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Doctor of Science (DSc)

Overview

A Doctor of Science (DSc) degree is awarded for published original contributions of special excellence, normally in the form of books or papers in scholarly journals, in some branch of science. A candidate for this degree would normally have graduated from the University of Otago and have held a degree for at least five years before applying.

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Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc)

  1. Admission to the Programme

    1. The degree shall be awarded for published original contributions of special excellence in some branch of science.
    2. Every candidate for the degree must either
      1. have held a degree for at least five years before applying for admission to the degree; or
      2. have been admitted with the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the degree.
    3. A candidate for the degree shall normally be a graduate of the University of Otago or shall have had some other formal academic association with the University.

  2. Application

    1. A candidate must apply for admission to the degree by submitting the following in the first instance:
      1. a curriculum vitae;
      2. an abstract and/or brief description of the work including a list of the published original contributions upon which the application is based; and
      3. a statutory declaration identifying the submitted work as original and stating that it has not previously been accepted for another university qualification. Where co-authored work is submitted, those parts which are the candidate's own should be identified, whereupon the University will advise if a case for the award of the degree exists (Note 1).
    2. Every candidate shall submit a digital copy of the work upon which the application is based together with the required entry fee (Note 2).
    3. In exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the Senate, unpublished work may be submitted.
    4. Additional work, published or unpublished, may be submitted in support of the application.

    Notes:
    (i) The application shall be forwarded to the Dean, Graduate Research School.
    (ii) A digital copy of the work together with the administrative fee (as specified by the Graduate Research Committee) shall be forwarded to the Dean, Graduate Research School.

  3. Examination

    1. The submitted work shall be assessed by three examiners, appointed by the Senate on the recommendation of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences), at least one of whom shall be an overseas authority.
    2. Where the examiners cannot agree on a result, they should so report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences), who shall nominate a referee to advise the Senate.
    3. Upon the successful completion of the examination process, a final digital copy of the work shall be deposited in the University’s online repository.

  4. Variations

    Notwithstanding anything in these regulations, the Senate shall have the discretion to vary any provision set down if, in its opinion, special or unusual circumstances warrant such variation.

    Note: The Senate has delegated authority over the DSc degree to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise).