Examination of a thesis
All research higher degree candidates should be aware of the policies and procedures applicable to the examination of a thesis. See Sections 19 to 27 of the Research Higher Degrees Policies and Procedures.
General considerations
The candidate is not only examined on the basis of his/her understanding of a body of existing knowledge but will be also be examined by individuals who must judge the approach to research, construction of hypotheses, argument and analysis. If the degree is awarded, the candidate will become the peer of the examiners.
Appointment of examiners
Two examiners are appointed for a research Masters, PhD or MD degree thesis, both of whom must be external to the University.
In exceptional circumstances, the University may agree to the appointment of a third examiner. Up to two reserve examiners are also nominated in the event that one of the appointed examiners is unable to accept the invitation to examine the thesis.
The appointment of the examiners must be approved by the faculty. Before examiners are appointed, the candidate is given the opportunity to object to any potential examiners.
After the examiners are appointed by the faculty, their identity is not revealed to the candidate until after the examination process, and then only if the examiner has not expressed the wish to remain anonymous.
The normal deadline for the submission of examiners' reports for masters or doctoral theses is six weeks from the receipt of the thesis.
Examination process
The examiner of a thesis submits within six weeks a written report on the thesis to the University and makes one of the following recommendations:
- that the degree should be awarded;
- that the degree should be awarded subject to the completion of amendments to the thesis (specified by the examiner) to be carried out to the satisfaction of the supervisor and the AOU Head (or nominee, where this is the same person);
- that the degree should not be awarded but the candidate should be permitted to revise and resubmit the thesis or take a further examination or both. (A thesis may be resubmitted for examination only once);
- that in the case of a candidate who has submitted a thesis for the degree of PhD an appropriate Masters degree should be awarded; or
- that the degree should not be awarded and the candidate should not be allowed to present for the degree again.
Consideration of examiners' reports
After receiving the examiners' reports, the faculty determines the final outcome of the examination.
If both examiners have recommended the award of the degree without any amendments, the faculty will recommend to the Academic Senate that the degree be awarded.
If both examiners have recommended the award of the degree subject to amendments, or if one examiner recommends that the thesis be passed, and the other recommends that the thesis be passed subject to amendments, the faculty ensures that the amendments are made and then recommends to the Academic Senate that the degree be awarded.
Amendments may range from the correction of spelling or typographical errors and small changes to the text, to changes to the structure and substance of some chapters of the thesis which can be completed to the satisfaction of the supervisor and the Head of Academic Organisational Unit (or nominee, where this is the same person) without being returned to the examiner.
If both examiners are unanimous in making any of the other remaining recommendations above, the supervisor and the candidate are provided with copies of the examiners' reports and are invited to comment. In this process the examiners' identities are not revealed to the candidate. The comments and the examiners' reports are then referred to the faculty which will make a decision on the outcome of the examination.
In the event that examiners are not unanimous in making any one of the recommendations above, the supervisor and the candidate are provided with copies of the examiners' reports and are invited to comment. In this process the examiners' identities are not revealed to the candidate.
If one examiner recommends the degree should be awarded or that the degree should be awarded subject to amendments to the thesis and the other examiner recommends that the degree should not be awarded but the candidate should be permitted to revise and resubmit the thesis, the examiners will be invited to consult with each other in an attempt to reach an agreement and provided with the opportunity to offer a new opinion.
In all other cases of examiners not being unanimous in making any one recommendation (and in cases above where the examiners do not want to consult, or cannot arrive at a consensus), the faculty will appoint an external arbitrator in consultation with the supervisor and the AOU Head. The arbitrator will submit a report to the faculty and the faculty will make a decision on the outcome of the examination.
Award of PhD for a thesis submitted as a Masters
On rare occasions an examiner of a degree submitted for the award of a Masters may consider the work to be of such merit that the examiner unsolicitedly recommends the degree of PhD be awarded instead.
If such a recommendation is received, the faculty will write to the other examiner informing them of the recommendation and asking them if they concur with the first examiners' recommendation. The faculty will decide the final outcome of the examination after consideration of the examiners' reports.
Outcome of the examination
After the Academic Senate has certified that the degree is to be awarded, the Faculty Academic Officer notifies the candidate of the award of the degree, provides a copy of the examiners' report, and provides information on degree conferral procedures. The candidate is also advised of the requirement that two copies of the thesis in permanent binding must be lodged with the faculty.
Academic dress for graduation
The academic dress for graduates of the University shall be gown, hood and cap as follows:
Gown shall be for:
- Masters: a plain black gown with glove sleeves, with horizontal slits to free the arms.
- Doctor of Philosophy: a gown of dark blue with short wide sleeves, the gown and sleeves faced with scarlet to the width of three inches.
- Doctors (other than Philosophy): a gown of scarlet with short wide sleeves, the gown and sleeves faced with the same colour as the piping of the hood to the width of three inches.
- Hood: A rounded cape of dark blue without a liripipe and for:
- Masters: lined with pale blue and having coloured piping to the width of half an inch.
- Doctor of Philosophy: lined with scarlet.
- Doctors (other than Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of the University): lined with scarlet and having coloured piping to the width of half an inch.
Cap shall be for:
- Masters: a black trencher cap with black tassel.
- Doctor of Philosophy: a black trencher cap with dark blue tassel.
- Doctors (other than Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of the University): a black velvet bonnet with dark blue cord and tassel.
Click here for policy on Academic Dress and Schedule of Colours.
June 07
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