Graduate School Network

Writing up and submission

This page contains links that will support you during writing-up and submission. Writing up is covered in the Welcome Back session that happens each September.

Professional Academic Communication in English (PACE)

PACE is the Graduate School’s flagship Academic Literacies programme. It is led by Dr Julia Molinari and has been uniquely developed by pioneering OU researchers and practitioners, such as Emeritus Professor Theresa Lillis and Dr Jackie Tuck, to support doctoral researchers across all faculties and disciplines in becoming confident and engaging communicators.

PACE offers OU doctoral researchers several online and campus facilitated events:

  • Workshops on academic reading, writing, and speaking
  • Writing circles to share writing-in-progress with peers
  • 1-to-1 consultations to discuss individual needs and support the drafting process
  • Writing retreats
  • Viva Voce practice
  • international guest speakers who contribute to PACE Extra (Open Access)

These can be booked with an OU login via PGR Manager calendar. For enquiries, please email [email protected].

Writing-up period

A funded student will be encouraged to complete their thesis within their period of funding. Prior to starting to write the thesis, which should take the form of a monograph, students and supervisors should refer to the OU Thesis submission guidelines. 

Reference may be made in documentation (e.g. Fee rules on Forms and Guidance) to the writing-up period. This is a time-limited period in which the student is solely engaged in writing their thesis and is not undertaking any substantive research. The writing-up period normally coincides with the final year of registration and may incur a reduced fee liability. For full-time students this may be year four of registration. For part-time students the writing-up period may be year eight of registration. For any student to be designated as being in the writing-up period the student and the supervisor must confirm that the student will submit the thesis within that year.

FAQ: What structure should my thesis take?

We don't have thesis templates, as it is impossible to suggest these across all fields and disciplines. Structures emerge with the work and in discussion with supervisors. Ask your supervisor to suggest a completed thesis to look at if you want a better idea of what is expected.

The Thesis submission guidelines give the typical basic elements of what a thesis should contain. You may also find CRediT – Contributor Role Taxonomy useful for the Contributor Role Taxonomy element.

Submission

A thesis can be submitted at any time during the year, although those submitted during the summer may be subject to some delay if examiners are not available for the oral examination – the viva. 

When the notice to submit is received, in advance of submission by at least three months, the supervisors will nominate an exam panel which is assessed by the Associate Dean (Research) (or delegate) and, if it meets the criteria, will be submitted to Progress Board for approval. A minimum of two examiners is required. An Independent Examination Panel Chair will also be appointed. It is their role to make the examination arrangements and to ensure that the examination is run in accordance with the University’s regulations, policies and procedures. Once the examination arrangements are finalised, confirmation of the date, time and place of the viva examination will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders. 

Contact [email protected] for any problems with giving notice to submit or making your final submission on PGR Manager.

Forms and Guidance

Note: if any of these links are broken try searching on the main Forms and Guidance page.

Thesis submission guidelines

GSN Pages

Writing up groups will be advertised on Community | Graduate School Network

PACE 1:1 sessions on PGR Manager calendar.

Training resources

Professional Academic Communication in English (PACE) online resources | OU online

Library guidance

eTheses advice

Open Access policy

Open Research Data Online (ORDO) policies

Open Research Online (ORO) help and policies

Open Research Online (ORO)

Open Research Data Online (ORDO)

What differs between Faculties?

Each Faculty may have its own policy and procedure around stages and actions including:

  • how you can spend any funds related to your training, e.g., Research Training Support Grant (RTSG or Research Student Support Fund/RESSF)
  • health and safety, including work stations and risk assessments for fieldwork
  • arranging travel for conferences and fieldwork
  • equipment and specialist software
  • Third Party Monitor allocation and any subject-specific buddying/mentoring.

We recommend you start by talking with your Faculty Administrator about what happens in your Faculty (mailbox address on Contact us | Graduate School Network).