First: Being Asked to Correct Is Normal
A significant majority of postgraduate candidates at Malaysian public universities are asked to make some form of correction after their viva — whether minor or major. This is not a failure. It is the standard academic quality control process, and it means the examiners believe the work is worth refining.
Understanding the Different Outcomes
Pass With Minor Corrections
This is the most common outcome. You are asked to make specific, limited changes — correcting language errors, clarifying particular arguments, updating a section of the literature review, or fixing formatting. The timeframe given is usually between one and three months.
Pass With Major Corrections
Major corrections typically involve more substantial revision — rewriting one or more chapters, conducting additional analysis, or significantly restructuring parts of the argument. The correction period is longer, often six to twelve months.
Resubmit for Re-Examination
This outcome still means the work has potential. The student is required to revise and resubmit the full thesis, which then goes through a second round of examination.
How to Manage the Correction Process
Create a table that maps every examiner comment to a specific action. For each comment: what is being asked, what change you will make, which section it affects, and once complete, a note of what you changed. This document becomes your correction log, which you may be required to submit alongside your revised thesis.
Language Corrections: A Common Source of Repeat Submissions
One of the most frequent reasons students go back more than once for corrections is language quality. An examiner asks for language improvements, the student fixes what they can see, and the resubmitted thesis still has enough issues that the examiner isn’t satisfied.
If your corrections include a language revision component, professional editing support is worth investing in. Some Malaysian universities also accept a language editing certificate as evidence that the revision has been professionally reviewed.
Communication With Your Supervisor
During the correction period, stay in regular contact with your principal supervisor. Share your correction log early and ask for feedback before you resubmit. Don’t disappear for months and then reappear with a revised thesis.
