The Degree of Doctor of Medicine – MD

1 A candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) is required to undertake an original and coherent research project and to present the outcome of that research project for examination as a thesis.

2 The research project must involve enquiry that is experimental and/or critical in nature and be driven by an intellectual hypothesis, position, problem or question(s) capable of being rigorously explored and of making an original and significant contribution to knowledge and/or understanding in the relevant field(s) of study.

3 The research project must be conducted under supervision from the time of enrolment, and in accordance with the Research Code of Conduct Policy, but may include research undertaken prior to enrolment.

4 The thesis requirement must be satisfied by a cohesive written document, which shall not normally exceed 100,000 words.

5 The thesis must be undertaken and completed in accordance with the doctoral thesis policy and procedures.

6 In order for the MD degree to be awarded, Regulation 46 must be satisfied, and the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]) must be:

a satisfied that, subject to Regulation 42, the candidate has performed at doctoral level in an oral examination, held in accordance with Regulation 43, on the thesis, the subject of the thesis and the field(s) to which the subject belongs

and

b satisfied, by the examination process prescribed by these regulations, that the thesis:

(i) makes an original and significant contribution to knowledge or understanding in its field(s)

and

(ii) meets internationally recognised standards for such work

and

(iii) demonstrates knowledge of the literature relevant to the subject and the field(s) to which the subject belongs, and demonstrates the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgement of that literature

and

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

7 The thesis must be submitted within a maximum of 48 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the MD programme, unless a later submission date is permitted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in accordance with the doctoral extension of enrolment policy and procedures.

8 The thesis must not be submitted in less than 36 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the MD programme, unless permission is granted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

9 Permission for early submission of the thesis must not be granted where a candidate has been enrolled for less than 24 months’ full-time equivalent from the initial date of enrolment in the MD programme, unless clause 10 applies.

10 A candidate who draws upon research undertaken prior to enrolment may be permitted to submit the thesis after 12 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the MD programme.

11 Part-time enrolment may be permitted, subject to the doctoral full-time and part-time enrolment policy and procedures.

12 A candidate may be permitted to suspend their enrolment subject to the doctoral suspension of enrolment policy and procedures.

13 The initial date of enrolment in the MD programme may not be backdated except in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) and up to a maximum of six months.

14 To be admitted to the MD programme, applicants must satisfy the University’s Admission regulations and are required to have:

a in their most recent attempt at a relevant qualification:

either

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

or

(ii) completed the requirements for the award of a medical qualification that the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) considers to be equivalent to the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Auckland

and

b satisfied the requirements of the doctoral candidate research capacity policy and procedures

and

c satisfied the University of Auckland postgraduate English language requirements and any further requirements for evidence of English language proficiency set by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

and

d have a research project approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) as consistent with the requirements of Regulation 2 and capable of satisfying the requirements for the award of the MD degree

and

e have the approval of the Head(s) of the relevant academic unit(s) or their nominee(s) for the purposes of doctoral matters (“the Academic Head(s)”) with regard to the availability of appropriate supervision and the availability of the research resources deemed necessary by the Academic Head(s).

15 An applicant may be considered for transfer from an existing doctoral enrolment subject to the doctoral transfer policy and procedures.

16 An applicant may be considered for off-campus enrolment subject to the doctoral off-campus research policy and procedures.

17 The final decision on admission to the MD programme shall be made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

18 Admission to the MD programme may be rescinded prior to enrolment in the programme where information that was not available to the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) at the time the admission decision was made, and which would have resulted in a different decision being made, becomes available, or where, due to circumstances unforeseeable at the time of the decision, supervision and/or necessary resources will no longer be available for the enrolment.

19 Admission to the MD programme is valid for up to six months (or a maximum of 12 months in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)) from the date of notification of admission to the programme. Where enrolment in the programme does not occur within that time, re-application for admission to the programme is required.

20 Concurrent enrolment in another programme at the University of Auckland or at another institution is not permitted except as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in exceptional circumstances.

21 The Academic Head(s) is (are) responsible for the provision of supervision for the duration of the candidate’s enrolment.

