On Thursday, March 7, 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
Aim for 8 months prior to completion
Allow time for your supervisors’ review
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
• Trail 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 breakPost Viva
• Ensure you know how and when to re-join the examiners
• Have someone on hand post viva
• Outcome Report notified after Research Degrees Board approval
Examiner Recommendations
• Awarded degree
• Award subject to amendments (up to 3 months)
• Re-Examination: Revise and resubmit
• Award alternative degree
•Fail
Post Viva
• Formal notification via eDoc
• Reviewing modifications can take time
• E-thesis submission
• Conferral dates [01/mm/2023]
• Graduation deadlines
• Certificates
• IT access – prepare for loss of access
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
