Conditions for the award of the Degree of Master of Science

NB this text is not the official repository. For any purposes where it may be important, you should consult the current college handbook.

• 1. The degree of Master of Engineering or Master of Science by research may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the Higher Degree Committee of the University College (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) to a candidate who has demonstrated ability to undertake research by the submission of a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation.

  Qualifications

• 2.
  • (1) A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded at a standard not below Honours Class 2 an appropriate degree of Bachelor with Honours from The University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution.
  • (2) In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.
  • (3) If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such examination or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe.

  Enrolment

• 3.
  • (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Postgraduate Office at least one calendar month before the commencement of the session in which enrolment is to begin or, where applicable, by the advertised closing date.
  • (2) In every case before making the offer of a place the Committee shall be satisfied that initial agreement has been reached between the School and the applicant on the topic area, supervision arrangements, provision of adequate facilities and any coursework to be prescribed and that these are in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines for promoting postgraduate study within the University.
  • (3) An approved candidate shall be enrolled either as a full-time or a part-time student.
  • (4) A full-time candidate will present the thesis for examination no earlier than 1.5 years and no later than 3 years from the date of enrolment and a part-time candidate will present the thesis for examination no earlier than 2 years and no later than 5 years from the date of enrolment except with the approval of the Committee.
  • (5) The candidate may undertake the research as an internal student i.e. at a campus, teaching hospital or other research facility with which the University is associated, or as an external student not in attendance at the University except for periods as may be prescribed by the Committee.
  • (6) An internal candidate will normally carry out the research on a campus or at a teaching or research facility of the University except that the Committee may permit a candidate to spend a period in the field, within another institution or elsewhere away from the University provided that the work can be supervised in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. In such instances the Committee shall be satisfied that the location and period of time away from the University are necessary to the research program.
  • (7) The research shall be supervised by a supervisor or supervisors who are members of the academic staff of the School or under other appropriate supervision arrangements approved by the Committee. Normally an external candidate within another organisation or institution will have a co-supervisor at that institution.

  Progression

• 4. The progress of the candidate shall be considered by the Cornmittee following report from the School in accordance with the procedures established within the School and previously noted by the Committee.
  • (i) The research proposal will be reviewed as soon as feasible after enrolment. For a full time student this will normally be during the first year of study, or immediately following a period of prescribed coursework. This review will focus on the viability of the research proposal.
  • (ii) Progress in the course will be reviewed within twelve months of the first review. As a result of either review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate. Thereafter the progress of the candidate will be reviewed annually.

  Thesis

• 5.
  • (1) On completing the program of study a candidate shall submit a thesis embodying the results of the investigation.
  • (2) The candidate shall give in writing to the Postgraduate Office two months notice of intention to submit the thesis
  • (3) The thesis shall present an account of the candidate's own research. In special cases work done conjointly with other persons may be accepted provided the Committee is satisfied about the extent at the candidate's part in the joint research.
  • (4) The candidate may also submit any work previously published whether or not such work is related to the thesis
  • (5) Three copies of the thesis shall be presented in a form which complies with the requirements of the University for the preparation and submission of theses for higher degrees.
  • (6) It shall be understood that the University retains the three copies of the thesis submitted for examination and is free to allow the thesis to be consulted or borrowed. Subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1968, the University may issue the thesis in whole or in part, in photostat or microfilm or other copying medium.

  Examination

• 6.
  • (1) There shall be not fewer than two examiners of the thesis appointed by the Committee, at least one of whom shall be external to the University unless the Committee is satisfied that this is not practicable.
  • (2) At the conclusion of the examination each examiner shall submit to the Committee a concise report on the merits of the thesis and shall recommend to the Committee that:
    • (a) the thesis merits the award of the degree.
    • (b) the thesis merits the award of the degree subject to minor corrections as listed being made to the satisfaction of the Head of School.
    • (c) the thesis requires further work on matters detailed in my report. Should performance in this further work be to the satisfaction of the Higher Degree Committee, the thesis would merit the award of the degree.
    • (d) the thesis does not merit the award of the degree in its present form and further work as described in my report is required. The revised thesis should be subject to re-examination.
    • (e) the thesis does not merit the award of the degree and does not demonstrate that resubmission would be likely to achieve that merit.
  • (3) if the performance in the further work recommended under (2)(c) above is not to the satisfaction of the Committee, the Committee may permit the candidate to submit the thesis for re-examination as determined by the Committee within a period determined by it but not exceeding eighteen months.
  • (4) The Committee shall, after consideration of the examiners reports and the results of any further examination, recommend whether or not the candidate may be awarded the degree. If t is decided that the candidate not be awarded the degree the Committee shall determine whether or not the candidate be permitted to resubmit the thesis after a further period of study and/or research.

  Fees

• 7 A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

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19/11/1996