ANU Master's Thesis Submission: Format Review and Similarity Check Requirements

2 March 2026 13 min read

The Australian National University (ANU) enforces strict format review and similarity-check standards for master’s thesis submission, and this is a critical step in the degree conferral process. Under the ANU 2024 Research Awards Rules, every master’s thesis must pass a Format Check and a Similarity Check after submission; only then can it proceed to examination. In 2023, ANU’s Graduate Research Office processed more than 1,200 master’s theses: around 8% were sent back for revision due to formatting issues, and a further 3% triggered academic integrity investigations because their similarity rates exceeded the 25% threshold 【ANU 2023, Annual Report on Research Training】. This process is not just about academic standards — it directly affects your graduation timeline, so every master’s candidate should understand it well in advance.

Format Review Requirements

Thesis structure and layout rules

ANU requires master’s theses to follow a uniform structure template comprising a title page, declaration page, acknowledgements, abstract, table of contents, main text, references and appendices. The title page must show the thesis title, degree name, college name and submission date, and must not carry a page number. The main text must be double-spaced with 25 mm (1 inch) margins on all sides; Times New Roman 12 pt or Arial 11 pt is the recommended font. Under the ANU 2024 Thesis Formatting Guidelines, more than three layout violations means the thesis fails the check and must be corrected and resubmitted within 5 working days.

Headers, footers and citation style

Every page’s header should contain the thesis title (left-aligned) and the chapter title (right-aligned), with the page number centred in the footer. The citation style must be consistent throughout, with APA 7th edition or Harvard style recommended. ANU Library offers free citation manager training for tools such as EndNote and Zotero, helping students generate compliant reference lists automatically. If citations are inconsistent, the format reviewer will flag the specific errors and send the thesis back, and corrections usually need to be completed within 48 hours.

Figures, tables and appendices

Figures and tables must be numbered and captioned, and placed near the relevant paragraphs of the main text. Materials in the appendices (such as survey questionnaires or raw data) must be listed separately and referenced in the main text. The ANU 2023 Thesis Submission Checklist notes that figure resolution below 300 DPI or unnumbered appendix pages are common reasons for return, accounting for about 15% of cases 【ANU 2023, Thesis Submission Checklist】.

Similarity Checking

Tool and threshold

ANU uses Turnitin as its official similarity-checking tool, and every master’s thesis is automatically screened once submitted to the ISIS system. The report shows an overall similarity percentage plus a detailed list of each matched source. The university’s academic integrity threshold is a maximum overall similarity of 25%, with no more than 5% matched to any single source. Above that threshold, the thesis is referred to the college’s academic integrity committee. 2022 data shows that about 5% of master’s theses triggered a formal investigation for excessive similarity; of those, roughly 60% were cleared after explanation, while the rest faced revision or deferral 【ANU 2022, Academic Integrity Annual Report】.

Sources of matches and legitimate exclusions

Turnitin flags text matches including direct quotations, reference lists, common terminology and the student’s own previously published work. Students can apply to exclude legitimate matches before submission — for example, the reference list, published conference papers or standard terminology. ANU allows students to upload their thesis to Wattle for a preliminary similarity check before official submission, with 3 free attempts per person per year. This lets students keep similarity below 15% before the real submission, reducing the risk of triggering an investigation.

What happens after the check

If the similarity rate is between 25% and 40%, the student must submit a written explanation within 7 working days justifying the matched content (for example, why direct quotation was necessary). If the rate exceeds 40%, the thesis automatically goes into a formal investigation, which can lead to mark deductions, rewriting or delayed graduation. In 2023, ANU’s Graduate Research Office handled about 35 such cases, with an average processing time of 4 weeks 【ANU 2023, Academic Integrity Case Statistics】.

Self-Checks Before Submission

Use the official checklist

ANU provides a Thesis Submission Preparation Checklist covering 20 checkpoints across formatting, citations and similarity. Students must go through each item, sign it, and submit it together with the thesis. Common omissions include a missing declaration page, page numbering starting in the wrong place, and unnumbered figures or tables. According to an ANU 2024 student survey, students who used the checklist had a first-attempt pass rate 32% higher than those who did not 【ANU 2024, Student Experience Survey】.

Pre-check and format preview

Before submitting officially through ISIS, students can run a preliminary similarity check via Wattle and download a PDF preview of the formatting. It is recommended to complete the pre-check at least 2 weeks before the deadline to leave time for revisions. When paying tuition across borders, some study-abroad families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete the remittance. Students should also check whether the PDF contains hidden metadata (such as tracked changes), which Turnitin may misread as duplicated content.

Get support from your supervisor and college

Your supervisor is the first reviewer for formatting and similarity. ANU requires supervisors to sign a Supervisor Confirmation Form before submission, certifying that the thesis has passed a preliminary review. Colleges also usually have a Thesis Writing Advisor offering one-on-one consultations on formatting or citation problems. In 2023, more than 70% of students said the advisory service effectively reduced their return rate 【ANU 2023, Graduate Research Support Survey】.

