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General Regulations – Masters Degrees

The following regulations apply to all Masters degrees published in this Calendar unless otherwise stated. As far as possible they are to be read in conjunction with the specific degree regulations for each Masters degree.

(i) a Masters is a Research Masters if it includes a thesis or research portfolio of at least 90 points, otherwise it is a Taught Masters

(ii) a research essay or research project will normally be worth no more than 45 points

(iii) a dissertation will be worth at least 40 points and less than 90 points

(iv) a research portfolio or thesis will normally be worth 90 or 120 points

(v) for the purposes of these regulations only, full-time enrolment is 50 points or more in one semester or 25 points or more in one quarter, otherwise the semester or quarter enrolment (and any Summer School enrolment) is part-time.

General Requirements

1 A student enrolled for a Masters degree at this University must pass the full points value specified in the degree regulations. The total enrolment may not exceed the minimum points requirement for the degree by more than 40 points.

Duration of Enrolment

2 a The requirements for a Masters degree must be completed in accordance with the following time limits and the thesis or research portfolio due dates in Regulation 2e.

(i) The date of initial enrolment is deemed to be:

(a) the start date of the enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio where the programme commences with a thesis or research portfolio enrolment

(b) the first term in which a student enrolled for a course which is assigned or reassigned to the programme.

(ii) One period of Summer School enrolment counts towards the time limit as one semester of part-time enrolment, but is not counted if a thesis or research portfolio enrolment has already commenced.

(iii) Where a student’s enrolment is partially full-time and partially part-time, the part-time time limit applies, provided that:

(a) one semester of full-time enrolment counts as two semesters of part-time enrolment

(b) one quarter of full-time enrolment counts as two quarters of part-time enrolment.

(iv) Where a student’s enrolment is entirely full-time, it must be in consecutive semesters or quarters.

(v) Where a student’s enrolment is at least partially part-time, up to a maximum of four semesters or four quarters of non-enrolment may occur provided that:

(a) One semester of non-enrolment counts towards the time limit as one semester of part-time enrolment.

(b) One quarter of non-enrolment counts towards the time limit as one quarter of part-time enrolment.

(c) Any semesters or quarters of non-enrolment occur prior to commencement of a thesis or research portfolio enrolment.

b Enrolment in a Research Masters degree must conclude with the submission of the thesis or research portfolio.

c Enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio must commence on either 1 December, 1 March or 15 July and continue until the submission of the thesis or research portfolio.

d A student must enrol in thesis or research portfolio points in no fewer than two and no more than four consecutive semesters until the thesis or research portfolio points requirement is satisfied and subject to the time limits in Regulation 2a.

  e    A thesis or research portfolio must be submitted by the following due dates:

1 The final semester of enrolment depends on the start date of the thesis or research portfolio and the number of semesters (either two, three or four) in which a student is enrolled in thesis or research portfolio points before they satisfy the thesis or research portfolio points requirement.

2 These due dates provide 12 months of continuous enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio for students completing their thesis or research portfolio points enrolment in two consecutive semesters, and 18 or 24 months of continuous enrolment for other students (by enrolment in thesis or research portfolio points in three or four consecutive semesters respectively).

3 This due date occurs within the final semester of enrolment.

4 This due date is in the same year as the final semester of enrolment

5 This due date is in the year following the final semester of enrolment.

f A student enrolled in a 240 point Research Masters must complete at least 105 points of coursework prior to enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio.

g A student enrolled in a 300 point Research Masters must complete at least 180 points of coursework prior to enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio.

h A student enrolled in a 360 point Research Masters must complete at least 240 points of coursework prior to enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio.

Completion of Requirements

3 a A student enrolled in a thesis or research portfolio must complete at least one progress review during their research. Failure to complete a progress review by the required due date may result in enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio being suspended.

b Thesis or Research Portfolio Extension of Time

(i) If, in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, a thesis or research portfolio has not been able to be completed by the due date specified in Regulation 2, the Supervisor may approve a limited extension of time, not exceeding one month in total, and the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research may approve a limited extension of time, not exceeding eight months in total (including any extension approved by the Supervisor), for the work to be completed. The Supervisor may not decline an application for an extension but may refer it to the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research with a recommendation that it be declined.

