R3.89 - Degree of Doctor of Education

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1. (1) A person who -
   
   1. has qualified for a Masters degree in Education of the University or of another university or tertiary educational institution recognised for the purpose of this regulation by the faculty of Education ("the faculty"); and
   2. is of such standing as the faculty prescribes; and
   3. has had at least three years professional experience recognised as appropriate for the purpose of this regulation by the faculty; and
   4. has a demonstrated ability to carry out independent research, may apply to be a probationary candidate for the degree of doctor of Education.

   (2) Each applicant for probationary candidature must submit

   1. a proposed course of advanced study and research to be undertaken under the direction of a department of the faculty; and
   2. such other information as the faculty may from time to time prescribe.

(3) A person who is not eligible to apply for probationary candidature under paragraph (1) (a) may apply to be a probationary candidate if, in addition to satisfying the requirements of paragraphs (1) (b), (c) and (d) the person holds qualifications which the faculty deems to be equivalent to those described in paragraph (1) (a).

2. An applicant for probationary candidature may be admitted to probationary candidature if the applicant is accepted by the faculty on the recommendation of the head of the appropriate department.
3. (1) Subject to section 6 the whole of a probationary candidate's time must be devoted to a course of advanced study for twelve months from a commencing date to be fixed by the faculty -
   
   1. under the direction of such department of the faculty and under such supervision as the faculty designates; and
   2. subject to the prescriptions of the faculty made either generally or specifically in the candidate's case.

(2) On the expiration of twelve months from the commencing date a probationary candidate may be admitted to full candidature upon successful completion of the prescribed preliminary studies and the acceptance of a thesis proposal by the faculty.

(3) If the faculty confirms the candidature the candidate must, subject to sub section (5), further pursue the course of advanced study and research in accordance with sub section (1) for a further period determined by the faculty being not less than twenty four months from the anniversary of the commencing date.

(4) Notwithstanding sub sections (1) and (2), at a time which will not usually be more than twelve months before the completion date of the candidate's thesis, a candidate who, prior to the commencing date, has had experience in research relevant to the course of advanced study and research for a continuous period of not less than three months, after successfully completing a course for a degree requiring full time study for not less than four academic years, and who has made exceptional progress in the completion of the thesis, may apply to the faculty to fix a total period of probationary and confirmed candidature ("the total period of candidature") of less than 36 months.

(5) If the supervisor and the head of the designated department, or the deputy head if the head is supervisor, jointly

1. report that the candidate's progress has been exceptional; and
2. recommend as a total period of candidature a number of months less than 36, the faculty must consider the recommendation and may fix a total period of candidature of less than 36 months, but in no case may the faculty reduce the total period of candidature to less than 24 months.

4. (1) The total period of candidature must not exceed
   
   1. where the period of candidature has not been reduced under sub section 3 (5), 48 months;
   2. where the period of candidature has been reduced under sub section 3 (5), the number of months calculated by subtracting from 48 the number of months by which the total period of candidature has been reduced.

(2) Notwithstanding sub section (1), if the supervisor and the head of the designated department certify that exceptional adverse circumstances have impeded the candidate in the course and that it would be unjust to the candidate, having regard to the efforts made by the candidate to pursue the course, to limit the total period of candidature to the maximum referred to in sub section (1) the faculty may extend the total period of candidature beyond any maximum period referred to in sub section (1).

(3) The faculty may exercise the power conferred by this section before or after the expiration of any period of confirmed candidature.

5. (1) During the total period of candidature a candidate must devote at least 12 consecutive months of candidature to the course of advanced study and research in the University.

(2) The faculty may approve for the purposes of sub-section (1) non-consecutive periods which in the aggregate amount to not less than 12 months, and a candidate who devotes such aggregate period to the course of advanced study and research in the University will be deemed to have complied with sub-section (1).

6. (1) A person, including a full time candidate, may be accepted by the faculty as a part time candidate if the faculty is satisfied that any occupation in which that person is engaged leaves that person substantially free to pursue the course under the direction of a department of the faculty.
   
   (2) A part time candidate may apply to the faculty to become a full time candidate and the faculty may permit the candidate to do so on such terms and conditions as it sees fit provided they are consistent with the provisions of this regulation relating to full time candidates.
   
   (3) In the application of section 3 to a part time candidate
   
   1. in sub sections 3 (1) and 3 (4) the expression "24 months" is substituted for the expression "12 months";
   2. in sub section 3 (2) the expression "24 months" is substituted for the expression "12 months";
   3. in sub section 3 (3) the expression "48 months" is substituted for the expression "24 months";
   4. in sub section 3 (4) the expression "72 months" is substituted for the expression "36 months"; and
   5. in sub section 3 (5) the expression "72 months" is substituted for the expression "36 months" and the expression "48 months" is substituted for the expression "24 months".

(4) In the application of sub section 4 (1) to a part time candidate the expression "96" is substituted for the expression "48" where it twice occurs.

(5) In the application of section 5 to a part time candidate the expression "24" is substituted for the expression "12".

(6) In the application of paragraph 7 (2) (a) to a part time candidate the expression "70" is substituted for the expression "35".

