureshkumar P, Cumming RC, Craig JC. Validity and reliability of parental report of frequency, seveity and risk factors of urinary tract infection and urinary incontinence in children. The Journal of Urology 2006; 175, 2254-2262. [one journal in the chapter format by Premala Sureshkumar] Cold thermal processing in the spinal cord by Paul Wrigley [not Public Health but others have found it useful]

Sydney Medical Schools Thesis Guide (includes FAQs)

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/current-students/pdfs/thesis_by_publication.pdf

In some cases most of the work in the thesis will have already been published in recognised peer reviewed form. If a thesis is submitted for examination in this setting, the examiner should assess whether the thesis demonstrates that the candidature has been responsibly planned as an integrated project. The publications should represent elements of a connected whole, as they would, for example, as chapters in a thesis in advance of publication. Verification of this will be evidenced by the postgraduate co-ordinator, who will provide a statement with the thesis certifying the extent of the candidate's contribution and input to the published work. In such cases the examiners are asked to comment on whether the extent of the student's contribution and the stature of the publications are appropriate for the award of the degree. Please note that only published works relating to research undertaken while the candidate is enrolled for the degree can be included in the thesis. If the candidate is not the sole author, signed statements must be obtained from all the coauthors attesting to the contributions of each co-author to the publication. These statements must be included in the bound thesis when submitted for examination.

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If the candidate chooses to include one or more published works in the body of the thesis, the candidate must ensure that the thesis is a consistent and unified whole, prepared specifically for the submission of examination for the degree. The candidate needs to critically place any published works used in the body of the thesis in the context of the appropriate field of study and in the context of the thesis as a whole. The thesis should have an introductory chapter (which would normally take the form of a literature review) and a concluding chapter, pulling all of the thesis chapters and publications together, discussion of potential limitations of the work, and future directions for research.

School of Public Health resources

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/public-health/current/research/resources/thesis.php http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/public-health/current/research/thesis_guide.pdf Thesis by publication, how to structure your paper, how to get the paper written (Les Irwig) - PDF

Academic Board Rule

http://sydney.edu.au/ab/policies/PhD_Theses_Published_Wk.pdf

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SUPRA Thesis Guide

A guide to writing a long essay, treatise, dissertation or thesis at the University of Sydney. It contains many tips and ideas for writing the thesis as well as explaining all the relevant University policy.
http://www.supra.usyd.edu.au/assets/file/Publications/SUPRAthesisguide.pdf

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Getting ready to submit your thesis

It is the students responsibility to ensure that he/she has met the University and Sydney Medical Schools guidelines for formatting and presentation of the thesis. Refer to the Sydney Medical School website http://www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/current-students/essential-information/researchstudents/submit-thesis.php

Edit the thesis carefully!

The student should ensure his/her supervisors have ample time to comment on the thesis before the proposed submission date (usually about six months is required). In addition, it is preferable that someone other than the student and supervisor carefully check for typographical errors and for layout before submission. Sloppy referencing and failure to check / update references after corrections are a common error and annoys examiners. Check references as a final step pre-submission. Professional Editors / Proof readers of a thesis can be used. Students must refer to the University policy http://sydney.edu.au/ab/Proof-reading_editing_theses.pdf . A list of professional proof readers sourced from the Australian Science Communicators is available at the Disciplines website.

Early submission of thesis

Students are required to submit their thesis for examination after a minimum length of candidature. In exceptional circumstances (eg evidence has been produced of exceptional progress), a student enrolled for less than the minimum length of candidature can submit their thesis. The form to complete http://sydney.edu.au/ab/committees/PhD_award/phd_award_forms.shtml

Submitting and re-enrolling

If submitting the thesis for examination before the HECS census date (31 March for semester 1 and 31 August for semester 2), students are not required to re-enrol. However, if the thesis is not ready to be submitted and the latest date for submission is due, students must request an extension before re-enrolment and before the census date. The Candidature Changes form to request an extension is available http://www.medfac.usyd.edu.au/current-students/enrolment-variations/research/candidature-changes.php The form must be signed by the Postgraduate Co-ordinator.

Notice of intention to submit

Students should provide three months notice of their intention to submit (and the form of submission ie electronic or paper) to their primary supervisor and the Postgraduate Coordinator pgmail@chw.edu.au . Examiners are arranged by the supervisor in this time prior to submission of the thesis.

Form to lodge with the thesis

The student is to arrange for their supervisor to complete a Statement by Supervisor on Submission of Doctoral Thesis form. This form requires the signatures of the student, supervisor and Postgraduate Co-ordinator. Masters students are to use this form although the form is titled PhD students. Students must not assume that their supervisor and the Postgraduate Co-ordinator will be available to sign the form the day the thesis is being submitted to Student Services, Sydney Medical School.
http://www.usyd.edu.au/ab/committees/PhD_award/phd_award_forms.shtml

Students should inform the Postgraduate Research Administrative Officer when the thesis has been submitted.

