These regulations apply to both professional research doctoral programs and professional coursework doctoral programs. They do not apply to Doctor of Philosophy programs.

A professional research doctoral program is a program:

a) leading to the award Doctor of [professional area]; and

b) comprising coursework and a research component, which is two-thirds or more of the content of the program, the results of which shall be published in a thesis.

A professional coursework doctoral program is a program:

a) leading to the award Doctor of [professional area]; and

b) comprising coursework and a research component, which is at least one-third but less than two-thirds of the content of the program, the results of which shall be published in a dissertation.

This clause of the regulations (accreditation of programs) shall be read in conjunction with the University’s policy on the accreditation of courses published in Section L1 of the Academic Manual.

The object of a professional doctoral program shall be clearly enunciated in the Stage 1 and Stage 2 documents. The object statement shall specify the profession the program serves and shall be consistent with the following general object.

The object of a professional doctoral program is advanced, critical reflection on professional practice. This object has three components:

a) the extension of a candidate’s knowledge of the disciplines which underpin his or her profession; and

b) the development of attributes required of the candidate to successfully identify, investigate and resolve problems confronting his or her profession; and

c) the successful conduct by the candidate of research into a current problem confronting the profession and the presentation of the findings of the research in a thesis or dissertation.

More pragmatically, the object of a professional doctoral program is to give candidates a competitive advantage in achieving high-level success in their profession.

The coursework in a professional doctoral program shall:

a) extend a candidate’s knowledge of the disciplines which underpin his or her profession; and

b) provide the knowledge and skills necessary for the candidate to successfully research a current problem confronting the profession.

The Stage 2 document shall specify how each subject comprising the coursework meets the object of the coursework specified above.

The coursework in a professional doctoral program shall comprise subjects designed for postgraduate study.

The subjects comprising the coursework in a professional doctoral program may be subjects taught in a master, graduate diploma or graduate certificate course. In such cases, the Stage 2 document shall specify how subjects will differ for the professional doctoral candidates.

A master program may articulate with a professional doctoral program. In such cases the Stage 2 document for the professional doctoral program shall describe how the work completed in the master program relates to the object of the professional doctoral program and how the doctoral standard of the articulated program is assured.

The object of the research in a professional doctoral program shall be to identify, analyse and propose solutions to current problems confronting a profession through the application of knowledge, thereby improving professional practice or understanding.

Dissertation
A candidate in a professional coursework doctoral program shall report the findings of his or her research in a dissertation which shall comply with the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

A professional doctoral program shall comprise 192 points of coursework and research.

Completion of a program at a part-time rate of 16 points per session would take six years which is the maximum time for candidature (see clause 5.4.1 below).

The Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program shall describe the relation between the particular admission requirements for the program and the program’s object and how the admission requirements are designed to admit appropriate candidates into the program.

The particular admission requirements specified in the Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program shall be consistent with the general admission requirements specified in clause 4.5 below.

Where the particular admission requirements in the Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program specify that an applicant may be admitted to the program if he or she holds academic qualifications deemed to be equivalent to specified academic qualifications, the way that equivalence is to be established shall be clearly stated in the Stage 2 document.

The Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program shall specify as precisely as possible the type of experience that shall satisfy the admission requirement that candidates have five years relevant professional experience as required by clause 4.5.2 a) below.

2.6.4.1 Admission with less than Five Years’ Professional Experience

Professional doctorate programs seeking entry requirements of less than five years of relevant professional experience shall be considered by Academic Senate on a case-by-case basis.

a) Doctor of Psychology.

The Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program shall specify:

a) how each of the subjects comprising the coursework shall be assessed so as to contribute to the object of the program; and

b) the relationship between assessment in the coursework and progress with the research. The Stage 2 document shall normally require the coursework to be completed before the thesis or dissertation is submitted for examination, but it may allow the research to commence while the coursework is being undertaken.

Where the subjects in a professional doctoral program are also taught in lower level postgraduate courses, the Stage 2 document shall specify how those subjects will be modified for doctoral candidates.

The Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program shall specify:

a) how the assessment of the research contributes to the object of the program; and

b) how the results of the examination of the thesis or dissertation and the coursework assessment will be conflated to determine eligibility to graduate.

The Stage 2 document for a professional doctoral program shall specify the ways in which the Faculty has assured that the program is of doctoral standard. Such assurance shall normally involve external review of the proposal.

Professional doctoral programs, by research or by coursework, shall be administered by the Centre for Graduate Studies.

The Dean of Faculty, in consultation with the relevant Heads of School shall appoint a program coordinator for each professional doctoral program offered by the Faculty.

The program coordinator shall have the authorities and responsibilities of a course coordinator, the authorities and responsibilities conferred by these regulations and any other powers or responsibilities conferred by the Dean of Faculty which are consistent with the authorities and responsibilities of a course coordinator or those conferred by these regulations.

The Faculty Sub-Dean for Higher Degree Research Programs shall be the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates unless the Dean of Faculty appoints another person as the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates.

The Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates shall have the authorities and responsibilities conferred by these regulations and any other authorities and responsibilities conferred by the Dean of Faculty.

