Frequently Asked Questions
UWS Digital Theses Q & A
Q: What are the benefits of submitting my thesis electronically?
A: In the past, it was difficult to access print only copies of theses and the potential benefits of wide-spread access to research conducted at universities remained untapped. Now that Australian universities are committed to building digital theses collections, your thesis will enjoy high online visibility and will be accessed by research communities around the world. This will potentially lead to enhanced employment prospects and increased professional standing.
Q: How can I submit my thesis electronically?
A: All postgraduate research theses should be submitted in digital format to the Office of the Academic Registrar. When submitting a thesis, a Right of Access to Thesis form must be completed and sent with the final document. Theses can either be sent electronically as a collection of pdf files by email to HDRexams@uws.edu.au, or posted on CD-ROM to the Postgraduate Research Officer (Exams), Office of the Academic Registrar, Room K.1.39, Building K, Kingswood, NSW 2747.
It is not currently possible for students at University of Western Sydney to submit their thesis electronically via a web form, however the Office of Research Services and the Library are developing a process to allow online electronic submission of theses.
Q: What about copyright and plagiarism if it is available electronically?
A: Check out the University of Western Sydney's Policy on Intellectual Property. You can also find more information under Standards > Copyright and the FAQs for Authors and Readers on the main ADT website.
Q: Do I have to ask my supervisor before submitting?
A: When you have completed the submission process you need to fill in a form which advises of the access to your thesis. This form is available as a link from the UWS Digital Theses page on the Library website, or from the Library Collection Development and Access Policy webpage.
Q: Will I be able to publish the results of my thesis commercially if open-access is available via the UWS Research Repository?
A: It is recommended that students contact individual publishers directly to answer this query before submitting, as publishers may respond in different ways. You can also find information about publishing agreements and publishers' open access policies in the OAKList Database.
Q: How do I create a PDF copy of my thesis?
A: Your thesis can be converted from a word processing file format to a PDF (Portable Document Format) file using Adobe Acrobat software.
