Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

The Degree of Doctor of Medicine – MD

The regulations for this degree are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations, including the General Regulations for Named Doctorates and the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

Preamble

1 a A candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine is required to pursue an approved programme of advanced study and research as an enrolled student of the University.

b It is expected that this programme will usually be completed within three to four years of equivalent full-time candidature. Part-time candidature may also be permitted.

c The Degree of Doctor of Medicine is awarded for a formal and systematic exposition of a coherent programme of advanced research work in any branch of medicine or medical science presented in a thesis which in the opinion of the examiners and the Board of Graduate Studies satisfies all of the following criteria:

(i) to be an original contribution to any branch of medicine or medical science

and

(ii) to meet internationally recognised standards for such work

and

(iii) to demonstrate a knowledge of the literature relevant to the subject of the thesis, and the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgement of it

and

(iv) to be satisfactory in its methodology, in the quality and coherence of its written expression, and in its scholarly presentation and format.

d If the core of the thesis comprises a series of published or unpublished research papers and/or case studies, the candidate must be the lead or sole author of each paper or case study and have written the text. The candidate must provide a contextual framework and concluding discussion that will normally amount to 20,000-30,000 words. The range and focus of this material shall generally correspond with the introductory and concluding chapters of a thesis. The thesis must be presented in a consistent format, citation style and typeface.

e If the core of the thesis does not comprise a series of published or unpublished research papers and/or case studies, a candidate may still include within their thesis published or unpublished research papers and/or case studies, provided that the candidate was the lead or sole author of each paper or case study and wrote the text. The thesis must be presented in a consistent format, citation style and typeface.

f In the case of published or unpublished research papers and/or case studies that the candidate has contributed to but is not the sole or lead author of, the candidate may report in the thesis their contribution to the research with due reference to the original paper and/or case study. The thesis must be presented in a consistent format, citation style and typeface.

g All material which is not the original work of the author of the thesis must:

(i) be fully and appropriately attributed

(ii) if a substantial part of another work, only be reproduced with the written permission of the copyright owner of the other work.

h All research for the thesis is to be conducted in a manner consistent with The University of Auckland Guidelines for the Conduct of Research.

Eligibility

2 A candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine is required to have:

a (i) completed the requirements for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at The University of Auckland

(ii) completed the requirements for the award of a medical qualification that the Board of Graduate Studies considers to be equivalent to the prerequisite qualification specified in Clause a(i) of this regulation

and

b demonstrated an ability to pursue doctoral level research in the field of medicine or medical science

and

c following the completion of their medical qualification, normally had at least five years of experience in medical practice or in an area considered comparable by the Board of Graduate Studies

and

d applied for admission and been admitted to The University of Auckland.

Duration

3 a A candidate will normally be required to complete the requirements for the degree within not less than three full-time years and not more than four full-time years, or the part-time equivalent, from the date of registration unless permitted to do otherwise by the Board of Graduate Studies.

b A candidate who draws upon original studies completed prior to registration may, with the permission of the Board of Graduate Studies, complete the requirements for the degree in less than three years. The minimum time for completion will not be less than one year.

Registration

4 a The Board of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Head of Department in the discipline in which the candidate is to be primarily registered, is to determine whether the candidate may be registered and the date of registration.

b Conditions of registration will be determined according to Regulation 1 of the General Regulations for Named Doctorates.

c All candidates will provide two goals to be achieved in the first year of registration.

Structure and Content

5 A candidate enrolled for this degree must pass MEDSCI 896 Thesis.

Reviews of Progress

6 Reviews of progress and continuation of registration will be made according to Regulation 2 of the General Regulations for Named Doctorates.

Enrolment and Fees

7 Enrolment and payment of fees will be determined according to Regulation 3 of the General Regulations for Named Doctorates.

Changes to the Conditions of Registration

8 Changes to supervision, extensions of time, and suspension or termination of registration will be made according to Regulation 4 of the General Regulations for Named Doctorates.

Discontinuation of Registration

9 Enrolment and Programme Regulations regarding discontinuation apply to MD candidates.

Submission

10 a All candidates are required to submit three copies in temporary binding and one electronic copy in pdf format of the thesis to the Graduate Centre. Copies should include the following statement to examiners on the first page:

“This thesis is for examination purposes only and is confidential to the examination process.”

b Three months prior to the expected date of submission, a candidate should notify the School of Graduate Studies in writing of their intention to submit. If the candidate has reason to believe that any person would be unsuitable to serve as an examiner of the thesis on the grounds of conflict of interest, he or she may also submit at this time the name of this person and a statement in writing as to the nature of the conflict of interest to the Graduate Centre.

c The thesis is to be accompanied by a statutory declaration, signed by the candidate, stating that the thesis is the candidate's own work and that neither the thesis nor any part of it has been submitted or accepted for any other degree or diploma and that written permission has been obtained for any third-party copyright material reproduced in the thesis that represents a “substantial part” of the other work. The declaration should also state that the temporary-bound copies and electronic copy are identical.

d Where the thesis contains jointly authored research papers, case studies and/or any other work, published or unpublished, a Co-Authorship Form must be signed by the candidate and all the joint authors, stating the extent to which the jointly authored material is the candidate's own work.

Where the thesis includes research reported in published or unpublished co-authored works (other than as in Clauses 1g and 1h in the PhD Statute) a Co-Authorship Form must be signed by the candidate and all the joint authors, stating the extent to which the jointly authored material is the candidate's own work.

e The thesis is to be presented in English unless otherwise approved by the Board of Graduate Studies at the time of first registration of the candidate.