(ii) If an extension application is declined by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, the student may make an application for a review of that decision. An application for review must be made in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) within one month of the decline being officially communicated to the student. The application must clearly set out the grounds for the review, and all relevant documents relied upon must be submitted with the application for review. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final. 

(iii) If an application is received for an extension of beyond eight months, or the application is received more than two weeks after the deadline for submission of the research component to which it applies, then the application must be forwarded, with a recommendation from the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) for a decision.

(iv) The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve a limited extension of time of up to eight months or more than eight months. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

(v) If an extension is approved, a student will be enrolled in an extension course and pay tuition fees at the rate of 5 points for each one-month period or part thereof. This will only apply when the student’s current enrolment period in the thesis or research portfolio has ended.

(vi) In extraordinary circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve extensions of time beyond those permitted in 3b(i) for an individual or nominated group of students and may waive part or all of any tuition fees for extension courses related to theses or research portfolios for these students.

c Dissertation/Research Essay/Research Project

(i) The specified date for submission of a dissertation, research essay or research project that is included in a masters degree is the last day of the final term of enrolment in the dissertation, research essay or research project. If, in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, the dissertation, research essay or research project has not been able to be completed by the last day of the final term of enrolment in the dissertation, research essay or research project, the Supervisor may approve a limited extension of time, not exceeding one month in total, and the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research may approve a limited extension of time, not exceeding two months in total (including any extension approved by the Supervisor), for the work to be completed. The Supervisor may not decline an application for an extension but may refer it to the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research with a recommendation that it be declined.

(ii) If an extension application is declined by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, the student may make an application for a review of that decision. An application for review must be made in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) within one month of the decline being officially communicated to the student. The application must clearly set out the grounds for the review, and all relevant documents relied upon must be submitted with the application for review. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

(iii) If an application is received for an extension of beyond two months, or the application is received more than two weeks after the deadline for submission of the research component to which it applies, then the application must be forwarded, with a recommendation from the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) for a decision.

(iv) The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve a limited extension of time of up to two months or more than two months. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

(v) If an extension is approved, a student will be enrolled in an extension course and pay tuition fees at the rate of 5 points for each one-month period or part thereof. This will only apply when the student’s current enrolment period in the dissertation, research essay or research project has ended.

(vi) In extraordinary circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve extensions of time beyond those permitted in 3c(i) for an individual or nominated group of students and may waive part or all of any tuition fees for extension courses related to dissertations, research essays or research projects for these students.

d  Other courses

Extensions of time to complete work in courses other than a dissertation, research essay, research portfolio, research project, or thesis will not be granted beyond the end of the semester(s) or quarter(s) of enrolment in the course.

e  Failed courses

A student who has failed a course or courses totalling no more than 40 points may be approved by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research to enrol for no more than one further consecutive semester or quarter beyond the duration of enrolment for completion specified in Regulation 2 in order to complete the degree.

4 a Where the specific degree regulations include a provision for Honours, a Masters degree may be awarded with Honours where a student’s overall grade is sufficiently high and where the student has passed a research component of at least 30 points, comprising a single identifiable course.

b There are two classes of Honours: First Class Honours and Second Class Honours. Second Class Honours are awarded in either First Division or Second Division.

c First Class Honours may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average of 7.0 or higher. Second Class Honours First Division may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average between and including 5.50 and 6.94. Second Class Honours Second Division may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average between and including 4.0 and 5.4. The overall Grade Point Average will be rounded to one decimal place for the purpose of this Honours calculation.

d For the purposes of the calculation of the award of Honours only courses completed at the University of Auckland will be included. Fail grades and Did Not Sit and Did Not Complete grades will count as zero.

e Where the requirements for a Masters degree including a research component of at least 30 points have been completed with an extension granted in accordance with Regulation 3, a student’s eligibility for honours will be retained.

Distinction or Merit

5 a Where the specific degree regulations include a provision for Distinction or Merit, and Honours has not been awarded, the Masters degree may be awarded with Distinction or Merit where a student’s grade is sufficiently high.

b Distinction may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average of 7.0 or higher. Merit may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average between and including 5.50 and 6.94. The overall Grade Point Average will be rounded to one decimal place for the purpose of this Honours calculation.

c For the purposes of the calculation of the award of Distinction or Merit only courses completed at the University of Auckland will be included. Did Not Sit and Did Not Complete grades will count as zero.