Applications for admission to a professional doctoral program shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the University’s Admissions Office.

Applications for admission to a professional doctoral program from international students shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the International Office.

Candidates enrolled in a master or doctoral program at Charles Sturt University who wish to transfer to a professional doctoral program as permitted by clause 7.5 below, shall apply on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Centre for Graduate Studies.

Candidates enrolled in a master program at Charles Sturt University that articulates with a professional doctoral program, who upon completion of the master program wish to transfer to the professional doctoral program, shall apply on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Centre for Graduate Studies.

There are no closing dates for professional doctoral programs. Applications may be lodged at any time.

Applications for admission or transfer to a professional doctoral program shall be decided by the Board on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty.

Applicants for admission to a professional doctoral program shall be notified in writing of the outcome of their application by the Director of Student Administration through the Admissions Office.

Applicants for transfer to a professional doctoral program shall be notified in writing of the outcome of their application by the Director, Centre for Graduate Studies.

Applicants for admission to a professional doctoral program shall hold the following academic qualifications:

a) a doctoral degree; or

b) a master degree by research; or

c) a master degree by coursework at credit average or better; or

d) a class 1 or class 2 division 1 bachelor (honours) degree; or

e) such other academic qualifications specified by the Faculty and approved by the Board to be equivalent to the award of bachelor (honours).

In addition to acceptable academic qualifications, an applicant for admission to a professional doctoral program shall:

a) have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, unless seeking admission to a program specified at 2.6.5 above (for which a lesser period of relevant professional experience is required); in these cases, the lesser period shall apply; and

b) be working in the profession or have access to the profession such that the practical requirements of the program and the research can be undertaken.

Applicants who have undertaken all their qualifications in a country other than those listed below must provide evidence of their English language proficiency:

Applicants who were born in one of the countries listed in clause 4.5.3.1 above and:

a) have at least one qualification from one of these countries; and

b) the language in which the qualification was taken was English;

do not have to provide evidence of proficiency in English.

Applicants who were not born in one of the countries listed in clause 4.5.3.1 above but:

a) who have undertaken senior secondary school study or at least one year of full-time equivalent tertiary study in one of those countries; and

b) the language in which the qualification was taken was English

do not have to provide evidence of proficiency in English.

The following qualifications, completed within the three years prior to the application for admission and at the standard specified, shall be regarded as evidence of proficiency in the English language:

A Faculty may require a higher standard of English proficiency than those specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

The Board may admit candidates who demonstrate proficiency in English by means other than the standards specified above; or whose qualification in English was completed more than three years prior to their application for admission; or it may in exceptional cases admit candidates who have a lower standard of English proficiency than those specified above.

The Board shall base its decision to admit or otherwise an applicant to a professional doctoral program on evidence that:

a) the applicant meets the academic, professional and English language requirements; and

b) supervision is available for the proposed period of candidature;

c) the Faculty has available the necessary resources to support the candidature: and

d) the applicant’s employer is prepared to support the candidature or that the applicant will receive the necessary professional support in some other way.

The following clauses shall be read in conjunction with the Credit Regulations over which these clauses take precedence.

Transfer credit (see Credit Regulation 1.3.1) shall be available in the coursework component (but not the research component) of a professional doctoral program on the basis of studies completed at master or doctoral level subject to the limits specified in clause 4.7.4 below.

Proficiency credit (see Credit Regulation 1.3.2) shall be available in the coursework component (but not the research component) of a professional doctoral program subject to the limits specified in clause 4.7.4 below.

Forward credit (see Credit Regulation 1.3.3) shall be available in the coursework component (but not the research component) of a professional doctoral program on the basis of studies completed at master or doctoral level subject to the limits specified in clause 4.7.4 below.

Credit shall not be granted for part of a subject.

For studies completed ten or more years ago, the candidate may be required to demonstrate that the studies have remained relevant and/or that he or she has kept abreast of developments in the fields covered by the studies through continuing professional development, professional practice or some other means.

The basis upon which transfer or forward credit shall be awarded in a professional doctoral program shall be limited to subjects completed at doctoral or master level. Subjects completed at master level which may be the basis for credit in a professional doctoral program shall have been completed at a credit-level average or higher and may have been completed as part of a:

a) graduate certificate or graduate diploma (in which case the candidate will need to prove that the subjects were taught at master level) or a master program; or

b) master program which articulates in whole or in part with the professional doctoral program; or

c) master program which although it doesn’t articulate with a professional doctorate program, embodies an essential component of the professional doctorate program.

Notwithstanding the one-third limit, the Academic Senate may approve a higher credit limit for a particular program or for particular student cohorts in a program, for credit granted on the basis of a), b) or c) above.

a) the subjects upon which the application is based were completed at an institution other than CSU; or

b) the subjects upon which the application is based were completed at CSU and those subjects have been counted for a CSU award; or

c) proficiency credit is being sought.

