Theses
Thesis collection
It is compulsory for all Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates to submit a digital copy of their thesis for conferral of the degree; as appropriate, a printed version may also be submitted. Printed copies will be predominantly used for examination purposes and are required at the discretion of the examiners (see HDR Examination Procedures).
Digital thesis submission (following examination) is compulsory for research components of postgraduate coursework awards (see Research Components of Postgraduate Coursework Awards Policy).
See the Digital thesis submission guide for comprehensive information about submitting your final thesis to the Library after examination at Flinders University.
Print bound copies of HDR theses (Masters by Research, PhD and Doctorates) awarded prior to 2014 from Flinders University are held in Universities' Research Repository of South Australia (URRSA) pursuant to University Regulations.
Many Honours theses are also held in URRSA .
Digital Thesis Collection
Flinders University maintains a digital repository for HDR theses produced by its students. From 2014 submission of digital theses is mandatory. The full text of theses uploaded by graduating students are made available on open access via the library web site and are freely searchable via Google.
The advantages of open access to Australian theses include:
• The research has a global audience, and students gain world wide exposure and recognition
• More immediate access to research findings is available
• Access is independent of time, place and computer system/platform
• Theses are protected from physical damage or loss
Depositing your thesis
At the conclusion of the examination of it is mandatory to deposit a copy of your thesis in digital format to the Flinders University institutional repository.
Instructions for submitting your HDR and Postgraduate Coursework award thesis can be found in the digital thesis submission guide
You will be required to convert your existing word-processor or other files into the appropriate standard format for the project. The standard format for theses on the web is PDF (Adobe – Portable Document Format).
Unless otherwise approved theses accepted for the award of a degree and uploaded to the University’s digital repository shall be available for open access.
You may request to embargo (restrict) all access to your thesis for a period up to 36 months at the point of thesis submission.
Further enquiries regarding electronic theses should be directed to copyright@flinders.edu.au.
Conditions of access
Higher Degree by Research theses
From 2014 it is compulsory for all Higher Degree by Research candidates to submit a digital copy for conferral of the degree; as appropriate, a printed version may also be submitted. The digital copy of the thesis will be the authoritative copy. Printed copies, however, will predominantly be used for examination purposes, although examiners may request a digital copy from the Faculty instead.
Open access and restrictions
For Higher Degree by Research theses
Unless otherwise approved by the Dean of Graduate Research in accordance with the provisions of Clause 15.3 of the HDR Examinations Procedures, theses accepted for the award of a degree and uploaded to the University’s digital repository shall be available for open access.
An author can apply to the Dean of Graduate Research for an embargo for a period of up to 3 years from the date the University approved the award of the degree.
Please contact the Office of Graduate Research, hdr.exams@flinders.edu.au for more information about embargoes.
Research Components of Postgraduate Coursework Awards
Research Components of Postgraduate Coursework Awards Policy states that 'once the examination process is completed the candidate is responsible for uploading the research component to the University's digital repository in digital format. This will be the authoritative copy of the research component.'
Open access and restrictions
For Research Components of Postgraduate Coursework Awards
The digital copy will be available for open access, unless otherwise exempted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or delegate.
Honours theses
Honours theses are not covered by the HDR Examination Procedures. When Honours Theses are held in the Thesis Collection, however, the same loan conditions apply as to HDR theses, that is, one copy is available for loan at URRSA, while the second copy (if any) is available for loan from the general collection. The same 3-year restrictions on access may be placed on Honours Theses if the author specifically requests this in writing.
Thesis loans
Where theses are available for loan, the loan period is generally four weeks. Theses available for loan are shelved in the general collection and/or stored at URRSA. Please note the location for individual items. Please contact URRSA for more information.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
Ph: 1300 354 633 (Select 3)
Email: library@flinders.edu.au
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