On Tuesday, September 17, for the second time this year, I attended a LJMU Doctoral Academy workshop, ‘Preparing for Submission’ :)
Submission Planning
Submit your final draft on the Submission Planning tab from your examination page on eDoc 8 months prior to desired completion date. Allow time, up to 4 weeks, for your supervisors’ review it.
eDoc Guides
Meeting with your supervisory team
Notification of Intention to SubmitRequest an extension to your Thesis Pending
Supervisor’s opinion is advisory and cannot be a guarantee of the final decision of the examiners
Decision to submit rests with you for Submission and Assessment
Thesis Submission
~Electronic Submission via eDoc as a PDF copy
Examiners have 1 month to read the thesis
Lead Supervisor arrange the Viva
No contact with the examiners, instead email: PGRExaminations@ljmu.ac.uk
Appointment of Examiners
• Appointed by a rigorous process
• 1 – 4 weeks
• Internal and external examiners
• Criteria for examiners
• Raising Objections
• Optional: Independent Chair
• Optional: Supervisor
Independent Chair
• Ensure the candidate is examined fairly
• Does not read the thesis or contribute to the final decision
• Facilitates the formalities on the day
• An experienced examiner who can advise on LJMU regulations/policy
• At the request of candidate/ supervisor/ examiners / FRDC / RDB
The LJMU Viva
• In person/video conferencing/hybrid
• Will try to accommodate candidate preference
• Notification of date/time/venue/platform via eDoc
• Special Arrangements
Pre – Viva
• Verify your identity at the beginning of the
Viva
• Copy of your thesis on hand (either on your laptop or print) • Trial run of the connection is essential if online (video, audio, platform) • Prepare your exam space • Exchange contact details
Viva
• Ask questions – either to repeat the question or clarify • Acceptable to ask for a comfort break • Be sure you know how and when to re-join the examiners
Post Viva
• Have someone on hand post viva • Outcome Report notified after Research Degrees Board approval
Examiner Recommendations Options
• Awarded degree • Award degree subject to amendments (up to 3 months to submit revised thesis) • Re-Examination (another viva) may be requested: Revise and resubmit • Award alternative degree (MPhil, which is rare) • Fail (almost unheard of)
Post Viva
• Formal notification of decision via eDoc
• Reviewing modifications can take time
• Make my E-thesis submission
• Conferral dates [01/mm/2025]
• Graduation deadlines
• Certificates • IT access – prepare for loss of access (save all essential emails, eDoc docs, etc
Useful Links
• Policy for the Presentation of Research Theses -> that will help you with word count and presentation: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/the-doctoral-academy/policies/policy-for-the-presentation-of-research-theses
• Policy and Procedures for the Examination of Research Degrees -> that will help you understand the examination process: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/the-doctoral-academy/policies/policy-and-procedures-for-the-examination-of-research-degrees
• eDoc online guides -> that will show you the step by step / different screens you will go through: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/the-doctoral-academy/pgr-project-timeline/online-guides
JOHN MOORES STUDENTS’ UNION ADVICE SERVICE
Provide advice on university related matters, including academic appeals and
complaints.
Academic appeal – ‘material irregularity’ in the assessment process; 10
working day deadline.
See also:
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/the-doctoral-academy/academic-regulations-for-research-
degrees/regulations
Complaint –wider issues with research programme or assessment.
Website: https://www.jmsu.co.uk/advice/university-issues
Student Life Building, book appointment online or email: JMSUadvice@ljmu.ac.uk
Submitting your E-Thesis
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/microsites/library/researcher-engagement-and-outputs/ljmu-e-theses-service
E-Theses service
• Copyright for E-Theses –tutorial
• Restricting your thesis
• Depositing your thesis
Copyright and your Thesis
Copyright and your thesis tutorial Placeholder examples
Restricting access to your thesis
• To embargo or not embargo?
• Reasons
• Thesis content and article publishing
• 12 months or more
Restricting access to your thesis
• If you do embargo-keep a note of end date.
• Extensions to embargoes must be requested at
least one month before expiry.
• https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/the-doctoral-academy/poli
cies/policy-and-procedures-for-depositing-etheses
Example of download statistics
An increase of over 568 more
downloads since the last session!
Access beyond the repository
British Library Ethos e-theses online service ProQuest Dissertations &Theses Global
Publicly available thesis
DOI - 10.24377/LJMU.t.00008909
Thesis with two versions
Embargoed thesis
Permanently embargoed thesis
Questions?
Contact us:
• PGRExaminations@ljmu.ac.uk
Other events/resources for later stage PGRsPublishing for PGRs
11 March, 11:00-12:00
~Writing afternoons
Every Wed afternoon, 13:30-16:00 (online and on campus)
~Job Interview Skills for PGRs
12 March, 11:00-11:45
~~One-day Writing Retreat (Bluecoat, Liverpool)
16 April, 9:30-16:30
7 Reasons you’ll pass your Viva
23 April, 10:00-11:00
Canvas Resources:
~The Good Viva film
~Starting as you mean to go on: Publication Strategies During your PhD and Beyond
~Applying for Research Funding