Exceeding the One-third Limit
The credit granted in the coursework of a professional doctoral program may exceed one-third (33.3 percent) of the total point value of the program (which includes the point value of the research) if the subjects upon which the application is based:

a) were completed at CSU and those subjects have not been counted for a CSU award; or

b) were completed at CSU as part of a lower level award which articulates with the professional doctoral program, irrespective of whether the student has graduated with the lower level award or not; or

c) were CSU subjects completed at an affiliate institution under an Affiliation Agreement with CSU; or

d) are a combination of subjects which satisfy the requirements of the one-third limit clause, and this clause (exceeding the one-third limit), provided that in making this calculation the total value of points derived under the one-third limit clause above, does not exceed one-third of the points in the program.

Subject substitution (see Credit Regulation 9) may be granted in the coursework (but not the research) of a professional doctoral program. The maximum subject substitution that may be granted in a professional doctoral program shall be the total point value of the coursework in the program.

The following clauses shall be read in conjunction with the Enrolment Regulations over which these clauses take precedence.

The offer of admission to a professional doctoral program shall specify the date by which an applicant must accept the offer and enrol in the program. The offer shall also specify the date on which the candidature commences which shall normally be the date on which the next session commences unless the Board approves a different date at the request of the applicant and on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty.

A candidate in a professional doctoral program shall be required to re-enrol in the program each session as required by the Dean of Studies until the thesis or dissertation has been submitted for examination or until termination of candidature by the candidate or the Board.

A candidate in a professional doctoral program may be required by the Board to re-enrol for a period of up to two sessions to complete a major revision of a thesis or dissertation prior to the re-examination of the thesis or dissertation.

The Board may grant a candidate in a professional doctoral program up to a total of two sessions of leave of absence. Applications for leave of absence exceeding two sessions shall only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

A candidate for a professional doctorate shall not normally be permitted to submit a thesis or dissertation for examination until the end of the fourth session of enrolment (which excludes sessions of leave of absence).

The Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may approve a shorter minimum time in exceptional circumstances.

A candidate for a professional doctorate shall be expected to submit a thesis or dissertation for examination no later than the end of the fourteenth session of enrolment (which excludes sessions of leave of absence and sessions of enrolment during which the thesis or dissertation is revised if such revision is required under clause 5.2.2 above).

The Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may approve an additional period of enrolment in exceptional circumstances.

Candidates enrolled in a professional doctoral program shall normally enrol in the distance education mode and take a part-time study load. However, the Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may approve a candidate’s enrolment in a full-time load (either in the internal or distance education mode) for a period of the candidacy. Such approval may be granted to enable a candidate to complete a program in the maximum time.

For each candidate the Board shall appoint:

The Centre for Graduate Studies shall maintain a Register of Professional Doctorate Supervisors. The Register shall contain the names and other details of persons who may be appointed as Principal Supervisors of a professional doctorate candidate.

To be admitted to the Register a person shall satisfy each of the following conditions:

a) is a member of the academic staff of the University (Lecturer Level B or above) or a person who has been granted an honorary academic position of the University;

b) holds a higher degree preferably at doctoral level or has an equivalent record of scholarly achievement:

c) is currently engaged in research or is a leading scholar or practitioner in the relevant profession;

d) is, or has recently been engaged in the supervision of a student as a Principal Supervisor or Associate Supervisor, and has supervised to completion at least one student enrolled in a higher degree or a bachelor (honours) degree at CSU or another university (the Board may waive this condition in exceptional circumstances);

e) has undertaken, or agrees to undertake within a specified period appropriate training in research higher degree supervision as stipulated by the University; and

f) agrees to supervise professional doctorate candidates in accordance with University requirements.

Principal Supervisors who do not meet their responsibilities shall be removed from the Register by the Board.

a) Persons who wish to be admitted to the Register shall apply through the appropriate Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee which, if it supports the application, shall forward the application with its recommendation outlining the applicant’s case to the Centre for Graduate Studies.

b) Applicants shall provide the following information in support of their application for admission to the Register:

c) The Centre for Graduate Studies shall forward the Faculty’s recommendation to the Board for decision.

Supervisors are appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Faculty.

The Faculty shall recommend a person to be the Principal Supervisor and a person or persons to be an Associate Supervisor (or Advisor for an off-shore candidate) no later than when the Board considers the candidate’s research proposal.

A person appointed as Principal Supervisor shall:

a) have been admitted to the Register of Professional Doctorate Supervisors;

b) expect to be available for the planned duration of the candidature; and

c) not exceed the maximum supervision caseload (see clause 6.4 below).

A person appointed as an Associate upervisorshall:

a) be a member of the academic staff of the University who:

b) expect to be available for the planned duration of the candidature;

c) have a complementary range of expertise and skills to those of the Principal Supervisor;

d) in the case of an external Associate Supervisor supporting a distance education candidate, be located within easy travel distance to facilitate regular meetings and assistance with equipment, other resources and skills.

A person appointed as an Adviser to an off-shore candidate shall:

a) have postgraduate qualifications preferably at doctoral level, but not necessarily in the area in which the candidate is researching;

b) reside in the same country as the candidate and be readily contactable by the candidate;

c) expect to be available for the planned duration of the candidature.

In the event that a Principal Supervisor is unable to supervise a candidate for a period of up to six months, the Associate Supervisor shall act as Principal Supervisor for that period.

