I've passed, but I have corrections to make
Turn the examiners' comments into one clear list, make the changes, and get the final version accepted.
In short
Start here, today. If you don't have the official list of required corrections in writing, ask for it today. Confirm the deadline and who approves the changes, then copy each item into a table. This takes about 30 minutes.
After that, work through these steps. Choose one to jump to it.
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step for the how.
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Get the list in writing
Corrections should come in writing from the examiners or the chair, usually through your supervisor or the graduate school. If something said in the exam isn't on the list, ask your supervisor whether it's required or optional. Check the deadline carefully, because it often runs from the date of the exam or the formal letter, not from when you feel ready.
Build a corrections table
Make a table with four columns: the examiner's comment (numbered or quoted as given), the change you made, the page or section where it now appears, and a note for anything you handled differently. The Feedback Tracker works well for this. Whoever approves your corrections will work from this table, so make it easy for them to check.
Start with the quick ones
Fix typos, references and formatting first, because watching the table fill up helps on low-energy days. Then schedule the larger changes into your week, using Writing Sessions for anything that needs new text or analysis, and note where to pick up each time.
Ask when a comment is unclear
If you don't understand what an examiner wants, or two comments contradict each other, ask your supervisor first. In some systems you can ask the internal examiner or the chair for clarification through the proper channel. Don't guess on a major point.
Check before you send
Send the revised thesis and the corrections table to your supervisor and give them time to read it. Then submit to whoever approves the corrections, which may be the internal examiner, the committee, the chair or the graduate school, depending on your institution.
Finish the final submission
Once the corrections are approved, there is usually a formatting check and an electronic deposit with the library or graduate school. The submission paperwork guide covers this. Check the convocation or graduation deadline if you want to cross the stage at the next ceremony.
Celebrate and recover
Mark each moment: passing the exam, getting corrections approved and making the final deposit all count, so put them in Wins and Accomplishments. Then plan some real rest. Plenty of people feel flat or unmoored after finishing rather than elated, and that usually eases with rest and a new routine.
Words you can use
Is this you? Signs to look for
- You left the defence relieved, and now there's a list of changes you haven't started.
- The comments are spread across written reports, a marked-up PDF and your memory of the conversation.
- You're not sure who has to approve the corrections, or by when.
- You're tired and can't face opening the thesis again.
Why this happens
Corrections are a normal part of finishing, and in many systems they are the expected outcome. But they arrive at an odd moment. You've had the adrenaline of the exam and perhaps a celebration, and now you have to go back into a document you hoped you were done with. Motivation tends to be lowest just when the deadline becomes real.
The other common problem is vagueness. Examiners say things in the room that never appear in the written list, and comments from different examiners can overlap or pull in different directions. Without one agreed list, it's hard to know when you've finished, and hard for whoever signs off to agree that you have.
Worth a look (3)
- Think. Check. Submit.Simple checklists to help you judge whether a journal or book publisher can be trusted before you submit. They're available in many languages.
- Open policy finderCheck a journal's open access policies, including which version of your paper you can share and where. It replaced Sherpa Romeo, so older guides may still use that name.
- DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)A curated list of peer-reviewed open access journals in every field. Use it to find journals to read and to check that a journal you're considering is legitimate.
When to bring someone in
Your supervisor is the first person to ask about unclear corrections. Your graduate coordinator or graduate school can confirm deadlines, who approves the changes and what happens if you need more time. If your visa, funding or a job start date depends on finishing by a certain date, tell them early, and check visa questions with the international student office. If low mood after finishing doesn't lift after a few weeks, talk to your doctor or the counselling service.
Find the right person, or talk to Ify