Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))

Regulations for the Degree of Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))

1. Admission to the Programme

   1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
   2. Every applicant must have been awarded a Bachelor of Arts majoring in the subject or subjects of study proposed with an average grade of at least B+ or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
   3. An applicant seeking admission to the thesis only must have been awarded a Bachelor of Arts with Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts, including a research report, thesis preparation, dissertation requirement, or relevant preparatory paper, with an average grade of at least B+.

2. Structure of the Programme

   1. The degree can be undertaken as a 240-point programme of study comprising papers and a thesis for students with a bachelor's degree or as a 120-point thesis-only programme for students with appropriate postgraduate level study (see Section 1(c)).
   2. The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects listed in the MA(Thesis) Schedule. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) the degree may be awarded in a subject not listed in the MA(Thesis) Schedule.
   3. The student's course of study shall be approved by the Dean, Head of School, Programme or Department. In the case of the 240-point programme, the Dean, Head of School, Programme or Department will confirm that the combination of papers will provide adequate preparation for the thesis component.
   4. A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the thesis, secure the approval of the Dean, Head of the School, or Head of Programme or Department concerned for the topic, the supervisory team, and the proposed course of the investigation.
   5. A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
   6. A candidate taking the degree by papers and thesis must pass both the papers and the thesis components.
   7. For a thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.

3. Duration of the Programme

   A candidate achieving the degree by papers and a thesis shall normally follow a programme for the equivalent of not less than two years of full-time study and not more than three years of full-time study, and a candidate achieving the degree by thesis alone shall normally follow a programme of study for the equivalent of not less than one year of full-time study and not more than two years of full-time study. Exceptions shall be permitted only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).

4. Withdrawal from the Programme

   1. A candidate undertaking both papers and thesis whose paper results are not satisfactory, as defined by the department or subject area concerned, or who does not achieve a grade of at least B+ for the dissertation requirement of the programme, shall be permitted to proceed to the thesis only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
   2. Where a thesis candidate withdraws from the programme after completing the prescribed papers the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may recommend the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects or determine which papers shall be credited towards the diploma.

5. Examination of the Thesis

   1. The Dean or Head of Department concerned (or nominee) shall appoint a Convener of Examiners who shall oversee the thesis examination.
   2. The thesis, research dissertation, or studio project shall be assessed by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.
   3. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Convener of Examiners.
   4. Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the thesis as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options as specified in clause (d) below.
   5. The examiners may recommend that a thesis, research dissertation, or studio project exegesis:
      1. be accepted without requiring amendments;
      2. be accepted subject to minor corrections being made at the discretion, and to the satisfaction, of the Convener of Examiners;
      3. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, but may be revised and resubmitted for examination;
      4. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, and should be rejected without right of resubmission.
   6. Amendments (regulation 5(e)(ii)) and revisions (regulation 5(e)(iii)) shall be completed by a specified date to be determined by the Convener of Examiners.
   7. A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis for examination once only.
   8. If a revised and resubmitted thesis is finally accepted, the result shall be either 'Pass' or 'Fail' (i.e. ungraded) and without eligibility for the award of the degree with distinction or credit.
   9. Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Convener of Examiners, Dean, Head of School or Head of Programme concerned should so report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.

6. Level of Award of the Degree

   The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

7. Variations

   The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

Note: The due date for applications for first enrolment in the programme is 10 December. Late applications will be considered.