In the event that a Principal Supervisor is unable to supervise a candidate for a period exceeding six months the Board shall appoint a replacement Principal Supervisor on the recommendation of the Faculty.

In the event that a Principal Supervisor resigns from or otherwise leaves the University, the Board shall appoint a replacement Principal Supervisor on the recommendation of the Faculty.

In the event that an Associate Supervisor or Adviser is unable to supervise a candidate for a period exceeding six months the Board shall appoint a replacement Associate Supervisor or Adviser on the recommendation of the Faculty.

The Principal Supervisor is accountable to the Program Co-ordinator for advising and monitoring the progress of a candidate.

Responsibilities of a Principal Supervisor include:

a) suggesting ways that the candidate can make the most effective use of time. This will involve discussing the nature of the coursework and research with the candidate and the standard expected for professional doctorates, the choice of the research topic, the planning of the research, and the availability of library resources in the field and bibliographical and technical assistance;

b) maintaining close and regular contact with the candidate and establishing at the beginning the basis on which contact will be made. This will facilitate the supervisor’s role in advising the candidate on the pace of progress, and ensuring that a reasonable timetable is set to permit the program to be completed in the appropriate time;

c) requiring written or other work from the candidate on a pre-arranged and agreed schedule so that progress can be assessed at regular intervals;

d) monitoring carefully the performance of the candidate relative to the standard required for the degree, and ensuring that inadequate progress or work below the standard generally expected is brought to the candidate’s attention. The supervisor should help with developing solutions to problems as they are identified;

e) using the regular reporting procedures established by the University as the minimum means by which any difficulties and problems discussed with the candidate during the year are noted. Supervisors should indicate the action taken or advice given. If the problem is not resolved, the Program Co-ordinator should be involved in the first instance; the Dean of Faculty and the Board should be notified in writing of continuing problems between reporting periods;

f) ensuring that approval is obtained from the relevant University and/or other ethics committees where the research deals with human or animal subjects;

g) ensuring that the research and its writing up in a thesis or dissertation are the candidate’s own work and ensuring that where the candidate receives substantial assistance, that such assistance is acknowledged in the thesis or dissertation;

h) commenting on the content and the drafts of the thesis or dissertation and, at the time of submission, either certifying that the thesis or dissertation is properly presented, conforms to the Regulations and is, therefore, prima facie, worthy of examination, or providing reasons why he/she believes the thesis or dissertation is not ready for examination (see clauses 8.4.4 and 8.5 below respectively);

i) bringing to the attention of the Board through the Centre for Graduate Studies issues of intellectual property rights and/or commercial or other confidentiality matters which relate to the content of the thesis or dissertation;

j) advising the Board, through the Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee and/or the Program Co-ordinator, of the names and credentials of suitable examiners;

k) ensuring the candidate has accurate information about any planned, long leave (or retirement) during the candidature and, in consultation with the Program Co-ordinator and the Dean of Faculty, making arrangements to provide for supervision during absences (see clause 6.2.4 above);

l) coordinating communication between the candidate and any Associate Supervisors or Advisers appointed;

m) facilitating the development of supervisory skills in academic staff inexperienced in supervision; and

n) fulfilling other obligations imposed by the University regarding postgraduate supervision.

An Associate Supervisor is accountable to the Principal Supervisor for:

a) providing supplementary advice and skills for the candidate;

b) where appropriate, facilitating access to additional resources and skills especially outside the School, or the Faculty, or the University;

c) assuming the responsibilities of Principal Supervisor in the absence of the Principal Supervisor.

A Principal Supervisor shall normally supervise no more than six candidates at any one time.

A person appointed as a Principal Supervisor who in that capacity has not supervised a candidate to completion, shall normally supervise no more than three candidates at any one time.

No limit has been set on the number of candidates at any one time for whom a person can be appointed Associate Supervisor.

Supervision caseloads shall be monitored by the Centre for Graduate Studies. When a recommendation is received from a Faculty which if approved would result in a person’s caseload exceeding the limits set by clause 6.4.1 above, the Faculty shall be required to provide a statement demonstrating that the person’s total workload (supervision and non-supervision duties) will not prevent all candidates supervised by that person being supervised to a high standard.

A candidate shall undertake a program of coursework and research under supervision in order to complete a thesis or dissertation for examination.

A candidate will be expected to have formulated a research proposal including a specific topic for approval by the Board prior to the candidate’s first session of enrolment in the research component.

Prior to submitting a research proposal to the Board, the Dean, in consultation with the Head of School shall confirm with the candidate that:

a) the resources to be provided by the Faculty will be adequate to support the proposed research; and

b) adequate resources and support are available in the candidate’s workplace/profession to sustain the research. The Board may require a candidate to provide a written statement from his or her employer consenting to the conduct of the research in his or her organisation and committing the organisation to provide the candidate with an agreed level of resources and support.

The progress of candidates shall be reviewed at least annually by the Board following a report in each case by the candidate, the Principal Supervisor, the Program Coordinator and the Dean of Faculty. The candidate shall be given the opportunity to review and comment upon the Principal Supervisor’s comments and recommendation(s).

