Legislation and Prescriptions

Statute 11.3—Enrolment for a Higher Degree Enrolment generally

11.3.1

(1) Unless provided otherwise in this statute, the provisions of Statute 11.2 apply, the necessary changes being made, to the enrolment of a person who applies to be admitted as a candidate for a higher degree.

(2) If the appropriate faculty or the Board has—

(a) approved an application for candidature; or (b) approved preliminary studies; or

(c) granted admission to candidature, by or to a person who applies to be admitted as a candidate for a higher degree, the person must enrol for the course for the higher degree within the time specified by the academic registrar.

(3) A п approval or admission referred to in sub-section (2) lapse if the applicant does not enrol within the time specified by the academic registrar.

Re-enrolment 11.3.2

(1) Unless exempted by the appropriate faculty or the Board, a candidate for a higher degree must enrol annually in the course for the higher degree within the time specified by the academic registrar until the candidate—

(a) has qualified for the award of the higher degree; or (b) has completed the approved preliminary course of

studies.

(2) A candidate for a higher degree who wishes to withdraw from the course for the higher degree must give notice in writing to the academic registrar of his or her intention to withdraw from the course.

(3) A candidate for a higher degree who fails to re-enrol in accordance with sub-section (1) or who gives notice under sub-section (2) is to be regarded as having abandoned the candidature unless the Board, on the recommendation of the appropriate faculty, decides otherwise.

Statute 11.5—Unsatisfactory Progress Interpretation

11.5.1

In this statute unless the contrary intention appears—

"component of assessment" means a component of assessment for which a substantial proportion of the total marks for a subject is assigned.

Notification of unsatisfactory progress 11.5.2

If a student who is enrolled in a course under Statute 11.2 or 11.3 does not—

(а) satisfy the examiners at a component of assessment; or (b) attend for the performance of a component of

assessment; or

(c) perform a component of assessment, the appropriate faculty may, or the Board, on the advice of the relevant Board committee 1 after investigating the circumstances and allowing the student an opportunity to make submissions, may notify the student in writing that he or she has made unsatisfactory progress in the course.

Faculty or Board may impose conditions 11.5.3

In addition to notifying a student under section 11.5.2, the appropriate faculty, or the Board, on the advice of the relevant Board committee may—

( а) in the case of any student, specify the subjects for which the student may enrol in any subsequent year; or (b) in the case of a student enrolled under Statute 11.3-

(i) impose new conditions on the student's candidature;

or

(ii) terminate the student's candidature.

Students enrolled in higher degrees 11.5.4

(1) If the appropriate faculty is of the opinion that a student enrolled under Statute 11.3 (other than a student to whom sub-section (2) applies) is not making satisfactory progress, the faculty may issue a written warning to the student stating that at the expiration of three months from the date of issue of the warning it intends to

(a) terminate the student's candidature; or

(b) make such changes to the student's candidature as are specified in the warning.

(2

) Subject to sub-sections (3) and (4), if the Board is of the opinion that a candidate for the degree of doctor of Philosophy or a candidate for a degree or diploma which does not pertain to a faculty is not making satisfactory progress in the course of advanced study and research for the preparation of a thesis for submission for assessment, the Board may issue a written warning to the student stating that at the expiration of three months from the date of issue of the warning it intends to

(a) terminate the student's candidature; or

(b) make such changes to the student's candidature as are specified in the warning.

As al I April, 1995, the committees established by resolution of the Board to Investigate and report on matters relating to cоиrses administered by the Melbourne Business School and the Victorian College of the Arts are respectively the 'lBS Postgraduate Studies committee" and the

(3) In forming its opinion whether unsatisfactory progress is being made by a candidate for the degree of doctor of Philosophy, the Board must have regard to the recommendation of the School of Graduate Studies.

(4) In forming its opinion whether unsatisfactory progress is being made by a candidate for a degree or diploma in a department or school where a Board committee carries out the functions of a faculty, the Board must have regard to the recommendation of the Board committee).

(5) A student or candidate to whom a warning is issued under this section may, within six weeks of the date of issue of the warning, notify the faculty or the Board, as the case may be, of his or her wish to be heard in relation to the warning.

(6) If a student gives notice under sub-section (5) the faculty or the Board, as the case may be, must conduct a hearing of the matter before the expiration of the period of three months from the date of issue of the warning.

