The material comprising the bulk of the work for the thesis will be the subject of an oral presentation by the candidate approximately three months prior to the intended date of submission (the timing is at the discretion of the Chair). The presentation will be advertised within the University. The presentation will be evaluated by the members of the candidate's supervisory panel. The panel should, where appropriate, be supplemented by other members of ANU academic staff at the discretion of the committee chair. At the conclusion of the oral presentation, the panel will provide a written report on whether the candidate has demonstrated
A copy of the written report will be provided to the candidate and a copy will be placed on the candidate's file.
In cases where the committee has serious concerns about whether the candidate has complied with the University's rules and policies relating to candidature or whether the work will meet the standards of a PhD thesis, the panel will have the discretion to provide a special report to the Dean of the College in which the candidate is enrolled.
The preparation of PhD students for public presentation will occur throughout their candidature with similar, though less formal presentations, at different stages of their training. Specific training for, and experience in preparing for presentations, will be given by all Colleges.
The format will be a one hour presentation plus question time. The presentation is to include the major objectives, content, results, and conclusions of the work. One month prior to the presentation the student will submit a 2-5 page summary of the material to the panel.
The submission and examination of the thesis will be independent of the oral presentation and current arrangements and procedures relating to the submission and examination of the thesis can remain in place. The report of the panel from the oral presentation will not be provided to the examiners of thesis.
Supervisors will continue to be asked to sign a declaration that the student has reached a point in the candidature where it is appropriate to submit the thesis.
In cases where there are dissenting recommendations from examiners the Head of Department and Dean may refer to the report from the oral presentation to assist them in their deliberations about the outcome of the examination.
A supplement to the PhD Testamur will be introduced in 2009 across Australia, as a response to the Bologna recommendations. The oral presentation will be added to ANU students' supplement.
It is proposed that all HDR students commencing in 2008 and beyond be required to give an oral presentation as described above. Students who are presently enrolled in an HDR program may choose to make a presentation but it is not a requirement