University Secretary's Department Statutes and Regulation

1. In this statute unless the contrary intention appears –
   ‘component of assessment’ means a component of assessment for which a substantial proportion of the total marks for a subject is assigned;
   ‘confirmation’ means approval by the appropriate faculty to continue in any higher degree by research, and applies to the satisfactory completion of confirmation for any higher degree by research including the procedure known as a ‘formal review’ for all degrees of masters by research, and a ‘confirmed candidate’ has a corresponding meaning;
   ‘coursework’ means studies undertaken for any undergraduate or postgraduate degree or other award but does not include studies undertaken in satisfaction of a requirement to submit a thesis for a higher degree by research; and
   ‘higher degree by research’ means studies undertaken in satisfaction of a requirement to submit a thesis for a higher degree by research;
2. The School of Graduate Research is deemed to be a faculty for the purposes of this statute.

1. This section applies to:

   1. students prior to confirmation who are candidates for a higher degree by research with no coursework and who receive a notice of unsatisfactory progress in their research higher degree; and

   2. students who are confirmed candidates for a higher degree by research, including any such students in relation to a compulsory coursework component of that degree taken after confirmation.
2. If the appropriate faculty is of the opinion that a student (other than a student to whom section 11.4.2(3) applies) is not making satisfactory progress, that faculty may issue a written warning to the student stating that, unless certain conditions as specified in the written warning are fulfilled, at the expiration of three months from the date of issue of the warning it intends to –
   1. terminate the student's candidature; or
   2. make such changes to the student's candidature as are specified in the warning.
3. Subject to sections 11.4.2(4) and 11.4.2(5), if the Board is of the opinion that a candidate for the degree of doctor of Philosophy or master of Philosophy or a candidate for a degree or any other award which does not pertain to a faculty is not making satisfactory progress in the course of advanced study and research for the preparation of a thesis for submission for assessment or in any other activity or activities which may have been prescribed by the Board including, but not limited to, participation in research seminars, the Board may issue a written warning to the student stating that at the expiration of three months from the date of issue of the warning it intends to –
   1. terminate the student's candidature; or
   2. make such changes to the student's candidature as are specified in the warning.
4. In forming its opinion whether unsatisfactory progress is being made by a candidate for the degree of doctor of Philosophy or master of Philosophy, the Board must have regard to the recommendation of the School of Graduate Research.
5. In forming its opinion whether unsatisfactory progress is being made by a candidate for a degree or diploma in a department or school where a Board committee carries out the functions of a faculty, the Board must have regard to the recommendation of the Board committee.
6. A student or candidate to whom a warning is issued under this section may, within 20 working days of the date of issue of the warning, notify the faculty or the Board, as the case may be, of his or her wish to be heard in relation to the warning.
7. If a student gives notice under section 11.4.2(6) the faculty or the Board, as the case may be, must conduct a hearing of the matter before the expiration of the period of three months from the date of issue of the warning, as a consequence of which it must decide to-
   1. withdraw the warning;
   2. confirm the warning; or
   3. make changes to the warning as appropriate.
8. If a student or candidate to whom a warning is issued under this section does not notify the faculty or the Board as in section 11.4.2(6), the termination or changes shall take effect in accordance with the terms of the warning issued under section 11.4.2(2) or (3), subject to written confirmation of that action which will then constitute a decision of the faculty or the Board for the purposes of section 11.4.10.
9. In communicating with the student for the purposes of section 11.4.2(7) and (8), the faculty must advise the student of their right of appeal under this Statute 11.4
10. For the avoidance of doubt, any student who fails to meet a minimum specified standard of achievement in an optional coursework supplement to a higher degree by research is not subject to the terms of this Statute based only on those results, but without limiting the application of the Statute to other aspects of the degree.

If a coursework student does not –

1. satisfy the examiners at a component of assessment; or
2. attend for the performance of a component of assessment; or
3. perform a component of assessment; or
4. meet the standards laid down by the faculty for satisfactory academic progress,

the appropriate faculty, after investigating the circumstances and allowing the coursework student an opportunity to make submissions, may notify the student in writing that he or she has made unsatisfactory progress in the course, and must therefore show cause as to why that student may be permitted to continue in the course.

1. The appropriate faculty may appoint one or more progress committees to act on behalf of that faculty in considering the progress of coursework students to whom notification has been given under section 11.4.3.
2. Each progress committee appointed under this section must comprise –
   1. the dean of the appropriate faculty or the dean’s nominee (chair);
   2. two members of the full-time academic staff of the rank of senior lecturer or above with expertise relevant to the course; and
   3. where deemed appropriate by the chair of the progress committee, a senior member of the professional staff.
3. A decision taken or an opinion formed by a progress committee is to be regarded as the decision or opinion of the appropriate faculty.

