Editing academic theses

Editors can assist students in preparing their Honours, Master’s or PhD theses for submission. To carry out such work, an editor does not have to be a specialist in the discipline or field covered by the thesis.

In response to concerns about issues relating to authorship, fairness and the relative responsibilities and roles of academic supervisors and professional editors, a national policy providing guidelines on the editing of theses has been developed collaboratively by the Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies and the Council of Australian Societies of Editors (now the Institute of Professional Editors—IPEd). Although the policy focuses specifically on the editing of higher-degree theses, it can be used as a guide for editing any student work to be submitted for assessment.

By setting limitations on the level of editing that professional editors can provide, the policy aims to ensure that the integrity of students’ work is not open to challenge. Before handing over a thesis for editing, students should consult with their principal supervisor and present the editor with a copy of the policy. Editors should make supervisors and students aware of its existence and enforce its principles. A copy of the policy is available here.