| 1. |
Definition |
| The awarding of the PhD degree is contingent upon a candidate having: |
| a) |
completed an approved programme of supervised research; |
| b) |
presented a written thesis demonstrating an advanced level of knowledge and
understanding in the candidate's field of study, describing and summarizing the research
undertakings and findings; |
| c) |
satisfied the Board of Examiners in an oral examination (and any other
examination if deemed necessary) in matters relevant to the subject of the thesis; and |
| d) |
complied with supervision, attendance and all coursework requirements as laid
down by the respective faculty/school. |
| 2. |
Postgraduate Studies Committee |
| The Postgraduate Studies Committee of the Senate (hereafter referred to as
"the Postgraduate Studies Committee") is responsible to ensure that all students
admitted to the PhD programme have met the appropriate admission requirements; that
research prospectuses are well conceived, reasonable, and will yield significant results;
and that all candidates have fulfilled all requirements for the PhD degree prior to being
recommended to the Senate for the aforesaid award. |
| 3. |
Admission Requirements |
| Refer to the section on "Admissions
- Research Postgraduate Programme". |
| 4. |
Registration |
| 4.1 |
Double Registration |
|
Unless otherwise approved by the University, candidates admitted are normally not
permitted to register part-time or full-time for any other qualification either at the
University itself or at any other local institution of higher learning. Candidates
breaching this regulation are subject to discontinuation of their studies at the
University. |
| 4.2 |
Applicants whose applications are
successful shall be admitted to register provisionally for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy as either: |
|
a) full-time candidates; or
b) part-time candidates |
| 4.3 |
Applicants will not be admitted into
full-time candidatures if they are undertaking work not relevant to their area of study
for more than six hours per week. |
| 4.4 |
Applicants will not be admitted into
part-time candidatures unless the Committee is satisfied that they are able to work
regularly on the course of study and maintain regular/adequate contact with their
supervisors. |
| 4.5 |
It is expected that full-time candidates
will be engaged in other duties (remunerated) within a department of the University and
will, accordingly, not exclusively pursue their research projects. These other duties,
such as teaching/ research assistantships, will contribute to the overall development of
candidates' understanding within their chosen field. Ancillary duties will likely engage
candidates for 6-12 hours per week. |
| 4.6 |
Part-time candidates, it is expected, will hold full-time employment outside the
University in companies/institutions which provide some opportunities for them to pursue
their research as an extension of their work responsibilities. These pursuits may or may
not occur during their actual employment time. |
| 5. |
Period of Study |
| 5.1 |
The normal period of study for the
completion of the approved research and study is 36 months for full-time candidates and 72
months for part-time candidates. The minimum period of study for full-time candidate is 30
months and for part-time candidates, 60 months. |
| 5.2 |
The period of study may be extended and
approved by the Academic Registrar to a maximum period of 48 months for full-time
candidates or 84 months for part-time candidates. Further extension has to be approved by
the Postgraduate Studies Committee. |
| 5.3 |
Full-time candidates already holding a
Master's degree in a closely related field of study as that for the PhD programme may
spend a further minimum period of 24 months and a maximum period of 48 months of study and
research. |
| 5.4 |
Part-time candidates already holding a
Master's degree in a closely related field of study as that for the PhD programme may
spend a further minimum period of 36 months and a maximum period of 60 months of study and
research. |
| 6. |
Course of Study |
| 6.1 |
Candidates shall pursue a course of study
approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee and shall present themselves for such
examinations and at such times as the examiners may require. |
| 6.2 |
The course of study shall comprise: |
|
a) |
supervised research work culminating in the submission of a thesis; |
|
b) |
the coursework as required by the respective faculty/school; |
|
c) |
attendance at lectures, study groups, workshops and participation in seminars,
colloquia and conferences as directed by the supervisor(s); and |
|
d) |
any make-up subjects which are required to cover the candidate's deficiency as
required by the supervisor(s). |
| 7. |
Coursework |
| 7.1 |
Coursework Requirements |
| 7.1.1 |
Candidates should successfully complete a
minimum of 3 coursework subjects as laid down by their respective faculty/school. Each
subject should carry 2-3 units per semester/trimester. |
| 7.1.2 |
Make-up subjects and laboratory subjects
which are required to cover the candidate's deficiency should not be counted towards the
coursework requirements. |
| 7.1.3 |
Candidates who have a relevant master's
degree are required to complete 2 coursework subjects only. |
| 7.1.4 |
Candidates who have been transferred from
MPhil candidature and successfully completed the MPhil coursework requirements are
required to complete one additional subject only (in that case, the only subject to be
completed must be at postgraduate level). |
| 7.2 |
Academic Standard of Required Subjects |
| 7.2.1 |
The number of units assigned to a subject
is indicative of the contact time with a teacher and/or the study time associated with
that subject on a weekly basis over a period of one semester/trimester. In general, a
single unit represents attendance once a week throughout the semester/trimester at a
lecture/recitation lasting fifty minutes. |
| 7.2.2 |
Not more than one subject (which must have
direct relevance to the research areas of the candidates) should be taken at advanced
undergraduate level (i.e. 3XXX series subjects). |
| 7.2.3 |
Any subjects to be taken by a particular
candidate has to be recommended by the principal supervisor and endorsed by the department
head with due reference to the candidate's academic background. |
| 7.2.4 |
If a subject could not be offered by the
University at the time, an equivalent (or similar) subject may be taken from one of the