The Centre for Graduate Studies will seek to clarify and resolve any identified difficulties in consultation with the candidate, Principal Supervisor and Program Coordinator, as appropriate.

As a result of the review of progress reports, the Board may endorse continuation of the candidature, exclude a candidate or take such other action as it considers appropriate.

Once the Board approves a research topic within a research proposal, that topic may only be changed with the Board’s approval on the recommendation of the Faculty, although minor changes to the title may be approved by the Dean of Faculty.

The Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may approve that professional doctoral candidates in good standing transfer to a Doctor of Philosophy or a Master program with or without remission of time. Similarly the Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may approve that candidates in good standing in a Doctor of Philosophy or a Master program transfer to a professional doctoral program with or without remission of time.

The Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may also approve that professional coursework doctoral candidates in good standing transfer to a professional research doctoral program; or that professional research doctoral candidates in good standing transfer to a professional coursework doctoral program.

Applications to transfer between higher degree programs shall be made on the appropriate form available from the Centre for Graduate Studies.

A candidate shall prepare a thesis or dissertation embodying the results of the research. The thesis or dissertation shall be a typescript paper document and may not be submitted in an electronic format.

On the recommendation of the Faculty, the Board may approve that a candidate may submit non-print materials to supplement the thesis or dissertation.

To facilitate the timely appointment of examiners, a candidate shall give not less than two months’ notice in writing to the Centre for Graduate Studies of intention to submit the thesis or dissertation.

The thesis or dissertation submitted by a candidate shall:

a) be an accurate account of the research;

b) be an account of a candidate’s own work but, in special cases, work done conjointly with other persons may be accepted provided the Board is satisfied about the extent of each candidate’s part in the joint work;

c) relate to the approved research topic;

d) not include as its main content work which has been submitted for any other academic award or work conducted prior to the commencement of candidature. Where the main content of the thesis or dissertation consists of any significant extension or elaboration of the candidate’s earlier work, that portion referring to previous work must be clearly indicated;

e) be written in English except where, on the recommendation of the Faculty, the Board approves that it may be written in another language;

f) achieve a satisfactory standard of expression and presentation;

g) acknowledge any substantial assistance provided to the candidate during the conduct of the research and the writing of the thesis or dissertation;

h) conform to the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

A thesis or dissertation will normally be submitted to the Centre for Graduate Studies when the candidate and the principal supervisor agree that the thesis or dissertation is ready for examination. Should the Principal Supervisor disagree with the candidate that the thesis or dissertation is ready for examination, Clause 8.5 below shall apply.

Four copies of the thesis or dissertation shall be provided to the Centre for Graduate Studies. These copies shall be unbound copies as specified in the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

Each unbound copy of the thesis shall be accompanied by a certificate of authorship signed by the candidate which shall state:

"I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of higher learning, except where due acknowledgment is made in the text."

The thesis or dissertation shall normally be accompanied by a certificate signed by the Principal Supervisor certifying that the thesis or dissertation is ready for examination. The certificate shall not accompany the thesis or dissertation when it is sent to the examiners.

If there is material in a thesis or dissertation which could or does have implications for the intellectual property rights of the candidate, the University, a sponsor of the research or some other person or body, those implications shall be identified as required in the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

If there is material in a thesis or dissertation which should be confidential for commercial or other reasons, for a specified period or indefinitely, the confidential material shall be identified as required in the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

If the thesis or dissertation reports on research involving humans or human biological materials or using animals, evidence of the approval of the research by the relevant University and/or other ethics committee shall be provided as required in the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

The Principal Supervisor may decline to issue a certificate that the thesis or dissertation is ready for examination if:

a) the thesis or dissertation does not conform to the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations; or

b) the candidate has failed to fulfil some other requirement of candidature prescribed by these regulations.

The Principal Supervisor shall not decline to issue a certificate solely on the grounds that he or she believes that the thesis or dissertation is not of a standard appropriate to the award of a professional doctorate.

Where the Principal Supervisor declines to issue a certificate that the thesis is ready for examination, he or she shall provide a written statement to the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates setting out the reasons for the decision. The statement shall not accompany the thesis or dissertation when it is sent to the examiners if the Dean of Faculty or the Board allow the thesis or dissertation to be examined under clauses 8.5.1.1 and 8.5.1.2 respectively below.

Acting on the advice of the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates the Dean of Faculty may:

a) allow the thesis or dissertation to be examined; or

b) recommend to the Board that the thesis or dissertation not be examined.

Where the Dean of Faculty recommends that the thesis not be examined the Board may:

a) allow the thesis or dissertation to be examined; or

b) allow the thesis or dissertation to be examined subject to any conditions specified by the Board being met by the candidate to the satisfaction of the Dean of Faculty or the Board; or

c) decline to allow the thesis or dissertation to be examined in which case it may terminate the candidate’s enrolment or approve some other action.