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

Typical reasons for format rejection

According to ANU 2023 data, the top three reasons for format rejection are: margins not meeting the 25 mm standard (40%), inconsistent citation styles (35%), and unnumbered figures or tables (15%). Students should use the Word or LaTeX templates available for download from the ANU Library website, which come with all formatting parameters pre-set. Using a template can cut formatting errors by about 50%.

Dealing with a high similarity rate

If the pre-check shows similarity approaching 25%, students should first check whether direct quotations are properly marked with quotation marks and sources. Common high-match sources include literature review chapters, research method descriptions and standard terminology. It is advisable to keep direct quotations under 10% of the whole thesis and to paraphrase key points in your own words. If you quote a published paper, you can apply for an exclusion, but you must provide proof of the original publication.

Late submission and special circumstances

If you cannot submit on time because of formatting or similarity issues, you can apply for a thesis submission extension of up to 6 months. The application must include a letter of support from your supervisor and a concrete revision plan. ANU approved about 120 extension applications in 2023, with an average processing time of 2 weeks 【ANU 2023, Thesis Extension Statistics】. Submit the extension request 4 weeks before the deadline to avoid affecting your visa or graduation ceremony arrangements.

Academic Integrity and the Originality Declaration

Legal effect of the declaration page

Every master’s thesis must include an originality declaration page, signed by hand or electronically, stating that the thesis has not been submitted elsewhere and contains no plagiarism. Under the ANU Academic Integrity Policy 2024, a false declaration can lead to revocation of the degree and a record on the academic file. In 2022, two students had their already-conferred master’s degrees revoked for this reason 【ANU 2022, Policy Enforcement Report】.

The line between quoting and paraphrasing

ANU draws a clear line between direct quotation and paraphrasing: direct quotations must be placed in quotation marks with the source cited, while paraphrases must be expressed entirely in your own words and still cite the source. A common violation is “patchwriting” — replacing synonyms while keeping the original sentence structure — which is treated as academic misconduct. Turnitin’s detection algorithm can identify this pattern, and the similarity score will rise accordingly.

Using third-party editing services compliantly

Students may hire a third-party editor for language polishing, but the editor must not change the academic content of the thesis. The use of editing services must be declared in the acknowledgements, and the editor cannot be one of the thesis examiners or your supervisor. Under the ANU 2023 Editorial Assistance Policy, if an editor rewrites content, the student bears full responsibility for academic integrity 【ANU 2023, Editorial Assistance Policy】.

The Review Process After Submission

Initial review and feedback

After the thesis is submitted to ISIS, the Graduate Research Office completes the format review within 5 working days and sends formal feedback. If it passes, the thesis moves to the similarity-check stage; if it is returned, the student must fix the issues within the given time. In 2023, the average review took 3.2 working days, and about 90% of theses passed the format check on their first submission 【ANU 2023, Submission Processing Data】.

Reading the similarity report

The similarity report colour-codes the level of matching: green (0–15%), yellow (15–25%) and red (over 25%). Students must confirm within 48 hours of receiving the report whether they accept the result. If it is red, the college launches an investigation and the student must submit a written explanation. Students are advised to talk to their supervisor immediately after receiving the report and work out a response plan.

Final approval and archiving

After passing the format and similarity checks, the thesis enters the examination stage, in which two examiners (at least one external) assess it academically. The examination usually takes 6–8 weeks. Once the thesis passes examination, the final electronic version must be deposited in the ANU Research Repository to complete the degree award. In 2023, about 95% of master’s theses completed the entire process within 12 weeks of submission 【ANU 2023, Thesis Completion Statistics】.

FAQ

Q1: What is the maximum similarity rate for an ANU master’s thesis?

ANU sets the similarity ceiling at 25%, with no single source exceeding 5%. Going above this threshold triggers an academic integrity investigation, and the student must submit a written explanation within 7 working days. For pre-checks, it is advisable to keep similarity below 15% to reduce risk.

Q2: How long does the format review usually take?

After the thesis is submitted to ISIS, the format review usually takes 5 working days. If it passes, the thesis moves to the similarity-check stage; if returned, the student must correct and resubmit within 5 working days. In 2023, about 90% of theses passed the format check on first submission.

Q3: Can I defer submission if my similarity rate is too high?

Yes. If you cannot submit on time because of similarity issues, you can apply for a thesis submission extension of up to 6 months. The application must include a letter of support from your supervisor and a revision plan; submit it 4 weeks before the deadline. In 2023, ANU approved about 120 extension applications.

References

ANU 2023, Annual Report on Research Training, Australian National University
ANU 2024, Thesis Formatting Guidelines, Australian National University Library
ANU 2022, Academic Integrity Annual Report, Australian National University
ANU 2023, Thesis Submission Checklist, Australian National University Graduate Research
ANU 2024, Student Experience Survey, Australian National University