The doctoral defence is the oral examination of the doctoral thesis. While it is a major milestone for doctoral candidates, this event is often shrouded in mystery. In this article, I explore the doctoral defence from an international perspective. I have studied the format of the defence based on written testimonies as well as the literature on…

Promoting authenticity and academic integrity in assessment continues to present a priority for educational institutions. Besides providing the foundation for high academic standards and best practice, authentic assessments and academic integrity enrich students with skills that advance their employability. Given the multilayered significance of,…

This paper summarises and then critiques some of the key arguments and conclusions provided by Wellington who argues that it would be sensible to give up the search for the "inner essence" of "doctorateness" (a term referring to a common quality of doctoral candidates or of their written dissertations). It is argued here that…

In practice and process PhD examination is distinctive, reflecting the high expectations of students whose learning has been directed to their becoming researchers. This article builds on previous research on the examination of Australian theses that revealed that examiners in Science (n?=?542) and Education (n?=?241) provide a substantial…