6 a The student is to submit a digital copy of their thesis to the relevant faculty in accordance with Regulations 2 and 3.

b The digital thesis shall be formatted as specified in the Guidelines for Formatting a Digital Thesis at the University of Auckland.

c The Associate Dean Postgraduate Research (or nominee) of the faculty is responsible for transmitting copies of the thesis to the examiners.

d Where the outcome of the examination is to award a thesis a passing grade:

(i) Within one month of being advised of the outcome of the examination, the student must complete any minor corrections required to the satisfaction of the supervisor and deposit a digital copy of the thesis in ResearchSpace in the University Library. The relevant faculty will confirm that the thesis has been deposited in ResearchSpace.

(ii) The thesis will be accessible through the University’s digital repository unless embargoed under Regulation 25 of the Examination Regulations.

e Where the outcome of the examination is to award a thesis a fail grade the thesis will not be held in the University’s digital repository.

Research Portfolios

7 a The student is to submit a digital copy of their research portfolio to the relevant faculty in accordance with Regulations 2 and 3.

b The Associate Dean Postgraduate Research (or nominee) of the faculty is responsible for transmitting copies to the examiners.

c Copies of research portfolios are not deposited in the University’s digital repository.

Dissertations/Research Essays/Research Projects

8 a The student is to submit a digital copy of their dissertation, research essay or research projects to the supervisor or department in accordance with Regulations 2 and 3.

b The relevant academic unit is responsible for transmitting copies to the examiners.

c Copies of dissertations, research essays and research projects are not deposited with the University’s digital repository.

Substitutions and Failed Courses

9 Masters students may not change their enrolment in a course after the last date approved for Changes to Current Enrolment except as outlined in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.

10 A Masters student may not normally re-enrol in a failed course except as provided for in the regulations relating to aegrotat and compassionate passes. In exceptional circumstances, the student may apply to the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, on the recommendation of the Programme Director, for permission to re-enrol in the course.

11 a (i) In exceptional circumstances the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, on the recommendation of the Programme Director, may grant a period of suspension from enrolment not normally exceeding one year for enrolment in a thesis or research portfolio or two consecutive semesters, or four quarters, for enrolment in other courses. In such cases the period of suspension will not count towards the time limits for the degree.

(ii) If a suspension application is declined by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, the student may make an application for a review of that decision. An application for review must be made in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) within one month of the decline being officially communicated to the student. The application must clearly set out the grounds for the review, and all relevant documents relied upon must be submitted with the application for review. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

b In exceptional circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve a period of suspension of enrolment exceeding two consecutive terms on the recommendation of the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research. In such cases the period of suspension will not count towards the time limits for the degree. The decision of the Pro-Vice Chancellor will be final.

c If a suspension application is received from a student after an extension application for the same research component has been approved, or for a term prior to the current term of enrolment, the application must be forwarded to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) for a decision. If approved the period of suspension will not count towards the time limits for the degree. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

Transfer Credits, Cross-credits and Reassignments

12 a Transfer credits

(i) Transfer credits may be awarded for a Taught Masters degree or the taught component of a Research Masters degree with a total points value of more than 120 points as specified in the Credit Regulations.

(ii) Except as provided for in the Credit Regulations, transfer credits may not be awarded for a Research Masters degree.

b Cross-credits

Courses may not be cross-credited into or from a Masters degree.

c Reassignments

(i) With the approval of the Programme Director, courses may be reassigned as specified in the Credit Regulations.

(ii) If enrolment in the Masters degree is not being discontinued, approval to reassign must not be given if the courses proposed to be reassigned meet the requirements for the Masters degree and the reassignment will result in an increase in the grade point average for the Masters degree. 

Certificate of Proficiency

13 a The Certificate of Proficiency regulations under ‘Other Programmes’ apply.

b A course passed for a Certificate of Proficiency may be reassigned to a Taught Masters degree, or the taught component of a Research Masters degree with a total points value of more than 120 points as specified in the Credit Regulations.

c A course passed for a Certificate of Proficiency may not be reassigned to a Research Masters degree except as specified in 13b above.