7. (1) Each candidate must, subject to Statute 12.5 and the provisions of this section, present for examination a thesis, in such a form as the faculty may from time to time prescribe

(2) A candidate may present the thesis-

1. subject to sub section 3 (5), not earlier than the expiration of 35 months of the total period of candidature; and
2. subject to sub section (10) not later than the expiration of the total candidature including any period for which it was extended.

(3) A candidate must also present in the form prescribed by the faculty such summaries of the thesis as the faculty may from time to time prescribe.

(4) A candidate must state generally in a preface to the thesis and specifically in notes -

1. the sources from which the candidate's information is derived; and
2. the extent to which the candidate claims the work is his or her original work.

(5) A candidate who presents a thesis based on work carried out with another person must indicate the candidate's own contribution to the work.

(6) A candidate may not present as the candidate's thesis any work for which a degree, diploma, licence or similar distinction has been conferred on, or granted to, the candidate in this or another university or tertiary educational institution but the candidate will not be precluded from incorporating such work, in whole or in part, in the thesis if -

1. the candidate has been granted, on the recommendation of the head of the designated department, permission by the faculty to do so; and
2. the candidate indicates in the thesis the part or parts of the previous work which has or have been so incorporated.

(7) (i) For each thesis there must be an examination committee appointed by the faculty and chaired by a nominee of the Dean of the faculty. It must comprise up to five members who must be academics with established expertise in research. The committee must include two external examiners appointed by the faculty to assess the thesis who are, or who have been, within the five years prior to their appointment, actively associated with -

1. a university; or
2. an institution of higher learning; or
3. a research institution;
   
   

   approved for the purpose by the faculty, at least one of whom must be external to the University, and the other external to the faculty.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (i), where a department wishes an examiner to be appointed who does not qualify under any of the criteria specified in that paragraph it must submit a written request containing a statement of reasons in support of the request, together with a curriculum vitae of the person being nominated as an examiner, for approval by a meeting of the faculty.

(8) The supervisor of the candidate must not be appointed as an examiner nor as the chairperson of the examination committee.

(9) If a second and final assessment of the thesis is required, the examiners appointed for this purpose must be the persons who previously served as examiners for the first examination, unless the faculty determines otherwise.

(10) Subject to sub-section 3(5), a candidate may apply to the faculty for permission to present the thesis at a time outside the period provided in paragraphs (2)(a) and (b) and the faculty may, at its discretion, after consulting the head of the designated department, permit the candidate to present the thesis within a period determined in each case by the faculty.

(11) The thesis must be written in English unless the Council, on the recommendation of the faculty, determines otherwise.

8. (1) A candidate whose thesis has been judged satisfactory by the examiners may be required by the chairperson of the examination committee to make an oral defence of the thesis before an oral defence committee comprising at least three members of the examination committee. A pass in the oral defence will require a majority vote of the members of the oral defence committee.
   
   

   (2) A candidate whose thesis has been judged satisfactory by the examiners, who has fulfilled the prescribed conditions and who has successfully passed the oral defence where this is required, may be admitted to the degree of doctor of Education.

9. (1)Where the thesis has been judged unsatisfactory by the examiners but the examiners have recommended that the candidate (whether full-time or part-time) be given an opportunity to re-submit the thesis for re-assessment the faculty may, notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section 4(1), upon application by the candidate, extend the candidate's total period of candidature for a period immediately ensuing and not exceeding 12 months. The candidate is required to re-submit the thesis for re-assessment within the period for which the total period of candidature has been extended.

   (2) Notwithstanding sub-section (1), if the head of the designated department certifies that exceptional adverse circumstances are likely to delay the candidate from so preparing the thesis and that it would be unjust to the candidate, having regard to the efforts made by the candidate to prepare the thesis, to limit the total period of candidature to the period referred to in sub-;section (1), the faculty may further extend the total period of candidature beyond the period there referred to.

   (3) Where a candidate fails to re-;submit the thesis by the expiration of the period of additional time allowed under sub-;sections (1) or (2) his or her candidature is deemed to have then terminated.

10. In the computation of periods of candidature under this regulation, the only period which must not be counted is any period for which a candidate has been granted leave of absence from the course.

11. The faculty may, on the recommendation of the head of the designated department-

    1. require a candidate, as part of the course, to attend such lectures and practical work as the faculty determines; or
    2. subject to section 5, grant permission for the candidate to be absent from the University for periods not exceeding 12 months in any one instance if it is satisfied that satisfactory supervision of the candidate's work can be maintained; or
    3. in special circumstances, grant to a candidate leave of absence from the course in periods of whole months.

12. In this regulation-

    1. "department of the faculty" means any department within the meaning of Statute 6.1.1. and any other institution which the Council may determine is a department for the purposes of this regulation; and

    2. "head" in relation to a department which is not created under Statute 6.1.1 means the person designated by the Council as the head of that department for the purposes of this regulation.

13. Nothing in this regulation precludes the appointment of a head of department as supervisor.

14. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this regulation, where an application for probationary candidature, confirmed candidature or an extension of confirmed candidature is received by the Registrar after the date for the closing of applications, the faculty may make retrospective the commencing date of probationary candidature, of confirmed candidature or of an extension of a confirmed candidature (as the case may be) so that the applicant is not adversely affected by the lateness of the application, but the commencing date must not be more than two months before the date of the Registrar's receipt of the application unless the faculty is satisfied that the receipt of the application after the closing date was not caused by any fault on the part of the applicant.