Masters Thesis Examination Policy

• The Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator should consult with the supervisor to identify a set of possible examiners, both external and internal. The supervisor(s) may first enquire of the possible examiners whether they would be willing to examine the thesis, but should make clear that the appointment of the examiner will be done by the HoS .

• The HoS, in conjunction with the Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator, should decide on examiners from this list (or go back to the supervisor(s) for further options if they do not approve any of the suggested examiners).

• The thesis should be sent/given to the examiners who write independent reports, sent back to the Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator (or to the HoS if the Thesis Coordinator is the internal examiner or supervisor).

• When the examiners' reports have been received, the Thesis Coordinator passes copies of the reports to the supervisor(s).

• The supervisor(s) may, if he/she wishes, write a supervisor's report within three days.

• The Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator circulates the examiners' reports and the supervisor's report (if the supervisor chooses to write one) to the School Graduate Committee usually including the Head of School and the internal examiner.

• The Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator convenes a meeting of the graduate committee. The Thesis Coordinator should normally present a draft recommendation to this committee. If there is agreement between the examiners, and the supervisor either did not write a report or merely supports the examiners reports, the meeting may be pro forma (even via email). If there are significant disagreements, the committee will decide how to resolve the disagreements and make a final recommendation. They may ask the supervisor or examiners for additional information if appropriate, seek an independent academic's advice, or seek Associate Dean's advice.

• The Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator conveys the recommendation of the committee to the HoS and the supervisor. Note that the supervisor has the right to speak to the HoS (or the Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator) about the recommendation before the recommendation is passed to the faculty.

• The Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator prepares a memo, signed by HoS, and sends it to the Faculty Office.

• The Postgraduate Thesis Coordinator, in conjunction with the Faculty Office, should write an email to the student for possible changes, if any, and ask him/her to submit a soft copy of the thesis to the School. This email should usually be copied to the supervisors.

• This policy is subject to, and should be read in conjunction with, the VUW Master's by Thesis policy.