General Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Differences from 2020/21 to 2022/23
§1. Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. Any member of the University who has been admitted to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and who has satisfied the conditions prescribed by this decree may supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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2. The Education Committee shall have power to make and vary such regulations as may be necessary for carrying out the duties laid upon it and upon the Registrar by this section.
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3. For the purposes of this section the words ‘board’, ‘faculty board’, ‘board of the faculty’, or ‘divisional board’ shall include any body which has power to admit students to read for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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4. Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy who are not graduates of the University may wear a long gown of black stuff, whose shape and ornaments shall be in accordance with a pattern approved by the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors and preserved in the University Offices, Wellington Square.
§2. Status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. The following may be admitted to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy:
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(i) a member of the University who, having held the status of Probationer Research Student under the provisions of the appropriate regulation, or having held the status of student for another higher degree within the University, or having completed the requirements for another higher degree within the University, has successfully completed the relevant qualifying test for entry to D.Phil. status prescribed in §3 of this section;
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(ii) a member of the University who has been given leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master or Bachelor of Philosophy, or of Master of Science by Research, or of Master of Letters, provided that the subject of the thesis offered by the candidate in the examination for that degree shall be in the broad field of research proposed for the D.Phil.
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2. It shall be the duty of the Registrar to keep a Register of those admitted to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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3. A board may grant a student suspension from the Register or deprive a student of their status; and in such cases it shall at all times follow procedures determined by the Education Committee by regulation.
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4. It shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council should be paid. Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board provided that:
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(i) no more than twenty-four months have passed since the student’s name was removed from the Register; and
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(ii) the number of terms the candidate spent with the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy did not exceed eighteen terms in the case of a full-time student, or twenty-seven terms in the case of a part-time student. (This limit includes any time spent with the status of Probationer Research Student or other relevant status before admission to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.)
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5. Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within the provisions above may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the candidate’s name was on the Register of Students, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the candidate’s department/faculty, supervisor and college.
§3. Admission of Candidates to the Status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. Candidates qualified under §2 of this section may apply for admission as Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the board concerned through the Registrar. Such applications shall be accompanied by:
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(i) a statement from the supervisor containing their view of the proposed subject for a thesis
1and of the readiness of the candidate to undertake advanced research (here and hereafter in these regulations, in the case of Fine Art candidates offering studio practice as part of their submission, and in the case of Music candidates offering a portfolio of musical compositions as part of their submission, ‘thesis’ shall be understood to include the totality of the candidate’s submission). A supervisor may delay an early application in the interests of the student, but must enable students to apply for their assessment within the prescribed time limits; -
(ii) a statement of support for the application from the candidate's society;
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(iii) a statement of the subject of the proposed thesis and details of the manner in which the candidate proposes to treat it.
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2. Save for those applying under the provisions of §2, cl. 1 (ii) of this section, applicants shall in addition be required to submit written work to the board, which work shall be assessed by two assessors appointed by the board, neither of whom shall normally be the candidate's supervisor. The precise manner and form of the written work shall be determined by regulation by each board. In the case of Fine Art candidates offering studio practice, and in the case of Music candidates offering a portfolio of musical compositions as part of their submissions, this will include such studio or compositional work as the board requires. The process of assessment must always include an interview with the applicant. Upon completion of their assessment of the candidate's work, the assessors shall make a recommendation as to whether the application for transfer to D.Phil. status should be granted. In each case the assessors shall make a reasoned written report to the board in support of their recommendation.
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3. The board shall consider the candidate's application together with the material supplied in accordance with clauses 1 and 2 above. No application for transfer shall be granted unless the assessors shall have certified and the board is satisfied that the candidate is capable of carrying out advanced research, and that the subject of the thesis and the manner of its treatment proposed by the candidate are acceptable; and unless the board or department under whose aegis the research is to be conducted has adequate facilities to enable the research to be undertaken.
