Higher Doctorate Regulations

Date of effect

1. These regulations are effective from 28 July 2021

Requirements for the Degrees

2. The degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD), Doctor of Literature (DLit) or Doctor of Science (DSc), may be awarded to a candidate who has successfully presented for examination a collection of work, or a specially composed thesis based on such work, which constitutes an original, substantial and distinguished contribution to scholarship and establishes the candidate as an international authority in the particular field of study.

Application

3. An applicant for a higher doctorate must
   1. be a graduate of the University of Waikato,
   2. have qualified for the award of a degree from another New Zealand university or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent
      and
   3. have a significant academic association with the University of Waikato, and
   4. submit work for examination which is related to the current teaching and research expertise of the University of Waikato.
4. An application must be submitted to the Postgraduate Research Committee (through Te Mata Kairangi School of Graduate Research) and include
   1. a copy of the work on which the application is based, and
   2. a short discourse on the nature of the work, and
   3. a statutory declaration which states
      1. in the case of co-authored work, the name(s) of the co-author(s) and the nature and extent of the applicant’s particular contribution to the work, and
      2. the details of any other qualification for which the work, in whole or part, has been submitted, and
   4. the application fee prescribed in the Table of Fees and Charges section of the University of Waikato Calendar.
5. The Postgraduate Research Committee has authority to determine whether an application meets the criteria set out in clauses 3 and 4 of these regulations.]
6. If the Postgraduate Research Committee determines that an application does not meet the criteria set out in clauses 3 and 4 of these regulations, the applicant will be notified in writing and the Postgraduate Research Committee will take no further action with respect to the application.
7. If the Postgraduate Research Committee determines that an application meets the criteria set out in clauses 3 and 4 of these regulations, the Chairperson of the Postgraduate Research Committee will consult confidentially with staff of the University who have academic expertise in the relevant field about whether, in their opinion, the work is likely to meet the criteria set out in clause 2 of these regulations and will report accordingly to the Postgraduate Research Committee.
8. On the basis of the consultations undertaken and reported under clause 6 of these regulations, the Postgraduate Research Committee will determine whether the application will proceed to examination.
9. If the Postgraduate Research Committee determines that the application will not proceed to examination, the applicant will be notified in writing and the Postgraduate Research Committee will take no further action with respect to the application.
10. If the Postgraduate Research Committee determines that an application will proceed to examination, the candidate will be required to submit three further copies of the work on which the application is based, together with the examination fee prescribed in the Table of Fees and Charges section of the University of Waikato Calendar.

Examination

11. Three examiners, at least two of whom are external to the University, will be appointed by the Postgraduate Research Committee on the nomination of the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division that it considers to be most closely aligned with the applicant’s field of expertise or in the case of alignment with the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, on the nomination of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori.
12. Each examiner will submit an examiner’s report and recommend either:
    1. that the degree be awarded, or
    2. that the degree not be awarded.
13. The Postgraduate Research Committee will consider the examiners’ reports and recommendations and make a recommendation to the Research Committee as to whether the degree should be awarded.
14. The Research Committee has authority to decide whether the degree will be awarded.
15. If the degree is awarded, one set of the relevant work will be retained by the University and placed in the University Library.

Re-Applications

16. An applicant who is not permitted to proceed to examination or a candidate who is not awarded the degree may not re-apply for a higher doctorate until a period of five years has lapsed since the first application or examination and may re-apply only once.

Provisions for Appeals to the Research Committee

17. A candidate for a higher doctorate who wishes to appeal a decision by the Postgraduate Research Committee in relation to their application or the examination of their work may do so in writing to the Research Committee.
18. An appeal may be made only on one or both of the following grounds
    1. that the process used to make the decision in relation to the examination was incorrect or unfair, or
    2. that the decision in relation to the examination was manifestly at odds with the information on which it was based.
19. An appeal lodged under clause 16 of these regulations must comprise a written statement of the circumstances of, and grounds for, the appeal, together with supporting evidence, if available, and must be lodged with the Secretary to the Research Committee (through the Academic Office) not more than 21 days from the date of notification of the decision being appealed.
20. The Research Committee will hear and decide on the appeal.
21. The Chairperson of the Research Committee will ensure that no-one considering the appeal was a party to the original decision.
22. A decision by the Research Committee on an appeal lodged under clause 16 of these regulations will be notified to the candidate in writing and is final.

Provisions for Appeal to the Academic Board

23. A candidate who wishes to appeal a decision by the Research Committee in relation to the award of the degree may do so in writing to the Academic Board.
24. An appeal to the Academic Board may be made only on one or both of the following grounds
    1. that the process used to make the decision in relation to the award of the degree was incorrect or unfair, or
    2. that the decision in relation to the award of the degree was manifestly at odds with the information on which it was based.
25. An appeal lodged under clause 23 of these regulations must comprise a written statement of the circumstances of, and grounds for, the appeal, together with supporting evidence, if available, and must be lodged with the Secretary to the Academic Board (through the Academic Office) not more than 21 days from the date of notification of the decision being appealed.
26. The Academic Board may delegate authority to hear and decide the appeal on its behalf to a sub-committee comprising:
    1. the Chairperson of the Academic Board (or nominee), and
    2. two members of the Academic Board.
27. The Chairperson of the Academic Board will ensure that no members of a sub-committee appointed under clause 26 of these regulations were party to the original decision.
28. A decision by, or on behalf of, the Academic Board on an appeal lodged under clause 23 of these regulations will be notified to the candidate in writing and is final.