22 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will appoint at least two supervisors for each candidate in accordance with the doctoral supervision policy and procedures.

23 Changes in supervision during candidature are subject to the doctoral supervision policy and procedures and the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate), with whom the final decision as to the appointment of supervisors rests.

24 Except for any period(s) of suspension approved under Regulation 12, candidates are required to be enrolled continuously from the initial date of enrolment in the MD programme until the date of thesis submission under Regulations 7–10.

25 Candidature for the MD degree commences upon enrolment in the MD programme and continues, regardless of any period(s) of suspension approved under Regulation 12, until the date on which any one of the following occurs:

a notification from the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) that all requirements for the award of the degree at Regulation 6 have been met

b notification from the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) that the final decision under Regulation 45 is that the degree not be awarded

c candidature expires under Regulation 27

d a candidate withdraws from the programme under Regulation 47

e candidature is terminated by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pursuant to Regulation 48.

26 Candidature is provisional until confirmed and is subject to the doctoral confirmation of candidature policy and procedures, the doctoral continuation of confirmed candidature policy and procedures, and the doctoral candidature intervention policy and procedures.

27 a Candidature expires when the thesis is not submitted for examination by the date required under Regulation 7.

b Candidature expires when the thesis is not submitted for examination by the date specified by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pursuant to Regulation 44.

28 Where candidature has expired under Regulation 27, it may be reinstated only as the outcome of a successful application to the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) for a (retrospective) extension of enrolment, or by successful appeal under Regulation 54 of a decision by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to decline an extension of enrolment (retrospective or otherwise).

29 Enrolment in the MD programme is not possible where candidature remains expired under Regulation 27 or where a candidate withdraws from the programme under Regulation 47.

30 Termination of candidature under Regulation 48 is also termination of enrolment in the MD programme for enrolled candidates.

31 Candidates who are required, pursuant to Regulation 44, to revise and resubmit their thesis for examination by the date specified by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) are required to be enrolled for the duration of the period of revision of the thesis. The maximum duration of enrolment for revision and resubmission of a thesis pursuant to Regulation 44 is 12 months’ full-time equivalent.

32 Candidates who wish to be absent from the University in pursuit of their research for more than one month during enrolment are subject to the doctoral off-campus research policy and procedures.

33 Candidates are subject to the Research Code of Conduct Policy and all University statutes, regulations, rules, policies and procedures relating to student conduct and obligations (academic or otherwise) for the duration of candidature.

34 Candidates may change the title of their thesis at any point prior to submission of the thesis for examination, subject to the approval of the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

35 All fees required by and pursuant to the Fees Statute must be paid for the duration of enrolment in the MD programme.

36 Tuition fees are not payable for any period during which enrolment has been suspended under Regulation 12.

37 a A candidate who withdraws from the MD programme, or who has their candidature terminated, will receive a refund of one-twelfth of the tuition fee paid for the current doctoral year per each complete month of the period between the date of withdrawal from the programme or termination of candidature and the end of the current doctoral year.

b A candidate who submits their thesis will receive a refund of one-twelfth of the tuition fee paid for the current doctoral year per each complete month of the period between the date of submission and the end of the current doctoral year, provided the candidate has either:

(i) been enrolled for at least 12 months’ full-time equivalent and submitted the thesis in accordance with Regulation 10

or

(ii) been enrolled for at least 36 months’ full-time equivalent.

38 Graduation is not permitted until all outstanding monies owing to the University have been paid.

39 The thesis must be submitted in accordance with the doctoral thesis submission procedures – pre examination.

40 For each candidate, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will appoint two examiners, at least one of whom must be based outside New Zealand, in accordance with the doctoral appointment of examiners policy and procedures.

41 The examination for the MD degree must be conducted in accordance with the doctoral examination procedures and/or, where the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) regards it as warranted, with the doctoral examination extraordinary circumstances and posthumous award procedures.

42 Except where a candidate is exempted pursuant to the doctoral examination extraordinary circumstances and posthumous award procedures, the MD degree cannot be awarded where an oral examination has not taken place.

43 Where the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) determines, under the doctoral examination procedures, that a candidate will proceed to oral examination, the oral examination is to be held in accordance with the doctoral examination procedures and the doctoral oral examination procedures.