Transitional Certificate

14 The Transitional Certificate regulations under ‘Other Programmes’ apply. A Transitional Certificate course may not be reassigned to a Masters degree.

Appeal of Thesis, Research Portfolio, Dissertation, Research Essay or Research Essay examination outcome

15 a A student may appeal the outcome of a thesis, research portfolio, dissertation, research essay or research project examination only on the grounds that the result was materially impacted by a procedural flaw in the examination process.

b Any application for appeal must be lodged within three months of the result of the examination being officially communicated to the student.

c Appeals will be considered in accordance with the Examination of Sub-Doctoral Postgraduate Research Components of 30 Points and Above Procedures.

Delegation of decision-making

16 a The decision makers named in these regulations may delegate their decision-making power under these regulations to another nominated role. This delegation must be in writing.

b Where decision-making authority is delegated:

(i) The delegated authority can be exercised in the same way and to the same effect as if the original listed decision maker performed or exercised it .

(ii) The decision maker that made the original delegation remains responsible for the performance or exercise of the authority. 

17 In exceptional circumstances the Provost may approve a variation to the General Regulations – Masters Degrees.

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• You are currently on: Doctoral Thesis Policy and Procedures

Doctoral Thesis Policy and Procedures

Application.

Doctoral theses undertaken by doctoral candidates governed by programme regulations that came into effect in or after 2020.

Note: All other doctoral candidates should consult the relevant programme regulations and associated policies, procedures and guidelines.

To specify the policy and procedures that apply to doctoral theses undertaken by doctoral candidates governed by programme regulations that came into effect in or after 2020.

General requirements

1. Candidates are required to submit a doctoral thesis for examination under the applicable degree regulations and procedures.

2. A doctoral thesis must be a substantial presentation of the outcome of an original and coherent doctoral research project. It must situate the doctoral research in the broader framework of the disciplinary field(s) of study.

3. A doctoral thesis must demonstrate the research achievements of an individual. Where doctoral research involves the contributions of others, those contributions must be clearly identified in accordance with clause 22 of the procedures below.

4. The candidate’s contribution to the research outcome(s) presented in the thesis as the outcome(s) of the doctoral research must be no less than 65% and capable, in extent, of satisfying the regulatory criteria for the award of the degree.

5. The thesis requirement at clause 1 must be satisfied by the submission of a cohesive written document.

6. Subject to the PhD Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures , scholarly creative work (written or otherwise) that forms an integrated whole with the written document may be submitted for examination as part of the thesis requirement for the PhD.

7. Subject to clause 14a, and excepting citation of other work, which must be fully and appropriately attributed and referenced, the candidate must have written the text of the thesis.

8. All third party editing and proof-reading must be conducted in accordance with the Third Party Editing and Proofreading of Theses and Dissertations Guidelines .

9. Subject to clause 10, the thesis is to be presented and examined in English unless otherwise approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in accordance with clauses 23-26 of the procedures below.

10. The thesis may be presented and examined in Te Reo Māori where the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) (or nominee) and the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) are satisfied that appropriate supervision is available, that suitable examiners, and a suitable Examination Committee and Oral Examination committee , will be available for the examination, and that the thesis topic/disciplinary area(s) do not make presentation and examination in English essential on academic grounds, and subject to clauses 23 and 25 of procedures below.

Thesis length

11. Subject to clause 12, the work submitted for examination in fulfilment of the thesis requirement, including all appendices and references, must not exceed 100,000 words except as permitted pursuant to clause 13 of this policy or by the PhD Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures .

12. Where doctoral programme regulations specify a word limit lower than that at clause 11 of this policy, the programme regulations prevail, and the specified word length includes all appendices and references.

13. In exceptional academic circumstances, and subject to clauses 27-29 of the procedures below, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may give permission for a thesis to exceed the word length specified in the doctoral programme regulations.

