| 13. |
Attendance and Performance |
| 13.1 |
Regular contact with supervisors is
a requirement for all candidates and, in order to ensure a mechanism which monitors this
contact, candidates are required to submit a bi-annual record in March and September of
these meetings to the Research & Postgraduate Studies Section of the Academic Registry
direct. |
| 13.2 |
Candidates shall further be required
to present a written progress report annually to their supervisors. Supervisors will
attach an assessment of the candidates' performance and submit the reports and the
assessment to the Research & Postgraduate Studies Section of the Academic Registry
(copied to appropriate head of department and faculty/school dean). The submission for
candidature may serve as the first annual report, depending on a coincidence between the
timing of the two. |
| 13.3 |
If a candidate fails to satisfy the
requirements under sections 13.1 and 13.2, or fails to make satisfactory progress, the
supervisor(s) shall advise the candidate in writing. A copy of the letter will be sent to
the Postgraduate Studies Committee for record. If the candidate continues not to satisfy
the requirements of attendance and performance, he/she may, after due warning, be
dismissed from the University. |
| 13.4 |
A candidate may notify the
Postgraduate Studies Committee in writing of any illness or other special circumstances
which may have prevented his/her satisfying the requirements under sections 13.1, 13.2 and
13.3 or adversely affected his/her performance and which he/she might like to be taken
into account before the Postgraduate Studies Committee makes a recommendation in terms of
section 13.3. |
| 14. |
Thesis Requirements |
| 14.1 |
The thesis shall comply with the
following conditions: |
|
a) |
The thesis shall form a contribution
to the knowledge of the subject and be original. The originality shall be shown either by
the discovery of new facts or by independent critical power. |
|
b) |
The thesis shall not incorporate
published work unless the work was published subsequent to the registration of the
candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. |
|
c) |
The thesis shall be the candidate's
own account of his/her research and shall be accompanied by a declaration to this effect
signed by the candidate. |
|
d) |
Where a candidate's research work is
part of a collaborative project, the thesis must clearly indicate the candidate's
individual contribution and the extent of collaboration. |
|
e) |
A candidate shall not submit work
that has previously been included in a thesis, dissertation or report submitted to the
University or any other institution in support of an application for a degree, a diploma
or other qualification. |
|
f) |
The thesis shall be suitable for
publication either as submitted or in an amended form. |
| 14.2 |
Title of Thesis |
| The title of thesis shall be
submitted by the candidate for approval not later than three months before the
presentation of the thesis for examination. Thereafter no modification of the title can be
made without further approval. |
| 14.3 |
Submission of Thesis |
| 14.3.1 |
At the end of the course of study, a
candidate shall submit four copies of the thesis to the Postgraduate Studies Committee,
three of which shall be kept by the University. The thesis shall conform in layout,
binding and presentation to the requirements prescribed by the Postgraduate Studies
Committee. |
| 14.3.2 |
The thesis shall contain an abstract
of 200-500 words in English and/or 400-1000 characters in Chinese summarizing the proposed
content of the thesis. |
| 15. |
Examinations |
| 15.1 |
Candidates for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy shall be examined in terms of their theses submissions, by oral examination,
and, in some instances, by means of written examination. The Postgraduate Studies
Committee will appoint a Board of Examiners to conduct these examinations within four
months after the submission of the thesis to the Postgraduate Studies Committee
Secretary. |
| 15.2 |
The focus of the examination of
candidates is on: |
|
a) |
the
subject of the thesis, in particular the quality of research supporting it; |
|
b) |
the
field of study encompassed by the thesis; |
|
c) |
the
originality of the research; |
|
d) |
the
written and oral presentations of the research results and conclusions; and |
|
e) |
the
contribution of the research to the field of knowledge. |
| 15.3 |
The Board of Examiners may dispense
with an oral examination should the external examiners adjudge the thesis to be of
exceptional merit. |
| 16. |
Examinations Results |
| 16.1 |
Candidates who fulfil requirements
of candidature and coursework, submit an acceptable thesis, and satisfy the Board of
Examiners shall be recommended, through the Postgraduate Studies Committee, to the Senate
for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. |
| 16.2 |
In cases where a candidate has
failed to fully satisfy the examiners or the Postgraduate Studies Committee, the candidate
may be: |
|
a)
|
required
to re-submit the thesis with minor modifications or revisions as required by the
examiners. When the revisions are approved by the principal supervisor, the final thesis
must be submitted to the Postgraduate Studies Committee within three months; or |
|
b)
|
required
to re-submit the thesis with substantial revisions as required by the examiners. When the
revisions are approved by the principal supervisor and the examiners, the final thesis
must be submitted to the Postgraduate Studies Committee within six months: or |
|
c)
|
required
to undergo further oral and/or written examination(s) within six months; or |
|
d)
|
deemed
to have failed in his/her candidacy. |
| 16.3 |
Under exceptional circumstances, the
Postgraduate Studies Committee has the discretion to recommend that the candidate be
awarded the degree of the Master of Philosophy. |
| 16.4 |
A candidate shall be notified of the
results of the examination within two weeks from the date of the oral examination. |
| 16.5 |
A candidate shall be notified of the
decision of the Senate. |
| 17. |
Appeal Against Decisions |
| 17.1 |
Decision concerning subject grade
assignment, eligibility of subject transfer, or qualification for candidacy may be
appealed to Chairman of the Postgraduate Studies Committee. Decisions of the Postgraduate
Studies Committee may be appealed to Chairman of the Senate. |
| 17.2 |
In cases concerning the fulfilment
of requirements for awarding of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, appeals may be carried
to the next higher sitting authority above the one who made the decision under appeal.
That is, if a Board of Examiners' decision is appealed, it would be to the Postgraduate
Studies Committee; if it is a decision of the Postgraduate Studies Committee, it would
then be directed to the Senate. |
| 17.3 |
Under normal circumstances, one
appeal is all that is permitted. Where exceptional circumstances arise, such as
information was not available to the Postgraduate Studies Committee when it ruled on an
appeal of a Board of Examiners' decision, a second appeal may be permitted. Within the
normal academic processes and structures, Senate rulings cannot be appealed. |
| 18. |
The Award of the Degree of Doctor
of Philosophy |
| 18.1 |
A candidate who has complied with
all the conditions for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall be entitled
to receive the degree. |
| 18.2 |
Degrees are conferred at the
commencement ceremony of the University. |
