Examiner Recommendations

In addition to their written reports, examiners of doctoral theses are asked to nominate one of the following categories of recommendation:

a) Award of degree
This recommendation indicates that the thesis presented is of the standard required for the degree and that no amendments are required.

b) Award of degree with minor amendments
This recommendation indicates that the thesis presented is of the standard required for the degree but that it is necessary for minor amendments, such as errors of spelling, grammar or referencing, to be made to the satisfaction of the University before the degree is conferred.

c) Award of degree subject to the specified amendments being made to the thesis
This recommendation indicates that the thesis presented will be of the standard required for the degree after the specified amendments have been made to the satisfaction of the University. Specified amendments comprise more substantial corrections such as the rewriting of paragraphs, clarification of results, minor additional explanations, the addition of tables and figures etc. Minor amendments of spelling, grammar or referencing may additionally be required.

d) Be not awarded the degree but be permitted to revise and resubmit the thesis
A recommendation of revise and resubmit indicates that the thesis is not acceptable for the award of the degree in its current form and that a major restructuring or rewriting, (possibly requiring additional research to first be undertaken) is required to raise the thesis to the required standard.

e) Be not awarded the degree but be awarded the appropriate degree of Master
This recommendation indicates that the thesis presented is not of the standard required for a doctorate, but is prima facie of the standard required for a Master by Research degree.

f) Be not awarded the degree but be awarded the appropriate degree of Master upon making suitable amendments to the thesis
This recommendation indicates that the thesis presented is not of the standard required for a doctorate, but is of the standard required for a Master by Research degree subject to the specified amendments being made to the satisfaction of the University.

g) Be not awarded the degree
This recommendation indicates that the thesis presented is not of the standard required for a doctorate, nor for a lesser qualification.

Masters Students

The examiners of Masters theses are asked to nominate a recommendation from categories a-e. Recommendations of a), b), c), or d) are identical to those outlined above, whilst a recommendation of e) indicates that 'the thesis presented is not of the standard required for a Master by Research degree'.