Examination

11 The examination process will follow that of Clause 9 of the PhD Statute, except that:

a Appointment of Examination Committee

The Board of Graduate Studies will appoint a Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee consisting of the Associate Dean (Postgraduate) of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences or delegate as Chair, the Head of Department or delegate, the Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences or delegate, and the Head of the School of Medicine or delegate, for all Doctor of Medicine examinations

and

b Examiners' Reports

Examiners will be requested to assess the thesis according to the criteria of clause 1(c) of these regulations, and to make one of the following recommendations:

(i) to award the degree.

The thesis can be passed without any further amendment or correction. Sometimes examiners may wish to include a list of suggested amendments for the candidate to use when publishing the material.

(ii) to award the degree after specified “minor corrections” have been made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the Chair of the Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee or nominee, who may be the Main Supervisor, by a specified date.

This recommendation is made when the thesis has reached the required standard but for minor problems such as inconsistency in terminology, referencing problems, or typographical errors. When these are corrected, the thesis will meet the standard and then will be ready for permanent binding and placement in the Library.

(iii) (a) to award the degree after revisions have been made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee, by a specified date, and subject to satisfactory performance at the oral examination.

(b) to award the degree after revisions have been made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the Examiner by a specified date

This recommendation is made when the Examiner concludes that the revisions required are not minor, but are substantive including re-analysis of data, or rewriting of chapters, or corrections of significant lapses in logic or coherence. The nature of the revisions must be such that subject-specific knowledge is required and the Examiner wishes to see and approve the changes. These changes can normally be made within a 3-6 month period.

(iv) to permit the candidate to revise the thesis and resubmit it for examination on one further occasion only.

This recommendation is made when the Examiner concludes that the thesis is not yet of MD standard. It will require either further research, rewriting of specific sections, reconceptualisation, and/or reorganisation in order to reach the required MD standard. The candidate will be permitted to resubmit, normally within a 12 month period.

(v) not to award the degree, but refer the thesis to the appropriate authority within the University for consideration of the award of another degree.

This recommendation is made when the Examiner is of the opinion that the thesis has substantive flaws incompatible with the requirements of a MD.

(vi) not to award any degree.

and

c Recommendation of the Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee

The Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee will make a report to the Board of Graduate Studies which includes the nature and outcome of any communications with examiners and/or supervisors made under Clause 9j (PhD Statute) and which recommends one of the following:

(i) to award the degree

(ii) to award the degree after specified “minor corrections” have been made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee or nominee, by a specified date

(iii) (a) to award the degree subject to revising part or parts of the thesis to the satisfaction of the Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee or nominee, by a specified date

(b) to award the degree subject to revising part or parts of the thesis to the satisfaction of the Examiner or Examiners by a specified date

(iv) to permit the candidate to revise the thesis and resubmit it for examination on one further occasion only, but only if the candidate has not already been permitted to revise and resubmit

(v) to refer the thesis to the appropriate authority within the University for consideration of the award of another degree

(vi) not to award the degree

(vii) to require the candidate to undergo an Oral Examination.

d In the case of recommendations (iii) and (iv), the report must also state clearly the nature of the revisions recommended.

e Oral Examination

An Oral Examination will be held only on the recommendation of the Doctor of Medicine Examination Committee. Should an oral examination be required the Head of Department or delegate will be asked to nominate a Chair of the Oral Examination as well as a Head of Department Nominee to attend the oral examination. The Oral Examination and any required revisions will then proceed as per Clause 9 of the PhD Statute.

f Copies for Deposit

(i) On successful completion of the examination, candidates who first registered in a Doctor of Medicine programme prior to 1 January 2009 will be required to deposit either, three hardbound copies of the thesis or, two hardbound copies and one digital copy of the thesis, corrected as may be required, with the Graduate Centre. The degree will not be conferred until the candidate has complied with this requirement.

(ii) On successful completion of the examination, candidates who first registered in a Doctor of Medicine programme on or after 1 January 2009 will be required to deposit two hardbound copies of the thesis and one digital copy, corrected as may be required, with the Graduate Centre. The degree will not be conferred until the candidate has complied with this requirement.

(iii) When two hardbound copies and a digital copy of the thesis are deposited, these must be accompanied by a statutory declaration signed by the candidate stating that the hardbound copies and the digital copy are the same.

g (i) The digital thesis deposited shall be formatted as specified in the Guidelines for Formatting a Digital Thesis.

(ii) A thesis which is deposited in digital form will be accessible through the University's digital repository, unless embargoed under Clause 24 of the Examination Regulations.

Variations

12 In exceptional circumstances the Board of Graduate Studies may approve a programme which does not conform to these regulations.

Appeals

13 Appeals regarding the examination process or decisions of the Board of Graduate Studies must be made according to Regulation 5 of the General Regulations for Named Doctorates.

Dispute Resolution Procedures

14 Disputes are to be resolved according to the Policy for Resolution of Research Problems: Postgraduate Research Students.

Transitional Arrangements

15 a These regulations came into force on 1 January 2009 and were amended on 2 April 2012. The 1996 regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine were thereby repealed.

b For candidates initially registered under earlier regulations for this degree the Board of Graduate Studies may agree to vary the application of the provisions of these regulations to ensure consistency with the provisions of the regulations under which the candidate was enrolled where it is satisfied that the candidate would otherwise be at a disadvantage.

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Source: The University of Auckland 2013 Online Calendar
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