S.L. 327.695 Art. 55

(1) The decision of the Board of Examiners in the final joint report shall be to either:

(a) approve the thesis and practice (as applicable), if no changes are required and recommend to Senate that the student be awarded the Ph.D. Degree; or

(b) require the student to affect minor changes in order to be awarded the Ph.D. Degree. The list of changes shall be forwarded to the student by the Chair for guidance and action as specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 54. The student shall be required to submit the revised thesis within three months following the written official notification sent by the Chair, and include a report explaining how all the requested changes have been addressed. Minor changes shall only be allowed once. A recommendation to Senate, through the Doctoral Academic Committee, that the student be awarded the Ph.D. Degree shall be made after the Chair confirms that the minor changes have been carried out satisfactorily; or

(c) require the student to affect major changes in order to be awarded the Ph.D. Degree. The list of changes shall be forwarded to the student by the Chair for guidance and action as specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 54. The student shall be required to submit the revised thesis within a minimum of six months and a maximum of 12 months following the written official notification sent by the Chair, and include a report explaining how all the requested changes have been addressed. Major changes to the thesis shall only be allowed once. A recommendation to Senate, through the Doctoral Academic Committee, that the student be awarded the Ph.D. Degree shall be made after all the members of the Board of Examiners confirm that the major changes have been carried out satisfactorily; or

(d) refer the thesis back to the student to resubmit it in a revised and complete form and for the student to be re-examined and considered for the award of the Ph.D. Degree. The list of changes shall be forwarded to the student by the Chair for guidance and action as specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 54. A minimum period of 12 months and a maximum period of 18 months following the written official notification sent by the Chair shall be allowed. A second oral examination shall be held following the resubmission of the thesis during which the external examiner may participate remotely. A resubmission of the thesis shall only be allowed once. A recommendation to Senate, through the Doctoral Academic Committee, that the student be awarded the Ph.D. Degree shall be made after all the members of the Board of Examiners confirm that the resubmitted thesis merits the award of the Ph.D. Degree; or

(e) agree that the Ph.D. Degree be not awarded and recommend to Senate that the student be awarded the M.Phil. Degree; or

(f) agree that the Ph.D. Degree be not awarded and require the student to carry out minor changes in order to be awarded the M.Phil. Degree. The list of changes shall be forwarded to the student by the Chair for guidance and action as specified in paragraph (3) of regulation 54. The student shall be required to submit the revised thesis within three months following the written official notification sent by the Chair, and include a report explaining how all the requested changes have been addressed. Such minor changes shall only be allowed once. A recommendation to Senate, through the Doctoral Academic Committee, that the student be awarded the M.Phil. Degree shall be made after the Chair confirms that the minor amendments have been carried out satisfactorily; or

(g) agree that neither the Ph.D. Degree nor the M.Phil. Degree be awarded and the student be declared to have definitively failed.

(2) Should a student not submit the changes indicated within the maximum period granted by the Board of Examiners, the Board of Examiners shall declare that no degree be awarded, unless in extraordinary circumstances Senate agrees to extend the period in which the student is required to submit the changes.

(3) Should a student not attend for the oral examination without prior justification, the Board of Examiners shall declare that no degree be awarded, unless in extraordinary circumstances, Senate may request that a second oral examination be arranged if extenuating circumstances are subsequently revealed that could not reasonably have been presented at the time of the oral examination.

(4) In the case of Ph.D. by Practice as Research, the Board of Examiners shall proceed as indicated in paragraphs (1) to (3) of this regulation with regard to the written thesis and with mutatis mutandis regard to the practical component.

(5) When a student is considered for the award of the M.Phil. Degree in terms of sub-paragraphs (e) and (f) of paragraph (1) of this regulation, the thesis shall be assessed against the following criteria, that it:

(a) constitutes research of an advanced or an original nature;

(b) contains evidence of the ability of the student to relate the subject matter of the thesis to the existing body of knowledge;

(c) contains evidence of the ability of the student to apply research methods appropriate to the subject;

(d) has a satisfactory level of literary presentation; and

(e) is in compliance with the provisions of these regulations.