The following pages provide details on the preparation and deposit of your thesis, at both initial submission stage and then for the final thesis post-examination. For more information on the expected format of thesis and referencing system in your subject area, please refer to your subject Handbook.
As you prepare for your initial submission, please look out for training opportunities through the Researcher Development Programme which will support you in preparing the e-version of your thesis.
Submission of theses for Examination
PhD Researchers will be required to electronically submit a PDF copy of the thesis for examination. Should your examiners require a soft-bound copy of your thesis we will email you so that you can arrange for the thesis to be printed and delivered to the Doctoral College.
You should also submit your thesis through TurnitIn plagiarism detection software via Blackboard (under 'Courses' then 'PhD Researcher Turnitin'). Once you have the output report from TurnitIn, please upload both this and your PDF thesis into the 'Submissions and Examinations' tab on PhD Manager.
You can find a comprehensive guide on how to do this in the Guides, section 9, on PhD Manager.
Submitting early?
The minimum period of registration for full-time researchers is two and a half years and for part-time researchers it is four years. If you plan to submit before your normal registration period is up (e.g. three years for full-time and six years for part-time), you may apply for early submission.
This requires your supervisory team to make a statement to the effect that your work, in their opinion, meets the levels of effort and contribution to knowledge expected of a PhD thesis.
They may wish to include rationale as to why you have managed to submit earlier than the period stipulated.
This case will be reviewed by the Doctoral College and, if approved, your viva preparations will be progressed.
Researchers Pool
On submission of your thesis for examination, you will be eligible to sign up for the Researchers Pool, which the University will use to use to fill short-term Research Assistant positions.
The purpose in establishing this pool is mainly to enhance the employability of PhD researchers who have recently been awarded a PhD or submitted their thesis for examination.
Full details on how to apply to join the pool are available on the HR webpages - just search for Researchers Pool.
Final submission of theses
Once the Board of Examiners is satisfied that you have met the requirements of the award and any amendments have been approved by the Internal Examiner, you should submit, on PhD Manager, one final electronic version, in PDF format.
In addition, you should ensure that you and your supervisors have completed all parts of the Deposit of Data and Samples workflow, the Reassignment of Intellectual property Rights Workflow and the Ulster EThesis Deposit Agreement workflow on PhD Manager.
You can view the progress of each by clicking into the sections on PhD Manager.
Again, there are comprehensive guides available in the Guides section of PhD Manager.
When uploading your final thesis please ensure it is labelled as YearSurnameInitialDegree, e.g. 2021BloggsJPhD.