Following the acceptance of the examiners’ reports on a thesis or dissertation by the Board and notification that the Board has recommended that the degree be awarded, the candidate shall forward to the Centre for Graduate Studies three bound copies of the thesis or dissertation, amended if necessary in the light of the examiners’ comments, as specified in the Rule for the Presentation of Theses and Dissertations.

One copy of the thesis or dissertation printed on acid free paper, shall be forwarded by the Centre for Graduate Studies to the University Library.

When forwarding a copy of a thesis or dissertation to the University Library, the Centre for Graduate Studies shall advise the Library of any restrictions the Library should place on the availability of the thesis or dissertation for reasons relating to the intellectual property rights or confidentiality of material in the thesis or dissertation.

Upon receiving notice from a candidate of his or her intention to submit a thesis or dissertation for examination, the Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, shall appoint examiners.

The Board shall appoint three examiners for a professional doctoral thesis or dissertation, at least two of whom shall be external to the University. One of these examiners may be an Industry-based examiner.

The examiners shall be of high academic standing in the field in which the candidate’s research was conducted, and shall examine the thesis/dissertation/ portfolio in terms of the academically - focussed criteria outlined at clause 9.2.1 below.

The examiner shall exhibit demonstrated excellence in the profession in which the candidate’s research was conducted, and shall examine the thesis/dissertation/ portfolio in terms of the industry-focussed criteria outlined at clause 9.2.2 below.

A candidate’s Principal and Associate Supervisors shall not be appointed as an examiner of the candidate’s thesis or dissertation.

The name of an examiner shall be released to the candidate together with the examiner’s report on the thesis or dissertation.

Where an examiner fails to provide a report on a thesis or dissertation within three months of having received it, the Board may appoint a replacement examiner.

Examiners shall be of high academic standing in the field in which the candidate’s research was conducted, and shall demonstrate knowledge of the professional area in which the thesis is being examined.

The examiner shall demonstrate excellence in the relevant profession.

Examiners external to the University shall be paid an honorarium at the rate specified from time-to-time by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs. Payment shall be made when an examiner’s report is received and the cost shall be met by the appropriate Faculty.

Examiners shall examine a thesis or dissertation principally in terms of the following criteria:

a) the candidate’s understanding of the field of study;

b) the originality and significance of the work embodied in the thesis or dissertation as a contribution to the application of knowledge to some professional area and/or as a contribution to knowledge and the extent to which the findings of the research have improved professional practice or have the potential to do so;

c) the adequacy of the research methodology (eg the formulation of the problem, the analysis of data, the arguments advanced to support conclusions).

d) the worthiness of the thesis or dissertation for publication within the profession or more broadly.

The industry-based examiners shall examine a thesis/dissertation/portfolio principally in terms of the following criteria:

a) the significance of the thesis/ dissertation/portfolio to the practice or profession as a whole;

b) the appropriateness of the thesis/ dissertation/portfolio for publication and the extent to which this publication could be of value to the particular profession/industry; and

c) the veracity of the research findings from an industry/professional viewpoint.

Each examiner shall independently of the other examiner(s) examine the thesis or dissertation, prepare a concise report and recommend that subject to the successful completion of all coursework the candidate:

a) be awarded the degree without further assessment; or

b) be awarded the degree without further assessment subject to minor corrections as listed being made to the thesis or dissertation to the satisfaction of the Dean of Faculty; or

c) be awarded the degree subject to further assessment in either oral or written form or both on questions posed in the examiners’ reports; performance in this further assessment being to the satisfaction of the Board; or

d) not be awarded the degree but be permitted to resubmit the thesis or dissertation in a revised form after a further period of study and/or research; or

e) not be awarded the degree and not be permitted to resubmit the thesis or dissertation.

Examiners may not collaborate in the preparation of their reports or in the formulating of their recommendations under clause 9.3.1 above.

If the recommendations of the examiners are significantly at variance, the Dean of Faculty, through the Centre for Graduate Studies, may invite the examiners to collaborate and review their recommendations. The method of collaboration in each case shall be as determined by the Dean of Faculty.

The Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates shall refer the examiners’ reports, including the reports of their collaboration if collaboration occurred under clause 9.3.2.2 above, to the candidate via the Principal Supervisor. The candidate shall provide to the Principal Supervisor a response to the examiners’ reports and in appropriate cases, a corrected copy of the thesis or dissertation which addresses the examiners’ comments.

The Principal Supervisor shall forward the candidate’s response to the examiner’s reports and in appropriate cases, a copy of the corrected thesis or dissertation to the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates with a covering report and a recommendation that:

a) the award be conferred; or

b) the award be conferred subject to further oral or written assessment; or

c) the thesis or dissertation be resubmitted in a revised form by a specified date after a further period of enrolment; or

d) where the examiners’ recommendations are significantly at variance that an arbiter be appointed in which case the name of an appropriate arbiter shall accompany the recommendation [this is not the only recommendation that may be made in cases where the examiners’ recommendations are significantly at variance];

e) the thesis or dissertation be failed, the candidate not be permitted to resubmit the thesis or dissertation and candidature be terminated.

The Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates shall endorse or otherwise the Principal Supervisor’s recommendation made under clause 9.4.2 above and forward the examiners’ reports, the candidate’s response and the Principal Supervisor’s report to the Dean of Faculty who may endorse or otherwise the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates’ recommendation and shall:

a) if further written or oral assessment is required, instruct the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates to arrange that assessment; or

b) recommend to the Board, one of the options a), c), d), e) or f) in clause 9.4.2 above.

The Board shall receive from the Dean of Faculty the Dean’s recommendation, the examiners’ reports, a statement from the Principal Supervisor that any required minor corrections to the thesis or dissertation have been made and where there was disagreement between the examiners, a copy of the Principal Supervisor’s report; and shall:

a) recommend to the Academic Awards Committee that the award be conferred; or

b) recommend to the Academic Awards Committee that the award be conferred subject to minor corrections being made to the thesis or dissertation to the satisfaction of the Dean of Faculty and/or further oral or written assessment being undertaken to the satisfaction of the Board; or

c) require the candidate to revise the thesis or dissertation by a specified date after a further period of enrolment; or

d) appoint an arbiter to review the thesis or dissertation and examiners’ reports; or

e) recommend to the Academic Awards Committee that a specified master award be conferred in lieu of a doctorate; or

f) decide that the thesis or dissertation be failed, the candidate not be permitted to resubmit the thesis or dissertation and candidature be terminated.

Where the Board recommends that the award be conferred subject to minor corrections as provided in clause 9.4.4 b) above, the minor corrections shall be completed to the satisfaction of the Dean of Faculty normally within six months of notification of the Board’s decision.

The award shall not be conferred until the Board is advised by the Dean of Faculty that the minor corrections have been made.

Where the Board recommends that the award be conferred subject to further oral or written assessment as provided in clause 9.4.4 b) above, the further assessment shall be arranged by the Sub-Dean for Professional Doctorates, normally within three months of the Board’s decision.

The award shall not be conferred until the Board is satisfied with the results of the further assessment which shall normally be received by the Board within six months of the Board’s decision.

In the case of an oral assessment:

a) the oral assessment shall be conducted by a panel comprising at least three persons including the Dean of Faculty or nominee who shall convene the panel, and one examiner external to the University who would normally have been an examiner of the thesis or dissertation;

b) the Principal Supervisor may be invited to attend the oral assessment as an adviser to the panel;

c) the panel shall recommend to the Board one of the options a), b), c), e) or f) in clause 9.4.4 above except that a further oral or written assessment shall not be recommended.

Where the Board requires the candidate to revise the thesis or dissertation by a specified date after a period of further enrolment as provided in clause 9.4.4 c) above, that date shall normally be within twelve months of the notification of revision although the Board may specify a longer period.

When the thesis or dissertation is revised, it shall be submitted for examination by the candidate and shall be examined as required by this regulation except that the examiners shall only recommend that the award be conferred (with or without minor corrections) or that the thesis or dissertation be failed and candidature be terminated. A thesis or dissertation may only be submitted once after major revision.

The examiners of a revised thesis or dissertation shall normally be the examiners of the original thesis or dissertation.

The Board, on the recommendation of the Dean of Faculty, may appoint a replacement Principal Supervisor, or an additional Associate Supervisor for the period of further enrolment.

Where the Board appoints an arbiter as provided in clause 9.4.4 d) above, the arbiter shall:

a) receive a copy of the thesis or dissertation, the examiners’ reports and the reports of any collaboration between examiners, the candidate’s response to the examiners’ reports and the report of the Principal Supervisor; and

b) be requested to review the documentation in a) above and recommend one of the options in clause 9.4.2 above except that the appointment of another arbiter shall not be an option.

The arbiter’s report and recommendation shall be considered under this regulation in the same manner as the original examiners’ reports except that neither the Principal Supervisor under clause 9.4.2 above nor the Dean or Faculty under clause 9.4.3 above shall be permitted to recommend the appointment of another arbiter.

Where the Board fails a thesis or dissertation as provided in clause 9.4.4 f) above, the thesis or dissertation shall not be resubmitted for the award of a professional doctorate and the candidacy shall be terminated subject to appeal to the Academic Awards Committee as provided in clause 11 below.

The University provisions relating to inventions, patents, copyright and registered design shall apply, except as provided in clauses 10.2 and 10.3 below.

The three bound copies of the thesis or dissertation presented by the candidate to the Centre for Graduate Studies shall become the property of the University for lodgement by the Office in the Library, with the Principal Supervisor and with the Faculty.

10.3.2 Where a thesis or dissertation contains matters affecting national or industrial security, the Board may restrict the circulation and copying of the thesis or dissertation, upon considering a recommendation by the Dean of Faculty based on a written request from the candidate.

10.3.3 The copy of the thesis or dissertation deposited in the Library will be available for circulation or copying, except where a restriction is imposed by the Board as provided for above.

10.3.4 If the Board approves a restriction on circulation or copying, the thesis or dissertation will in any case become available for loan two years after the thesis or dissertation has been deposited with the Centre for Graduate Studies, or such longer period as may be approved by the Board.

