Senate
Origin: Secretary
Senate
is asked to note the action of the
Chair of Senate, on behalf of Senate, in approving a minor amendment to the
Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, as below.
15.1 A Research
Student (including a candidate submitting under either Paragraph 6 or 7 of
these Regulations) for whom the Examiners' decision is `fail' may lodge a
written appeal with supporting evidence, with the Academic Registrar or nominee
within fourteen working days of being informed of the result of the
examination. The grounds for such an appeal shall be set out in writing and
shall be confined to one or more of the following:
(i) that there existed at the time of the examination circumstances affecting
the student's performance of which the examiners had not been made aware when
their decision was taken;
(ii) that there were procedural irregularities in the conduct of the
examination of such a nature as to cause reasonable doubt as to whether the
examiners would have reached the same conclusion had they not occurred;
(iii) that there is evidence of prejudice or of bias against the candidate or
of inadequate assessment on the part of one or more of the examiners.
15.2 A student who
wishes to lodge an appeal in accordance with paragraph 15.1 of the Regulations
for Higher Degree by Research, on the basis of retrospective medical grounds,
will be required to provide written medical evidence.
15.3 Given the
existence of procedures for complaint and redress during the study period
(which should normally be dealt with through the Director of Research Degree
Programme as and when they arise), alleged inadequacy of supervisory or other
arrangements during the period of study should not constitute grounds for an
appeal unless there are exceptional reasons for it not having come to light
until after the examination, in which case it may be considered under paragraph
15.1i).
15.4 The
Vice-Chancellor or failing him/her a Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall nominate an
appeal body to consider such appeals which shall be constituted as follows:
The Chair of the Appeal
Panel shall be from a Faculty other than the one in which the student is
registered.
15.5 No member of the
University shall be appointed to membership of the appeal body who has been
involved in the examination or had any supervisory relationship with the
student, nor is a member of the department in which the student is registered.
No Department may have more than one of its members on the appeal body.
15.6 An appellant
shall have the right to appear in person before the appeal body and may be
accompanied by a person of his/her own choosing.
15.7 The appeal body
shall determine its own procedure within the framework set out in the Code of
Practice on Appeals and may take such advice as it considers appropriate.
15.8 The appeal body
shall have power either to reject the appeal, in which case the examiners'
decision shall be final, or to determine which of the following courses of
action shall be taken:
(i) in cases where the appeal is based on either of the grounds stated in
15.1(i) or 15.1(ii) above the appeal body shall be empowered
·
to direct the Examiners to re-consider their decision for
the reasons stated and to report their decision to the appeal body which shall
then determine the appeal in the light of such re-consideration; and/or
·
to give the student permission to revise the thesis and
re-submit for re-examination by the Examiners within a time limit specified by
the appeal body; and/or
·
to annul the examination and direct that a fresh
examination be conducted.
(ii) in cases where the appeal is based on the
grounds stated in 16.1(iii) above, the appeal body shall be empowered to direct
that the thesis shall be re-examined.
15.9 Where
re-examination under 15.8(i)(c) or 15.8(ii) is determined, Senate shall appoint
new examiners, in number no fewer than the original examiners and containing at
least two external examiners. The new examiners shall be given no information
about the previous examination except that they are conducting a re-examination
on appeal. They shall be required to submit independent reports on the thesis
before conducting the oral examination and a joint report after the oral examination.
15.10 The decision of
the new examiners shall be reported and their report made available to Senate
and Senate, having considered the decision of the new examiners, shall award
the degree, if any, recommended by the new examiners except as provided in
paragraph 12.9 above.
Author – C Dunbobbin
Date – 9 November 2009
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