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 Handbook
for the Master of Philosophy and Doctorates at the University of Waikato,
which also includes information about administration matters and
is available on request from the Postgraduate Studies Office. |
Both regulations set out below and
the formal policies and procedures set out in the Handbook for the
Master of Philosophy and Doctorates at the University of Waikato are administered
by the University’s Postgraduate Studies Committee by delegated
authority of the Academic Board. Any changes to these regulations,
or to the formal policies and procedures, are subject to approval
by the Academic Board. |
Regulations for the Degree of Doctor
of Philosophy (PhD)
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1. |
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The degree of Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) is awarded to candidates who have successfully completed approved
and supervised research, and presented the results lucidly in a
thesis which |
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(a) |
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critically investigates an
approved topic of substance and significance, and |
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(b) |
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demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and
scholarship, and |
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(c) |
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displays intellectual independence, and |
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(d) |
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makes a substantial original contribution to the subject
area concerned and is of publishable quality. |
2. |
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To qualify to enrol for the PhD, a candidate must |
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(a) |
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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 |
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(b) |
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have qualified for the degree of Master of Philosophy,
or |
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(c) |
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have enrolled for the degree of Master of Philosophy
and demonstrated that he or she is able to transfer to
the PhD, or |
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(d) |
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have passed qualifying papers at a satisfactory level,
or |
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(e) |
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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. |
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Applicants for the PhD must apply on the prescribed
form which is available from the Postgraduate Studies Office. |
4. |
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Applications to enrol for the PhD and the conditions
of enrolment are subject to approval by the Postgraduate Studies
Committee under delegated authority of the Academic Board. |
5. |
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As one of the preconditions for the approval of an application
to enrol, the Postgraduate Studies Committee will establish that
the necessary supervision and resources can be provided for the
chosen topic. If either prior to, or at any time during the study
period the University encounters staffing or resource difficulties beyond
its control which impact on the availability of resources or supervision
for a student’s PhD research, it will make all reasonable efforts,
within budget and staffing constraints, to provide satisfactory
arrangements so as not to disadvantage any affected student. Because
of the specialist nature of research and supervision at this level,
however, the University cannot guarantee that under such circumstances, a
student’s conditions of enrolment will not be subject to change. |
6. |
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For each PhD candidate, the Postgraduate Studies Committee
appoints a supervisory panel, one member of which is a continuing
staff member of the University and the chief supervisor. Normally,
a second member of the panel is also a continuing staff member of
the University. |
7. |
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Candidates whose applications to enrol for the PhD 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 |
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(a) |
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at least two years, if they
are enrolled on a full-time basis, or |
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(b) |
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at least four years, if they are enrolled a part-time
or mixed mode basis. |
8. |
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Enrolment is approved, in the first instance |
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(a) |
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for a maximum of four years
if the candidate is enrolled on a full-time basis, or |
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(b) |
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for a maximum of eight years if the candidate is enrolled
on a part-time or mixed mode basis. |
9. |
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Enrolment of all new candidates for the PhD approved
by the Postgraduate Studies Committee is conditional for an initial
period of six months. Confirmation of enrolment by the Postgraduate
Studies Committee after the initial period of six months is subject
to the submission by the candidate of |
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(a) |
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an acceptable research plan
and |
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(b) |
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a report by the supervisors recommending confirmation
of enrolment. |
10. |
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Candidates may apply to the Postgraduate Studies Committee
for a six month extension to the conditional enrolment period. If
the candidate’s enrolment is not confirmed within 12 months of initial
enrolment it will be terminated. |
11. |
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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. |
12. |
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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. |
13. |
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Candidates must submit six-monthly reports on the progress
of their research work. |
14. |
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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. |
15. |
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A candidate must indicate in the thesis any part that
has been used or presented for any other degree. |
16. |
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Candidates must comply with the Dissertations and Theses
Regulations 2005 which set out the University’s requirements with
respect to the submission and presentation of theses. |
17. |
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The Postgraduate Studies 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. |
18. |
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Provided that at least half of the examiners recommend
that the thesis be accepted, an oral examination of the candidate
is conducted. |
19. |
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The Postgraduate Studies 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 Studies
Committee may resolve either |
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(a) |
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that the thesis be accepted
in its present form as fulfilling the requirements for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy, or |
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(b) |
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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 |
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(c) |
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that the thesis be accepted subject to the candidate
completing substantial 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 six weeks
of the oral examination, or |
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(d) |
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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 |
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(e) |
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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 |
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(f) |
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that the candidate has failed to meet the required standard
and that no degree be awarded. |
20. |
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A candidate may revise and re-submit a thesis only once. |
21. |
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A candidate may apply to the Postgraduate Studies Committee
at any time between enrolment and submission of the thesis to transfer
from a PhD to an MPhil. |
22. |
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Candidates who have concerns about standards of supervision
or who wish to appeal against any process or decision of a supervisor,
pro-Dean, Dean, or the Postgraduate Studies Committee with respect
to their registration or the examination process may do so in writing
to the Chairperson of the Postgraduate Studies Committee. If the
matter is not resolved by the Chairperson of the Postgraduate Studies
Committee to the satisfaction of the candidate, the candidate may
refer his or her appeal to the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor
will appoint a person or panel to investigate and will make a final
decision based on the report of that person or panel. |
23. |
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These regulations may be varied or waived by the Postgraduate
Studies Committee under delegated authority of the Academic Board. |