Calendar 2012/13

Regulations Governing Academic Programmes

2 Faculty of Graduate Research

2.13 Regulations Governing the Degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery
1 Eligibility
1.1 The following may apply for registration as candidates for the degrees of Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of Surgery (MS):
  (a) Applicants who are medically qualified and eligible for professional registration approved for this purpose.
1.2 Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of competence in English Language sufficient for research study, and after admission to the University may be required to take additional instruction in English Language, normally in the University English Language Centre (INTO).
2 Registration
2.1 Registration shall be effective not earlier than the beginning of the term in which the candidature is formally approved. 
2.2 Subject to the approval of the Dean of the Faculty, candidates registered for a degree of Master of Philosophy may be allowed to transfer their registration to the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of Surgery (MS) and to have all or part of the period of study already completed under the original registration counted towards the period under the new registration.
3 Conditions of Study 
3.1 Candidates will be registered as full-time or as part-time students under supervisor(s) approved by the Dean of the Medical School. 
4 Continued Registration 
4.1 All candidates are required to submit a report on their research at the end of each academic year; failure to submit will normally result in termination of registration.
4.2 A candidate who fails to make satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw.
4.3 Each candidate is required to re-register at the beginning of each academic year until the required thesis has been submitted.
4.4 Candidates may, with the approval of the College Dean, be registered on Continuation Status provided they have completed their research and will not be undertaking any significant additional research.
4.5 Full-time candidates may not register for more than three years and part-time candidates for not more than five years. In exceptional cases the Dean of College may grant a stipulated period of extension.
 5 Transfer of Registration
 5.1 On the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty a candidate may be permitted to transfer registration to the degree of MPhil and to count the period of study already completed under the former registration towards that degree.
 6 Assessment
6.1 Each candidate will be required to submit a thesis in the prescribed form which shall not exceed 60,000 words excluding bibliography, appendices and abstract, and will normally be required to take a viva voce examination.
6.2 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.
6.3 Candidates must submit to the Postgraduate Administration Office two printed or type-written copies (which shall include a summary of approximately 300 words), which shall become the property of the University.
6.4 When ready to apply for the thesis to be examined, each candidate shall submit an application form which shall include an undertaking that all the material in the thesis which is 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.
6.5 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
  (d) a satisfactory level of literary presentation.
6.6 When the examiners consider that a thesis does not reach the standard required for the degree of MD/MS, 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 thesis 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.
6.7  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.
6.8 When making recommendations (a), (b) or (c), 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, major 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.
6.9 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.
6.10 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 MD/MS, 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 thesis to the satisfaction of the examiners.
  (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 examiners as may be agreed between them.
  (e) that no degree be awarded.
6.11 In the case of a student registering under a joint award agreement, the examination of the thesis shall normally follow the procedures of the institution at which the majority of the candidate's full-time studies have been undertaken..