Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

The regulations below set down the requirements for award of the MPhil degree.
Formal policies and procedures related to enrolment and examination for the MPhil are set out in the Higher Degrees Handbook, which also includes information about administrative matters and is available from the Postgraduate Studies Office and online.
Both the regulations set out below and the formal policies and procedures set out in the handbook are administered by the University’s Postgraduate Studies Committee.
Regulations for the Degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
1.	The Degree is awarded to candidates who have successfully completed approved and supervised research, and presented the results lucidly in a thesis which
	(a)	critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, and
	(b)	demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, and
	(c)	displays intellectual independence, and
	(d)	makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned and is of publishable quality.
2.	To qualify to enrol for the MPhil, an applicant must
	(a)	have qualified for the award of a bachelors degree with honours or a masters degree, and must have achieved at least second class honours (first division) or distinction, or
	(b)	have passed qualifying papers at a satisfactory level, or
	(c)	in exceptional circumstances have produced other evidence to the satisfaction of the Postgraduate Studies Committee that he or she has adequate skills and knowledge to proceed with the proposed research.
3.	Applicants for the MPhil must apply on the prescribed form which is available from the Postgraduate Studies Office.
4.	Applications for admission to the MPhil and the conditions of enrolment are subject to approval by the Postgraduate Studies Committee under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
5.	As one of the preconditions for the approval of an application, the Postgraduate Studies Committee will establish that the necessary supervision and resources can be provided for the chosen topic.
6.	If at any time subsequent to the approval of an applicant the University encounters staffing or resource difficulties which impact on the availability of resources or supervision for his/her MPhil research, it will make all reasonable efforts, within budget and staffing constraints, to provide satisfactory arrangements so as not to cause any disadvantage. Because of the specialist nature of research and supervision at this level, under such circumstances a candidates conditions of enrolment may be subject to change.
7.	For each MPhil candidate, the Postgraduate Studies Committee appoints a supervisory panel, each MPhil candidate must have a minimum of two supervisors, one of whom is a continuing staff member of the University and the chief supervisor.
8.	Applicants whose applications to enrol for the MPhil are approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee must enrol in the relevant Faculty or School of Studies and, subject to satisfactory progress, pursue their research for
	(a)	at least one year, if they are enrolled on a full-time basis, or
	(b)	at least two years, if they are enrolled on a part-time basis or
	(c)	a term approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee which represents a combination of full-time and part-time study.
9.	Enrolment is approved, in the first instance
	(a)	for a maximum of two years if the candidate is enrolled on a full-time basis, or
	(b)	for a maximum of four years if the candidate is enrolled on a part-time basis or
	(c)	a term approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee which represents a combination of full-time and part-time study.
10.	Candidates are required to maintain continuous enrolment throughout the entire period of their degree.
11.	Candidates may apply to the Postgraduate Studies Committee for extensions of enrolment.
12.	The Postgraduate Studies Committee has authority to terminate the enrolment of a candidate at any time if the candidate fails to demonstrate satisfactory progress or comply with any regulations or policies which relate to enrolment for the Degree.
13.	A candidate may apply to the Postgraduate Studies Committee for a suspension from enrolment for a maximum of one year. A candidate is not entitled to access to supervision or any University resources during a period of suspension.
14.	Candidates must submit six-monthly reports on the progress of their research work.
15.	An MPhil thesis may consist of either published or unpublished material, or a combination of both and must be presented within the term of enrolment.
16.	A candidate must indicate in the thesis any part that has been used or presented for any other degree.
17.	Candidates must comply with the Dissertations and Theses Regulations 2006 which set out the University’s requirements with respect to the submission and presentation of theses.
18.	The Postgraduate Studies Committee appoints an examiner who is external to the University and not directly connected with the candidate or the candidate’s research.
19.	The Postgraduate Studies Committee makes a final decision on the award of the Degree. On the basis of the final report of the examiner, the Postgraduate Studies Committee will resolve
	(a)	that the thesis be accepted in its present form as fulfilling the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy, or
	(b)	that the thesis be accepted as fulfilling the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy subject to the candidate undertaking minor amendments and/or correcting typographical errors as required by the examiner, to the satisfaction of the chief supervisor, or
	(c)	that the thesis be accepted subject to the candidate completing substantial amendments to the satisfaction of the examiner or the chief supervisor, provided that these amendments are not so substantial as to necessitate re-submission and are completed within ten weeks, or
	(d)	that an oral examination of the candidate be conducted, and a further report, based on the oral examination, be provided by the examiner to the Postgraduate Studies Committee, or
	(e)	that the thesis is not acceptable in its present form and will be returned to the candidate, who may revise it and re-submit it for examination after a re-enrolment for a minimum period of six months, or
	(f)	that the candidate has failed to meet the required standard and that no degree be awarded.
20.	A candidate will be permitted to revise and re-submit a thesis only once.
21.	Applicants or candidates for the MPhil who wish to appeal a decision by the Postgraduate Studies Committee, or who have a concern about supervision or any other aspect of their candidature, may raise the matter under the Higher Degree Appeals and Complaints Regulations.
22.	The Postgraduate Studies Committee may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases. The Postgraduate Studies Committee is required to report any decisions under this authority to the Research Committee.