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Book Binding / Printing

Suggested printers only: University Copy Centre, Shop 2, Ground Level, Sports & Aquatic Centre, University of Sydney Phone: 9351 4582 Fax: 9351 5566 http://sydney.edu.au/ups/ucc/ Allbook Bindery 91 Ryedale Rd, West Ryde Phone/Fax: (02) 9807 6026 All States Bookbinding Pty Ltd 9/13-15 Burrows Road South, St Peters NSW 2044 Phone: 9565 5010 Les Baddock & Sons 6-8 McGill St, Lewisham Phone: (02) 9560 9222 Fax: (02) 9569 2221 L J Cullen Bookbinders Phone: (02) 9772 3200 Sussex Book Binding 3 Jupiter St, Winston Hills Phone/Fax: (02) 9639 3647

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Dealing with examiners reports

Reference: http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/current-students/essential-information/research-students/submitthesis.php

Once the thesis has been assessed by the examiners, Student Services, Sydney Medical School will email the examiners reports and a recommendation from the Board of Postgraduate Studies in Dentistry, Medicine & Pharmacy, to the student (copy to the supervisor). Any examined copies of the thesis which have been returned by the examiners are forwarded to the supervisor by Student Services.

Award without further examination

The degree has been awarded. For the degree to be conferred, the student must submit a bound, corrected thesis on acid free paper to Student Services, Sydney Medical School, Faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Room 230, Edward Ford Building, The University of Sydney NSW 2006. The student should inform their supervisor and the Postgraduate Co-ordinator (pgmail@chw.edu.au) when this has been submitted. Student Services will contact the Universitys Graduation Office. The latter office will contact the student directly with details of the next graduation ceremony.

Typographical errors
Awarded subject to typographical errors. The examiners reports will be sent to the student and supervisor by Student Services. For the degree to be conferred, the student must make the typographical changes then email their supervisor and the Postgraduate Co-ordinator that the thesis has been corrected. The supervisor is to email the Postgraduate Co-ordinator that he/she confirms the corrections have been made to his/her satisfaction. The Postgraduate Co-ordinator then informs Student Services, Sydney Medical School, Faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy, that the corrections have been made. The student is to submit a bound copy of the corrected thesis on acid free paper to Student Services, Sydney Medical School, Faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Room 230, Edward Ford Building, The University of Sydney NSW 2006. Student Services will contact the Universitys Graduation Office. The latter office will contact the student directly with details of the next graduation ceremony.

Subject to specified emendations

Awarded subject to specified emendations to the thesis as required by one or more of the examiners. The examiners reports will be sent to the student and supervisor by Student Services. The student should discuss the examiners' comments with their supervisor, and identify the changes that both agree should be made. The student is to make the corrections to an electronic copy of the thesis and Prepare a response to the examiners comments. The format of the response is similar to a journal rebuttal ie against a list of the examiners' suggested emendations/comments, state whether the changes have been made, or not. If any of the examiners recommendations are not accepted by the student and supervisor, an explanation is to be provided. The student is to email the response to the examiners comments to the Postgraduate Co-ordinator. The supervisor is to email the Postgraduate Co-ordinator that he/she confirms the corrections have been made to his/her satisfaction. The Postgraduate Co-ordinator informs Student Services, Sydney Medical School that the changes have been made to both his and the supervisors satisfaction. The student is to print the emended thesis on acid free paper and submit a permanently bound copy to Student Services, Sydney Medical School, Faculties of Dentistry & Pharmacy, Room 230, Edward Ford Building, The University of Sydney NSW 2006. This final archival copy of the thesis will be retained by the University Library.

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On receipt of the corrected, permanently bound thesis plus the Postgraduate Coordinators certification that the emendations have been satisfactorily completed, Student Services will contact the Universitys Graduation Office. The Graduation Office will contact the student directly with details of the next graduation ceremony.

Remember
The degree will not be conferred until Student Services, Sydney Medical School, has received the corrected bound thesis (on acid free paper).

Permanent binding
Refer to the University website link below and in particular, Resolutions of the Academic Board relating to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
http://sydney.edu.au/ab/committees/PhD_award/phd_award_index.shtml

Acid free paper

Extract from: Wikipedia, Acid free paper is paper that has a neutral or basic pH (7 or slightly greater). It addresses the problem of preserving documents for long periods. And from the Reflex website on acid free paper: http://www.reflex.com.au/FAQs/ To 'archive' paper simply means to store it, and possibly refer to it, for a long period of time. Acid free paper is likely to be well suited to this process. For greater assurance, there is an international standard to define those paper properties which make paper suitable for storage for long periods. The permanent papers standard - ISO 9706 - to which all Reflex papers (except Reflex 100% Recycled) conform, includes requirements for papers to be alkaline ('acid free') and low in lignin ('lignin free'). Conformance to this standard assures that Reflex can be stored for hundreds of years.

Where can I purchase acid free paper? Most large stationery stores sell acid free paper. See also SUPRA or the University Copy Centre.

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Academic Board Rule

http://sydney.edu.au/ab/policies/PG_PhD.pdf

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Theses@Sydney, University of Sydney Library

Resources available from the University Library website http:/library.usyd.edu.au/theses/

9.

Copyright and your thesis

University of Sydney guidelines http://sydney.edu.au/copyright/students/research.shtml

10. Other useful websites

All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide - A US website with articles devoted to practical strategies for successfully completing your doctorate. http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/

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