44 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) will consider all examination reports and recommendations made pursuant to the doctoral examination procedures and determine the outcome of the examination.

45 The final decision as to the award of the MD degree will be made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]), who may also be the decision-maker at Regulation 44.

46 The final examined and approved thesis must be submitted in accordance with the doctoral thesis submission procedures – post examination in order for the requirements of the MD degree to be met.

47 A candidate may withdraw from the MD programme at any time by notifying the University in writing. Retraction of the programme withdrawal is not permitted.

48 The Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may terminate the candidature of any enrolled or non-enrolled candidate on any one or more of the following grounds:

a failure to meet the requirements for confirmation of candidature pursuant to Regulation 26

b failure to meet the requirements for continuation of confirmed candidature pursuant to Regulation 26

c failure to satisfy conditions imposed on candidature pursuant to Regulation 26

d failure to comply with candidature reporting requirements pursuant to Regulation 26

e failure to complete or satisfactorily complete revisions to an examined thesis by the date required by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate)

f failure to comply with the thesis submission procedures – post examination

g failure to make payment of any tuition fees related to enrolment in the MD by the due date.

Note: For the avoidance of doubt, termination of candidature pursuant to this Regulation 48 is permanent unless successfully appealed in accordance with Regulation 54.

49 Before the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) makes a decision as to termination of candidature pursuant to Regulation 48, the candidate will be given notice of termination proceedings and allowed fourteen calendar days to make a submission for the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to take into account in making that decision.

50 Cancellation or prohibition of enrolment and/or candidature pursuant to any disciplinary statute of the University takes precedence over the provisions of these regulations.

51 a Where a candidate withdraws from the MD programme, or has their candidature terminated, or fails to meet the requirements for the award of the degree, admission to a new MD or other doctoral programme in a relevant subject at a later date will not normally be permitted.

b A person who withdraws from any relevant doctoral programme or has a relevant doctoral candidature terminated (or equivalent), or who fails to meet the requirements for the award of a doctoral degree in a relevant subject, will not normally be admitted to the MD except in accordance with the doctoral transfer policy and procedures.

c Relevance at 51a and b, and equivalence at 51b, are determined by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).

52 In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) may approve a variation to the policies, procedures and regulations for MD candidature, except where variation of a national or government directive or requirement is involved.

53 Candidates may appeal decisions made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) pertaining to extension and suspension of enrolment, subject to the doctoral candidature appeal procedures.

54 A former candidate may appeal the decision made by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) to terminate candidature or to decline an extension of enrolment, subject to the doctoral candidature appeal procedures.

55 Appeals as to extension and suspension of enrolment and termination of candidature will be determined in accordance with the doctoral candidature appeal procedures.

56 Candidates and former candidates may appeal the outcome of a MD examination only on the grounds that the result was materially impacted by a procedural flaw in the examination process, and subject to the doctoral examination appeal procedures.

57 Appeals as to examination will be determined in accordance with the doctoral examination appeal procedures.

58 Disputes are to be resolved according to the Resolution of Student Academic Complaints and Disputes Statute.

59 Any matter that has been, could have been or could be appealed under the provisions of Regulation 53 or 54 or 56 is precluded from consideration as a dispute under Regulation 58.

60 a The MD programme is subject to the Limitation of Entry Statute.

b Candidates are subject to:

(i) the Degrees and Diplomas Statute and the Conferment of Academic Qualifications and Academic Dress Statute

and

(ii) the provisions of the Enrolment and Programme Regulations pertaining to members of the security intelligence service, rescindment and surrender of qualifications and the Provost’s Special Powers

and

(iii) the Examination Regulations, where coursework is prescribed pursuant to Regulation 26.

61 The doctoral policies and procedures cited in these regulations may be reviewed and amended from time-to-time.

62 Candidates are subject to any additional doctoral policies and procedures devised in support of these regulations and amended from time-to-time.

63 These regulations may be reviewed and amended from time-to-time.

64 These regulations came into force on 1 January 2022.

65 For candidates initially enrolled under earlier regulations for this degree, the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) 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.