Inclusion of published work

14. The written document submitted in fulfilment of the thesis requirement may include one or more publications subject to the following conditions:

a. The candidate must be the sole or lead author of the work. To be lead author , the candidate must have written all or the majority of the text and have their contribution to the publication confirmed by all contributors, in the Statement of Contribution required under clause 22 of the procedures below, as no less than 65%.

b. Except for the MD, all candidate work for the publication/s must be undertaken under supervision during the candidate’s enrolment in the doctoral degree for which the thesis is submitted.

c. All co-authors, and the publisher where work has been published or accepted for publication, must agree to the inclusion of the publication in the thesis prior to submission of the thesis for examination.

d. In addition to satisfying clause 2 of this policy, the thesis must, with regard to the inclusion of introductory, concluding and methodological discussions, and literature review, conform to the disciplinary norm for theses that do not include publications.

e. The thesis must be a coherent whole; publications included in the thesis must be integrated by the effective use of linking passages and/or otherwise amended to facilitate coherence, eliminate unnecessary repetition across the thesis and to ensure appropriate scope of engagement with a topic.

f. The thesis remains subject to clause 20 of this policy and must be presented throughout in a consistent format, citation style and typeface.

15. For the purposes of clause 14, “publication” encompasses any work that has appeared in a journal, book or other forum (digital or print), and any work submitted or accepted for publication but which has not appeared at the time of submission of the thesis.

16. There is no requirement as to the number of publications, or as to the journal ranking or impact factor associated with any journal publication, included in accordance with clause 14.

17. The opportunity to include one or more publications in accordance with clause 14 in no way mitigates the statutory requirements for doctoral candidates to undertake, and present the outcome of, a coherent doctoral research project.

18. Candidates including publications in accordance with clause 14 are not required to include a publication in its entirety and may revise previously published material for the purposes of updating or improving material as well as for the purposes of clause 14e.

19. Where a candidate’s contribution to a publication is less than 65%, or where a candidate did not write all or the majority of the text, the candidate may report on their contribution to the research that informs the publication, with due reference to the publication, but may not include that publication in the thesis.

20. The written document presented in fulfilment of the thesis requirement must be formatted in accordance with clauses 30-45 of the procedures below.

21. The thesis must comply with the Third Party Copyright Guidelines . If scholarly creative work submitted as part of the thesis requirement includes co-produced work, the approval of co-producers is required in the Statement of Contribution required under clause 22 of the procedures below.

Statement of contribution

22. Where the doctoral research presented for examination, including any creative practice research, contains the contributions of others, the nature of those contributions, any necessary permissions, and the nature and extent of the candidate’s contribution must be detailed in a Statement of Contribution completed in accordance with the University template. The statement of contribution must be included within the thesis submission, pre and post examination, as per clause 35 of these procedures.

23. Candidates seeking to submit a thesis in a language other than English must normally apply to do so at the time of application for admission to the doctoral programme.

24. Applications to submit a thesis in a language other than English or Te Reo Māori will only be considered on grounds related to the thesis topic and field of study. The English language capacity of the candidate is not grounds for consideration.

25. Applications to submit a thesis in a language other than English must be accompanied by the recommendation of the proposed main or joint supervisor .

26. The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will give permission for a thesis to be submitted and/or examined in a language other than English or Te Reo Māori only where they are satisfied that:

• appropriate supervision is available
• the field of study and topic of the thesis make this essential
• suitable examiners, and a suitable Examination Committee and Oral Examination committee, will be available for the examination of the thesis

27. Unless permitted by the PhD Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures , candidates seeking to exceed the word limit at clause 11 of the above policy must apply to the School of Graduate Studies.

28. Applications to exceed the word limit at clause 11 of the above policy must be made solely on academic grounds and must be accompanied by a statement of support from the main or joint supervisor detailing the exceptional nature of the academic circumstances.

29. The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will determine the outcome of applications made under clauses 27-28 of these procedures.

30. The font used must be black and, in the main text of the thesis, equivalent to either 12 point Times New Roman or 10 point Arial. Footnotes or endnotes may be of a smaller font size but must be easily readable by examiners.

31. Line spacing must be no less than 1.5 line space and no more than double line space, with the exception of longer quotations, footnotes/endnotes and materials in tables/figures, which may be single line spaced.

32. Referencing system, paragraph indentations (or lack thereof), formatting of quotations and use of footnotes/endnotes must adhere to the chosen style manual (e.g. APA, Chicago, MLA, MHRA), the choice of which must be determined in accordance with disciplinary norms.

