| The regulations below set down the
requirements for award of the PhD degree. |
| Formal policies and procedures related
to enrolment and examination for the PhD are set out in the Higher
Degrees Handbook, which also includes information about administration 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 Research Committee. |
| Regulations for the Degree of Doctor
of Philosophy (PhD) |
| 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 PhD, 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 qualified for the degree of Master of Philosophy,
or |
| |
(c) |
have enrolled for the degree of Master of Philosophy
and demonstrated that he or she is able to transfer to
the PhD, or |
| |
(d) |
have passed qualifying papers at a satisfactory level,
or |
| |
(e) |
in exceptional circumstances have produced other evidence
to the satisfaction of the Postgraduate Research Committee that
he or she has adequate skills and knowledge to proceed with the
proposed research. |
| 3. |
|
Applicants for the PhD must apply on the prescribed
form which is available from the Postgraduate Studies Office. |
| 4. |
|
Applications to enrol for the PhD and the conditions
of enrolment are subject to approval by the Postgraduate Research
Committee under delegated authority of the Academic Board. |
| 5. |
|
As one of the preconditions for the approval of an application
to enrol, the Postgraduate Research 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 application
the University encounters staffing or resource difficulties which
impact on the availability of resources or supervision for his/her
PhD 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 candidate's conditions of enrolment may be subject to change.
|
| 7. |
|
For each PhD candidate, the Postgraduate Research Committee
appoints a supervisory panel. Each PhD 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 PhD are
approved by the Postgraduate Research Committee must enrol in the
relevant Faculty or School of Studies and, subject to satisfactory
progress, pursue their research for |
| |
(a) |
at least three years, if
they are enrolled on a full-time basis, or |
| |
(b) |
at least six years, if they are enrolled on a part-time
basis, or |
| |
(c) |
a term approved by the Postgraduate Research Committee
which represents a combination of full-time and part-time study. |
| 9. |
|
Enrolment is approved, in the first instance for: |
| |
(a) |
a maximum of four years if
the candidate is enrolled on a full-time basis, or |
| |
(b) |
a maximum of eight years if the candidate is enrolled
on a part-time basis or |
| |
(c) |
a term approved by the Postgraduate Research 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. |
|
Enrolment of all new candidates for the PhD approved
by the Postgraduate Research Committee is conditional for an initial
period of six months. Confirmation of enrolment by the Postgraduate
Research Committee after the initial period of six months is subject
to the submission by the candidate of |
| |
(a) |
an acceptable research plan,
and |
| |
(b) |
a report by the supervisors recommending confirmation
of enrolment, and |
| |
(c) |
evidence of ethical approval or a statement confirming
that it is not required, in accordance with the Ethical Conduct
in Human Research and Related Activities Regulations 2008 and |
| |
(d) |
a presentation about the proposed research to a confirmation
of enrolment panel. |
| 12. |
|
Candidates may apply to the Postgraduate Research Committee
for an extension to the conditional enrolment period of up to six
months full-time equivalent. If the candidate's enrolment is not
confirmed within twelve months of initial enrolment it may be terminated. |
| 13. |
|
Following confirmed enrolment, candidates must submit
six-monthly reports on the progress of their research work. |
| 14. |
|
Not withstanding section 10 of these regulations, a
candidate may apply to the Postgraduate Research Committee for a
suspension from enrolment for a maximum period of twelve months
full-time equivalent. A candidate is not entitled to supervision
or any University resources during a period of suspension and does
not incur tuition fees. |
| 15. |
|
A candidate may apply to the Postgraduate Research Committee
for an extension of enrolment for a maximum period of twelve months
full-time equivalent during their higher degree programme. |
| 16. |
|
The Postgraduate Research 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. |
| 17. |
|
A PhD thesis may consist of either published or unpublished
material, or a combination of both, and must be presented within
the term of enrolment. |
| 18. |
|
A candidate must indicate in the thesis any part that
has been used or presented for any other degree. |
| 19. |
|
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. |
| 20. |
|
The Postgraduate Research Committee appoints at least
two examiners for the candidate's thesis who are external to the
University and not directly connected with the candidate or the
candidate's research. At least one of the external examiners is
based overseas. In the case of divergent examination outcomes, the Postgraduate
Research Committee may appoint a third examiner. |
| 21. |
|
Notwithstanding section 20 of these regulations, provided
that at least half of the examiners recommend that the thesis be
accepted, an oral examination of the candidate is conducted. |
| 22. |
|
The Postgraduate Research Committee makes a final decision
on the award of the Degree. On the basis of the final report of
the examiners following the oral examination, the Postgraduate Research
Committee may resolve |
| |
(a) |
that the thesis be accepted
in its present form as fulfilling the requirements for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy, or |
| |
(b) |
that the thesis be accepted as fulfilling the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, subject to the candidate
undertaking minor amendments and/or correcting typographical errors
as required by the examiners, to the satisfaction of the chief supervisor,
or |
| |
(c) |
that the thesis be accepted subject to the candidate
completing amendments to the satisfaction of the examiners or chief
supervisor, provided that these amendments are not so substantial
as to necessitate re-submission and are completed within ten weeks
of the oral examination, or |
| |
(d) |
that the thesis is not acceptable in its present form
and should 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 |
| |
(e) |
that the thesis not be accepted for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy, but be accepted as fulfilling the requirements for
the degree of Master of Philosophy, or |
| |
(f) |
that the candidate has failed to meet the required standard
and that no degree be awarded. |
| 23. |
|
A candidate may revise and re-submit a thesis only once
and only one oral examination will be held. |
| 24. |
|
A candidate may apply to the Postgraduate Research Committee
at any time between enrolment and submission of the thesis to transfer
from a PhD to an MPhil. |
| 25. |
|
Applicants or candidates who wish to appeal a decision
by the Postgraduate Research 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,
which can be found at the end of these Regulations. |
| 26. |
|
The Postgraduate Research Committee may vary or waive
these regulations in individual cases. The Postgraduate Research
Committee is required to report any decisions under this authority
to the Research Committee. |
