S.L. 327.669 Art. 66

(1) For Dissertations assigned 60 credits or more, the

 Board of Examiners after reading and marking the Dissertation, and after the oral examination is held in terms of regulation 65(2), shall either:

(a) award an overall pass to the Dissertation unconditionally or subject to minor corrections which shall be submitted within a period of not more than three months, as established by the Board of Examiners, and to the satisfaction of the chair of the Board of Examiners in consultation with the supervisor. If the changes are not effected properly, the Board of Examiners shall award a mark and grade for the original version; or

(b) in the case of a borderline quality Dissertation verging on a fail, advise major corrections to the Dissertation which shall be submitted within a period of not more than six months, as established by the Board of Examiners. The amended Dissertation is reviewed by the chair who, after consultation with the supervisor, shall report to the Board of Examiners whether the changes were effected satisfactorily. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award any pass mark and grade, or a failing mark and grade with the possibility of a re-examination, if eligible in terms of these regulations; or

(c) in cases of poor quality Dissertations, declare the student to have failed with the possibility of a re-examination, which shall be held within a period of not more than twelve months as established by the Board of Examiners, and if eligible in terms of these regulations. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award the minimum pass mark and grade, 50%/Grade D, either as a final mark or subject to minor corrections, or to award a failing mark and grade.

(2) For Dissertations assigned less than 60 credits, when an oral examination is indicated in the Method of Assessment in terms of regulation 65(3)(i), the Board of Examiners after reading and marking the Dissertation, and after the oral examination is held, shall either:

(a) award an overall pass to the Dissertation unconditionally or subject to minor corrections which shall be submitted within a period of not more than three months, as established by the Board of Examiners, and to the satisfaction of the chair of the Board of Examiners in consultation with the supervisor. If the changes are not effected properly, the Board of Examiners shall award a mark and grade for the original version; or

(b) in the case of a borderline quality Dissertation verging on a fail, advise major corrections to the Dissertation which shall be submitted within a period of not more than six months, as established by the Board of Examiners. The amended Dissertation is reviewed by the chair who, after consultation with the supervisor, shall report to the Board of Examiners whether the changes were effected satisfactorily. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award any pass mark and grade, or a failing mark and grade with the possibility of a re-examination, if eligible in terms of these regulations; or

(c) in cases of poor quality Dissertations, declare the student to have failed with the possibility of a re-examination, which shall be held within a period of not more than twelve months, as established by the Board of Examiners, and if eligible in terms of these regulations. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award the minimum pass mark and grade, 50%/Grade D, either as a final mark or subject to minor corrections, or to award a failing mark and grade.

(3) For Dissertations assigned less than 60 credits, when an oral examination is not indicated in the Method of Assessment in terms of regulation 65 (3) (ii), after reading and marking the Dissertation, the Board of Examiners shall either:

(a) award a pass to the Dissertation unconditionally or subject to minor corrections which shall be submitted within a period of not more than three months, as established by the Board of Examiners, and to the satisfaction of the chair of the Board of Examiners in consultation with the supervisor. If the changes are not effected properly, the Board of Examiners shall award a mark and grade for the original version; or

(b) in the case of borderline Dissertations verging on a fail, the Board of Examiners may:

(i) refer the Dissertation back to the student either for major corrections which shall be submitted within a period of not more than six months, as established by the Board of Examiners. The amended Dissertation is reviewed by the chair who, after consultation with the supervisor, shall report to the Board of Examiners whether the changes were effected satisfactorily. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award any pass mark and grade, or a failing mark and grade with the possibility of a re-examination if eligible in terms of these regulations; or (ii) call the student for an oral examination to determine whether the Dissertation should be referred back to the student for major corrections and subsequently proceed as detailed in sub-paragraph (i), or if the Dissertation shall be declared as fail with the possibility of a re-examination, which shall be held within a period of not more than twelve months, as established by the Board of Examiners, and if eligible in terms of these regulations. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award the minimum pass mark and grade, 50%/Grade D, either as a final mark or subject to minor corrections, or to award a failing mark and grade; or

(c) in cases of poor quality Dissertations, declare the student to have failed with the possibility of a re-examination which shall be held within a period of not more than twelve months, as established by the Board of Examiners, and if eligible in terms of these regulations. The Board of Examiners shall then either agree to award the minimum pass mark and grade, 50%/Grade D, either as a final mark or subject to minor corrections, or to award a failing mark and grade.

(4) When a Board of Examiners fails to reach consensus about the final mark/grade they shall proceed according to the University Assessment Regulations, 2009.

(5) A Board of Examiners shall not allow a period longer than three months for minor corrections, six months for major corrections, and twelve months for resubmission of failed Dissertations, irrespective of whether the student is registered on a full-time or a part-time basis, unless there are valid reasons which shall be recorded in the report of the Board of Examiners.

(6) Major corrections to borderline Dissertations verging on a fail, as required by the Board of Examiners, may be submitted once only.

(7) In case of a Fail, students may submit a Dissertation for re-examination once only. In a re-examination, the entire process of examination has to be repeated.