By Dr Rhonda Daniels AE, Standing Committee on Academic Editing
IPEd’s Standing Committee on Academic Editing (SCAE) has recently updated 2 important resources for academic editors and their clients:
- IPEd guidelines for editing theses
- indicative costs of academic editing.
IPEd guidelines for editing theses, 2025
Following the release of the IPEd standards for editing practice (3rd edition) in 2024, the SCAE has updated the guidelines for editing research theses from 2019. The guidelines outline the nature and extent of services that professional editors may ethically provide when editing students’ theses and the responsibilities of editors, students and supervisors relevant to editing. Minor changes include:
- simplifying the title to the IPEd guidelines for editing theses
- ensuring consistency with the IPEd standards for editing practice (2024)
- simplifying some text and moving the history to the end
- being aware of any university-specific guidance on thesis editing and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Act 2020
- updating links and references, including to other IPEd resources.
The updated IPEd guidelines for editing theses was distributed to attendees at the 12th IPEd Conference and is available on the IPEd website.
Indicative costs of academic editing – updated guidance for potential clients
Following updates to IPEd’s fair hourly pay rates in July 2025, the SCAE has updated its guidance from February 2024 on the indicative costs of academic editing for potential clients. The updated range of costs and explanatory notes are available on the IPEd website.
The indicative costs recognise that many factors affect the time and cost of editing academic work, including the length of the document and the level of editing. Editors set their own prices based on what is required.
The indicative costs complement existing IPEd resources for clients and members on the IPEd website:
- IPEd’s guidance on fair hourly pay rates for self-employed editors
- a 2-page sample agreement for thesis editing with notes on how to use it
- Working with self-employed editors: a guide for clients.
Other resources on academic editing are for members only and available on the IPEd member portal. These include:
- resources on quoting and agreements, verb tense, plagiarism and editing reference lists
- an article on the federal government’s legislation to deter academic cheating services.
To contact the SCAE, please email scae.chair@iped-editors.org.