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4. Subject to the approval of the Education Committee, each board shall have power to determine by regulation what other test or condition, if any, it may require before approving admission to D.Phil. status. Each board shall be empowered, without further authority, to require from the supervisor any further confidential report on an applicant's suitability to pursue research towards the D.Phil.
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5. It shall be the duty of the Registrar to submit any application made under these provisions to the board concerned, and to inform the candidate of the outcome as soon as may be.
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6. A candidate whose first application for transfer to D.Phil. status is not approved shall be permitted to make one further application, following the procedures laid down in clauses 1–4 above, and shall be granted an extension of time for one term if this is necessary for the purposes of making the application.
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7. An applicant who transfers to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall be reckoned as having held that status from the time he or she was admitted to his or her previous status unless the board shall determine otherwise.
- 8. The interview required under cl.2 of this section shall be held in Oxford in a suitable university or college building, unless in exceptional circumstances the board concerned gives special permission for it to be held at some other place. Such permission shall only be granted where the applicant and both the assessors have agreed in writing to the proposed arrangements.
- 9. In exceptional circumstances, application may be made to the relevant board for special permission to hold the interview required under cl.2 of this section using audiovisual electronic communication. Special permission may be granted for any or all of the applicant and assessors to take part in the interview using audiovisual electronic communication. The board concerned may approve the application where:
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(i) it accepts that no alternative and timely arrangements may reasonably be put in place;
(ii) the proposed arrangements are acceptable to both assessors and to the applicant, all of whom have agreed to them in writing;
(iii) it is content to bear the additional cost of the necessary arrangements;
(iv) the interview takes place according to the protocol approved by the Education Committee;
(v) in the event of any technical or other problems, the validity of the process used to conduct the interview and to determine the outcome will be decided by the Proctors.
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§4. Confirmation of Status as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. A candidate who has been admitted to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy must, not later than the ninth term or normally earlier than the sixth term after that in which he or she was initially admitted to the status of a Probationer Research Student or to the status of a student for another higher degree of the University, or the eighteenth and twelfth terms respectively in the case of a part-time student, complete the assessment process prescribed by the relevant board for confirmation of his or her status as a D.Phil. Student. A board or committee may, for good reason, and with the support of the student's college, permit a candidate to defer for a maximum of three terms his or her application for confirmation of status. A student who has been admitted to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy after successfully completing the requirements for the Degree of Master (or Bachelor) of Philosophy, or having held the status of Student for the M.Litt. or M.Sc. by Research, may be exempted by the board or committee concerned from the requirement for confirmation of status. With the exception of students who have been exempted under this provision, all Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy must have their status confirmed before making an application for the appointment of examiners.
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2. Candidates applying for confirmation of their status shall submit their application to the board concerned, through the Registrar; and such applications shall be accompanied by:
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(i) a statement from the supervisor containing their view of the candidate's progress towards confirmation of status. A supervisor may delay an early application in the interests of the student, but must enable students to apply for their assessment within the prescribed time limits;
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(ii) a statement of support for the application from the candidate's society
.; - (iii) a statement confirming that the student has successfully completed any required research integrity training.
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3. Each faculty board shall, subject to the approval of the Education Committee, determine by regulation any other conditions which a student must fulfil before his or her status may be confirmed. The process of assessment must always include an interview with the candidate.
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4. A candidate whose first application for confirmation of their status is not approved shall be permitted to make one further application following the procedures laid down in this section normally within one term of the original application, and shall be granted an extension of time for one term if this is necessary for the purposes of making the application.
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5. A Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall cease to hold such status unless it has been confirmed within nine terms of his or her admission to that status (or within a maximum of twelve terms where deferral has been approved in accordance with paragraph 4.1) in the case of a full-time student, or eighteen terms (or a maximum of twenty-four terms where deferral has been approved in accordance with paragraph 4.1) in the case of a part-time student, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
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6. If, after considering a candidate's second application for confirmation of status, a board concludes that the student's progress does not warrant this, the board may approve his or her transfer to the status of Student for the Degree of Master of Science by Research or of Master of Letters, as appropriate.
