Examination, fees and visas

If you are a fee-paying candidate, you need to be mindful of fee liability when you submit for examination. International candidates studying in Australia also need to consider their student visa.

Fee liability

You are not required to pay fees during your examination period, however you (or your sponsor) are liable for fees for each research quarter that you are enrolled in up to submission for examination. If you submit for examination before the census date for the current quarter, you will not be liable for fees for that quarter.

Your thesis/project must be approved by your Senior Supervisor and either your HDR Coordinator or Dean/Head of School for it to then be approved by the School of Graduate Research.

It is very strongly recommended that you submit at least two weeks prior to the census date, to ensure that there is time to resolve any issues relating to your submission.

Please check if you have outstanding fees prior to the date you submit your thesis or project for examination and attend to this debt. Candidates who are in debt to the University will not be permitted to graduate.

Scholarships

All scholarships are cancelled when a candidate submits their thesis/project for examination. If you continue to receive payment after your submission date, please contact the Scholarships team via Service Connect immediately and advise them of your submission date.

You are required to pay the amount back to the university should you receive an over-payment.

Submission and your student visa 

If you are an international candidate studying in Australia, your submission for examination will be automatically reported to the Australian government, Department of Home Affairs (DHA) by RMIT.

It is your responsibility to check your student visa and contact the DHA before you submit for examination to find out if you are able to stay in Australia during your entire examination period.

The examination period includes the time that your thesis/project is under examination (including unforeseen delays by examiners), the final classification, the time in which you are attending to the examiners’ comments, and the lodgement of your final thesis for archiving. You should also be aware that if you have been granted an extension beyond maximum duration, the period you can remain onshore may be significantly shorter than students who have submitted within the standard duration of their program.

You are not required to remain onshore during your examination period, however if you want to stay in Australia during this time, the SGR Examinations team can, upon request, provide a thesis marking letter to you. DHA may accept this letter as evidence of enrolment for the period you are under examination and extend your visa for a period of time.

It is important that your examiners are nominated in advance of your submission for examination. If you do not have an approved panel of examiners before you submit, you will lose valuable time on your visa.

Need help? 

Submit an enquiry to the School of Graduate Research

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.