33. These procedures prevail in any case of conflict between these procedures and the style manual/referencing system selected under clause 32 of these procedures.

34. Page numbers must be located in a consistent position throughout the thesis.

35. The order of material in a thesis must be as follows:

a. Title page (required; not numbered and not counted in pagination).

b. Abstract (required; numbered in Roman numerals).

c. Dedication (optional; not numbered and not counted in pagination).

d. Acknowledgements (optional; numbered in Roman numerals).

e. Table of contents (required; numbered in Roman numerals).

f. Lists of tables, figures, etc. (optional; tables and figures numbered by Arabic numerals; the thesis page/s on which the lists feature are numbered in Roman numerals).

g. Glossary (optional; numbered in Roman numerals).

h. Statement of Contribution (where required under clause 22 of these procedures; numbered in Roman numerals).

i. Main text of thesis (required; numbered in Arabic numerals starting at 1).

j. Appendices (optional; numbering continued from main text in Arabic numerals).

k. Bibliography/List of references (required; numbering continued in Arabic numerals).

36. The thesis title must be centred in the top third of the title page and must describe the content of the thesis accurately.

37. The candidate’s full name must be centred in the middle of the title page.

38. The following text must be completed and placed in the lower third of the title page:

A thesis submitted in [partial] fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of [name of your degree] in [ subject area ], the University of Auckland, [year of completion]. This thesis is for examination purposes only and is confidential to the examination process.

The final sentence must be removed prior to final submission of the thesis post examination.

39. The abstract must be a succinct summary, of no more than 350 words, of the aim, methods, findings and conclusions of the doctoral research.

40. The main text of the thesis must be divided into a logical scheme of chapters and/or sections that is followed consistently throughout the work. Any logical system of subdivision within chapters or sections appropriate to the disciplinary fields may be used.

41. The chapters/sections of a thesis must not be termed “papers”.

42. Brief chapter/section abstracts, and/or keywords, must either be included at the start of all chapters/sections in the thesis (save, at the candidate’s discretion, the introduction and conclusion) or omitted entirely.

43. The thesis must conclude with a bibliography/Reference List, as per clause 35.

44. Where a glossary is included to define or explain specialised terms, symbols and abbreviations, any abbreviations or symbols used must conform to disciplinary norms and must be listed individually, with the abbreviated form starting from the left-hand margin followed by the full form to its right.

45. Where appendices are used for any additional material that does not fit conveniently or appropriately in the body of the text, each appendix must be labelled in sequence, either with capital letters or with numerals.

Definitions

The following definitions apply to this document:

Candidate means a candidate for a doctoral degree at the University.

Doctoral candidates are students who are enrolled in doctoral degrees at the University.

Examination Committee is the committee, distinct from the oral examination committee, that may be formed for the purpose of considering the examiners’ reports. It comprises the academic head, an associate dean or director, and the Academic Head Nominee.

Joint supervisor refers to the joint supervisor with primary responsibility for administrative requirements.

Lead author means the candidate must have written all or the majority of the text and must have their contribution to the work confirmed by all co-authors as no less than 65%.

Main supervisor is the lead supervisor who takes primary responsibility for the supervision of a candidate.

Oral Examination Committee is the committee, distinct from the Examination Committee, formed for the purpose of the oral examination. It comprises the independent chair, oral examiner and the Academic Head Nominee.

Publications include any work that has appeared in a journal, book or other publication, and any work submitted or accepted for publication but which had not appeared at the time of submission of the thesis. Publications include ‘traditional’ hard copy works, such as books and journal articles, and works that only appear in digital form.

Subject area is the official subject area in which the candidate is enrolled.

Thesis is a substantial presentation of the outcome of an original and coherent doctoral research project. It situates the research in the broader framework of the disciplinary field(s), and entails a cohesive written document.

Key relevant documents

Include the following:

• PhD Statute
• PhD Including Scholarly Creative Work Policy and Procedures
• Third Party Copyright Guidelines
• Third Party Editing and Proofreading of Theses and Dissertations Guidelines
• Statement of Contribution

Document management and control

Content manager: School of Graduate Studies Owner: Dean of Graduate Studies Approved by: Board of Graduate Studies, Senate and Council Date approved: October 2021 Review date: October 2026