- 7. The interview required under cl.3 of this section shall be held in Oxford in a suitable university or college building, unless in exceptional circumstances the board concerned gives special permission for it to be held at some other place. Such permission shall only be granted where the candidate and the assessors have agreed in writing to the proposed arrangements.
- 8. In exceptional circumstances, application may be made to the relevant board for special permission to hold the interview required under cl.3 of this section using audiovisual electronic communication. Special permission may be granted for any or all of the candidate and assessors to take part in the interview using audiovisual electronic communication. The board concerned may approve the application where:
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(i) it accepts that no alternative and timely arrangements may reasonably be put in place;
(ii) the proposed arrangements are acceptable to the assessors and to the candidate, all of whom have agreed to them in writing;
(iii) it is content to bear the additional cost of the necessary arrangements;
(iv) the interview takes place according to the protocol approved by the Education Committee;
(v) in the event of any technical or other problems, the validity of the process used to conduct the interview and to determine the outcome will be decided by the Proctors.
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§5. Supervision of Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. Every candidate on admission as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall be placed by the board which approved his or her application under the supervision of a member of the University or other competent person selected by the board, and the board shall have power for sufficient reason to change the supervisor of any student or to arrange for joint supervision by more than one supervisor, if it deems it necessary.
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2. It shall be the duty of a supervisor to direct and superintend the work of the student, to meet the student regularly, and to undertake such duties as shall be from time to time set out in Policy and Guidance issued by the Education Committee. The supervisor shall submit a report on the progress of the student to the board three times a year as required, and at any other time when the board so requests or the supervisor deems it expedient; and shall carry out such other duties as are set out in Policy and Guidance issued by the Education Committee. The supervisor shall communicate the contents of the report to the student on each occasion that a report is made, so that the student is aware of the supervisor's assessment of his or her work during the period in question. In addition, the supervisor shall inform the board at once if he or she is of the opinion the student is unlikely to reach the standard required for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
The Registrar shall send a copy of each report by the supervisor to the student's college, and to the Director of Graduate Studies or other nominated person under the board concerned.
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3. It shall be the duty of every Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to undertake such guided work as his or her supervisor requests; to attend such meetings with his or her supervisor as the latter reasonably arranges; and to fulfil any other requirements of the Education Committee set out in its memorandum of guidance for students and supervisors.
§6. Residence and other Requirements for Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. Except as provided in clause 2 of this subsection, a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall after admission for full-time study keep statutory residence and pursue his or her course of study at Oxford for at least six terms, provided that a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy who is also a Bachelor or Master of Philosophy or Master of Science or Master of Letters or Master of Studies or Bachelor of Civil Law or Magister Juris or Master of Theology (except for those who hold the degree having studied for it at Westminster College) shall keep statutory residence and pursue his or her course of study at Oxford for at least three terms after admission as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Time spent outside Oxford during term as part of an academic programme approved by Council shall count towards residence for the purpose of this clause.
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2. The board concerned may dispense a student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, on application through his or her society and with the support of his or her supervisor, from not more than three terms of residence and study in Oxford either on the ground that it is necessary to the student's work that he or she should be allowed to pursue his or her course of study at some other place than Oxford, or for other good cause.
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3. Students exceptionally permitted to undertake their research in a well-found laboratory outside Oxford shall not be required to keep statutory residence, but must attend for such instruction as the board shall require.
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4. Any student who, after admission under §3 of this section, has kept statutory residence and studied at Oxford for a period of forty-two days, not necessarily consecutive, but falling within the same academic year, may apply to the board concerned for leave to reckon such period as one term towards the total required under the preceding clause. The board shall have power to grant such leave provided that:
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(i) no day so reckoned which falls within any term shall also be reckoned for the purpose of keeping that term;
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(ii) no student who has kept the Michaelmas, or the Hilary, or the Trinity Term shall be allowed to reckon in this manner any day that falls within the eight weeks beginning on the first day of Full Term in Michaelmas, or Hilary, or Trinity Term, as the case may be;
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(iii) no student shall be allowed to reckon in this manner more than one such period in the same academic year;
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(iv) no student shall be allowed to reckon more than three terms in the same academic year.
