Statute 12.5 - Examination of Theses for Higher Degrees¹

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Submission of theses

12.5.1 (1) A candidate for any higher degree who is required or permitted to submit a thesis or other work in full or partial satisfaction of the requirements for the higher degree must submit to the academic registrar three type-written or printed copies of the thesis or work the format of which is in accordance with directions given by the Board and published by the academic registrar, from time to time, in a form readily accessible to students.

(2) Any thesis or work submitted under this section must be in English unless otherwise allowed by the Board.

Certification of theses by candidates

12.5.2 A candidate who submits a thesis or work under section 12.5.1 must submit with the thesis or work a signed statement certifying that, except where due acknowledgment has been made in the thesis or work to other material, the thesis or work comprises only the candidate's original work.

 Subject matter of theses

12.5.3 No candidate is to submit for assessment a thesis or work in full or partial satisfaction of the requirements for any higher degree-

1. if it is substantially similar to a thesis or work previously examined or assessed and rejected in the University unless, in special circumstances, the appropriate faculty or the Board allows the thesis or work to be submitted; or
2. if it is substantially similar to a thesis or work upon which the candidate has qualified in whole or in part for a degree or diploma in the University or in any other university or tertiary educational institution; or
3. while a thesis or work substantially similar to the thesis or work submitted for the degree or diploma remains submitted for examination or assessment for any other degree or diploma of the University, or in any other university or tertiary educational institution with the exception of a thesis submitted to the university and another institution as a requirement of joint or co-badged degrees with that institution.

Examination of theses

12.5.4 (1) A thesis or work submitted under this statute is to be examined in accordance with the following procedure-

1. each examiner must examine the quality of the thesis or work and make recommendations in writing as to the result of this examination;
2. before making their reports, the examiners may request the chairperson of the examiners to obtain from the candidate clarification of any part of the thesis or work;
3. if requested to do so by any examiner, the chairperson of examiners must-
   1. take steps to obtain clarification of any part of the thesis or work; or
   2. require the candidate to answer any questions concerning the thesis or work; and
   3. after consultation with the examiner, determine whether the answers of the candidate are to be in writing or oral;
4. if the examiners do not agree on the result of their examination of the thesis or work, the chairperson may require them to consult together;
5. if after consultation the chairperson decides that the examiners are evenly divided in relation to the examination, Council must designate an additional examiner in accordance with s 12.1.2(1)(b) of Statute 12.1 who may be the chairperson of the examiners.

(2) Subject to this section the result of the examination of a thesis or work is to be in accordance with the decision of a majority of the examiners.

Theses to be deposited in the Library

12.5.5 (1) The academic registrar must deposit in the Library a hard bound and a digital copy of the thesis or work submitted by any candidate who has satisfied the examiners, as provided in Section 12.5.4.

(2) The academic registrar may, after consultation with the president of the Board, direct that any thesis or work so deposited be withheld from access to library users, or placed on restricted access, for a time to be specified in the direction. The academic registrar must report each such decision and state the reasons to Council within three months.

1 For a definition of 'higher degree' see Statute 1.1.