Notes for Examiners of Doctor of Education Theses

Overview 

• Matters pertaining to the EdD degree are the responsibility of the Research Graduate School Committee which reports to the University's Academic Board.

• Monash's EdD program is a research driven degree oriented to the improvement of professional practice by extending the knowledge, expertise and skill of students through the application of research to educational problems and issues.

Final assessment of a candidate's EdD program comprises three components:

1. coursework component of four doctoral level subjects representing nine months full-time equivalent work. The subjects are completed satisfactorily before the thesis is submitted.
2. A thesis of no more than 65,000 words, representing twenty-seven months of full-time equivalent work. This is preceded by the candidate preparing and presenting a research proposal.
3. A seminar in the Faculty of Education, held after the thesis has been successfully examined, demonstrating the ways in which the study contributes to professional practice.

• While the standard of argument required in an EdD thesis is of equal depth to a traditional PhD thesis, the EdD thesis is shorter and therefore the scope of the discussion is necessarily more limited. As with the PhD candidates, EdD candidates are required to create knowledge in an academically rigorous way with appropriate transparency in the framing and procedures of the work conducted, well-grounded argumentation and critical reflection but, with specific attention and consideration of the implications of the work for professional practice.

• Two examiners are invited to examine the thesis and to give clear advice on specific aspects of the thesis. Examiners are asked to tick the appropriate statement(s) on the accompanying report form. Recommendation 2(ii) should be made only when the examiner can specify amendments so precisely that the Chair of the Research Degrees Committee's decision is essentially a simple matter of fact. Examiners should be aware that, under this University's system, the Chair will not usually be familiar with the thesis as a whole. He/she will usually not, for example, have served on a supervisory panel for the candidate. Hence, it is not appropriate to require the Chair to adjudicate when judgements about the success of amendments depend on an appreciation of their role in the overall argument of the thesis. In such cases, option 2(iii) is the appropriate recommendation. More detailed comments should be made in Section 4 of the report.

• The thesis is forwarded to an examiner in confidence. An examiner is under an obligation to maintain confidentiality and in no circumstances should an examiner discuss the thesis with a third party without the prior approval of the Research Graduate School Committee.

• An examiner may request the University to obtain clarification of specific points in the thesis from the candidate. Such requests should be made through the Monash Research Graduate School.

• The degree is awarded by the Research Graduate School Committee, on the advice of the Faculty Board, following the successful completion of the three components of the EdD program mentioned above namely, coursework units, thesis and the faculty seminar.

The examination process

Examiners are informed that the EdD program is a research-driven degree oriented to the improvement of professional practice by extending the knowledge, expertise and skill of students through the application of research to educational problems and issues. The assessment for the award of the EdD degree is based on three distinct components, the successful completion of coursework subjects, the thesis and a faculty seminar. The thesis should contribute to the improvement of practice and professional development within the education sector. The faculty seminar is a forum for the candidate to display links between the research and the profession as well as to the candidate's own professional development through the research process itself.

Length of Theses

EdD theses would not generally exceed 65,000 words.

Appointment of examiners

It is required that of the two external examiners nominated, one is an academic and the other an appropriately qualified professional practitioner. Some examiners will have expertise in both areas.

Length of examination

• On being invited to examine a thesis, examiners are given an initial deadline for reporting. Examiners  are asked to complete within eight weeks.

• Examiners are also requested to contact the Monash Research Graduate School if they anticipate a delay in submitting a report beyond the given deadline. If a report is not received within two weeks of the deadline indicated in the invitation letter, a reminder will be sent.

• If the examiners are not unanimous in passing a thesis, further time may be spent for example, in adjudication by a third person or in seeking further responses from the candidate. In these circumstances candidates should not expect a rapid notification of the result.

Contact with examiners

• Students under examination are instructed that they cannot contact the examiners directly during the examination process.

• Supervisors are also cautioned not to contact the examiners with regard to a particular examination, except when advised by the committee to do so.

• If an examiner wishes to seek clarification on aspects of the thesis before submitting his/her report, a request may be made through the examinations unit of the Monash Research Graduate School.

Further information 

A more detailed explanation of thesis and examination matters is available in the Handbook Chapter 7, and The Monash University Doctorate Regulations - Chapter 12.