A candidate who is aggrieved by a decision of the University which is taken by a person or body of the University exercising an authority under the regulations and rules of the University, based essentially upon a question of academic judgement, may appeal against that decision.

A candidate who is aggrieved by a decision of the University or by action taken by the University which the candidate believes has or will result in him or her being treated less favourably than another candidate or candidates in the same or similar circumstances, may:

a) have his or her complaint, problem or concern mediated; or

b) lodge a formal grievance

under the University’s Grievance Policy and Procedures on the grounds of discrimination in respect of that decision or action. A candidate who invokes this clause in respect of a decision of the University is not prevented from exercising his or her rights of appeal against that decision under clause 11.1.1.

[The University’s Grievance Resolution Policy and Procedures is published in section F4 of the Administrative Manual on the WWW http://www.csu.edu.au/admin/adminman/part-f/f4.htm].

A candidate who is subject to uninvited and unwelcomed behaviour by a person exercising an authority under the regulations or a student of the University, which interferes with the candidate’s right to study or live in a non-threatening environment, may:

a) have his or her complaint, problem or concern mediated; or

b) lodge a formal grievance

under the University’s Grievance Policy and Procedures on the grounds of harassment in respect of that behaviour.

A candidate aggrieved by an academic decision as described in clause 11.1.1 above by a:

A candidate may not appeal against a recommendation made by one of the above officers or bodies, but only against a decision of those officers or bodies.

Where the Dean of Faculty is the candidate’s principal or associate supervisor, or Program Co-ordinator, or has some other conflict of interest, the Dean of Faculty shall advise the Deputy Vice-Chancellor who shall appoint another person who is not a member of the Dean’s faculty, to hear the appeal. That person shall exercise the authorities given to a Dean of Faculty under clauses 11.2.1.3 to 11.2.1.8 below.

An appeal shall be in writing and shall be lodged with the Dean of Faculty within twenty-one days of the date of notification of the decision.

An appeal shall specify the:

Documentary evidence in support of the appeal shall be provided in appropriate cases. [See the Special Consideration Regulations.]

The Dean of Faculty may decline to hear an appeal that is lodged after the twenty-one day appeal period.

The Dean of Faculty shall determine the procedure for deciding each appeal but as a minimum shall:

a) refer the candidate’s appeal to the person or the presiding officer of the body that made the decision which is the subject of the appeal, for written comment within seven days; and

b) refer the written comments in a) above to the candidate for a written response.

If the candidate’s response is not received within twenty-one days of the date on which the comments in a) above were sent to the candidate, the Dean of Faculty may grant the candidate an extension of time or may decide the appeal in its absence.

In deciding an appeal the Dean of Faculty may:

a) uphold the decision; or

b) quash the decision; or

c) vary the decision provided that the effect of such variation is consistent with the University’s regulations.

The Dean of Faculty shall notify the candidate in writing of the decision and a copy of the letter of notification shall be conveyed to the next ordinary meeting of the Board for noting.

The Dean of Faculty shall decide an appeal within forty days of its receipt from the candidate unless granted an extension of time by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

A candidate aggrieved by a decision of:

which relates to the candidate’s higher degree studies may appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee.

An appeal shall be in writing and shall be lodged with the Secretary, Academic Appeals Committee within twenty-one days of the date of the decision.

An appeal shall specify the:

Documentary evidence in support of the appeal shall be provided in appropriate cases. [See the Special Consideration Regulations.]

The Academic Appeals Committee may decline to hear an appeal that is lodged after the twenty-one day appeal period.

The Academic Appeals Committee shall determine the procedure for deciding each appeal and in doing so shall be guided by those clauses of the Exclusion Regulations relating to the hearing of appeals. As a minimum the Academic Appeals Committee shall:

a) refer the candidate’s appeal to the Dean of Faculty or the Presiding Officer of the Board or the Academic Awards Committee as appropriate, for written comment within seven days; and

b) refer the written comments in a) above to the candidate inviting the candidate to provide a written response and/or to request an interview with the Academic Appeals Committee.

If the candidate does not respond to the invitation within twenty-one days of the date on which the comments in a) above were sent to the candidate, the Academic Appeals Committee may grant the candidate an extension of time or may decide the appeal in its absence.

A candidate who chooses to be interviewed by the Academic Appeals Committee may elect to be interviewed in person by telephone or at the Committee’s discretion by videoconference. The expenses incurred by the candidate in presenting for interview shall be met by the candidate.

The candidate may be represented at an interview by an advisor if the Academic Appeals Committee so approves. An advisor shall not be a barrister or solicitor engaged by the candidate or by another person on the candidate’s behalf. The adviser shall not be entitled to address or debate the Committee unless granted leave by the Committee.

In deciding an appeal against a decision of a Dean of Faculty, the Academic Awards Committee or the Board, the Academic Appeals Committee may:

a) uphold the decision; or

b) quash the decision; or

c) vary the decision provided that the effect of such a variation is consistent with the University’s regulations.

The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee shall be final.

The Dean of Studies shall notify the candidate in writing of the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee.

The Academic Appeals Committee shall decide an appeal within forty days of its receipt from the candidate unless granted an extension of time by the Vice-e