Regulations Governing Academic Programmes
2 Faculty of Graduate Research
| 2.11 | Regulations Governing the Degrees of Doctor in Clinical Research and Doctor in Clinical Practice |
| 1 | Eligibility |
| 1.1 | The following may apply for registration for the degree of Doctor in Clinical Research (DClin Res)/Doctor in Clinical Practice (DClin Prac): |
| (a) holders of a postgraduate degree (or equivalent), | |
| (b) who in addition possess normally three years' relevant professional experience | |
| 1.2 | Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of competence in English Language sufficient for research study. |
| 2 | Registration |
| 2.1 | Candidates will be registered part-time students as provided in the programme syllabus. |
| 3 | Conditions of Study |
| 3.1 | Part-time candidates will be required to register for a period of no less than three years. |
| 3.2 | Candidates will satisfactorily complete the programme’s taught modules (totalling 300 credits), and submit a thesis (totalling 240 credits), normally within one specified area of study as prescribed in the published syllabus. |
| 3.3 | The programme specification for postgraduate taught programmes may stipulate the 'credit expiry period' for modules within that programme, otherwise it will be ten years. |
| 3.4 | If counting credit towards the programme would mean that more than the credit expiry period will elapse between the date of the award of the earliest credits and the date for the completion of the programme, the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Research, on the advice of the relevant College may: |
| (a) cancel credit for the module/s; or | |
| (b) determine the conditions, if any, under which the student may retain credit. | |
| 3.5 | In the case of candidates who are not studying full-time or at the institution, the College Dean must be satisfied that regular contact between the candidate and a supervisor can be maintained. |
| 4 | Continued Registration |
| 4.1 | Each candidate is required to re-register at the beginning of each academic year within which credit for modules is being sought. Candidates who have completed the prescribed minimum period of study will be registered as part-time students. |
| 4.2 | All candidates are required to submit a report on their progress at the end of each academic year; failure to submit will normally result in termination of registration. |
| 4.3 | A candidate who fails to make satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw. |
| 4.4 | Candidates are expected to have completed all requirements for the award of their degree within a period not exceeding six years. In exceptional cases the Dean of College may grant a stipulated period of extension (however see points 3.4 and 3.5 above). |
| 5 | Process of Assessment |
| 5.1 | Candidates will be required to achieve a pass in all taught modules (at least 60 credits each) before being permitted to register formally for the thesis. |
| 5.2 | No candidate shall be allowed to commence study on their thesis unless the Director of Professional Training or appropriate academic unit certifies that the candidate has passed all taught elements of the programme. |
| 5.3 | Each candidate will be required to submit a thesis in the prescribed form which shall not exceed 50,000 words excluding bibliography, appendices and abstract, and will normally be required to take a viva voce examination. |
| 5.4 | The thesis may not be submitted before the first day of the last term of the stipulated period of study. |
| 5.5 | In examining a thesis submitted by a candidate who has been registered on a doctoral programme, the examiners may, in considering the length of the thesis, take into account the additional constraints on the time available to the candidate. |
| 5.6 | A candidate may not include in the thesis material previously submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. |
| 5.7 | Candidates must submit to the Postgraduate Administration Office two copies (which shall include a summary of approximately 300 words) in the format prescribed by the ‘Presentation of Theses/Dissertations for Degrees in the Faculty of Graduate Research: Statement of Procedures’. |
| 5.8 | When ready to apply for the thesis to be examined, each candidate shall submit a completion certificate which shall include an undertaking that all the material in the thesis which has been not the candidate's own work has been identified, and that the thesis does not include any material previously submitted and approved for the award of a degree. |
| 5.9 | In assessing the thesis, the examiners will require: |
| (a) evidence that it forms a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject | |
| (b) evidence of originality | |
| (c) evidence of the candidate’s ability to relate the subject matter of the thesis to the existing body of knowledge within the field, and |
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| (d) a satisfactory level of literary presentation. | |
| 5.10 | When the examiners consider that a thesis does not reach the standard required for the degree of DClin Res/DClin Prac it shall be within their discretion to make one of the following recommendations: |
| (a) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making minor amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of one or more of the examiners as may be agreed between them; | |
| (b) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making major amendments to the satisfaction of the examiners as may be agreed between them; | |
| (c) that no degree be awarded but that the candidate be permitted to submit a revised thesis. | |
| 5.11 | In making their recommendation, examiners may take into account any circumstances which may make it impracticable for a candidate to undertake a further period of study. |
| 5.12 | When making recommendations (a) or (b), the examiners are required, when making their final report to the Dean of Faculty, also to indicate for the information of the candidate the reasons for their decision, and where amendments are required (whether minor or revisions prior to re-submission) to indicate those aspects or parts of the thesis/dissertation which they regard as inadequate and the nature and extent of the re-writing required. |
| 5.13 | A thesis may be re-submitted on one occasion within such a period of further study as the examiners recommend and the Dean of Faculty approves. A candidate preparing for resubmission will be required to maintain registration as a continuing registration student. |
| 5.14 | On examination of a re-submitted thesis, if the examiners again consider that a thesis does not reach the standard required for the degree of DClin Res/DClin Prac, it shall be within their discretion to make one of the following recommendations: |
| (a) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making minor amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of one or more of the examiners as may be agreed between them; | |
| (b) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making major amendments to the satisfaction of the examiners as may be agreed between them; | |
| (c) that the degree of Master of Philosophy be awarded; | |
| (d) that the degree of Master of Philosophy be awarded subject to the candidate making minor amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of one or more of the the examiners as may be agreed between them; | |
| (e) that no degree be awarded. | |
| 6 | Staff Candidates |
| 6.1 | Full-time and part-time members of the University may apply for registration as candidates for the degree of Doctor in Clinical Research or Doctor in Clinical Practice. |