Faculty may recommend suspension from course

11.5.5

Notwithstanding any other provision of this statute, if a student, other than a student enrolled under Statute 11.3, does not (a) satisfy the examiners at a component of assessment; or (ь) attend for the performance of a component of

assessment; or

(c) perform a component of assessment, the appropriate faculty, after investigating the circumstances and giving the student an opportunity to make submissions, may recommend to the Board that the student be suspended from the course.

suspension or other action by the Board 11.5.6

After receiving a recommendation by the appropriate faculty, the School of Graduate Studies or the committee established by the Board to make recommendations with respect to courses not pertaining to a faculty, and after allowing the student an opportunity to make submissions, the Board may — (a) suspend the student from the course; or

(b) specify the subjects for which the student may enrol; or (c) permit the student to continue the course; subject to any

conditions it thinks fit.

Appeals to the Board 11.5.7

A student may appeal to the Board against a decision by a faculty to terminate the student's candidature under sub- paragraph 11.5.3(b)(ll) or sub-section 11.5.4(1).

Re-admission of suspended students 11.5.8

(1)

The Board may authorise the re-admission of any student to a course from which he or she

has

been suspended if—

(a) the student is re-selected by the appropriate faculty or, in an appropriate case, by the Board committee) and

the Board is satisfied that the student's conditions or circumstances have so changed that there is a reasonable possibility that the student will make satisfactory progress in the course.

(2) Any student re-admitted to a course under this section shall be subject to such conditions as the Board may impose.

Progress committees 11.5.9

(1) For the purposes of this statute each faculty may appoint one or more progress committees to act on behalf of the faculty.

(2) Each progress committee appointed under this section shall comprise —

(a) at least three members of the full-time academic staff of the faculty of the rank of senior lecturer or above;

and

(b) the dean or, in the absence of the dean, the deputy dean of the faculty.

(3) A decision taken or an opinion formed by a progress committee is to be regarded as the decision or opinion of the appropriate faculty.

Meetings of progress committees 11.5.10

(1) Meetings of a progress committee are to be chaired by the dean of the appropriate faculty or, in the absence of the dean, a person nominated by the dean from the members of the committee.

(2) Subject to any rules of procedure made by the Board on the advice of the faculties, meetings of progress committees shall be conducted in accordance with Statute 1.3.

(b)

Quorum for meetings of progress committees

11.5.11

No question is to be decided at any meeting of a progress committee unless —

(a) at least half of the members present are of the rank of senior lecturer or above, and

(b) at least three members or one-fifth of the total

membership of the committee, whichever is the greater, is present.

Guidelines for progress committees

11.5.12

The guidelines to be observed by a progress committee in reaching a decision or forming an opinion must be decided by the appropriate faculty and published with the details of subjects.

Meetings of the Board 11.5.13

(1) Subject to sub-section (2) the quorum for any meeting of the Board for the purpose of this statute is three members.

(2) A member of the Board who is also a member of a progress committee of a faculty must not sit as a member of the Board or be present when the Board decides any matter in respect of which the progress committee has made a recommendation.

Statute 12.5—Examination of Theses for Higher Degrees

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 shall be in the English language unless otherwise allowed by the Board.

Certification of theses by candidates

12.5.2

(1) 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.

(2) Subject to any other statute, if at any time the Council is satisfied that —

(a) the certification by a candidate under subsection (1) is untrue or misleading—or

(b) the thesis or work contains material which is false or fabricated or demonstrably inaccurate and, in all the circumstances, it can reasonably be assumed that the material was not submitted in good faith, the Council may cancel, revoke or withdraw the degree or diploma if awarded, or, if the degree or diploma has not been awarded, it may resolve not to make the award.

(3) The Council may require a person whose degree or diploma is cancelled, revoked or withdrawn under this section to return to the University the certificate awarded in respect of the degree or diploma.

(4) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to any person admitted to a degree or granted a diploma at any time before or after the date of commencement of the sub-section.

Subject matter of theses 12.5.3

No candidate shall submit for assessment a thesis or work in full or partial satisfaction of the requirements for any higher degree—

(a) 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 (b) 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

c) 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.

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:

(a) each examiner must examine the quality of the thesis or work and make recommendations in writing as to the result of this examination;

(b) before making their reports, the examiners may consult together and may request the Chairperson of the examiners to obtain from the candidate clarification of any part of the thesis or work;

(c) if requested to do so by any examiner, the

Chairperson of examiners must —

(i) take steps to obtain clarification of any part of the thesis or work; or

(ii) require the candidate to answer any questions concerning the thesis or work; and

(iii) after consultation with the examiner, determine whether the answers of the candidate are to be in writing or oral;

(d) 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;

(e) if after consultation the Chairperson decides that the examiners are evenly divided in relation to the examination, the Council must designate

an

additional examiner in accordance with paragraph 2 (1) (b) of Statute 12.1 who maybe the Chairperson of the examiners.

(2

) Subject to this section the result of the e хamiлаtiоп 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 copy of the thesis or work submitted by any candidate who has satisfied the examiners.

(2) The academic registrar may, aftег 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 the Council within

three months.