sister universities. |
| 7.3 |
Mode of Teaching and Assessment Method |
|
Any subject can be given in the form of
tutorial, small class or lecture, seminar, colloquium, conference, etc., depending of the
syllabus of the subject and the size of enrolment. Whether the subject is taken at the
University or one of the sister universities, some means of assessment such as written
examination or submission of term paper(s) is needed to evaluate the candidate's
achievement. |
| 7.4 |
Coursework Administration |
| 7.4.1 |
Candidates should officially enrol in the
chosen coursework subjects through the Research & Postgraduate Studies Section of the
Academic Registry. For subjects successfully completed at other institutions/universities,
transfer of units/credits would be allowed. |
| 7.4.2 |
Candidates will only be given an
"S" grade for satisfactory completion of a coursework subject or a "U"
grade for unsatisfactory performance. Any coursework subject attempted in the University
will be recorded in the candidate's transcript with an "S" or a "U"
grade. Any subject approved for transfer from other institution/university will be
recorded in the candidate's transcript with an "S" grade. |
| 7.4.3 |
A candidate who obtains a "U"
grade in a coursework subject should either:
a) repeat the same subject once, and the "U" grade can only be replaced by an
"S" grade if he/she performs satisfactorily in the second attempt; or
b) upon recommendation by the principal supervisor and endorsement by the department head
concerned, complete another coursework subject as a substitute. In this case, the
"U" grade of the original subject will be recorded in the candidate's
transcript. |
| 7.4.4 |
For the fulfilment of coursework
requirements, no more than one coursework subject could be repeated. |
| 7.4.5 |
For the fulfilment of coursework
requirements, no more than one subject with unsatisfactory performance (i.e. "U"
grade) will be allowed. |
| 7.4.6 |
Any candidate who fails to satisfy the
coursework requirements is required to be dismissed from the University. |
| 7.4.7 |
Candidates are required to satisfy all
coursework requirements prior to their submission of theses for oral examination. |
| 8. |
Candidate |
| 8.1 |
A full-time candidate registered
provisionally for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be subject to a probationary
period of up to 18 months (for part-time candidate, up to 21 months). At a time between 12
to 18 months after commencement of study (for part-time candidate, between 15 to 21
months), a provisional PhD candidate must attain full candidature by the submission of a
research prospectus and relevant documents for an open seminar to be assessed by a panel
before consideration by the Postgraduate Studies Committee. The Assessment Panel shall
consist of the supervisor, at least one member in the field who may come from the same
department or other departments and the department head (or his/her designate) who shall
chair the Assessment Panel. Failure to attain full candidature in a timely manner may
result in dismissal. |
| 8.2 |
The Assessment Panel will submit the
completed report forms, giving assessment of the candidate's performance and potential
along with the research prospectus (bearing the supervisors' endorsement) and relevant
documents to the Postgraduate Studies Committee. |
| 8.3 |
Upon review of a research prospectus,
reports from the assessment panel and initial candidate assessment report, the
Postgraduate Studies Committee will determine whether to admit a provisional candidate to
full candidature or to terminate his/her period of provisional registration for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy or to require the candidate to transfer to a course of study
leading to the degree of Master of Philosophy. |
| 9. |
Transfer of Candidature |
| 9.1 |
A candidate whose candidature has been
confirmed for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy may be permitted to transfer as a
candidate for the degree of Master of Philosophy provided that such transfer is made at
least twelve months before the date of submission of his/her thesis. |
| 9.2 |
A candidate who is initially registered
for the degree of Master of Philosophy and has at least completed the first year of
his/her studies may be permitted, with the approval of the Postgraduate Studies Committee,
to transfer to a course of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy provided that the
candidate meets the requirements as specified under section 8. |
| 10. |
Supervisors |
| All candidates shall be assigned one
principal supervisor and one co-supervisor from within the University. On occasion,
especially for part-time candidates, an external co-supervisor may be appointed. In all
cases a University faculty member will be assigned as principal supervisor. |
| 11. |
Examiners |
| 11.1 |
Candidates shall be examined by a Board of
Examiners appointed by the Postgraduate Studies Committee. |
| 11.2 |
The Board of Examiners shall consist of
two external examiners and two internal examiners, including the head of department (or
another senior member of the department) and one academic in a research field closely
aligned with the candidate's research. |
| 11.3 |
The dean of the relevant faculty/school
(or his/her senior designate) shall chair the Board, casting deciding votes only. |
| 11.4 |
Supervisor(s) of the candidate being
examined shall be invited to have input in the questioning of the candidate, but shall not
be included in the vote taken by the Board of Examiners. |
| 11.5 |
Appeals against decisions made by the
Board of Examiners and/or the Postgraduate Studies Committee are provided for, but the
highest and final authority rests with the Senate in all cases (see section 17 Appeals
Against Decisions). |
| 12. |
Leave of Absence |
| 12.1 |
Candidates who wish to be absent from
their studies in Hong Kong must apply in writing for leave of absence. |
| 12.2 |
Any leave of absence granted for special
purposes connected with studies shall be counted towards the period of study. |
| 12.3 |
Any leave of absence granted for any other
reason will not be counted toward the period of study and shall result in the extension of
the period of study by the length of the period of absence. |
| 12.4 |
Leave of absence for more than twelve consecutive months shall not be
granted. |
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