1. A progress committee –
   1. must follow the procedures approved by the Board from time to time;
   2. must act fairly in all the circumstances; and
   3. must allow the coursework student an opportunity to make representations or submissions.
2. Subject to any rules of procedure made by the Board on the advice of the faculties, and to this Statute, meetings of progress committees are to be conducted in accordance with Statute 1.3.

1. at least half of the members present are of the rank of senior lecturer or above; and
2. at least three members are present.

1. The progress committee shall investigate the progress of the coursework student to whom notification has been given under section 11.4.3.
2. The progress committee may –
   1. permit the coursework student to continue the course, subject to any conditions that it may impose, including specifying the subjects for which the student may enrol; or
   2. decide that the coursework student’s enrolment be terminated.
3. If the progress committee determines under section 11.4.8(2) to impose conditions or that the student’s enrolment be terminated, then the faculty must advise the student of their right of appeal under this Statute 11.4.

1. The provisions of sections 11.4.3 to 11.4.7 inclusive apply to unsatisfactory progress in the compulsory coursework component of degrees being undertaken by students enrolled in a higher degree by research, prior to confirmation in that degree, as a consequence of not meeting a minimum specified standard of achievement for any of the compulsory coursework subjects.
2. For the purposes of this section 11.4.9, any reference in sections 11.4.3 to 11.4.7 inclusive to a “coursework student” is to a student as described in section 11.4.9(1).
3. The progress committee shall investigate the progress of the student to whom notification has been given under section 11.4.9, and shall give the student an opportunity to make representations or submissions.
4. The progress committee may -
   1. permit the student to continue the course; or
   2. decide that the student’s candidature be terminated.
5. For the avoidance of doubt:
   1. (i) students prior to confirmation who are candidates for a higher degree by research with no coursework and who receive a notice of unsatisfactory progress in their research higher degree; or
      
      (ii) confirmed research higher degree students who receive a notice of unsatisfactory progress in the research component or the compulsory coursework component of their course,
      
      will be dealt with under section 11.4.2;
   2. coursework students only, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, who receive a notice of unsatisfactory progress in a course will be dealt with under section 11.4.3; and
   3. research higher degree students who receive a notice of unsatisfactory progress in the compulsory coursework component before confirmation in their research higher degree will be dealt with under section 11.4.9.

1. A student may appeal to the Board against –
   1. a decision made by a faculty, under section 11.4.2 to terminate the candidature of a student enrolled in a higher degree by research;
   2. a decision made by a faculty under section 11.4.2 to make changes to the student’s candidature;
   3. a decision made by a progress committee under section 11.4.8 that a coursework student’s enrolment be terminated;
   4. a decision made by a progress committee under section 11.4.8 to impose conditions on a coursework student’s enrolment; or
   5. a decision made by a progress committee under section 11.4.9 that a research higher degree student’s candidature be terminated.
2. An appeal under this Statute 11.4 can only be commenced by the student lodging a written notice of appeal with the Board within 20 working days of the day on which the student was advised of the relevant decision, or in special circumstances, such longer period as the Board allows in its discretion.
3. The only grounds on which a student may appeal under this section are that:
   1. a procedural irregularity has occurred;
   2. there is new information that could not reasonably have been provided at or prior to the decision, and that will probably have affected the decision made under this Statute; or
   3. the decision was manifestly excessive, or unfair in the circumstances.

1. Subject to section 11.4.11(2), and to the power of the Board to delegate any of its powers and duties as provided in Statute 4.1, the quorum for any meeting of the Board for the purposes of this Statute is three members.
2. A member of the Board who is also a member of a progress committee of the appropriate faculty must not sit as a member of the Board or be present when the Board decides any matter in respect of which the progress committee has made a decision.

1. After allowing the student an opportunity to make representations or submissions, the Board may –
   1. uphold the relevant decision of the faculty or the progress committee, as the case may be;
   2. remit the matter to the faculty or the progress committee, as the case may be, for a further decision;
   3. permit the coursework student to continue the course on such conditions, if any, that it considers appropriate; or
   4. permit the research higher degree student to continue the candidature on such conditions, if any, that it considers appropriate.
2. All appeals relating to unsatisfactory progress that are to be determined by the Board are to be governed by the terms of this Statute 11.4, and not under section 4.1.2(3)(a) of Statute 4.1.

1. A faculty may authorise the re-enrolment of any coursework student to a course from which he or she has been terminated if –
   1. the student is re-selected by the appropriate faculty; and
   2. the faculty is satisfied that the student's conditions or circumstances, including their academic standing, have so changed that there is a reasonable possibility that the student will make satisfactory progress in the course.
2. Any student re-admitted to a course under this section is to be subject to such conditions as the faculty may impose.