For the purposes of this clause, the academic year shall begin on the first day of Michaelmas Term and end on the day preceding the first day of Michaelmas Term in the following calendar year.
Applications for leave to reckon any period as a term under the provisions of this clause shall be made to the board, through the Registrar, by the student's society.
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5. Part-time students holding the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall in each case be required to pursue their course of study for a minimum of twelve terms, subject to the provisions of §3, cl. 6. Part-time students shall not be required to keep statutory residence, but must attend for such instruction as the board or other relevant body shall require, subject to the approval of the Education Committee. No student may apply to the relevant faculty board or other body for the appointment of examiners unless his or her supervisor has certified that the student has fulfilled the requirements for part-time students laid down by the faculty board or other relevant body.
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6. For a student who changes from full-time to part-time study or vice-versa, the period of study will be calculated on the basis that each term of full-time study counts as 1 FTE, and each term of part-time study counts as 0.5 FTE, and the student must pursue his or her course of study for a minimum of 6 FTE terms.
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7. Any student may, with the permission of the board alter the subject of the research originally approved provided that the conditions of suitability set out in §3 of this section continue to be met. In such cases the date of the student's admission for all the purposes of this section shall remain unchanged, unless the board shall order otherwise.
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8. If a full-time Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy has held that status for twelve terms, or a part-time student for twenty-four terms, but has been prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing his or her thesis, the board shall have power to grant an extension of time for a period or periods, not exceeding six terms in all for a full-time student, or three terms in all for a part-time student, to be determined by the board. Applications for such extension of time shall be made through the Registrar not later than the term in which the student is due to apply for permission to supplicate.
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9. A Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall cease to hold that status if:
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(i) he or she shall have been refused permission to supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy; or
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(ii) the board concerned shall in accordance with §2, cl. 3 of this section, and with the provisions set down by regulation by the Education Committee and after consultation with the student's college and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status;
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(iii) he or she shall have been transferred under the relevant provisions to another status;
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(iv) he or she shall have failed to complete his or her thesis within twelve terms for a full-time student, or twenty-four terms for a part-time student or within such further extension of time as may have been granted by the board concerned.
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§7. Examination of Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
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1. A Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy who has fulfilled the applicable residence and other requirements set out in §6 of this section and whose status has not expired, may apply to the board concerned for the appointment of examiners and for leave to supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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2. Such applications should be made to the board concerned through the Registrar. They shall include:
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(i) a certificate from the supervisor that the student has pursued their course of study in Oxford in accordance with the provisions of §6 of this section;
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(ii) a statement by the candidate of what part, if any, of the thesis has already been accepted, or is concurrently being submitted, for any degree or diploma or certificate or other qualification in this University or elsewhere;
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(iii) a statement by the candidate that the thesis is their own work, except where otherwise indicated.
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3. The supervisor shall consult with the candidate concerning possible examiners, and forward to the board the names of suggested examiners together with details of any special considerations which the candidate wishes to make known about any potential examiners.
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4. The candidate shall also submit for examination, at such time and in such format as the Education Committee shall by regulation permit:
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[For all students submitting their thesis for the first time before MT 2019: (i) two printed or typewritten copies of a thesis; or (in the case of Fine Art candidates offering studio practice as part of their submission) two printed or typewritten copies of the written portion of the thesis, and a portfolio or exhibition of work, together with documentation of that work;
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(ii) two printed or typewritten copies of an abstract of the thesis, which shall not normally exceed 300 words.]
