• Section 1 - Preliminary
• Name of Rules
• Commencement
• Purpose
• Scope
• Authority
• Definitions
• Section 2 - Rules
• Eligibility
• Application
• Examination
• Higher Doctoral Degrees Committee of Academic Senate
• Section 3 - Schedules and Associated Information

Section 1 - Preliminary

Name of Rules

(1) These Rules may be cited as the Higher Doctoral Degree Rules.

Commencement

(2) These Rules take effect on the day on which they are published on the Internet by means of the website of the University or in another official University publication under section 29(c) of the Macquarie University Act 1989 and section 35(4) of the Macquarie University By-law 2005.

Purpose

(3) These Rules are enacted to outline the eligibility, application, and examination process for Higher Doctoral degrees at Macquarie University (the University).

Scope

(4) The Higher Doctoral Degree Rules apply to the Doctor of Laws (LLD), Doctor of Letters (DLitt), Doctor of Science (DSc), and Doctor of Medical Science (DMedSC) at Macquarie University (the University).

Authority

(5) The Council of Macquarie University makes the following rules under section 29 of the Macquarie University Act 1989 and Part 10 of the Macquarie University By-law 2005.

Definitions

(6) In these Rules:

1. Academic Senate means the Academic Senate of the University.
2. candidate means a candidate for a Higher Doctoral degree.
3. Council means the Council of the University.
4. Committee means the Higher Doctoral Degrees Committee of the Academic Senate.
5. Faculty means an administrative grouping of research, academic and professional staff and students based on the area they teach, support and study.
6. University means Macquarie University established by the Macquarie University Act 1989.

(7) Note: The Interpretation Act 1987 of New South Wales applies to these Rules.

Section 2 - Rules

Eligibility

(8) A candidate is to have held a first degree for at least 8 years before making application for the degree of Doctor and must:

1. hold a degree of Macquarie University; or
2. have been a member of the academic staff of the University for a period of at least 12 months.

(9) A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Medical Science must hold the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, or its equivalent.

Application

(10) A candidate is to forward to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) an application together with 4 copies of the published work for examination.

(11) The publications submitted must:

1. have been published at least one year before submission;
2. be a record of original research or critical inquiry undertaken by the candidate, state the sources from which the information was derived and the extent to which the candidate has used the work of others; and
3. record any work carried out conjointly, whether published in the candidate’s sole name or under conjoint authorship. In such cases, the candidate is to state the extent to which they were responsible for the initiation, conduct and direction of such conjoint research or enquiry.

(12) Where the principal publications, as distinct from supporting papers, incorporate work previously submitted for a degree in this or any other university, the candidate is to clearly indicate which portion of the publications was so submitted.

(13) A candidate may submit additional work, published or unpublished, in support of the application.

Examination

(14) The Executive Dean of the relevant Faculty is to forward the application to the Committee with a recommendation whether the published work appears, on the face of it, worthy of examination for the degree and if so, a recommendation for the appointment of examiners.

(15) The Committee is to recommend to the Academic Senate whether the published work appears, on the face of it, worthy of examination and, if so, will recommend the appointment of at least three examiners not less than two of whom shall be external examiners.

(16) The Academic Senate is to consider the recommendations and if so resolved, proceed with the appointment of examiners.

(17) Each examiner is to recommend, on the basis of the published work, whether the candidate:

1. is regarded as a recognised authority;
2. is commanding of international recognition in the branch of learning; and
3. has contributed significantly to the advancement of learning by extensive original contributions to the field with evidence of innovative work.

(18) Council may confer a Higher Doctoral degree on a candidate who has, to the satisfaction of the Academic Senate, made an original contribution or contributions of distinguished merit adding to the knowledge and understanding of any branch of learning with which the University is concerned.

Higher Doctoral Degrees Committee of Academic Senate

(19) The Committee is to:

1. consist of such persons as the Academic Senate may nominate and determine from time to time;
2. make decisions by a majority of those members present and voting; and
3. consider the reports of the examiners and formulate a recommendation for the Academic Senate.

Section 3 - Schedules and Associated Information

(20) Nil.