Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Regulations for the Degree of
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

(See also General Regulations, pp. 1 to 16)

RD 1 Definition

The degrees of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are postgraduate degrees. Such a degree shall be awarded to a candidate who, on the completion of an approved scheme of research,

(a)	presents a successful thesis embodying the results of the candidate's original research; and in the case of the PhD representing a contribution to knowledge worthy of publication; and
(b)	satisfies the examiners in an oral examination (and any other examination if required) in matters relevant to the subject of the thesis.

RD 1A A student may register as a full-time candidate only when

(a)	holding a University postgraduate studentship or another postgraduate studentship or scholarship which provides a stipend sufficient to cover fees and all other living costs, and which can thus be deemed to be intended to enable the candidate to study on a full-time basis; or
(b)	holding a University Research Assistantship, provided that the work undertaken in this capacity is focused on the topic of the holder's research degree study and that the status of the candidature is affirmed in the form of a written declaration by the Head of Department and the supervisor(s) and the student; or
(c)	affirming in a written declaration that no appointment (whether inside or outside the University) is held other than part-time employment entailing not more than 150 hours of work p.a.

RD 2 Admission requirements

A candidate for registration

(a)

shall comply with the General Regulations;

(b)

shall hold

(i)	a Bachelor's degree with honours of this University; or
(ii)	another qualification of equivalent standard from this University or from another university or comparable institution accepted for this purpose;

and any additional qualifications laid down by the Faculty concerned; and

(c)

shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required.

RD 2A A candidate who does not hold a Bachelor's degree with honours of this University or another qualification of equivalent standard may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to register for the degree of MPhil on demonstrating adequate preparation for research studies at this level, and satisfying the examiners in a qualifying examination.

RD 3 Qualifying examination

(a)	A qualifying examination may be set to test the candidate's ability to pursue the research project proposed. A qualifying examination shall consist of one or more invigilated written examination papers; additionally, the invigilated written paper(s) may be supplemented by other forms of examination.
(b)	A candidate who is required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination shall not be permitted to register until all examination requirements are satisfied.

RD 4 Registration

(a)	A candidate shall be permitted to register only on the first day of any month of the year.
(b)	A candidate whose application is accepted shall first register provisionally for the degree of either MPhil or PhD and shall be subject to a probationary period extending over a period of twelve months in the case of a full-time candidate or eighteen months in the case of a part-time candidate. At the end of this probationary period and after submission of a detailed scheme of research the candidature shall be confirmed or terminated or, in exceptional circumstances, changed to that for the degree of MPhil in the case of a PhD candidate.
(c)	A candidate whose candidature has been confirmed for the degree of MPhil or PhD may be permitted to transfer the candidature to the other degree, as the case may be, provided that such transfer is approved at least three months prior to the submission of the thesis. Such transfer shall only be permitted on the first day of any month of the year.
(d)	A candidate may be permitted to transfer from full-time to part-time candidature (or vice versa) for the same degree at any time during the period of study but such transfer shall only be permitted on the first day of any month of the year.

RD 5 Period of study

(a)

A candidate registered for the degree of either MPhil or PhD shall follow an approved course of study and research under at least one supervisor for

(i)	a period extending over not less than twenty-four months and not more than thirty-six months, in the case of a full-time MPhil candidate,
(ii)	a period extending over not less than thirty-six months and not more than forty-eight months, in the case of a part-time MPhil candidate,
(iii)	a period extending over not less than thirty-six months and not more than sixty months, in the case of a full-time PhD candidate,
(iv)	a period extending over not less than fifty-four months and not more than seventy-two months, in the case of a part-time PhD candidate,

beginning on the first day of provisional registration.

(b)

A candidate shall be required to spend the whole of the minimum period of study in Hong Kong.

(c)

Any extra period allowed for revision or re-submission under regulation RD 11(b) shall not count towards the maximum period of study.

(d)

In special circumstances a candidate may apply for a shorter or longer period of study after confirmation of candidature.

RD 6 Leave of absence

A candidate who wishes to be absent from Hong Kong and/or the approved course of study and research or who proposes to take vacation leave shall be required to submit in writing an application for leave of absence. A full-time candidate is entitled to take up to one month of vacation leave every twelve -month period during the minimum period of study. Any leave of absence granted for the purpose of study for the degree for which the candidate is registered, or any period of vacation leave of up to one month in each period of twelve months to which a full-time candidate is entitled, shall be counted towards the period of study and the minimum period required to be spent in Hong Kong. Leave of absence granted for any other reason shall result in the extension of the period of study by the period of absence. Leave of absence shall not be granted for any consecutive period of more than twelve months.

RD 7 Supervision and progress

(a)	A candidate shall be required to submit a progress report annually and may be asked to give one or more seminars on any part of his or her course of study and research.
(b)	A candidate may be required to attend courses offered within the University at any time during the candidate's period of study, and may also be required to satisfy such formal requirements of these courses as may be specified.
(c)	A candidate may be discontinued if satisfactory progress in study is not being made.

RD 8 Title of thesis

A candidate shall submit for approval the title of the thesis at any time following the confirmation of the candidature but not later than three months before the submission of the thesis for examination. Thereafter no modification of title shall be made without further approval.

RD 9 Submission of thesis

(a)

At the end of the approved course of study and research the candidate shall submit four copies of the thesis for examination, typed or printed and bound in accordance with the regulations governing the format, binding, and presentation of theses, together with a written declaration that the thesis represents the candidate's own work, or, in the case of conjoint work, a statement, countersigned by the candidate's co-worker, describing the candidate's share of the work.

(b)

A candidate shall not submit work that has been previously included in a thesis, dissertation or report submitted to this University or to any other institution for a degree, diploma, or other qualification, but material which has been previously published may be included in the thesis subject to the provisions of regulation RD 9(a).

RD 10 Examinations

A candidate shall be examined by examiners appointed for this purpose both on the thesis itself, and at an oral examination on the subject of the thesis and/or approved course of study and research. A candidate may also be examined by other means.

RD 11 Examination results

(a)

A candidate who has satisfied the examiners shall be recommended for conferment of the degree for which he or she is registered.

(b)

A candidate who has not satisfied the examiners

(i)	may be required to resubmit the thesis after making corrections and amendments as required by the Board of Examiners, without a new examination; or
(ii)	may be required to revise and resubmit the thesis for a new examination within a specified period, and may also be required to satisfy the examiners at a new oral examination, or any other examination as appropriate, on the subject of the revised thesis and/or the approved course of study and research; or
(iii)	may be required to attend a new oral examination, or any other examination as appropriate, within a period not exceeding six months; or
(iv)	may be recommended for the conferment of the degree of MPhil if he or she is a PhD candidate without any correction or amendment; or
(v)	may be recommended for the conferment of the degree of MPhil without a new examination if he or she is a PhD candidate on the requirement that the thesis be corrected and amended as required by the Board of Examiners; or
(vi)	may be deemed to have failed, and his or her thesis should be rejected without the option of resubmission

RD 12 Publication based on thesis

Any publication based on work approved for a higher degree should contain a reference to the effect that the work was submitted to the University of Hong Kong for the award of the degree.