Final submission & graduation
Information on the final submission process and graduation.
At the end of the examination process, PhD and MPhil students are required to submit the final version of their thesis to the College Office Postgraduate Section in order to meet the requirements to be awarded with their degree.
College Office postgraduate section
Final submission documentation checklist
Students are required to submit the following Final Submission Documentation to the College Office in order to become eligible to be awarded and graduate:
- Thesis submission for examination is now electronic only; all PGR theses are submitted to the College PGR Office (not the IGS office). The University's DataSync file hosting service is the preferred method for submission of the electronic version. For more information please check the How to submit tab here.
- Every student must incorporate a signed declaration in the thesis. The declaration must state: (a) that the thesis has been composed by the candidate, and (b) either that the work is the candidate's own, or, if the candidate has been a member of a research group, that the candidate has made a substantial contribution to the work, such contribution being clearly indicated, and (c) that the work has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification except as specified. Students must ensure the declaration has been signed and dated by themselves. You can find more information here.
- One electronic version, submitted on to PURE. You should go Pure at www.pure.ed.ac.uk and log-in via EASE. Further information about this is available on the College SharePoint. Please note that you are not required to submit a declaration form when submitting via PURE.
- One completed Access to a Thesis form. If you require your thesis to be restricted, the form must be signed by the Deputy Head of Graduate School. If you are unsure if access to your thesis should be restricted, speak to your supervisor. You must sign the second page of this form even if the thesis is not to be restricted.
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One completed Abstract of Thesis form. This must be completed on one side of A4 only (see example abstract form). Please note, if the abstract does not initially fit on the form, the form can be reformatted (i.e. the size of the font can be changed and unnecessary lines deleted) - see Reformatted Abstract form.
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One completed Lay Summary of Thesis Form The thesis must include a lay summary, which is not counted in the word count. The lay summary must be no longer than can be accommodated in single space type on one side only of a single form obtainable from the College Office. Lay summaries should conform to the requirements of the Regulatory Standards for the Format and Binding of a Thesis. In addition, the lay summary should be incorporated at the beginning of each copy of the thesis. Guidance for Lay Summary
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Provide College Office with a current mailing address. The College Office will send your award letter to the address you have provided on your EUCLID record listed as 'contact/ term-time address'. If this address is not correct then it is your responsibility to update this information. You can do so via the Student Personal Details channel on MyEd. Please see the following link for instructions on how to do this:
Graduation
When you have received your Award letter from the College Office you are then eligible to graduate during the next graduation diet. You must register to graduate at least 21 days before the Graduation diet begins.
Please note, there is a deadline for registering to graduate - usually 21 days before the first graduation day of the graduation diet. There is no registration fee for graduation (regardless of whether you will be attending or not). If you do not register in time, you will automatically be registered to 'graduate in absentia' (not attending the ceremony).
Further information on Graduations can be found on the Student Administration 'Graduations' pages. If you have any questions about Graduations please contact the Graduations team: graduations@ed.ac.uk
Student Administration graduation pages
Useful links
Postgraduate Assessment Regulations for Research Degrees
Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students
Graduations - Student Administration
Plagiarism prevention and detection - Information Services