This unit covers the completion of the Clinical Psychology Empirical thesis paper for which the design and ethics application were completed as part of PSYC990. This will be completed for on time submission under the direct supervision of their appointed Research supervisor from PSYC990.

DISSERTATION EXAMINATION: Your supervisor will arrange for two examiners (one must be external to the university (i.e., not employed by the Dept of Psychology or Faculty of Medical Health and Human Sciences inclusive of Postdocs. It is preferable BOTH examiners are external to the university ). At least 4 weeks prior to your submission of the project (by at least 23rd September, 2020) you should remind your supervisor of the due date so that sufficient time is available to make examination arrangements. Complete the student section of the examiner nomination form (See Unit Learn page) and send to your supervisor. This is particularly important because your dissertation is to be marked during the busy times of the year, notably late in second semester when the Honours theses are also being marked. 

Please carefully note the following process pertaining to the thesis examination– if there is any delay in assigning examiners for your thesis (which is the Research Supervisor’s responsibility to arrange), then this could likely lead to delays in receiving examiners reports back in a timely manner (i.e. – it is common in such cases for examiners reports to not be available until sometime in January or even February if students submitted their thesis by the October due date). This will have ramifications for applying for full registration if the thesis mark/grade is the final unit that needs to be finalized (i.e. you have completed all other course requirements for the MClinPsych degree). Unfortunately, even if examiners are assigned by the thesis submission date – it is beyond the MClinPsych staff’s control (inclusive of Research Supervisor) to guarantee that examiners reports will be ready before the end of the year (if students submit by the October due date). Although all efforts are made to remind examiners that reports are due within 1 month of receipt of thesis, unfortunately some examiners do take longer to examine the thesis – and sometimes are not available until 2-4 months later. For the above-mentioned reasons, students are NOT to assume - a) Examiners will automatically Pass the thesis; b) Thesis marks/grades will be ratified by December if they are submitting by the October due date; and c) Guarantee future employers that they will have met all course work requirements and are eligible for registration by the end of the year in which they submit the thesis for marking. Students cannot apply for full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia until they have met ALL coursework requirements inclusive of the thesis – this means both the examiners reports must have been returned to the university, the thesis has been assessed at minimum Pass level, and all outstanding unit marks/grades have been ratified by the University. 

There are no formal seminars for this unit. Rather, students are required to be in regular contact with their designated research supervisor through the course of this year to ensure they meet the thesis requirements by the due date.

Please also check Ilearn page for PSYC992 for regular updates.