A guide to getting your thesis edited in Australia

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this guide, written by Brendan Brown, was published on The Thesis Whisperer in July 2014 under the title “Should I get an editor for my thesis?”. This version was substantially revised in September 2026 to reflect the current IPEd Guidelines for editing theses.

Professional thesis or dissertation editing can benefit both native-speaking and English as a second language (ESL) students alike. However, there is some confusion around the efficacy of hiring a professional editor, the editor’s role in improving a thesis and the best way to find an editor.

This guide takes students through the key issues involved in professional thesis editing and assists them in finding the right editing option for their thesis. Although the guide is Australia-specific, its general principles are relevant for students in other countries too.

A student should approach the search for a thesis editor as a consumer

Professional thesis editors are in the business of editing. A student in the market for their services must therefore adopt the mindset of a consumer — informed about the options available, the typical price range, and what makes a provider credible.

The best way to become informed is to research — something every student writing a thesis should be adept at!

Professional thesis editing outlined

Many students benefit from a second pair of eyes in the final stages of a thesis — a fellow student, a family member or a professional editor — because after months of work it is easy to stop seeing spelling and grammar errors, ambiguous expression and referencing inconsistencies. There is, however, some misconception among students and faculty about the ethics and permissibility of professional thesis editing.

Professional editing is permitted at most Australian universities, within limits. The Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) publishes guidelines for editing research theses that set out what an editor may and may not do. Individual universities set their own rules on top of those — some require permission before an editor is engaged, or an acknowledgement in the thesis — and the university’s rules take precedence. In short, an editor’s work is limited to copyediting and proofreading: improving language use and expression, and checking referencing style and formatting. An editor may draw attention to problems of argument or structure, but may only offer examples or comments to guide the student, not make those changes.

What the IPEd guidelines ask of students and editors

The IPEd Guidelines for editing theses (July 2025) are short and worth reading before you engage anyone. The main points:

• Your university’s own policy on thesis editing comes first. Check it before anything else.
• Get written approval from your principal supervisor before engaging an editor — an email is enough.
• Professional editing of a thesis is limited to copyediting and proofreading.
• The editor may point out substantive or structural problems, but may only offer examples or comments; fixing them is your job.
• You are responsible for reviewing and checking every change the editor suggests, and you keep final responsibility for the whole thesis.
• Editorial help should be acknowledged in the thesis, with the editor’s permission. IPEd suggests: “[Editor name] edited a draft of this thesis in accordance with the IPEd guidelines.”
• The editor is not responsible for checking facts, references to other people’s work, plagiarism or AI-generated content. That remains with you and your university’s academic-integrity rules.
• Allow time: IPEd recommends engaging an editor at least one month before the submission deadline.

How to find a thesis editor

The two main types of thesis editors are:

Professional editing company

Editing companies typically have several academic editors on staff, which can help with availability, and most publish their prices and process up front. Availability still depends on the editor, the document and the deadline, so ask rather than assume.

A Google search is the most practical way to find professional editing companies in Australia. It is worth examining each company’s website carefully, as no two are exactly alike in their services or pricing. Later in this guide, we outline the key questions to ask any company.

Freelance editor

There are three ways to find a freelance thesis editor in Australia. The most reliable is through the Institute of Professional Editors, whose members are listed in a searchable directory, or through a recommendation from your university or supervisor. Many freelance editors also have their own websites and can be found through a search.

The third option is an online freelance platform such as Upwork or Freelancer.com, where you post a brief and freelancers bid for the job. Competitive bidding can produce low offers, but the quality of editors on these platforms varies widely, so verify qualifications, academic experience and references before committing. Whichever route you take, apply the same questions listed below to a company and to a freelancer.

Key considerations for a student when choosing an editor:

Efficacy of the editor

The most important consideration when choosing an editor is ensuring they provide an ethical service and stay within their mandate. Most Australian editing companies and experienced freelance editors comply with IPEd’s guidelines for thesis editing, but there will always be a few outliers.

For example, some may offer to rewrite — or even write — your thesis. A student must avoid any such service, as using one puts them at risk of serious academic-integrity penalties.

Specifics of the service and the editor

Editors are human and edit subjectively, so it is important to clarify what a thesis editing service involves and what experience the editor brings. Although most professional editors have good intentions, not all editors are equal. A student should therefore be proactive in finding one with the right skill set for their thesis.

The following questions should be answered before engaging any editing service:

• What will the editor do? How do they define “thesis editing”? It is particularly important to establish whether the editor will check referencing style conformity, or whether they intend to provide a thesis proofreading service only.
• Is the editor a specialist academic editor or a generalist with only limited understanding of academic writing?
• Does the editor know the specific referencing style required?
• What is the editor’s professional background?
• Can the editor provide references or a sample of academic editing?
• Will the editor work under the IPEd guidelines and, if you want one, sign IPEd’s thesis-editing agreement?

Affordability

Professional thesis editing always involves some cost — it is a time-consuming process that requires an editor with relevant experience of academic writing and referencing conventions. That said, services vary in price, so it pays to compare options before committing.

Turnaround time

Turnaround can be a crucial issue for students facing a looming submission deadline. IPEd recommends engaging an editor at least a month before the submission deadline, to allow time for both the edit and your own review of the changes. Some editing companies and freelance editors can accommodate a short turnaround at no extra charge, while others are more rigid in their scheduling and will charge a premium for it.

A closing note

Australia is not short of quality academic editors, but it is up to each student to do their research and engage as an informed consumer. This guide is designed to simplify that search — giving you the information you need to find a thesis editor who is not only ethical, but who can help you present it at its best.