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[For all students submitting their thesis for the first time from MT 2019: (i) a digital pdf copy of their thesis via the Research Thesis Digital Submissions (RTDS) application; or, in the case of Fine Art candidates offering studio practice as part of their submission, a digital pdf copy of the written portion of the thesis via the Research Thesis Digital Submissions (RTDS) application, and a portfolio or exhibition of work, together with documentation of that work;
(ii) an abstract of the thesis which should concisely summarise its scope and principal arguments, in about 300 words. The abstract should be placed within the thesis, generally immediately following the Table of Contents.]
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5. On receipt of an application the board concerned shall appoint two examiners, neither of whom shall be the candidate's supervisor, and whose duties shall be:
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(i) to consider the thesis and the abstract of it submitted by the student, provided that they shall exclude from consideration in making their report any part of the thesis which has already been accepted, or is being concurrently submitted, for any degree or other qualification in this University or elsewhere otherwise than as part of the requirements of this University for the Degree of Bachelor of Philosophy or of Master of Philosophy or of Bachelor of Civil Law, or as part of the dissertation submitted by a Student for the Degree of Master of Science by Coursework or of Master of Studies, and shall have the power to require the candidate to produce for their inspection the complete thesis so accepted or concurrently submitted;
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(ii) (in the case of Fine Art candidates offering studio practice as part of their submission) to consider the portfolio or exhibition of work documented under section 4 (i) of these regulations, and presented or mounted by the candidate in partial satisfaction of the examination requirements;
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(iii) to examine the student orally in the subject of their thesis;
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(iv) to satisfy themselves by examination (oral, written, or both) whether the student possesses a good general knowledge of the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;
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(v) to report to the board through the Registrar on the scope, character, and quality of the work submitted;
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[For all students submitting their thesis for the first time before MT 2019: (vi) to return to the student the copies of the thesis and the abstracts thereof.]
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[For all students submitting their thesis for the first time from MT 2019: (vi) to delete all digital copies of the thesis and return to the student any soft-bound copies of the thesis received from Student Registry.]
The Education Committee shall have power to make regulations concerning the notice to be given of the oral examination, and of the time and place at which it may be held.
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6. Having completed the examination of a candidate for the first time, the examiners may make any one of recommendations (i), (ii), or (iv) below only. Having completed the examination of a candidate who has revised and re-submitted their thesis, the examiners may make any one of recommendations (i)-(vi). [For all students submitting their thesis for the first time from MT 2019: Where a candidate is required to revise and re-submit their thesis, the revised thesis and, where required, a report indicating the specific changes made must also be submitted via the Research Thesis Digital Submission (RTDS) application.]
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The recommendations are:
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(i) that the board should grant the candidate leave to supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. In making this recommendation, the examiners must include in their report statements that:
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1. the student possesses a good general knowledge of the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;
2. the student has made a significant and substantial contribution in the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;
3. the thesis is presented in a lucid and scholarly manner;
4. in their opinion the thesis merits the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy;
5. the student has presented a satisfactory abstract of the thesis.
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Examiners shall bear in mind that their judgement of the substantial significance of the work should take into account what may reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student after three or at most four years of full-time study in the case of a full-time student, or eight years in the case of a part-time student.
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(i) (a) Minor corrections
If the examiners are satisfied that the candidate's thesis is of sufficient merit to qualify for the degree but consider, nevertheless, that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make minor corrections (which are not sufficiently substantial to justify reference back for re-examination and which should be capable of completion within one month), they must require the candidate to correct the thesis to their satisfaction before they submit their report. If the candidate has not completed these corrections within one calendar month of the date of receipt of the list of minor corrections from the examiners, their name shall be removed by the Registrar from the Register of Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, provided that the board may, on good cause shown by the candidate, grant an extension of time of one further calendar month in which the candidate may fulfil this requirement before the removal of their name from the Register. No subsequent extension shall be granted, but it shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, a copy of their thesis incorporating the required corrections should have been submitted to the relevant Board, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council should have been paid. Leave to supplicate shall not be granted until this fee has been paid.
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Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board within six months of the date the student was notified of the outcome of their examination.
Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within that timeframe may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition must provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the student was last examined, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the student’s department/faculty, supervisor and college. Education Committee will not normally consider applications if sixty months or more have elapsed since the notification of the outcome of the examination.
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(i) (b) Major corrections
If the examiners are satisfied that the candidate's thesis is of sufficient potential merit to qualify for the degree but consider, nevertheless, that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make major corrections (which are not sufficiently substantial to justify reference back for re-examination and which should be capable of completion within six months), they should report this preliminary recommendation to the board with a description of the major corrections which they require the candidate to make before they confirm their recommendation.
Where the examiners make this recommendation, and the board, considering the extent and nature of the major corrections, takes the view that the recommendation ought to be reference of the thesis back to the candidate in order that the candidate may revise it for re-examination, the board may, exceptionally, ask the examiners to review their recommendation.
If the candidate has not completed these corrections within six calendar months of the date of receipt of the list of major corrections from the examiners, their name shall be removed by the Registrar from the Register of Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, provided that the board may, on good cause shown by the candidate, grant an extension of time of up to three further calendar months in which the candidate may fulfil this requirement before the removal of their name from the Register. No subsequent extension shall be granted, but it shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, a copy of their thesis incorporating the required corrections should have been submitted to the relevant Board along with a separate report indicating the specific changes made, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council should have been paid. Leave to supplicate shall not be granted until this fee has been paid.
Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board within twelve months of the date the student was notified of the outcome of their examination.
Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within that timeframe may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition must provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the student was last examined, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the student’s department/faculty, supervisor and college. Education Committee will not normally consider applications if sixty months or more have elapsed since the notification of the outcome of the examination.
Where a recommendation of approval subject to major corrections has been made, the examiners, on receipt of the corrected thesis on the first occasion, may conclude and report one of the following:
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(a) the original recommendation is now fully substantiated;
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(b) the work as submitted still requires minor corrections prior to confirmation of the original recommendation and a further one month may be allowed for this from that date;
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(c) the work as now submitted still requires major corrections prior to confirmation of the original recommendation and a further six months may be allowed for this from that date.
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Recommendation (a) or (b) may be made without a further oral examination on condition that both examiners have reviewed and approved the major corrections. A further oral examination must be held if either of the examiners requires it or if the recommendation is likely to be (c).
In the exceptional instance where (c) applied and the outcome of the second and final submission of corrections still remained unsatisfactory, the examiners will amend their original recommendation to (ii) below.
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(ii) that the board should offer the candidate a choice between (a) reference of the thesis back to the candidate in order that they may revise it for re-examination for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and (b) leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters or of Master of Science, as appropriate, on the basis that the thesis has not reached the standard required for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy but has nevertheless reached that required for the Degree of Master of Letters or of Master of Science.
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(a) If the board adopts this recommendation, and the student chooses to revise the thesis for re-examination for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the student shall retain the status and obligations of a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and shall be permitted to apply again for the appointment of examiners, in accordance with the procedure laid down in this sub-section, not later than the sixth term after that in which the board gave permission so to reapply. If such permission shall have been given by a board during a vacation, it shall be deemed to have been given in the term preceding that vacation. Accompanying the revised thesis at re-submission should be a separate report indicating the specific changes made. For students in the Humanities, Medical Sciences and Social Sciences Divisions and the Department for Continuing Education, the word limit for the accompanying report shall be 1,000 words; for students in the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, the word limit shall be 2,000 words.
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If the student is unable to apply again for the appointment of examiners within six terms, no subsequent extension shall be granted, but it shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, a copy of their thesis incorporating the required changes should have been submitted to the relevant Board along with a separate report indicating the specific changes made, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council should have been paid. Leave to supplicate shall not be granted until this fee has been paid.
Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board within twenty-four months of the date the student was notified of the outcome of their examination.
Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within that timeframe may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition must provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the student was last examined, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the student’s department/faculty, supervisor and college. Education Committee will not normally consider applications if sixty months or more have elapsed since the notification of the outcome of the examination;
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(b) If the board adopts this recommendation and the student chooses leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters or Master of Science by Research, the examiners may still determine that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make minor corrections in accordance with the regulations under (i) above.
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(iii) that the board should refer the student's thesis back in order that the student may present it for re-examination for the Degree of Master of Letters or of Master of Science, as determined by the examiners (if appropriate), only. If the board adopts the recommendation the student shall be transferred forthwith to the status of Student for the Degree of Master of Letters or Student for the Degree of Master of Science as the case may be, and shall be permitted to apply for permission to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters or Master of Science in accordance with the provisions of the appropriate regulation. If such permission shall have been given by a board during a vacation, it shall be deemed to have been given in the term preceding that vacation. The word limit for a thesis resubmitted under this provision shall be that specified by the DPhil regulations under which it was originally submitted;
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(iv) that the board should refer the student's thesis back in order that the student may present it for re-examination either under (ii) above for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy or, if the student chooses, under (iii) above for the Degree of Master of Letters or of Master of Science only. The board shall adopt such a recommendation only if it is fully satisfied that the thesis as it stands is not of the standard required for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, nor for the Degree of Master of Letters or of Master of Science as the case may be, but that the candidate could reach the standard required for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. If such permission shall have been given by a board during a vacation, it shall be deemed to have been given in the term preceding that vacation;
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(v) that the thesis has not reached the standard required for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy but has nevertheless reached that required of the Degree of Master of Letters or of Master of Science, and that the candidate may be granted leave to supplicate for one of the latter degrees on the basis of the thesis as it stands; the examiners may still determine that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make minor corrections in accordance with the regulations under (i) above.
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(vi) that the student's application for leave to supplicate should be refused.
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7. If the examiners recommend reference back of the student's application under clause 6 (ii) or (iii) or (iv) above, they shall annex to their report to the board a statement (for transmission to the candidate) setting out the respects in which the thesis falls below the standard required for the degree in question, and what changes are necessary for it to reach that standard, save that examiners of a thesis submitted for the first time may, in exceptional circumstances, and notwithstanding a recommendation under clause 6 (ii) or (iv) above, certify that they are unable to indicate how the thesis might be changed, within the time allowed, in order to reach the required standard for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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8. On receipt of the examiners' report the board shall reach a decision on whether to accept the examiners' recommendation, provided that no candidate shall be given leave to supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy unless the examiners have made the statements required in clause 6 (i) above.
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9.
Examination Schools for deposit in the relevant university library. The candidate must also submit an electronic copy of this finalised thesis to theOxford Research Archive in line with the requirements of the General Regulations governing Research Degrees.TheseThiscopiescopy must be submitted no later than the end of the fifth day before the date of the degree ceremony booked by the candidate for conferral of their degree. Permission to supplicate shall in all cases be conditional upon fulfilment of these requirements. No corrections, changes or additions of any kind shall be made to the thesis after the board has granted a candidate leave to supplicate. -
10. In an exceptional case in which a board is unable to accept the examiners' recommendation, or in which the examiners cannot reach an agreed recommendation, the board shall have power to appoint one or two new examiners as it deems necessary, to conduct such further examination of the candidate as the board may require. The board shall make a report on any such case to the Education Committee.
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11. The board may exempt a candidate who is being re-examined under the provisions of clause 6 (ii)–(v) above from the oral examination, provided that the examiners are able to certify that they are satisfied without examining the candidate orally that they can recommend to the board in the terms required by clause 6 (i) above that he or she be given leave to supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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12. It shall be the duty of the Registrar to notify the candidate of the board's decision as soon as may be. The Registrar shall also be responsible for publishing at the end of each academic year the names of those candidates to whom permission to supplicate has been granted during that year, together with a statement of the subject of the thesis written by each.
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13. When, on the conclusion of the investigation of a complaint made by a candidate, the Proctors recommend that a candidate be re-examined, the board shall have power to hold a new examination.